Despite youth Nashville looks to contend in River-to-River Conference

The Nashville Hornets began the 2015 season looking to replace their starting quarterback and entire starting offensive line. They ended it in late November in the Class 2A State Football playoffs, one win shy of a berth in the state title game.

In 2016, the scenario, although similar, is a little brighter as fifth year head coach Tim Kuhn at least has quarterback Andrew Kash and lineman Kyler Klingenberg of which to build around.

“It’s the nature of high school football, working with new players each year and watching them develop,” Kuhn said. “The amount of work and the level of success that the group of kids the past two years have been able to achieve has set the tone for future teams to follow.

“I really have been impressed by what I have seen from these kids throughout the summer and again last week when we started practice. We started them out slow in June and brought them along. I think we may actually be ahead of schedule.”

With Kash (6-2, 170) returning to lead a Hornets offense which returns only three starters and highly-touted sophomore defensive lineman Dylan Kwaitkowski (6-3, 255) returning to pace an always strong defense, the Hornets should be in the hunt for a playoff bid again in ‘16.

Offense

Kash, whose emergence as an offensive leader helped pave the way for the Hornettes post season run, should be among the best quarterbacks in the south this Fall and will have a pair of strong receivers in tight ends Cole Pedtke (6-4., 205) and Jake Heck along with senior wide receiver Drew Barczewski of which to target.

Senior Ethan Reed is another receiver while among the running backs will seniors Neil Kachuba, Grant Reed, Arturo Garcia and juniors Seth Guinup and Dylan Malone.

But the key on offense will be finding a cohesive offensive line.

“I’m hoping it doesn’t take too long for us to gel because we start the season in a couple of weeks,” Kuhn said. “The players we have up front are almost all new starters. But they have done the work in the weight room and throughout the summer to get ready. I have a lot of confidence that they’ll step up.”

Defense

Grant Reed, Garcia and Guinup should also be mainstays on defense and along with senior Ross Gomora will play at the linebacker spots, while Ethan Reed could be among the top defensive backs in the conference. Pedtke and Heck are listed as defensive ends and could also be key two-way starters for Nashville.

But alot of attention will center around Kwaitkowski who could be the Hornets next big name Division I recruit.

“He came in last year and played very well. You don’t find that happening very often with freshmen,” Kuhn said. “He had a big interception in one of our playoff games last year and for someone so young, has good strength and moves very well.”

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This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 3:16 PM with the headline "Despite youth Nashville looks to contend in River-to-River Conference."