B-T hopes young players can step up

After winning the last two Dairyland Conference titles with only a few close games, the Blair-Taylor football team will look very different this year. But after a good offseason, coach Andy Nehring is looking forward to seeing how the season progresses. 

“We ended up with a very dedicated group of kids this summer,” Nehring said. “We showed a lot of commitment to continually improving ourselves. We look forward to what our young team can accomplish this season.”

B-T went into last season with experience at nearly every position. Players who not only started for the 2019 conference championship squad, but played for the 2018 playoff team. Some even started as freshmen in 2017. 

With that, the Wildcats went 9-0 on the season, ending with a 49-0 win over Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in the Level Two Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association playoff game. A full playoff schedule was not played due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But B-T graduated four first-team all-conference selections, including one — Kyle Steien — who was picked on both offense and defense. A four-year starter and the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,816 yards and 35 touchdowns, Matthew Brandenburg was among the graduates.  

The Wildcats are returning just three full-time starters, but they don’t lack quality.

Cain Fremstad is a two-year starter at quarterback where he has amassed 2,662 passing yards and 32 touchdowns the past two seasons. He also ran for five touchdowns in 2020. With a strong season Hank Kujak’s school records of 4,541 passing yards and 52 touchdowns are within reach.

Fremstad was also a first-team all-conference pick as a defensive back.

Colton Lejcher is another returning two-way player. He caught seven passes for 107 yards and a touchdown while filling in for an injured Alec Reismann last year and tied Fremstad and Brayden Burleson for a team-best three interceptions on defense.

Isaiah Washington is a third senior who played a lot last year. He was second on the team with five sacks, adding four other tackles for loss as a playmaker from the linebacker position. He is also a starting offensive lineman.

“We have the potential to have good leaders on our team,” Nehring said. “I look forward to seeing how we work together and grow as the season goes on.”

Evan Nehring was another player who saw action late in the season catching four passes for 66 yards. Coach Nehring said his son will be expected to fill a larger role this season.

Others who are expected to see more playing time are Gabe Armitage and Grason Armitage. They could get the first cracks at replacing Brandenburg as the top returning rushers. Gabe Armitage ran for 27 yards on four carries last year while Grason had 25 yards on seven attempts. 

Others noted by Nehring were Dylan Elvaker, Bryan Rogstad, Seth Jahr and Zach Nitek. All received some playing time as reserves last year.

Nehring said he expects Whitehall, Melrose-Mindoro and Alma-Pepin to compete for the conference title.