Friday Fast Break – July 21, 2023 – High School Sports Caravan

In this week’s edition of the Friday Fast Break, we head down to Jefferson County to continue previewing the upcoming football season. It was a tremendous season last year for many football squads down Interstate 55 and this year should be no different.

Seckman will look to continue their winning ways with a young, but talented group that will need to fill some big holes following graduation. Herculaneum put together an outstand season last Fall and turn to some younger player to compete for the I-55 title. Jefferson R7 had a 5-5 mark last year but they return a solid core group that will compete for the conference title.

Seckman Jaguars

• Head Coach: Nick Baer
• Years at School and Coaching Record: 5th season (25-16)
• Conference: Suburban Orange
• Last Year’s Overall and Conference Record: 9-2
• Starters Returning – 5 on offense and 3 on defense
• Top Returning Players: __Tommy Gibbar, Caden Lappe, Trent Enloe, Max Sell, Kade Heinemeier, Billy Hart, Dean Moeckel, Trayton CLariday
• Players to Watch: Brady Ambrose, Lukaus Steinnerd, Daniel Lauter,

Season Outlook: “Looking to continue to the success the program has had the past three seasons,” stated Baer. “With the departure of an accomplished senior class we are looking to reload with some new names and establish ourselves as a top program in the STL area.”

Herculaneum Blackcats

• Head Coach: Blane Boss
• Years at School and Coaching Record: 2 Years at Herky (11-11) and (29-31 Overall)
• Conference: I-55
• Last Year’s Overall and Conference Record: 6-5 Conf.: 3-3
• Returners – Offense: 5 Defense: 5
• Top Returning Players: Anthony Gallina (RB/WR/DB), Shea Eberhardt (OL/DL), Demian Light (OL/LB), Brayden Mattingly (RB/DB), Mac Waddell (RB/LB)
• Players to Watch: Same as Top Returning Players

Season Outlook: “ We will have some guys back with experience and a bunch of guys who have yet to play a varsity down,” stated Boss. “I am excited about this group because they love to work and take coaching well. I expect us to compete with everyone on our schedule and to continue to build our program along the way.”

Jefferson R7 Blue Jays

• Head Coach: Matt Atley
• Years at School and Coaching Record: Second year – 5-5
• Conference – I-55
• Last Year Overall and Conference Record: 5-5, 4-2
• Top Returning Players: Nate Breeze, Kole Williams, Mikey Frisk, Max Schnitzler, Bennett Pemberton
• Players to Watch: Karson Haefner, Brandon Buford, Tyler Crader, Landon Weiss, Alex Roth, Jacob Brunts

Season Outlook: “We return a solid group of skill kids, but lost all five starters on the offensive line from last year,” stated Atley. “We have a good group of young linemen that will be able to fill some holes for us.”