Football
2020 Concordia Football Preview: Will the Cadets Experience Win Games?
Head Coach: Tim Mannigel (11th season)
2020 Schedule:
Aug. 21 at South Side
Aug. 28 Homestead
Sep. 4 at Snider
Sep. 11 Luers
Sep. 18 Northrop
Sep. 25 at Dwenger
Oct. 2 Wayne
Oct. 9 at Carroll
Oct. 16 at North Side
Key Returning Starters:
QB Brandon Davis
RB Amir Drew
WR Tyler Grossman
LB Cooper Harris
CB Brayden Payne
CB Kam Vanderbosch
DB Kam Johnson
DB Sam Hudson
Key Losses:
WR Jalen Vanderbsoch
WR Jeren Kindig
SS Nick King-Causey
Last, but certainly not the least of our team previews is Concordia. The Cadets finished 2019 with a 7-6 record and a sectional championship. It was a year that certainly had its downs, most notably an overtime loss to Northrop, but the Cadets also managed to finish strong, winning 5 of their last 7. The Cadets have a lot returning on both sides of the ball with playmakers everywhere, making the Cadets a tough team to face this season.
“I think that’s one of the advantages we’re going to have,” Coach Mannigel said when asked about the importance of having returning starters this year. “Even though we missed all those practices, so did everyone else. Everyone was in the same position. So having Brandon, it’s certainly to our advantage that he’s an experienced quarterback coming back and maybe didn’t need as many practices. It helps us at every position though, not just quarterback.”
It all starts with their great 1-2 punch of QB Brandon Davis and RB Amir Drew. Davis threw for 2,399 yds, more than any other SAC quarterback not named Luke Goode, as well as 21 touchdowns, but he also had 20 interceptions. His interceptions killed the Cadets last year, but if Davis can limit those this season, he could be one of the best quarterbacks in the conference.
“From my freshman year to now, I feel like I’ve gotten bigger, faster, and stronger,” Davis said. “My arm has gotten better. Being behind Jake Byrd, I was taught a lot of different things that I should know for when I became a starter. I feel like he just made me a better player.”
As for Drew, he rushed for 1,371 yds and 18 TD, averaging over 100 yds a game. Drew, a smaller, heftier running back at 5’9” 200 lbs, doesn’t shy away from contact and loves running between the tackles. When asked about his running back, Davis responded by talking about his all-purpose capabilities out of the backfield.
“It’s nice to have someone like Amir behind me. He can block really well, he can catch really well, he can run really well. He can do all things really well, so having him behind me is really good.”
The Cadets return one of their leading wide receivers in Tyler Grossman as well. Grossman had 38 receptions for 663 yds and 8 TD last year. He should see even more passes come his way with Jalen Vanderbsoch (48 rec, 748 yds, 7 TD) and Jeren Kindig (33 rec, 526 yds, 4 TD) both gone after having fantastic senior seasons.
On the other side of the ball, Concordia has some very good players returning. Linebacker Cooper Harris returns for his senior year, after having a lot of production last year. Harris came up with 89 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, in a very impressive junior year.
The Cadets are loaded with talented defensive backs. DB Kam Johnson had 65 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, and 3 interceptions. The converted linebacker to defensive back Sam Hudson will also take the field after a busy season, making 81 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, and 1 interception in 2019.
“I’ve been with a few coaches, I’ve been moved around a little bit,” Hudson said. “With every coach, they’ve been very helpful in guiding me towards how to tackle better and getting to the ball. I recently got moved to defensive back about a month ago, but it’s been pretty cool learning a new position.”
At cornerback, Brayden Payne had 10 tackles, 2 for a loss, and 1 interception in his junior year. Kam Vanderbosch, Jalen’s younger brother, also returns after having 57 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and 3 interceptions in 2019. With all of their returning experience, Vanderbosch expects the defensive to be able to fly to the ball and hit hard.
“I like the physicality of our defense,” he said. “None of us are scared to hit. We’re experienced, we play together and just know how we all work. I feel like it will be a good season for our defense.”
The Cadets will need to improve in some areas in 2020. Their defense allowed 30+ points on 5 occasions last year. That could be due to the fact that they had 35 turnovers last year, the most of any team in the conference. That needs to get fixed this year because, unsurprisingly, it’s much harder to win games when you keep giving the opposing offense extra possessions. That means it’s up to seniors Brandon Davis and Amir Drew to protect the ball and help out their own defense. Their first opportunity to do so will come this Friday at South Side.
“I think they’re pretty well put together,” Coach Mannigel said of South Side. “They’re not a team that’s going to get a lot of publicity here early in the season. But when you play in this conference, these teams are for real, so you better be ready to go. I think our guys will be.”
