'We need to stick to our ways': An average year showed Southridge winning isn't guaranteed
HUNTINGBURG, Ind. – Levi Neukam won’t deny feeling upset when the conversation happened.
The senior was the Southridge High School starting quarterback at this point a year ago. It’s what he always wanted growing up. But he missed the final four games last season following an emergency appendectomy.
It eventually led to a talk with coach Scott Buening in the offseason. The plan was to switch him to wingback. The goal was to maximize the strengths of himself and others. It took Neukam a minute to process it.
That’s when he decided to turn a negative into a positive.
“I still get to help the team,” said Neukam. “All I wanted to do was help the Raiders win since I was little.”
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It’s this shared attitude throughout the program which could help Southridge back on top.
Last season was by no means a failure. The Raiders went 5-5 and finished second in the Pocket Athletic Conference Small School Division. They took a talented Salem team into overtime in the sectional. There was only one game (Gibson Southern) in which Southridge wasn’t competitive.
It didn’t always meet the Raiders’ standards. A program with no losing seasons in 17 years. Southridge hasn’t lost back-to-back games since 2010. But the team was hit hard by graduation – the Raiders had sophomores starting in 12 positions against Salem – after going unbeaten into the semistate two years ago.
“We were competitive, but didn’t make the plays we typically do,” said Buening. “That’s why we ended up 5-5. We had a lot of guys people hadn’t seen or heard of. Our junior class, a lot of them were playing before they were ready.”
The goal is for those moments to pay off this fall after only a handful of starters from last year's team graduated. Buening, who has won 85 games in nine years at Southridge, said what this senior class lacks in numbers it will make up for with drive.
Caleb Kramer (72 tackles), Reid Schroeder (44) and Luke Meyer (41) are the Raiders’ top returning defenders but also play both ways. Buening is also counting on Neukem’s athletic ability to make plays in space.
The final record last year still resonates. This group believes it won’t take a huge leap for them to contend for a championship.
“We need to stick to our ways,” said Meyer. “Coach always talks about the controllables. Always put the effort in. We can be as good as we want to be if people put the work into it.”
Hudson Allen is now the starting quarterback after leading the Raiders over the final four games. His potential – the junior had over 200 total yards of offense in the sectional – made the decision easier to move Neukam outside. Allen completed 29 of 46 passes for 483 yards and four touchdowns.
The skill positions are more unknown. Traditionally, the Raiders would attempt to feed the ball to one or two runners. Think back to Tucker Schank, Cole Calvert or Aidan Jochem, who had 18 rushing touchdowns last year. Southridge will likely employ a true committee this fall.
O’Ryan Curry and Schroeder will likely split time at fullback to go with four or five wingbacks.
“This will be the most balanced group we’ve had,” said Buening. “We have a couple who have the ability to be pretty good with the ball in our hands. Reid is a bull in a china shop. O’Ryan is one of the shifter kids I’ve seen. He’s come a long way.”
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There is potential for a division championship. North Posey went unbeaten in the PAC last year but faces questions following graduation. Others such as Forest Park or Tell City have also been on the precipice of competing for the title.
But the Southridge upperclassmen learned a stark lesson last year: Nothing is guaranteed, not even for a program as successful as the Raiders. They’ve won four sectionals, three regionals and the 2017 state championship since Buening arrived.
“We can do as much as we want to,” said Neukam. “Last year, we used a lot of young kids and they’re a lot better than they were. We’ve been working hard. We have a good chance to do whatever we want to do.”
Buening will stop short of ever labeling his program the favorite. Southridge has also become accustomed to a certain standard. There has been too much work from coaches, players, families and community members to let it slip.
Come next Friday against Washington, the Raiders will start the journey to win another championship. There’s ample motivation after how last year unfolded.
“We have a lot of people who care about Raider football,” said Buening. “Our kids care tremendously. We’re a pretty blue-collared group. I think we have a quality team that’s going to be competitive. If we play good football, I do think we have enough talent to compete with anybody.”
Southridge Raiders
Last year: 5-5 (4-1 in Pocket Athletic Conference)
Coach: Scott Buening (85-28 in 10th year at school, 97-56 in 14th year overall)
Players to Watch
Reid Schroeder (RB/LB, Sr.), Caleb Kramer (TE/LB, Sr.), Hudson Allen (QB/DB, Jr.), Levi Neukam (RB/DB, Sr.), Luke Meyer (OL/DL, Sr.)
The Raiders' three biggest games
Aug. 26 at Boonville: A solid early season litmus test. The Pioneers should be much improved from last season. It's also an opponent Southridge can't overlook considering who comes next.
Sept. 2 vs. North Posey: The only PAC opponent to be the Raiders last year. North Posey and Southridge will likely be among the favorites to take the Small School Division title. A win here goes a long way to making it a reality.
Sept. 16 vs. Gibson Southern: This matchup was the only game Southridge wasn't competitive, a 63-9 loss, in 2021. It's traditionally a battle with three of the last seven meetings decided by three points or less. Could be telling to see where the Raiders stand at the midpoint.
Previously: Gibson Southern | Mater Dei | Harrison | Boonville | Central | Princeton | Jasper | Bosse | Forest Park | North Posey | Memorial | Vincennes Lincoln | Castle | Reitz | Heritage Hills | Tell City | North | Tecumseh
Up next: Mount Vernon
Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on Twitter @kylesokeland.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: IHSAA football: More experienced Southridge plans to bounce back
