Panthers look to replace key leaders

Panthers quarterback AJ Frisby, shown here last season, looks to have another standout season after scoring 19 rushing touchdowns a year ago.
Panthers quarterback AJ Frisby, shown here last season, looks to have another standout season after scoring 19 rushing touchdowns a year ago.

Wilmot opens play at Bradford

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

When a team loses several leaders, it makes the uphill battle in the competitive Southern Lakes Conference more grueling, but Panthers’ coach Erick Kaiser knows it will be a difficult task.

Wilmot Union High School, who finished third in the SLC at 5-2, a game behind conference co-champions Waterford and Lake Geneva last year, open its season at non conference opponent Kenosha Bradford Friday.

The Panthers concluded its 2015 season in a 28-0 WIAA Division 2 Level 2 loss at Waukesha West.

Last year, the Panthers won its season-opener 21-16 against the Red Devils, who finished 4-5 overall and 3-4 in the predominantly Division 1 Southeast Conference.

However, entering this year, the Panthers need to replace their team-leader in receiving yards, Christian Janssen, and co-conference leaders in sacks, Bobby Brenner and Wyatt Heckel, who notched nine apiece.

Additionally, they lose seniors Mason Nindl and Linc Bennett, who also tied for the team-lead in interceptions with two, from the backfield.

“Every year it’s impossible to replace the guys we lose,” Kaiser said. “We just hope to keep getting better to match what they did the previous year.”

Despite graduation losses, the quarterback option offense scheme, led by junior returning returning-letter AJ Frisby and a loaded backfield that includes senior Jake Raiman and dual-threat Robert Brent should give the Panthers plenty of opportunities to spread the ball around.

As sophomore, Frisby led the Panthers in passing and rushing yards, completing 53 passes on 129 attempts for 1,025 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Furthermore, he added 623 yards rushing on 139 attempts with 19 touchdowns.

Frisby’s option mates, Raiman rushed for 480 yards on 86 carries while Brent, as a sophomore, had 37 carries for 266 yards.

While Kaiser expects to Brent to have more playing time offensively, the dual-threat looks to accrue the same as a defensive back, where he tied Bennett for the team-lead in interceptions with two.

Senior receiver David Faber and newcomer Cullen Ketterhagen are both expected to fill the void left by Janssen, who had 14 catches for 490 yards and a team-leading six touchdowns.

Also gone are first-team all-SLC offensive lineman Steven Hand, tackles leader Kyle Mackay on the defensive line and linebacker Landen Pelky.

Kaiser, who knows the Wolverines and Badgers finished ahead of them a year ago, stated the SLC will have similar results this year.
“The entire conference is competitive,” he said. “We just hope to compete and improve daily.”

SCHEDULE
Aug. 19 – at Kenosha Bradford
Aug. 26 – Cudahy
Sept. 2 – Waterford
Sept. 9 – at Elkhorn
Sept. 16 – Union Grove
Sept. 23 – at Lake Geneva Badger
Sept. 30 – Burlington
Oct. 7 – at Westosha Central
Oct. 14 – Delavan-Darien


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