Patriots Football Program Continues to Develop

Tran Longmoore

Under first-year head coach D.J. Lutz last year, the Britton-Deerfield varsity football team won their first two games. But the Patriots ran into the Tri-County Conference and never won another game.

Entering his second year, Lutz isn’t measuring his season in wins and losses. At this point, it’s all about developing a program. Lutz, his assistants, and B-D athletics just started a fifth and sixth grade tackle football program. So they are looking long-term.

“But it all starts and ends in the weight room so we need to continue to do the necessary things in the off season to be better prepared,” he said.

The numbers are still on the low side, with 24 kids playing varsity and another 21 on junior varsity. It’s a young varsity team, too, with just six seniors. There aren’t many returning senior starters, so Lutz is looking from leadership from various players. Junior Jeremy Hatfield is an experienced lineman who gives a great effort and has been helpful to younger players. Lutz calls Brady Southward the “silent assassin.”

“He leads by example and his play is why he was voted captain. His tank is never empty and se seems to be able to run all day long,” Lutz said.

Senior Josh Hoffman is a vocal leader on offense. Lutz also likes the way sophomore Landon Handy carries himself.

“He’s our most vocal leader and being only a sophomore, his work ethic speaks volumes and the others follow,” Lutz said.

The Patriots will run the spread. But they plan to tone down the air game and do more running.

Returning quarterback Andrew Prielipp was pushed hard by Nate Hoffman but he held on to the job in camp. The lefty threw for a ton of yards last year. His favorite target will be Southward.

“For us to be successful, he needs to touch the ball often, whether it is on offense or special teams. He is a game breaker,” Lutz said.

Eli Browning also has good hands and runs decent routes. Josh Hoffman will play tight end. Lutz said he catches the ball well, has decent speed and blocks well. “He’s probably our best all-around player,” Lutz said.

Lutz calls running back combo Handy and Jacob Warner “thunder and lightning.” Handy is a hard runner who bulls through lines for big gains. Warner the kind of back that makes tacklers miss. Brock Prain is at fullback.

The offensive line is young. Jared Wielfaert is at center. Lucas Forche is at right tackle. Johnny Fick is at left tackle. Ethan Sieler is the starter at left guard. Jeremy Hatfield plays at right guard.

“Jeremy is our only returning starter on the line. He’s our most athletic lineman. He knows he has to be a leader with the young guys and he does a good job getting to his assignments,” Lutz said.

Hatfield will also play defensive end with sophomore Jordan Osbun. Sieler is a returning starter at defensive tackle. He’ll be joined by Prain.

At linebacker, Handy tackles as hard as he runs.

“He has a great nose for the ball,” Lutz said.

He’ll be joined by the aggressive Hoffman. Josh Reau and Craig Coopshaw will split time at the other spot.

Sophomore Nate Hoffman won a job at corner in camp.

“He’s an aggressive player who likes contact,” Lutz said. Nate Willaert is the other corner and he’s the team’s best cover guy.

Southward is the starter at safety with Austin Miller on the other side.

Southward, Hatfield and Miller will return kicks. Handy and Prielipp will do the kicking.

Lutz wants to see his team be more disciplined.

“Being in our correct spots and getting to landmarks is key to any team’s success. But it is very necessary for a young team like ourselves to not have mental lapses and make sure we try our hardest to be perfect every play,” he said.

He likes his team’s attitude.

”The best thing about this team is their willingness to do what is asked of them. We have very little attitude problems if any and it’s my job to figure out whose buttons I can push a certain way and whose i can’t. Going to practice every day is what I enjoy most because the kids want to be there. They don’t treat it as a job.”