Sports Editor
DURANT — After back-to-back 1-8 seasons, Durant changed coaches for the 2017 season. There, the Wildcats were 4-5 in nine games under first-year coach Joel Diedrichs. The Wildcats won their first game of the season, 41-6 at Columbus Junction, but fell in their next three games to start the season 1-3. The Wildcats rebounded, winning three of their final five games to finish the season with more wins than losses over their final five games at 3-2, and 4-5 overall.
Durant returns their quarterback, top rusher and receiver as well as a lot of experience on the offensive and defensive line. With a year under their belt under Diedrichs, the Wildcats look to make noise this year.
Offensively, Durant scored points in all nine football games. The Wildcats scored over 20 points in almost half of their games and scored 40 or more points three times. Senior Bryce Lafrenz returns and made it three straight seasons a Durant passer has topped the 1,000-yard mark. Will Bentley accomplished it in 2015 and Leo Callison in 2016 and Lafrenz passed for 1,361 yards on 89 completions. He passed for 14 touchdowns and had 9 interceptions. Lafrenz also rushed for 151 yards and 5 touchdowns. He had a completion percentage of 56.7%.
Durant returns their top rusher from last season in Tristan Hughes. Hughes led Durant in rushing in his first season as the feature back with 636 yards, 8 touchdowns and a 4.3-yard per carry average. He also caught eight passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. Zac Badtram returns after rushing for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns. Marcus Engstler, Drew DeLong and Cameron Ruggiero also are back.
Lafrenz will have two familiar targets to throw two this season. Senior Mason Compton returns after catching 33 passes for 514 yards, 6 touchdowns, and a 15.6-yard average. Also back is Marcus Engstler who caught nine passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats will have many players back across their offensive line, led by Joe Lilienthal. Lilienthal is a force on the line at 6-feet, 7-inches. The Wildcats strength will be in their line play. The Wildcats will average 240 pounds on their line. Leading the way will be Mason Bird, Joe Lilienthal, Cale Frett, and Dawson Frett.
Durant will have to find replacements for twin brothers Dawson and Cale Frett. Both are playing football at Waldorf Community College this season. Dawson was the second-leading tackler last season with 87 with 4 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Cale Frett was third on the team in tackles last year with 88 including three tackles for loss and a sack. He rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Zac Badtram returns after leading the Wildcats in solo tackles last year with 42. He had 85 total. He had a sack and a tackle for loss. Hughes is also back after being the fourth leading tackler last season with 45. He had 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.
The Wildcats had a new placekicker last season as Hector Gonzales was 7-for-13 on point after touchdown attempts and averaged 52.8 yards per kick-off in 24 attempts. He had three touchbacks. Lafrenz returns as the Wildcats punter. He punted 23 times and averaged 35.0 yards per punt with a long punt of 61 yards.
In the return game, Mason Compton returns after leading the Wildcats in kick-off and punt return yards. He had 17 returns for a combined 211 yards and a double-digit return average.
The Wildcats drop down a class from 1A to Class A this season. With that, comes new opponents, some of which the Wildcats have never faced. Team’s in Durant’s district is Belle Plaine, Cardinal of Eldon, Highland, BGM, and Pekin. Belle Plaine is ranked in the preseason and Pekin and BGM is always contenders to reach the UNI-Dome. Durant will open the season at home against rival Wilton. The Beavers are ranked to begin the preseason. Back-to-back games against Cedar County foes North Cedar and Tipton are for weeks two and three before a road game at Wapello in week four. The Wildcats game with the Knights is in Stanwood.
2017 All-District Selections: District Elite Team - Punter - Bryce Lafrenz (Jr.); 1st Team - Bryce Lafrenz jr., Mason Compton jr., Dawson Frett sr.; 2nd Team - Cale Frett sr., Tristan Hughes jr.; Honorable Mention - Curtis Lilienthal sr., Zac Badtram jr., Cole Miedema sr.
Graduated Seniors From 2017: Cole Miedema, Curtis Lilienthal, Jordan Craig, Carter Voelkers, Cale Frett, Cole Stineman, Dawson Frett, Dakota Teegtmeier, Mason Bird, Clayton Miller, and Jarad Custer.
Back From 2017 (22): Cole Miedema, Mason Compton, Marcus Engstler, Bryce Lafrenz, Drew DeLong, Cody Koberg, Tristan Hughes, Curtis Lilienthal, Isiah Werthmann, Lucas Callison, Zac Badtram, Cale Frett, Logan Callison, Ethan Schlapkohl, Dawson Frett, Joe Lilienthal, Jonah Werth, Mason Bird, Clayton Miller, Jarad Custer, Tony Dillabough, Jake Willkomm.
DURANT — After back-to-back 1-8 seasons, Durant changed coaches for the 2017 season. There, the Wildcats were 4-5 in nine games under first-year coach Joel Diedrichs. The Wildcats won their first game of the season, 41-6 at Columbus Junction, but fell in their next three games to start the season 1-3. The Wildcats rebounded, winning three of their final five games to finish the season with more wins than losses over their final five games at 3-2, and 4-5 overall.
Durant returns their quarterback, top rusher and receiver as well as a lot of experience on the offensive and defensive line. With a year under their belt under Diedrichs, the Wildcats look to make noise this year.
Offensively, Durant scored points in all nine football games. The Wildcats scored over 20 points in almost half of their games and scored 40 or more points three times. Senior Bryce Lafrenz returns and made it three straight seasons a Durant passer has topped the 1,000-yard mark. Will Bentley accomplished it in 2015 and Leo Callison in 2016 and Lafrenz passed for 1,361 yards on 89 completions. He passed for 14 touchdowns and had 9 interceptions. Lafrenz also rushed for 151 yards and 5 touchdowns. He had a completion percentage of 56.7%.
Durant returns their top rusher from last season in Tristan Hughes. Hughes led Durant in rushing in his first season as the feature back with 636 yards, 8 touchdowns and a 4.3-yard per carry average. He also caught eight passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. Zac Badtram returns after rushing for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns. Marcus Engstler, Drew DeLong and Cameron Ruggiero also are back.
Lafrenz will have two familiar targets to throw two this season. Senior Mason Compton returns after catching 33 passes for 514 yards, 6 touchdowns, and a 15.6-yard average. Also back is Marcus Engstler who caught nine passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats will have many players back across their offensive line, led by Joe Lilienthal. Lilienthal is a force on the line at 6-feet, 7-inches. The Wildcats strength will be in their line play. The Wildcats will average 240 pounds on their line. Leading the way will be Mason Bird, Joe Lilienthal, Cale Frett, and Dawson Frett.
Durant will have to find replacements for twin brothers Dawson and Cale Frett. Both are playing football at Waldorf Community College this season. Dawson was the second-leading tackler last season with 87 with 4 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Cale Frett was third on the team in tackles last year with 88 including three tackles for loss and a sack. He rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Zac Badtram returns after leading the Wildcats in solo tackles last year with 42. He had 85 total. He had a sack and a tackle for loss. Hughes is also back after being the fourth leading tackler last season with 45. He had 6 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.
The Wildcats had a new placekicker last season as Hector Gonzales was 7-for-13 on point after touchdown attempts and averaged 52.8 yards per kick-off in 24 attempts. He had three touchbacks. Lafrenz returns as the Wildcats punter. He punted 23 times and averaged 35.0 yards per punt with a long punt of 61 yards.
In the return game, Mason Compton returns after leading the Wildcats in kick-off and punt return yards. He had 17 returns for a combined 211 yards and a double-digit return average.
The Wildcats drop down a class from 1A to Class A this season. With that, comes new opponents, some of which the Wildcats have never faced. Team’s in Durant’s district is Belle Plaine, Cardinal of Eldon, Highland, BGM, and Pekin. Belle Plaine is ranked in the preseason and Pekin and BGM is always contenders to reach the UNI-Dome. Durant will open the season at home against rival Wilton. The Beavers are ranked to begin the preseason. Back-to-back games against Cedar County foes North Cedar and Tipton are for weeks two and three before a road game at Wapello in week four. The Wildcats game with the Knights is in Stanwood.
2017 All-District Selections: District Elite Team - Punter - Bryce Lafrenz (Jr.); 1st Team - Bryce Lafrenz jr., Mason Compton jr., Dawson Frett sr.; 2nd Team - Cale Frett sr., Tristan Hughes jr.; Honorable Mention - Curtis Lilienthal sr., Zac Badtram jr., Cole Miedema sr.
Graduated Seniors From 2017: Cole Miedema, Curtis Lilienthal, Jordan Craig, Carter Voelkers, Cale Frett, Cole Stineman, Dawson Frett, Dakota Teegtmeier, Mason Bird, Clayton Miller, and Jarad Custer.
Back From 2017 (22): Cole Miedema, Mason Compton, Marcus Engstler, Bryce Lafrenz, Drew DeLong, Cody Koberg, Tristan Hughes, Curtis Lilienthal, Isiah Werthmann, Lucas Callison, Zac Badtram, Cale Frett, Logan Callison, Ethan Schlapkohl, Dawson Frett, Joe Lilienthal, Jonah Werth, Mason Bird, Clayton Miller, Jarad Custer, Tony Dillabough, Jake Willkomm.
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