2017 Football preview: Leslie Blackhawks
LAST YEAR
1-8, 0-5 GLAC (6th)
SCHEDULE (last year's score)
Aug. 24 – Dansville (L 42-22)
Aug. 31 – at Brooklyn Columbia Central (L 46-26)
Sept. 8 – at Olivet (L 63-22)
Sept. 15 – Stockbridge (L 70-32)
Sept. 22 – Perry (L 54-22)
Sept. 29 – at Maple Valley (L 42-0)
Oct. 6 – Lakewood (L 56-34)
Oct. 13 – Eaton Rapids (L 41-16)
Oct. 20 – at Jackson Northwest (W 28-23)
COACH
Tom Johns
Age: 30
Playing experience: Napoleon High School, Defiance College
Coaching experience: Napoleon High School (varsity assistant coach), Reading High School (varsity assistant coach), Jackson High School (defensive coordinator)
Career record: 0-0
Full-time job: Leslie High School math teacher
Assistant coaches: Todd Anderson, Tucker Surbrook, TJ McCann, Bob Eadie, Payne Blanchard
MORE:2017 prep football previews: Team-by-team
FOURCAST
FRESH START
It's been a difficult four-year stretch for Leslie, which had winning five winning seasons from 2007-12. The Blackhawks are 6-30 since 2013, and they haven't won more than three games in a season during this span. The program is looking for a fresh start, and it took a step in that direction this offseason with the hire of 30-year-old Johns. The first-year head coach will look to build the foundation for success in 2017.
VETERAN LEADERSHIP
Leslie will turn to an experienced senior class as it tries to turn the corner. The Blackhawks will have 19 seniors on the roster in 2017 and several of them are returning starters. Johns sees his senior class as one of the team's strengths going into the coming season.
SCRATCHING AND CLAWING
Johns said "competing every day" is one of the things he would like to see his team improve on this year. Last season, all of Leslie's losses were by 20 or more points, and Johns wants to see his team close that gap.
STRONGER, QUICKER, FASTER
This offseason has been a positive one for the Blackhawks, according to Johns. He said his team put a lot of time in the weight room and offseason strength program.
ROSTER
1 Alex Sanchez jr.
2 Clay Shroufe sr.
3 Anthony Smieska jr.
6 Jake Chmiel sr.
7 Cullen Cox sr.
11 Jimmy Vollmer jr.
12 Trevor Willard jr.
15 Dorion Hills sr.
20 Thomas Coltrain jr.
22 Ajay Oliver sr.
24 Kellen Frohriep sr.
26 Jeremiah Inman sr.
28 Gunner Fogg sr.
32 Ethan Schuen sr.
33 Dalton Harrison sr.
40 Kyle Brown sr.
41 Dalton Smith jr.
57 Zach Chesney sr.
63 Hayden Adee jr.
64 Haeden Heibel sr.
68 Parker Schiller sr.
72 Josh Ries sr.
73 Hunter Arnett sr.
74 Zach Coltrain sr.
75 Joe Corts jr.
81 Rome Dornbush sr.
82 Scott Kanik jr.
88 Mitch Seavolt sr.
RETURNING STARTERS (6 on offense, 5 on defense)
OFFENSE
Cullen Cox
Parker Schiller
Kellen Frohriep
Haeden Heibel
Clay Shroufe
Zach Chesney
DEFENSE
Ethan Schuen
Jake Chmiel
Cullen Cox
Mitch Seavolt
Clay Shroufe
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS
DEFENSE
Kyle Brown
Anthony Smieska
– James L. Edwards III