WESCLIN: Warriors put their year on the line -- a big, deep line

TRENTON -- A bounty of burly offensive linemen could lay the foundation for a surprisingly successful season for the Wesclin Warriors.

"We have a big offensive line and an abundance of them," said Wesclin head coach Brandon Murphy. "It's probably the most offensive linemen we've ever had here. That's our strength."

Whether that translates into a sixth straight playoff bid remains to be seen for the Warriors, who open at 7 p.m. today at home against Metro-East Lutheran.

Wesclin must replace most of its offensive weapons from last year's club that finished 6-4 with a 35-13 loss to Marshall in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.

The Warriors lost all of its receivers and quarterbacks to graduation, and its top four running backs are gone. Of the 25 touchdowns scored last year by the Warriors, just one was scored by a returning player.

"I don't like to use the term 'rebuilding,'" said Murphy, a former McKendree University standout in his third season with the Warriors. "We have a lot of kids with experience, but not a lot of kids with starting experience. I think it's a very athletic and talented group of kids, but they're just unproven yet."

Murphy thinks there's enough raw talent for the Warriors to be a surprise contender in the Cahokia Conference, where Freeburg, Columbia and Central are the trendy picks.

"I think a lot of people are thinking we're not very good, and I like flying under the radar and being the underdog," Murphy said. "That's fine with me. We lost a lot of starters and most of our skill kids, but if everybody thinks you're not very good, that's a good position to be in."

Murphy is particularly jazzed about his offensive line.

Three starters return in seniors Caleb Kirkland (6-foot-1, 220 pounds), John Madson (6-2, 252) and Dustin Grosinske (5-9, 222). Juniors Mark Johnson (6-3, 232), Jared Tucker (6-0, 224), Kyle Baer (6-0, 216) and sophomores Ronnie Senyard (6-1, 185), Lathian Walthes (6-0, 191) and Roger Farmer (6-0, 180) add to the depth.

"Usually, most of our linemen have been tweeners," Murphy said. "They've been 180, 190 pounds. Two hundred pounds has been a big lineman for us. Now we have some guys that are in that 230, 240, 250 range. They're not big guys that can't move. They're strong and they're athletic."

Junior Josh Campbell (5-9, 1550) is the front-runner at quarterback, although sophomore Alex Sopiars and freshman Keith Haselhorst are pushing for playing time.

"He's not a big guy, but he's athletic and throws a pretty good ball," Murphy said of Campbell. "He's ahead of everybody right now, but there's a lot of competition. I think that's good. Any time you have competition for a position, that's an advantage for your team."

A crowded backfield is highlighted by junior Nate Schreiber (5-11, 165), who rushed for 54 yards on eight carries last year. Schreiber gained acclaim at the Class 1A state track meet in the spring when he finished fifth in both the 100- and 200-meter dash.

"He's lighting quick," Murphy said. "We're looking for big things from him. When you see him on the field, you can tell he's a step quicker than everybody else."

Seniors Josh Steenburgen (5-10, 180), Sean Depper (5-10, 180) and junior Jake Campbell will be the other tailbacks, while Kirkland will get some touches at fullback.

Seniors Brandon Weekley, Andy Silva and sophomores Matt Schaeffer, Chad Simondsen and Sopiars comprise an athletic wide receiving corps that can interchange with the running backs.

"We may not have the one kid that you can just depend on that you can get the ball to 30 times a game, or you're looking to throw it to him on every play, but we have a lot of balance," Murphy said. "It's going to make us tougher in the sense that you can't just say 'OK, we need to watch this kid.' We have a lot of kids we feel comfortable spreading the ball around."

Murphy is looking for big things on defense from Depper, Steenburgen and Kirkland at linebacker, Silva and Schreiber in the backfield and Madson and Grosinske on the offensive line.