When the Groton Area football squad unveils this year’s version of the Tigers at Miller on Friday, the 37-man roster will include just four seniors and 24 freshmen and sophomores, but first-year coach Jordan Carson doesn’t believe in labeling this season as a rebuilding year.
“I told the kids I don’t really believe in a rebuilding year,” said Carson, a Langford native who was a Tigers’ assistant coach last season and replaces long-time GA boss Shaun Wanner who coached the squad for 25 years. “It’s just next man up. We’ve had a lot of guys work hard to get ready for this season and I think we’re ready to get out there and make as much noise as we can. We will be young, but we have a lot of guys that are tenacious football players.”
The Tigers lost 14 seniors from last year’s 3-6 squad and have no returning senior starters. But GA has some youngsters back that were strong performers a year ago. Eight Langford Area players are also on this year’s team in the third year of the co-op agreement between the two schools.
The Tigers have five starters returning this fall. They include juniors Layne Johnson and Ryder Schelle, and sophomores Asher Johnson, Anthony Tracy, and Jordan Schwan. Asher Johnson started at quarterback and completed over half his passes for 734 yards and and was the squad’s leading rusher with 263. Tracy and Schelle combined for 407 yards and Tracy ran back kickoffs for 211 yards. Named as offensive starters for Groton Area’s season opener at Miller on Friday are Asher Johnson (6-0, 185, So.) at quarterback, Anthony Tracy (6-0, 180, So.) at right wingback, Ryder Schelle (6-0, 190, Jr.) at left wingback, Case Reints (6-0, 165, So.) at fullback, Jordan Schwan (6-4, 195, So.) at tight end, Gunner Hardy (6-0, 180, Jr.) at tight end, Wesley Morehouse (6-3, 250, So.) at left tackle, Braeden Fliehs (6-1, 180, Jr.) at left guard, Layne Johnson (6-0, 250, Jr.) at center, Zach Fliehs (5-11, 220, So.) at right guard, and Isaiah Scepaniak (6-0, 215, Sr.) at left guard.
On the defensive side of the ball Jordan Schwan and Zach Fliehs will be at the end slots, Layne Johnson and Scepaniak at tackles, Asher Johnson, Schelle, Reints, and Braeden Fliehs at linebackers, Tracy at free safety, and Ryder Schwan (5-9, 140, Fr.) at one cornerback, and either Kolton Antonsen (6-0, 165, So.) or Keegan Woltjer (6-0, 160, So.) at the other cornerback position.
Carson’s biggest goal for the opener is for his young squad to minimize mistakes.
“Our focus is on playing good, clean football, trying to minimize our mistakes, and capitalize on opportunities. I’ve been most happy with how seamlessly this group has incorporated new offensive ideas. We do have a pretty young squad but we will be as prepared as we can be and will go out and give it our best effort.”
Carson is not sure what to expect from Miller in the opener.
“They were a pretty young squad last year and will have some guys with experience and will play fast. We will have to be ready to go from play one. We just have to keep our eyes on the prize from week to week,” Carson concluded. “It’s more of a marathon than a sprint.”
