2023 Program Previews | Bennington Badgers
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Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: OscarGalindo30 in the coupon code area. For our next program preview, we take a look at the Class B state champions, the Bennington Badgers. Bennington faced several questions and challenges going into last…
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For our next program preview, we take a look at the Class B state champions, the Bennington Badgers. Bennington faced several questions and challenges going into last year, despite coming off an all-time 13-0 championship season. Several losses on defense, the loss of a 4,000-yard rusher, and an entire OL loomed large for the Badgers.
Nonetheless, they met every challenge face-on and saw many young players step up, with several of them outplaying their inexperience. The result was no different, as the Badgers ended the year in Memorial Stadium, celebrating their second straight undefeated championship season. This season they will see a lot of similar challenges, including losing a QB, RB, and WR trio that was firing on all cylinders. Some games to circle on the Badger’s schedule include the season opener against Class B power Skutt Catholic. York, who usually fields a tough squad, will travel to Bennington in Week 3. Week 5 & 6 feature tough matchups against physical teams in Elkhorn and Blair. Elkhorn North in Week 8 is one that I will definitely be watching closely.
Key Games:
Week 1 @ Skutt Catholic, Week 3 York, Week 5 Elkhorn, Week 6 Blair, Week 8 Elkhorn North
2022 Record: 13-0, Class B State Champions.
2023 Schedule:
8/15 – Skutt Catholic (A)
9/1 – Plattsmouth (H)
9/8 – York (A)
9/15 – Pius X (H)
9/22 – Elkhorn (A)
9/29 – Blair (H)
10/6 – Omaha Westview (A)
10/13 – Elkhorn North (H)
10/20 – Mount Michael Benedictine (H)
Team Social Media: https://twitter.com/Badger_FB
Seniors to Watch:
Gunnar Lym Gunnar Lym 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Bennington | 2024 State NE | DB | 6’0″ 180 lbs | North Dakota Commit
One of the top defenders in the state, senior safety Gunnar Lym Gunnar Lym 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Bennington | 2024 State NE , will be back for his third year as a varsity starter for the Badgers. Gunnar has been a key defensive player in Bennington’s dominant two-year stretch. He’s an extremely rangy defender with excellent ball skills and instincts that allow him to make splash plays. Gunnar racked up 92 tackles, a tackle for loss, four interceptions, and over 650+ yards on kick and punt returns. Lym decided to shut down his recruitment with his recent commitment to the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
Jimmy Miller Jimmy Miller 6'2" | 250 lbs | OL Bennington | 2024 State NE | OL | 6’2″ 240 lbs
Jimmy stepped up big time last season as the Badgers looked to pivot from losing their entire OL. Miller did more than hold his own, showing a great level of physicality and technique. He ended the season on a great note and has only continued to improve throughout the offseason working on his fundamentals and bulking up to 240 pounds. Miller holds offers from Peru State, Graceland, and Midland.
Ben Gilliland Ben Gilliland 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Bennington | 2024 State NE | LB | 6’0″ 195 lbs
Ben is a dude that loves to get after it on defense. He ended the season with 65 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and six sacks as he patrolled one of the inside linebacker spots. Ben does a great job attacking his gaps and can track the ball in the backfield very well. Once Ben gets to his guy, it’s over, as he does very well with his tackling mechanics. Don’t overlook this guy!
KJ Taffa Jr | WR | 5’8″ 155 lbs
KJ is a shifty, agile receiver that should get quite a few looks out of the slot. Taff will be the returning leader in receiving yards with 350 yards on 17 receptions and two touchdowns. I got the chance to watch him at the STB Showcase in June, in which he did a great job in 1v1s and shined during the combine portion. KJ runs clean routes, can explode from his cuts, and has 4.5 speed to challenge defenses vertically. He holds an offer from Nebraska Wesleyan.
Ben Jorgensen Ben Jorgensen 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Bennington | 2024 State NE | WR/TE | 6’0″ 170 lbs
Ben is a bit of a tweener at his position falling into that TE-WR hybrid role on the Badger offense. In 2022, Ben caught 17 receptions for 177 yards and two touchdowns while lining up as a tight end and slipping to the outside. He does a great job finding the weak spots in the opposing coverage and finding an open window to give his QB a safety valve target. Ben is also a great asset as a blocker.
Kale Kaufmann Kale Kaufmann 5'11" | 235 lbs | DL Bennington | 2024 State NE | DL | 5’11” 265 lbs
Kale started for the Badgers on the defensive line last season and registered 57 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a sack. He will be back to clog up the interior lanes on the defense. I don’t have a ton of tape on Kale, so I can’t say too much about his game, but with 57 tackles, it speaks for itself.
Quinton Archer Quinton Archer 5'6" | 165 lbs | RB Bennington | 2024 State NE | RB | 5’6″ 165 lbs
Quinton will be returning as the team leader in rushing yards with 318 yards on 53 carries and scored three touchdowns. Archer looks ready to continue the recent run of elite running backs in the Bennington Badger. Quinton is a shifty back that can cut and juke his way to the open field with great acceleration when he clears the defense.
Other Players to Watch:
Jack Jansen Jack Jansen 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Bennington | 2025 State NE | 2025 | OL | 6’2″ 225 lbs
A great surprise from the rebuilt OL a year ago, only a sophomore, Jack Jansen Jack Jansen 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Bennington | 2025 State NE , did not flinch as he took over the right tackle spot. Now a junior, Jack is ready to get back to dominating in the trenches. He’s a very fluid mover with great footwork and lateral quickness. Physical at the point of contact and always in a good position.
Jacob Strader Jacob Strader 5'11" | 205 lbs | OL Bennington | 2025 State NE | 2025 | OL | 5’11” 190 lbs
Another key returner on the offensive line. Jacob Strader Jacob Strader 5'11" | 205 lbs | OL Bennington | 2025 State NE took over the center spot and did a great job providing inside running lanes for his backs all season. He’s not a big lineman, but he plays bigger and stronger than his listed size (although he probably bulked up this offseason). Uses leverage very well and fights all the way through the whistle.
Layne Boever Layne Boever 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Bennington | 2025 State NE | 2025 | LB | 5’8″ 170 lbs
Junior Layne Boever Layne Boever 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Bennington | 2025 State NE stepped up into one of the inside linebacker roles last season and wreaked havoc with 71 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a safety. He is a smart, instinctive ‘backer that does a great job getting downhill and filling his gaps. Layne also does a great job in pass coverage with solid range and ball skills.
Kyler Lauridsen Kyler Lauridsen 5'11" | 170 lbs | LB Bennington | 2025 State NE | 2025 | LB | 5’10” 160 lbs
One of the top returning tacklers in the state, Kyler Lauridsen Kyler Lauridsen 5'11" | 170 lbs | LB Bennington | 2025 State NE , lit up ball-carriers all season long in his first year on varsity. Kyler finished the season with 102 tackles, 14 TFLs, four sacks, and three interceptions as only a sophomore. Similar to Layne, Kyler is a player that you can assign to do anything, and he’ll do it at a high level. He’s very physical and a great, sound tackler that can defend the run and rush the QB. Kyler also does a great job dropping back into coverage and showed great ball skills/hand use with three picks and several PBUs. I believe he played last season around 145ish (not 100% sure), so seeing him listed at 160 should be a scary sight for opposing ball carriers.
Kaleb Fahnholz Kaleb Fahnholz 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Bennington | 2026 NE | 2026 | WR | 6’0″ 160 lbs
The Badgers will need players to step up at receiver, and one that could do that is sophomore Kaleb Fahnholz Kaleb Fahnholz 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Bennington | 2026 NE . Kaleb is a tall, lengthy receiver who generates a great burst off the line. I don’t have a ton of tape on Kaleb, but from the clips I’ve seen, he does a great job stretching defenses and providing a deep ball option.
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