Countdown to kickoff: Class 1A Sleeper
This is the fourth part in Northstar Football News' profiles of teams who might surprise in the 2017 season. Over the course of the 10 days, we will attempt highlight a "sleeper" team from each level that we believe will have a bounce back year this fall after finishing with a .500 or worse record in 2016.
NFN's 2017 1A sleeper: Kingsland Knights
2016 Record: 0-9
Returning starters: Cody Merkel G, Matthew Woods G/DE, Hunter Fabian C/DT, Josh Warren T, Austin Stephans T/DT, Brydn Willford TE/LB, Ethan Fenske QB/FS, Nick Ramaker WR/DE, Reid Kruegel WR/CB, Dallas Jones LB, Lucas Howard LB
I don't know if there is a team that has had a tougher stretch of seasons than Kingsland.
Not only have they gone winless the last handful of falls, but they were also shutout in the majority of their games in 2016. They also had to forfeit their first round playoff game in 2015.
Why would I pick the Knights – a team that has not won a game in five years - as my sleeper team? Kingsland isn't going to compete for any titles, and I am not sure if they are going to get to the .500 mark, but I think they are going to end that losing streak.
It would be hard to find a program that has returned more starters than the Knights. In 2016, they started nine underclassmen on offense and nine underclassmen on defense. With a smaller school, most of those starters go both ways.
Included in those returning starters include the entire offensive line and the starting quarterback. Senior Ethan Fenske brings experience to the offense at the critical quarterback position. He will be lining up right behind two of the guys coach Brent Stinson feels are the best players on the offensive side of the ball – guards Cody Merkel and Matthew Woods.
Merkel and Woods will anchor the defensive line as well.
Stinson likes the experience he has along both sides of the line of scrimmage as well as the team's speed. Unlike some of the teams selected in this series of stories I don't expect Kingsland to make a deep run in the Class A playoffs, but with all of their experience, they are bound to pick up a handful of wins in Stinson's second year at the helm.
The schedule looks tough but in addition to the playing experience Kingsland is bringing back to the field I would imagine they are bringing a unique sense of team. You can't go through a season like the Knights had, return nearly everyone from that season and not have a bond.
It is evident these players are not going to give up on each other and once they get that first victory and this group of kids gets a taste of winning it will show what sticking through the tough times can do for a team.
