Ashwaubenon aims to extend playoff streak
Cuatro.
It’s the nickname Ashwaubenon football coach Mark Jonas has bestowed upon senior quarterback Anthony Guarascio this year.
“We’ve had three scholarship quarterbacks in a row, so he’s got to be No. 4, right? There’s no pressure there,” Jonas kiddingly said.
Guarascio undoubtedly has some big cleats to fill in following in the footsteps of James Morgan (Bowling Green), Will Ark (Michigan Tech) and Ryan Johnson (Northern Michigan).
But Guarascio isn’t concerned right now with trying to make it four years in a row that the Jaguars could produce a NCAA Division I or II quarterback.
The only figure the 6-foot-3, 175-pounder is focused on is No. 20, as in helping his team extend its WIAA playoff streak to 20 straight years.
“Those guys before me helped me out a lot with my quarterback skills,” Guarascio said. “But we have a lot of connection as a team here, and I think we can pull something off this year.”
Despite having such talented signal-callers over the past three years, Ashwaubenon has managed only one playoff win over that time.
Guarascio’s play in pressure-packed situations will be crucial to determining if the Jaguars can not only make a deeper run in the postseason, but challenge for the Fox River Classic Conference title.
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“I think he’s really stepped up quite a bit,” Jonas said. “It’s something that we asked of him. … I don’t think the pressure that we’re putting on him is going to be any different than what he’s going to get everywhere else in his other sports.”
The Jaguars have to fill other spots on offense as well.
In addition to Johnson, receiver Payton Ellis and tight end David Clark have to be replaced as a first-team all-FRCC choices. Brock Koski, last year’s leading rusher, earned second-team all-conference and is another graduation loss. The trio accounted for 23 touchdowns.
Seniors Alex Stanko (running back), Will Adair (receiver) and Evan Wood (tight end) are top candidates for those jobs. Meanwhile, senior Nolan Reese will be a linchpin at center on the offensive line following a year in which he garnered second-team all-FRCC accolades.
“We’re trying to figure out who the pieces are going to be right now,” Jonas said.
“We really believe we’re going to win games with defense, which is different than what we’ve been the last three or four years. But we really believe we can. We’ll see.”
Jonas doesn’t forsee the defense allowing 34 points or more in five games like it did last season, including a first-round playoff loss to FRCC rival Green Bay Southwest.
Jonas feels strongly about seniors Anthony Boyd, Katayen Gardner and Tanner Mellinger on the defensive line.
The linebacking corps is led by junior Cam Wheeler, who recorded a team-high 79 tackles and three force fumbles on the way to earning second-team all-FRCC honors.
“He’s a special kid,” Jonas said of Wheeler.
Ultimately, Jonas feels the same way about Guarascio and the quarterback’s chances to play at the next level if he decides to pursue that path.
“We’ve been lucky as far as the quarterbacks go,” Jonas said.
“He’s got a decent shot at getting some looks from colleges. We had a couple Division I schools in from the spring who wanted to see him throw. It’s crazy given that he hasn’t started really. But he’s a good athlete, a three-sport kid. We’re just fortunate that way.”
Love these boys! The last time they owned the field was back in freshman year! I have watched these boys play every year and they always amaze me on their skills. Going to be a great senior year!
Thanks for what you do for high school kids that are playing sports and making the right decisions off the filial for as teenagers…. you will have my donation sir. Keep up the great job