Bulldogs ready to roar on offense

By David Wilhelm

Updated August 20, 2016 3:51 PM

There will be no shortage of offensive firepower for the Highland Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs, who were 8-2 last season, return junior quarterback Garrett Marti, senior tailback Trent Rakers and sophomore wide receiver Sam LaPorta.

Offense

Marti (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) and Rakers (5-9, 170) combined to rush for 1,593 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Marti also passed for 921 yards and nine TDs. LaPorta (6-2, 185) showed poise as a freshman, catching 11 passes for 184 yards. He also took over at quarterback when Marti was injured against Triad.

“I like the fact that we have who I consider to be one of the best tailbacks in the (Mississippi Valley) conference, if not the best, in Trent Rakers,” sixth-year Highland coach Jimmy Warnecke said. “He is an excellent football player.

“I like the fact that we have our quarterback returning. Garrett is a different kid this year, especially throwing the ball. Last year, he did really well on the ground running the ball and being a big-play threat for us when Andrew (Winning) went down. But we’ve been charting all his throws this summer and he’s increased his accuracy.

“And what Sam LaPorta gives us offensively is a deep threat and a guy who can take over in the passing game. That’s going to help us a lot as far as freeing up the running game.”

We have a group of sophomores that will be seeing the field this year that aren’t normal sophomores.

Jimmy Warnecke

Highland head football coach

Warnecke said the Bulldogs are “young and unproven in other spots.”

“But we’ve got some kids that have been successful at the lower levels,” he said. “We have a group of sophomores that will be seeing the field this year that aren’t normal sophomores.”

Two of them are Brady Feldmann and Brayton Moss, who will line up in the backfield in support of the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Rakers, who will get the majority of the work.

Other wideouts are junior Cameron Altadonna and Dylan Shaw and seniors Andy Kampwerth and Justin Bugger. Junior Isaiah Harmon is a transfer from Belleville East.

“He has a chance to be a pretty special player for us,” Warnecke said.

Senior Wade Clarkin (5-9, 250) is the only returning starter on the offensive line and will play right tackle. Others on the line will be senior Brett Brown (5-11, 210) at right tackle, junior Dylan Knebel (5-6, 220) at center, junior Colton Knebel (5-5, 205) at left guard and senior Jacob Fenton at left tackle (6-0, 255), with sophomore Mitchell Focht also in the mix.

“Those (Knebel) guys are as mean and nasty as they come,” Warnecke said.

Defense

The Bulldogs have two returning starters: junior linebacker Kyle Lane (5-11, 205), who had a team-high 88 tackles last season, and strong safety Rakers (43 tackles).

“Kyle’s the strongest kid on our team,” Warnecke said. “He’s a physical specimen. He’s started since he was a freshman and has really come into his own this year.”

Other candidates to start on defense are seniors Ian Frasier and Cauy Hartlieb at end, junior Nick Bottom at tackle, Moss and juniors Sebi Wolf and Noah Schmitt at linebacker, LaPorta at free safety and Shaw, Altadonna, senior Nick Vidmar and sophomore Jake Kruse at cornerback. Both Knebels and Brown will be on the line.

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