By Ryan Stonebraker
Sports Editor
CLARENCE — For the third time in four years, the North Cedar Knights will have a new football coach. Adam Hadenfeldt takes over for Lucas Stanton who took a job in Dubuque at Wahlert High school. He will also coach the defense at Wahlert.
The Knights struggled to gain footing early in the season, starting the 2015 season 0-6. In that stretch, the Knights showed signs of life, scoring 20 or more points in five of those football games. The Knights lost three games by seven points or less, taking seven-point losses to rivals Lisbon and Tipton and falling by five points to Alburnett.
The Knights got their first win in game seven at Durant, 28-8 and followed that up with a 41-33 win at Wapello the following week. The Knights closed out the season with a tough 17-7 loss at Wilton to finish the season 2-7.
The Knights graduated a lot of talent from last year’s team with a handful of players trying football in college this year. 2015 senior Jacob Holst passed for 1,263 yards with 11 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions. Holst will suit up for Coe this fall. The Knights were led in receiving by 2015 seniors Ian Malaby and Brendan Sander. Both moved on to play football in college at Drake University and Coe College. Malaby was an All-State selection after catching 41 passes for 730 yards with 8 touchdowns. He also led the Knights in rushing with 310 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Defensively, 2015 senior Kaleb Galloway led in tackles with 127 tackles, a sack and six tackles for loss. Galloway is playing football at Loras this fall. Malaby had 114 tackles with four tackles for loss.
North Cedar will likely turn to senior Carter Johnson at quarterback. Johnson passed for 380 yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions last year. Johnson was under center for both of the Knights wins last year, passing for at least 136 yards and two touchdowns in each victory.
The big question marks on offense if who will run the football. Shane Weber returns after totalling the second most rushing yards last year with 224 yards for a 4.6-yard average with 2 touchdowns. After that, the Knights will have to have someone step up this year.
North Cedar returns some receivers that saw the field last year. Bryce Bemer is the top receiver back after catching 17 passes for 257 yards and 2 scores. Weber (8 rec. 121 yards), Jacob Jensen (7 rec. 77 yards) and Aaron Woodward (3 rec. 28 yards) also return.
Bemer is the top returning tackler after totaling 40 last season. Carter Johnson (35 tackles) and Nick Dewell (36 tackles) also return.
On special teams North Cedar will have punter Jacob Jensen (32.6 yards/punt) back, but will have to find a place kicker/kick-off duty player. Weber and Bemer will anchor the return game.
North Cedar will play four home games this season. The Knights open the season at home when they host Alburnett on August 26. Home games with Bellevue on September 9, Jesup on September 30 and Maquoketa Valley on October 14 wait.
North Cedar has road games at Clayton Ridge, Durant, West Branch and Tipton to end the regular season on October 21. The Knights will play a road game against Lisbon at Cornell College. The game will be under the lights and on the Rams field turf.
Gone From 2015: Jacob Holst, Brendan Sander, Rasmus Hensler, Ian Malaby, Torrey Wilhau, Trent Hanks, Kaleb Galloway, Clayton Cartensen, Cody Fields, Adam Paidar.
Back From 2015: Bryce Bemer, Jacob Jensen, Mason Minar, Colin Sander, Carter Johnson, Shane Weber, Byron Boleyn, Greg Hansen, Grant Tenley, Nick Dewell, Dominick Williams, Ethan Hill, Dylan Welsch, Danuel Moore and Aaron Woodward, Austyn Sander.
New Faces: Andrew Reif, Devon Willis, Matthew Koob, Sebastian Cinkovich, Sebastian Curley, Owen Meyer, Mason Darts, Chase Gallagher, Tyler Alexander, Logan Thimmes, Tyler Thurston, Evan Patterson, Brody Hawtrey, Keon McCullough, Brady Burcum, Ethan Sahr, Caden Wendt, Braden Wink, James Garner, Brandon Maschmann and Dillon Clift.
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