O’Gorman’s Hunter Thompson takes part in a drill during practice Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, at McEneaney Field on the O’Gorman High School campus in Sioux Falls.
O’Gorman’s Hunter Thompson talks to his teammates in a huddle during practice Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, at McEneaney Field on the O’Gorman High School campus in Sioux Falls.
At O’Gorman’s McEneaney Field, it seems like everything is new.
Yes, the Knights are still the Knights, and they still wear blue, and they still play with 11 players on the field. But with an almost totally changed coaching staff, different systems on offense and defense and a vastly different core of starters and leaders, the change from Steve Kueter to first-year head coach Jayson Poppinga is in no way slight.
Poppinga, who came from Pierre after winning one state title and finishing runner-up for another in three years leading the Governors, has retained one coach – linebackers and running backs coach Ed Whiting – from the Knights’ previous staff. Poppinga will run O’Gorman’s offense, and his brother, former Augustana and Sioux Falls Storm defensive back Shannon Poppinga, will lead the defense.
Kueter was widely identified with a run-first double wing offense, a far cry from the pass-heavy spreads that many high schools and colleges run today, but in 2015, offensive coordinator Tyler Schulte helped bring more of those elements into O’Gorman’s game to leverage the athleticism and skills of players like quarterback Luke Fritsch and wide receiver Jack Peery.
Poppinga is moving even further in that direction. He won’t rely on the brisk tempo that many teams mix into the system, but the Knights will play with more wide receivers. As Poppinga sees it, the underlying strategy, of forcing teams to concentrate resources on defending one thing while dedicating less to another, is similar to how Kueter could make teams stuff the box and sacrifice pass coverage.
“For us, it’s how do you get enough guys in space in order to cover the field sideline to sideline,” Poppinga said. “It’s the same game – it’s just putting guys in different spots.”
On defense, the Knights will transition from a set with three defensive linemen and two linebackers as rush ends to a 4-3 defense, with three dedicated linebackers and a strong safety that can come down to the second level as well.
The process of learning the new systems has resulted in some long, intense preseason practices for the Knights, stretching five hours and longer.
“We’re just trying to get perfect,” senior linebacker Sam Burnison said. “And that’s all you can do, I guess.”
Perfection is unlikely to come early, if at all. Burnison is one of just three starters O’Gorman returns, and they’re all on defense. Senior Hunter Thompson started at cornerback on last year’s state runner-up team and is set to step in at quarterback this year. Senior Erik Wuestewald also started on the defensive line.
Apart from that, newcomers are plentiful. Iman Legesse, a junior, has been getting reps at running back, and junior Kenley Lamberty should contribute on the offensive line. A trying early-season slate – an opener at Rapid City Central and then games against Roosevelt, Brandon Valley and Washington – could make the Knights’ lack of experience especially evident.
“You play those three games – the Presidents’ Bowl, Dakota Bowl, all the hype, hoopla and stuff that goes with it – and the guys have only had one game of varsity experience, that’s tough,” Poppinga said. “No matter how much you practice, you put a bunch of fans in the stands, turn the lights on, and the eyes get bigger for these guys.”
The Knights don’t seem to be lacking in confidence, though.
“I think a lot of teams underestimate us, and we’re sick of that,” Burnison said. “So we’re just going to come out there and show them what we’re made of.”
Follow Ian Frazer on Twitter at @IanMcFrazer.
O’Gorman’s Isaac Struck catches a pass while participating a drill during practice Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016, at McEneaney Field on the O’Gorman High School campus in Sioux Falls.
AT A GLANCE
COACH: Jayson Poppinga (1st year)
2015: 9-3, Class 11AAA runners-up
RETURNING STARTERS: 0 offense, 3 defense
STRENGTHS: Solid size on the defensive line; head coach and defensive coordinator among the most highly-regarded in the state.
WEAKNESSES: New players and inexperience – with a new system and at the varsity level – all around.
TOP RETURNERS: QB/DB Hunter Thompson (Sr., 6-2, 185); LB Sam Burnison (Sr., 6-0, 200); DL Erik Wuestewald (Sr., 6-2, 230); DL John Milone (Sr., 6-4, 280)
OUTLOOK: The Knights will be a much-changed product in 2016, both on the sidelines and on the field. Poppinga is a proven winner, though, and there’s a solid group of seniors to help the numerous spots of inexperience.
OPENER: Aug. 26 at Rapid City Central, 7 p.m., Rapid City Central High School