High school football season preview: MASCOUTAH INDIANS
In addition to losing 14 starters to graduation, Mascoutah head coach Scott Battas will do without four more thanks to military transfers.
That includes all-state running back Misikei Thompsen, whose 765 yards led the Cahokia conference, and 60 tackles from middle linebacker led his team. He’ll be playing this fall in Oregon.
Others lost to military transfers include AJ Lazoro (7 catches, 170 yards, 4 touchdowns),
The Indians bring back just three starters from a team that averaged nearly 30 points-per-game and finished a misleading 4-5.
OFFENSE
Senior Noah Dressler steps in as quarterback after serving last season as the junior varsity starter and Tim Parks’ understudy.
Battas also welcomes Jacob Williams, a military transfer from North Carolina, who will take Thompsen’s place at running back and middle linebacker.
Juniors Jasaun King and Darius Cooley also will get some carries. Mike Forguson, a returning defensive starter, will get some time at fullback.
The only starter on offense returning to his regular position is wide receiver Devante Machado (6 catches, 88 yards, touchdown). Junior Glen Gibbons also will be a target for Dressler.
Senior Brandon Curl saw action last season on the offensive line and will be called on to be a leader on the unit in 2015. He’ll be joined by center Dalton Martin and tackle Justin Stephens.
DEFENSE
Williams will get some help at linebacker from another military transfer, Reid Roberts. Christian Lugo and Jordan Flores also will compete for playing time.
At the corners will be Gibbons and A.J. Albers, while Machado, Cooley and King will play at safety.
The defensive line will consist of Curl at nosetackle and Stephens at one end spot. Other positions are up for grabs.
— Todd Eschman
2015 Schedule
Date | Opponent | Time |
Aug. 28 | Central | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 4 | at Effingham | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 11 | Mount Zion | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 18 | Highland | 7 p.m. |
Sept. 25 | at Civic Memorial | 7 p.m. |
Oct. 2 | Triad | 7 p.m. |
Oct. 9 | at Jerseyville | 7 p.m. |
Oct. 16 | Waterloo | 7 p.m. |
Oct. 23 | at Centralia | 7 p.m. |
2014 Results
Opponent | Result | Score |
at Central | W | 35-21 |
Effingham | L | 35-13 |
at Mount Zion | W | 27-26 |
at Waterloo | L | 20-14 |
Jerseyville | L | 34-28 |
at Triad | W | 39-27 |
Civic Memorial | W | 21-20 |
at Highland | L | 59-39 |
Centralia | L | 52-48 |
This story was originally published August 23, 2015 at 11:16 AM with the headline "High school football season preview: MASCOUTAH INDIANS."