Published: August 20, 2008 10:49 pm            

West Vigo football season preview: Experienced Vikes ready to roll

West Terre Haute — The upperclassmen on West Vigo’s high school football team are planning to be a little selfish this fall, and coach Jeff Cobb is happy with that.

Many of this year’s seniors, and quite a few of its juniors, were regular varsity contributors as sophomores — a few even as freshmen. But because they were, it will be a more experienced team on the field this year than Cobb has been able to enjoy in his four seasons as a head coach.

“This is the first team I’ve had with two big classes back-to-back,” said Cobb, who counts 31 juniors and seniors on his roster this year. “There’s a lot more maturity. We’ll probably have only two sophomores making the starting lineup.”

The Vikings were 4-6 a year ago and have been 9-11 the past two seasons. Four of the losses in that time have been by two points or less — and a lot of the current Vikings still remember them well.

“These seniors have been wanting success,” Cobb noted. “They’ve been so close. They just haven’t sealed the deal yet.”

For the fourth straight season Cobb will have a member of the Keith family starting at quarterback, senior Landon Keith (5-foot-11, 175) ready to start for the second straight year after backing up his older brother Cogan Keith for two seasons.

Expect senior Kameron Silcock (5-10, 200) to be the workhorse in the backfield, although he’ll be joined there by players such as junior Craig Knoepfel (6-1, 190), sophomore Dylan Aff (5-9, 155) and junior Nick Cramer (5-9, 161).

Viking opponents might still see those backs pound away from the double-wing formation West Vigo has used recently, but new offensive coordinator Ernie Simpson is also adding some spread principles to the attack.

“I think we’ll be a little more unpredictable [offensively],” Cobb noted, “and that should improve our passing game.”

It would be a shame if the Vikings weren’t able to pass more often, because in seniors Aaron Welch (6-1, 175) and Lucas Mackey (6-0, 180) they have a pair of solid receivers. Another senior, Tyler Rohlman (6-0, 168) is also in the receiving mix, and junior Josh Hubbard (6-1, 220) will be the tight end.

Opening the holes and protecting the passer will be an offensive line led by senior center Ian Bolin (6-4, 290); senior Jessie Earls (6-3, 230) and junior Aaron Hofmann (6-1, 190) at guards; and senior Cody Leek (6-3, 200) and junior Jacob Kelley (5-11, 185) at tackles. That line will get even stronger when senior Jeff Jones (5-8, 225), one of the potential four-year letterwinners, returns from injury shortly.

Bolin and Earls will man the middle of the defensive line, with Leek at one of the ends. The other end will be senior Jacob Collins (5-11, 190), who might give the Vikings the fastest pass rusher in the state and who could become a factor in the offensive backfield if necessary. Senior Jordan Smith (6-1, 240) is a reserve on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Silcock and Knoepfel will be the inside linebackers, with Rohlman and sophomore Cole Lydick (5-10, 150) on the outside.

Welch will be the safety, with Mackey and junior John Burt (5-10, 160) on the corners. Senior Austin Humphrey (6-2, 180) is available in the defensive backfield and also as a receiver.

Sophomore Ryan Roach (5-7, 154) is expected to be the punter and Hubbard could kick off. Another possibility for either or both jobs, as well as extra points and field goals, is freshman soccer player Nathan Gregg (5-11, 149).

The Vikings lost just six senior regulars from last year’s team, although a couple of players who could have been mainstays this fall are no longer able to play. But they’ll play their tough season-ending games at home this season, and with a little good luck on the injury front they could have an interesting year.

“I think these kids believe they can achieve great things,” Cobb said.



West Vigo schedule

Friday — At Beech Grove, 7 p.m.

Aug. 29 — Cloverdale, 7 p.m.

Sept. 5 — At Brown County, 7:30 p.m. (WIC)

Sept. 12 — At Linton, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 — At South Vermillion, 7 p.m. (WIC)

Sept. 26 — Edgewood, 7 p.m. (WIC)

Oct. 3 — At Owen Valley, 7:30 p.m. (WIC)

Oct. 10 — Northview, 7 p.m. (WIC)

Oct. 17 — Sullivan, 7 p.m. (WIC)

WIC — Western Indiana Conference game

        

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