By Bryan Bloodworth
Winning has become the rule rather than the exception around the University High School football team over the last four years.
The Pioneers have posted a 38-6 record during that span, winning the last three Corn Belt Conference titles, and putting together a current string of 28 straight regular-season wins including 21 in the conference.
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Second-year coach Mike Troll knows he has some holes to fill from last year’s 9-1 team, but he doesn’t expect the winning to stop.
“Our saying this year is ‘you don’t inherit wins, you create them.’ That’s the attitude we’ve had and the kids have bought into it,” said Troll. “We’re replacing a lot of kids this year, but we’ve done that every year.
“Based on how hard our kids have worked this summer, I don’t expect anything different as far as our effort and quality of play during the year.”
The Pioneers will rely on running back Jo Jo Hughes to set the tone behind the blocking of veteran linemen Alex Walker at center and 6-foot-2, 285-pound junior tackle Packard Otto.
“Jo Jo will obviously play a big part of the offense,” said Troll of his senior, who rushed for 406 yards and added 603 yards in receiving a year ago.
The Pioneers must replace their top five receivers and will have sophomore Doug Holmes at quarterback. His targets are likely to be juniors Garrett Murray, Nate Robinson and Emanuel Bada, along with sophomores Trey Heffner and Ty Ziebarth.
Defense will be the team’s strength as the Pioneers return a very strong front seven led by ends Austin Galindo and Logan Wolf. The 6-6, 245-pound Galindo is a Division I prospect and has drawn interest from Ball State, Illinois State and Northern Iowa. He has been offered scholarships from ISU and Northern Iowa.
“We’ve got two bookends at defensive ends, who are big, strong and seniors who really get after it,” added Troll. “And we have Duncan Terry at inside linebacker. Those three by themselves make us better.”
The 6-2, 170-pound Terry led the Pioneers with 127 tackles and six sacks last year, while Galindo had 14.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Other key defensive returnees are tackles Skylar Bunton and Nathan Ummel.
“I’m excited,” said Troll, whose team opens the season Friday at 7:30 p.m. in a nonconference game at Urbana. “You’re always nervous and anxious at this time of year. But if we capitalize and maintain our strengths, we’re going to be a good football team.”
Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at [email protected]
