SPASH Panthers ready to make playoff run By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette The Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) football team knows what it takes to make the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) playoffs. The Panthers finished the season 4-5 overall and 3-5 in the Wisconsin Valley Conference, falling short of making the playoffs, while five other Valley teams did. "This year we're a little more motivated," said Panther head coach Pete McAdams, who is entering his third season in that capacity. Making the playoffs won't be easy, he admits. "We have some voids to fill." Among those is the spot taken by Jake Nantell, who graduated. "Last year he was a real strong player on the defensive line that we will miss." After the first few days of two-a-days, McAdams admits surprise at what he's seeing. "We're pretty pleased," he said. "The kids have a lot of confidence. The players seem to have set the playoffs as a goal." The season starts Friday, Aug. 30, against Rhinelander, and McAdams said the team still hasn't won its first game of the season. "We have a lot to prove, more to ourselves than anyone else. It's exciting to see the enthusiasm." In high school football, as well as college, every year means some type of rebuilding effort, and the 2002 season is no different. The area with the most experience on the team is the offensive line. "The offensive line has really worked," he said. "They have been working out. They're a pretty tight group. These kids know they have a lot to prove yet. Last year wasn't the most successful experience." Mike Kovatch, Joe Kinsella and Jeremy Fritsch are the three returning linemen with the most experience. Getting quite a bit of playing time were Adam Stevenson, Isaac Tetzloff, Cam Verhagen and Matt Behrens. "We think we might have some juniors that might be able to jump in and help us out," McAdams said. Offensively, SPASH would like to establish a running game. "That will open our passing attack," he said. "With our offensive line being pretty big and pretty experienced, I feel we can establish the running game." McAdams is expecting Jason Pezewski to pick up from last year when he replaced an injured Eric Napiwocki in the last several games. "He is returning with more experience," McAdams said. Fullback Jarrod Fahrner is also returning with a year of experience under his belt. At quarterback, junior Ted Schlafke finished the season as the starter and has the most experience, and McAdams said he's battling with senior Josh Jeffers, who was the starter until sidelined with an injury. Jeffers was suffering some tendinitis, but McAdams said Jeffers isn't stepping aside and relinquishing the position. The receiver position also has some big shoes to fill. "Nate Olson will be a tough kid to replace," McAdams said. "He was the fastest in the valley and led in the number of receptions and total yards." Returning seniors Ryan Reko, Ben Sankey and Zach Bachman will vie for the openings at wide receiver. One of the most important positions on the team, tight end, is in the capable hands of Ryan Kawski. "He's strong and can run very well," McAdams said. "We like to run to the strong side or get the tight end the ball on a quick pass. Play-action is particularly important." On defense, McAdams feels the most difficult task will be replacing the defensive line. "We lost some important people, we lost four seniors" he said. "We'll have first-time starters. Now it's pretty open." Leading the way, he said, are defensive ends Evan Clucas and Todd Zurawski and defensive tackle Cole Jacquin. "We've also got some juniors fighting for positions," McAdams said. At linebacker, Nate Quick and Adam Evanoff have graduated, leaving Dan Harke, who's been a starter at inside linebacker for two seasons, to take over the leadership role. Also returning is Landon Quick, an outside linebacker, and Kawski, who had played linebacker but focused on tight end last year after getting Lyme disease. McAdams said he prefers using a platoon system as much as possible so a player gets better by learning just one position, but he'll make exceptions for players like Kawski. "If there's kids that contribute on both sides of the ball for us, then we'll do that." In the defensive backfield, Erik Napiwocki who played some free safety, returns, along with Joel Hojnacki, who started as cornerback, leaving the other positions open. "Nick Hubbard and Jarod Hoerter are trying to win spots in the starting lineup," McAdams said. "Our secondary is really strong on depth. I think we have some juniors in the secondary that will be solid players for us and could wind up starting for us." With the season still a week away from starting, McAdams said there's still a lot of work to accomplish on the practice field. "Every year the Valley is the toughest conference in the state. If we look at the last 10 years, how many times has a Valley team represented us in the state tournament. "I feel we'll be able to compete with everybody in the Valley this year. Every team that goes in believing in what they're doing, and feels especially prepared, will come out on top," he said. "Our kids are very motivated right now. They remember losing to (D.C.) Everest in overtime. They remember being able to move the ball pretty much at will against Marshfield. They remember the heartbreaks they had against some of the other teams.I hope they use that as motivation," McAdams said. SPASH 2002 Football Schedule Friday, Aug. 30, at Rhinelander, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Escanaba, Mich., 6 p.m. (CDT) Friday, Sept. 13, vs. Merrill, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, at Wausau West, 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, vs. Antigo (homecoming), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at Marshfield, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, vs. Wisconsin Rapids, 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at D.C. Everest, 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24, vs. Wausau East, 7 p.m.