Numbers set bar high for Fairfield football

If two is company and three?s a crowd, what does someone call a 66-member varsity football team?

Turns out any number of positive terms will do.

With 66 players out for Trojan football, including 27 sophomores, Fairfield is in the midst of a football renaissance. The result, according to head coach Mike Schenck, has been unprecedented depth and competition at nearly every position.

?It?s probably the largest number of kids we?ve had since the late ?70s, early ?80s,? said Schenck, who is back for his 23rd year as head coach. ?Kids wants to be part of something successful. It?s a positive experience for them, and it?s also led to some good competition for positions.?

In fact, Fairfield football is so popular right now there aren?t enough jerseys to go around. The team has had to dip into its uniforms from years past to dress all its players, and some have even had to share the same numbers.

The Trojans? No. 1 weapon from last season?s playoff-qualifying team, Dillon Fry, is back under center after leading the Trojans in both passing (1,341 yards) and rushing (781 yards) as a junior. Once again, the fleet-footed Fry will be tasked with leading a balanced offense and should pick up big numbers through both the air and on the ground.

?I think he?s a much more confident leader, definitely has an idea of what?s expected of him. Not to put a lot of pressure on him, but how he goes is how our offense is going to go,? said Schenck.

Fry will have plenty of weapons to get it done, especially at wideout where fellow senior Spencer Peterman returns. The 6-foot-2 receiver made 28 catches for 353 yards in 2011, and Schenck isn?t holding back praise with a full season now under the senior?s belt.

?Peterman may be one of the best wide receivers we?ve ever had,? the head coach said. ?He?s going to have an unbelievable year for us, I think.?

Outside of Peterman, only one other current player, Vince Horras, caught a pass last year. The 6-foot-5 tight end hauled in one catch for nine yards in a 49-7 away win over Chariton, but the junior should see an expanded role due to the departure of Davis Lowenberg.

The rest of the receivers will be new to catching passes from Fry, but Schenck has been impressed with them in preseason practices. Receivers making their debut will be Alex Shier, Kyle Wierup, Alex Love and Nick Jackson at wideout, while Seth Davisson will be backing up Horras at tight end.

?We?ve got some kids who can catch the ball,? said Schenck. ?I?ve been very happy with them.?

Injury befell both Justin Hammes and Mason Carnahan last fall, but both seniors will be looking to make up for lost time in 2012. Hammes sat out the second half of the season with a high ankle sprain but is expected to do a little bit of everything, from special teams to tailback. Carnahan was in the running for starting tailback last season before breaking his arm, and he once again will be in the mix for carries.

Together, the two senior backs form a dangerous three-man stable with Jonathan Hoehne, a junior transfer from Crestwood.

?He?s a very talented kid as well,? Schenck said of Hoehne. ?People are going to get familiar with him real quick.?

Riley Hammel or Kooper Dahlstrom may see some time at fullback, if Schenck opts to use one.

The line has always been a strength for Fairfield, but Schenck admittedly expects some growing pains thanks to a few big departures, including Cody Kool, Tanner Metcalf and Nathan Maynard.

?It?s going to be really difficult at first for the guys up front,? said Schenck. ?We?re not going to be nearly as big as we have been in the past.?

In fact, the average weight on the line is way down this season ? from 233 to 213 pounds ? but what the linemen lack in size, they more than make up for in scrap and quickness. A three-year letterman, Jake Mineart leads the group in both qualities and is the only 2011 all-district selection returning for the Trojans. 255-pound senior Patrick Ives is the biggest starting lineman of the bunch and also played some varsity last season. The two tackles will be joined by Austin Deao and Mason Ellis, both of whom missed time due to injury last fall, as well as center Justin Leonard on the starting line.

Austin Gridley, Jake Kessel, Brett Scott and Gabe Jaquez also will be in the mix on both lines, and the nine- to 10-man rotation should help keep Fairfield?s undersized group from wearing down. All are expected to play on both sides of the ball.

The team?s depth also stretches to linebacker, where seniors Davisson and Josh Dimmitt should lead the group after gaining valuable experience last season.

Inside linebackers include Davisson along with Hammel, Deao and Aaron Gevock. Outside linebackers will be a combination of Dimmitt, Dahlstrom, Cody Cohen and Daniel Schwarz.

?Our hope is to platoon as much as possible,? said Schenck. ?Put 20-22 different starters out on the field so we can wear people down.?

Hoehne and Hammes will start at cornerback to begin the season, and a combination of Jonny Swanson, Jackson, Love and Shier will back them up at safety.

Of all the positives Schenck sees entering the season, it?s the players? attitude that impresses him most.

?This appears to be one of the most coachable groups that we?ve had for a while,? he said. ?The kids enjoy practice, they enjoy being with each other ... and I?ve been very, very impressed with their attitude and their work ethic. It?s just been unbelievable.?

Schenck hopes that strong work ethic translates into a handful of wins, but the schedule doesn?t make it easy on the Trojans to start. With consecutive matchups against Washington, Williamsburg, Keokuk and Mount Pleasant to open district play, Fairfield should quickly see where it stands with the rest of the field.

?I don?t think there?s any doubt about it our toughest district games are our first four,? Schenck said. ?For us it?s going to be how quickly we gel as a football team, and we should be a team that gets better as the season goes on.?

?We?ve got a good league, but I also think we have a chance at having a real good football team.?

The Trojans kick off the season Friday in Albia.