West De Pere seeks balanced attack
DE PERE – The throw serves as evidence that Josh Blount was a freshman in name only last year.
The West De Pere quarterback had a simple read to make early in the third quarter of a WIAA Division 3 playoff game against Berlin.
The problem was a Berlin defender made it, too, jumping the hitch route that Garrett Kempen was going to run.
Kempen saw that and decided to take off downfield instead.
Most importantly, Blount saw it as well and threaded a needle down the sideline for a 21-yard touchdown right before the pass rush could get to him.
“Josh had to double clutch, took the ball back and put one over the corner for a touchdown,” West De Pere coach Jack Batten said. “It was a veteran play.”
The Phantoms hope to see more of them this season.
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West De Pere returns a lot of experience from last year when it won a share of its first Bay Conference title since 2012 before ultimately falling to Green Bay Notre Dame in the D3 state quarterfinals.
The Phantoms hope entrusting Blount’s right arm more during his sophomore season could lead to an even better finish in 2018.
“To be honest with you, we probably didn’t turn him loose enough against Notre Dame,” Batten said about a 28-7 loss. “It was on me. We should have put a little bit more pressure on him.
“Last year we passed five or six times a game. We’re looking to be a little more balanced this year, just based upon the fact that Josh is a year older and more experienced. His arm is a little stronger. His ability to read coverages, and see things down field, is better having played 12 games last year. It’s just much improved.”
West De Pere had 602 rushes last year to only 71 pass attempts.
Blount recorded 1,082 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in helping the Phantoms average 295.4 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, he completed 30 of 66 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns with four interceptions.
While there will be an added emphasis on opening up the passing game, West De Pere will still be known primarily for its ground-and-pound attack.
Junior tackle Kerry Kodanko, senior center Cameron Reese and junior guard Bryce Graef return on the offensive line, while senior fullback Matt Kempen and junior tight end Billy Wyatt are also returning starters from a unit that averaged 32.0 points per game.
Junior Cody Cavil will be asked to fill the void left by Austin Beaumier, who rushed for 1,929 yards and 27 touchdowns in being named Bay Conference running back of the year.
Cavil rushed for 345 yards as a sophomore. The 5-foot-10, 210-pounder saw most of his playing time at linebacker, making 56 tackles.
“He’s a real physical football player,” Batten said.
The Phantoms have quite a few of those returning to their defense, including University of Iowa recruit Jake Karchinski at defensive end.
A two-time unanimous all-Bay Conference choice, Karchinski totaled 61 tackles and 10 tackles for loss over 12 games during his junior season while playing with a high-ankle sprain and a separated shoulder.
“He’s a football player,” Batten said. “He’s coachable. You can get on him, and he responds. He doesn’t like to lose. In terms of where he is right now compared to last year, he’s a much more athletic player than he was last year. He’s much stronger. He’s going to play some offense for us this year because he’s got a great throwing radius to get the ball to.”
Overall, West De Pere returns five of its top six tacklers from last year and four first team all-Bay Conference players.
Alex Spitzer (99 tackles and 14 TFL) and Evan Frisque (47 tackles and 10 TFL) join Cavil as returners in the linebacking corps.
Garrett Kempen (64 tackles and three interceptions) is a three-year starter at defensive back, while Dylan Danforth is a 320-pound nose tackle on the radar of several NCAA Division II programs.
In addition to working on its passing game on offense, the Phantoms will be looking to improve their pass defense as it looks to qualify for the WIAA playoffs for a 15th straight year.
“We gave up six touchdown passes between (Luxemburg-Casco) and Xavier in that two-week period,” Batten said.
“We’ve always been a pretty good run defense and we’ve always been a pretty good rush defense. Even at the high school level, the passing game is a place where we need to improve upon.”
West De Pere at a glance
Coach: Jack Batten, 5th season, 35-11
Last year: 10-2
All-conference players to replace:
Austin Beaumier, RB, 1st team
Sam Marshalak, OL, 1st team
James Daanen, DE, 1st team
Tristan Jindra, DB, 1st team
Clayton Ott, DL, 2nd team
All conference players returning:
Kerry Kodanko, jr., OL, 1st team
Dylan Danforth, sr., DL, 1st team
Alex Spitzer, sr., ILB, 1st team
Jake Karchinski, sr., OLB, 1st team
Garrett Kempen, sr., DB, 1st team
Matt Kempen, sr., TE/RB, 2nd team
Evan Frisque, sr., OLB, 2nd team
Billy Wyatt, jr., TE/FB, HM
Sawyer Grovogel, jr., K, HM
2018 Schedule
Aug. 17 Shawano
Aug. 24 at New London
Aug. 31 G.B. West
Sept. 7 at Luxemburg-Casco (NC)
Sept. 14 Appleton Xavier
Sept. 21 at Seymour
Sept. 28 at Menasha
Oct. 5 at Waupaca
Oct. 12 G.B. East
Alums playing college football:
Austin Beaumier, UW-Oshkosh
Zach Cambrey, Wisconsin Lutheran
James Daanen, Michigan Tech
Sam Marshalek, Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.)