Baxter football hopes to continue climb in 8-Man

Baxter’s football roster was loaded with freshmen and sophomores the past few seasons. In 2020, those players will be a year older, but the Bolts still only have five seniors on this year’s team.

The core players who are back on the field this fall should give the Bolts a strong chance to claim their first winning campaign since Baxter went 8-1 in its inaugural season three years ago. The Bolts were 5-5 last year.

“I love our returners. It’s a good core,” Baxter football coach Rob Luther said. “We are still very young with just five seniors. Overall we have 14-15 guys still in the mix to play significant minutes.”

The list of returners is long. Leading the way are seniors Micah Kearns and Kael Johnston, juniors Rory Heer, Grant Borts and Nick Nelson and sophomores Cody Damman, Jake Travis and Trice Clapper.

Kearns is a multiple-year starter on both sides of the line and Heer was the team’s top running back the past two seasons.

“Kearns is a strong piece up front for us on both sides,” Luther said. “Rory Heer is so explosive, and we need to find ways to get him the ball.”

According to Luther, the coaching staff is experimenting with the lineup this year, which could lead to using Heer as a receiver more than a running back.

Heer rushed for 601 yards and nine touchdowns last year and caught 56 passes for 742 yards and nine TDs.

The other returning receivers are Johnston and sophomore Cael Shepley. Johnston caught 27 passes for 223 yards and four TDs a year ago. Two of Shepley’s five catches were TDs and he gained 120 yards on those five receptions.

“Kael Johnston and Cael Shepley are both returning starters and have grown a lot,” Luther said.

“Heer will line up at receiver a great deal with Jake Travis playing some at running back. We are moving guys around quite a bit. We have to be versatile.”

Damman is back this year but moves to quarterback after hauling in 25 passes for 335 yards and six scores from his older brother Cole Damman last fall.

Freshman Treyton Travis will start the season as the backup quarterback, but Luther said he could get on the field at another position.

“He is still growing and learning the position, but Cody is a competitor,” Luther said. “He’s a very solid leader and makes a lot of good decisions with the ball. He can make all the throws.”

Blocking in front of Damman and for Heer and Travis at running back will be maybe the best offensive line unit Luther has had since Baxter moved to 8-man.

Kearns and Clapper are back and junior newcomer Nate McMinamen could be the best of the bunch.

Senior Brad Matthews and juniors Braeden Kelly and Carter Samson will provide depth.

“We are solid up front offensively,” Luther said. “That may be our strongest group of offensive linemen in a while. Nate McMinamen is new to the group, but he has shown us a lot through the summer, in camp and in pads.”

The Bolts’ offense was 10th in 8-man in passing yards, 11th in touchdowns and 19th in rushing yards last season. McMinamen should help them improve those numbers this season and Heer will likely lead the way at the skill positions.

“We are sure hoping he has a great season,” Luther said of Heer. “He’s stronger and looks to be more physical. He’s explosive and can hurt you running it and catching it.”

If the Bolts are going to climb higher up the 8-man ladder in 2020, it will take an improved effort on defense.

Baxter surrendered an average of 59 points per game last year and allowed more than 50 points in seven of its 10 games.

The leading tackler from that defense a year ago, Cole Damman, is gone but plenty of guys are back to help with the improvement.

Kearns, Clapper and McMinamen will take most of the snaps up front along with sophomore Devan Fredregill. Kearns had 30 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season.

The linebacker unit gets Travis, Borts and Nelson back and Shepley moves into a bigger role.

Travis is the top leading returning tackler after recording 62 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a freshman. Borts had 45 tackles and Nelson collected 21.5 tackles last year.

Damman leads the defensive backs after equaling Travis’ 62 tackles last year. Damman also snatched a team-high three interceptions.

The rest of the group is expected to be Heer, Johnston and junior Austin Roush. Sophomore Devin Flora and senior Andrew Klemme also could earn some snaps back there.

“We will learn a lot more about our team at our scrimmage,” Luther said. “I am not sure where we will land in wins and losses. I am always concerned when we start with a small senior class. We do have guys who played valuable snaps though.”

Off the football field, everyone in the state will be dealing with COVID-19 pandemic protocols and the Bolts navigated through the aftermath of severe storm damage to their athletic complex. The first official week of practice was altered a bit because of it.

Luther is not sure how things will play out with virus, but his team is just happy they get a chance to play this season.

“I just know it’s been so awesome coming to practice each day and coaching kids,” Luther said. “I think we truly are winning the day and competing one day at a time.

“I can’t really predict anything. We are trying to do what we can to follow guidelines and have protocols in place. The biggest difference from summer to fall is that there will be kids at school every day and being exposed daily to hundreds of other kids.”

Luther expects to see multiple forfeits or teams just not playing this fall but he also thinks it’s important to keep the kids engaged as much as possible.

“Football does not lend itself to social distancing very well,” Luther said. “But we need to support our kids the best we can during this unprecedented time.”