Team Preview: Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts

Kaukauna is an exciting team to look into heading into the 2022 season. Head coach Matt Binsfeld and the Ghosts return several rising stars on the OL, in the backfield, and at the QB position, but they will have to find replacements for one of the top receivers and LBs in the state of WI. With a key leader on both sides of the ball graduating and moving on to the collegiate level it is going to be key for new athletes to step up and lead the team. A team that finished 2021 with a 6-4 record following a Level 1, 14-13, playoff loss to Hartford. With new options needed in the passing game and on defense, we are in position to see several breakout players in Kaukauna.   To go along with always replacing top talent, the conference is also one of the toughest in the state. Year in and year out teams need to come in ready to play at a very high level in the Fox Valley Association. Facing yearly powerhouses like Kimberly, Appleton North, and Fond du Lac leaves no room for error for teams hoping to bring home a conference championship. In 2021, Kaukauna finished in 4th place behind those previously mentioned teams while putting up nearly 30 points per game on offense, and holding teams to 21 points per game. Let's begin our deep dive into the 2022 Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts.   <h2>2021 Results (6-4 Record- Lost Level 1 Playoffs)</h2>   Aug 20: Beat Ashwaubenon, 48-24   Aug 27: Beat Green Bay Southwest, 28-6   Sept 3: Lost to Appleton North, 7-27   Sept 10: Beat Oshkosh North, 46-14   Sept 17: Beat Oshkosh West, 34-7   Sept 24: Lost to Fond du Lac, 14-38   Oct 1: Beat Neenah, 45-19   Oct 8: Beat Appleton East, 38-8   Oct 15: Lost to Kimberly, 17-56   Oct 22: Lost to Hartford, 13-14   <h2>Key Losses to Graduation</h2>   Hunter Natrop, RB- leading Rusher, Second Leading Receiver   Carson Sippel, WR- Leading Receiver   Will Campbell, LB- Leading Tackler, Most Sacks, Most INTs, Most PBUs   <h2>Players to Watch</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id="104994" first="Finnley" last="Doriot"], '24- QB: The 6'2'' 175 lbs signal caller is poised to breakout this year. He played in every varsity game as a sophomore, but did split time with [player_tooltip player_id="104499" first="Garrett" last="Weyenberg"]. Finnley wins with his touch, ball placement, and pocket mobility. He is able to put the ball exactly where he needs to in order to beat the leverage or to make it so that only his guy can go get it. I like his poise too. The moment doesn't seem too big for him, and going against FVA competition will help you find out very quickly if they have that in them. Look for him to build upon his 1,200 yards and 12 TDs from last fall.   [player_tooltip player_id="104407" first="Noah" last="Hofmann"], '23- RB: The 5'10" 185 lbs RB/ATH is going to be firmly in the running for most electric playmaker on the team. The incoming senior is the leading rusher of all returning payers for his team, and he is a game changer as a return man. His vision in the open field, and speed to be able to capitalize on what he sees makes him a perfect change of pace option at the next level. At this level though, he is going to dominate out in space and on the edges on every down. He also is a reliable receiving option. Just get him the ball in space and good things will happen.   [player_tooltip player_id="267045" first="Mitch" last="Verstegen"], '24- OL: Mitch is one of the premier talents on the OL in the WI Class of 2024. He possesses an elite frame that has added about 15 lbs this offseason pushing him to 6'4" 280 lbs. The big man is a mauler of a RT. He easily walks DL off the all in the run game with a wide base and solid hand placement. He is a smooth mover in pass protection too as he mirrors pass rushers. His punch is strong and is able to slow or redirect rushers. Mitch looks like a D1 talent, and he should have a great collection of film to watch this fall. He is the anchor of a talented OL.   [player_tooltip player_id="268944" first="Karson" last="Ernst"], '24- OL: Another key piece to the Kaukauna OL is the 6'3" 290 lbs OG. Karson has cement hands that deliver a devastatnig punch. His first contact sends DL to the ground in the run and pass game. Any defenders that survive the initial punch aren't in any better shape as the big man is easily able to wash them down the line with his superior strength. Karson is going to be a tone setter on the interior of the OL and he is going to be another top OL prospect by his senior season.   <h2>More Players to Know</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id="104499" first="Garrett" last="Weyenberg"], '23- QB   [player_tooltip player_id="268987" first="Nolan" last="Hall"], '24- WR   [player_tooltip player_id="104500" first="Quinn" last="Buchinger"], '23- TE   [player_tooltip player_id="304528" first="Owen" last="Maas"], '23- ATH   [player_tooltip player_id="270689" first="Sawyer" last="Steineke"], '24- ATH   [player_tooltip player_id="383799" first="Sam" last="Glendenning"], '25- OL   <h2>2022 Schedule/ Games to Circle</h2>   Aug 18: @ Ashwaubenon   Aug 26: vs West De Pere   This is going to be an exciting game between two teams that finished 2021 around .500, but both teams are returning almost all their key pieces on offense. I am expecting a high scoring, back and forth game as the two teams look to enter conference play with a W. This is going to be a big test for Kaukauna's defense as they will have to slow down an offense that has one of the most electric RBs in the state, as well as a big bodied WR who has proven over and over that he is a name to know at camps and during the season. Going into conference play at potentially 2-0 would be a huge. This is a game high on my list for matchups I want to attend in Week 2.   Sept 2: vs Appleton North   Sept 9: @ Oshkosh North   Sept 16: @ Oshkosh West   Sept 23: Vs Fond du Lac   These two teams actually tied for third place in the FVA with a 4-3 conference record. However, Fondy's 38-14 victory gave them the tiebreaker over the Ghosts. The matchup this fall is going to be a good one. Fondy finished their season in Level 2 of the playoffs, and they return their leading rusher, leading receiver, and leader in INTs along with several other keys pieces on both sides of the ball. This is a great time for Kaukauna to matchup with one of the best in the conference. We will get a look at how ready Kaukauna is to play against the best as this will be their toughest matchup of the season to this point.   Sept 30: @ Neenah   Oct 7: vs Appleton East   Oct 14: @ Kimberly   Depending on how the season goes, this could be a must win game, or potentially a decider of Conference Champion. To qualify for playoffs teams need to go 4-3 in their conference. With the high level of competition, this game could decide whether Kaukauna goes home or moves on to the postseason. Or, it may decide a conference champion if both teams are able to run the gambit that is the FVA. Either way, this will be Kaukauna's toughest matchup. Kimberly is loaded up on offense and defense. This will require everyone's best effort for Kaukauna to do what they need to do. This will also be a great measuring stick for Kaukauna as Kimberly should be a Title contender on paper.   <h2>Championship History</h2>   State Championship: N/A   State Runner Up: 1992

Kaukauna is an exciting team to look into heading into the 2022 season. Head coach Matt Binsfeld and the Ghosts return several rising stars on the OL, in the backfield, and at the QB position, but they will have to find replacements for one of the top receivers and LBs in the state of WI. With a key leader on both sides of the ball graduating and moving on to the collegiate level it is going to be key for new athletes to step up and lead the team. A team that finished 2021 with a 6-4 record following a Level 1, 14-13, playoff loss to Hartford. With new options needed in the passing game and on defense, we are in position to see several breakout players in Kaukauna.