Defense, running game keys for Indees grid team

An aggressive defense and consistent, ball-control offense are going to be the keys to success for the Independence/Gilmanton football team in 2021.

“Winning the turnover ratio is a key for us,” coach Bärry Schmitt said. 

Schmitt is entering his 25th season as the coach of the Indees. Last year was his first since 2010 when he stepped aside for administrative duties within the school. His first year back proved to be a unique one.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season didn’t begin until October when the Indees won their first game, 22-0 over Eleva-Strum. After three close losses, the team was sidelined for two weeks due to a COVID-19 contact with a player from Whitehall. They returned for the playoffs, a 20-0 loss to Loyal.

What Schmitt was able to gather from that season, however, was that his team had a good defense. The most points the Indees allowed all season was 28 to Melrose-Mindoro, their average was 13.8 points per game as four of their five opponents scored 20 points or fewer.

The bad news, however, was that the Indees only scored more than 20 points once and eight or fewer three times as they averaged 10.4 points per game.

“We played well defensively last year and hope to build upon that,” Schmitt said. “Our offense really struggled, but we hope to keep it simple and, with a more mature line, consistency on that side of the ball should come.”

The Indees hope experience will help them breakthrough. While quarterback and inside linebacker Chris Killian will leave big shoes to fill, the Indees have experienced players at nearly every other position.

Schmitt said Hunter Guenther and Tyler Kingsbury will compete to replace Killian at quarterback. Whoever doesn’t end up being the quarterback will still be a key contributor as an end. 

Wyatt Kuerschner returns after leading the team with 145 rushing yards last season. Schmitt said he hopes Kureschner will “excel” as Killian’s replacement at inside linebacker. 

Kuerschner is joined by Connor Smieja and Carson Rieck as the senior captains. Smieja earned second-team all-conference honors for his play on the I/G defense last year.

The team will also look to Ben Pyka as a possible breakout candidate. The junior was the team’s leading rusher and receiver his freshman year when he ran for 206 yards — averaging 8.2 per carry — and caught 22 passes for 228 yards. The Indees struggled getting him the ball in space on the ground as a sophomore, but he still caught four passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns — leading the team in all three categories. 

Gavin Bragger and Jocobo Medina are two other juniors who Schmitt will rely on to open up holes and anchor the team at the line of scrimmage. Mason Gierok could move from the line to tight end, but figures to be a key player at either spot.

Many of the I/G players have played for the last two years, experience that could come in handy in a conference that is expected to be wide open.

Schmitt listed Whitehall and Melrose-Mindoro along with two-time defending champion Blair-Taylor as the favorites in the Dairyland Conference. Though if the Indees can continue to play tight defense and improve offensively, they could be in the mix.