School Name: Boiling Springs Bubblers
Coach: Nate Freier
Last Year: 1-9, 0-7 Capital
Last 5 Years: 24-28
Returning Starters: 8 on offense; 7 on defense
Key Players: RB-CB Tyler Wise; WR-CB Jared Whitten; QB-CB Dalton Showaker; RB-OLB Connor Murphy; RB-ILB Nate Gouhin; TE-DE Kyle Taylor; OL-ILB Ben Picard; OL-DL Noah Davis; RB-OLB Dylan Romig; OL-DL Dakota Detwiler.
Offense Overview: There are eight starters back for second-year head coach Nate Freier with something to prove. A year ago the Bubblers’ Pro-I based offense didn’t register a touchdown until Week 6. They were shut out four times and finished 2012 averaging less than 225 yards and only 8.7 points a game. It’s almost impossible to win more than one game throwing up those numbers. Junior Dalton Showaker takes over as the starting QB. Tyler Wise, who started seven games at QB last year, moves out to his more natural position of WR. One of the keys for this group having more of an impact is getting the ball into the hands of 6-4 wideout Jared Whitten. Fast and athletic with great hands, Whitten could be that difference maker. Up front there’s a pair of three-year starters in seniors Ben Picard and Noah Davis to provide some stability. The final piece of the skill-set puzzle is RB Connor Murphy. There’s some potential here, but after the results a year ago it’s best to wait and see. The experience is there.
Defense Overview: Really, what chance did this group have of staying focused and locked in for 48 minutes when the offense was struggling like it did in 2012? The Bubblers’ defense brings back seven starters from a group that surrendered 27.2 points a game last season. The strength of this group will be the secondary. They are all back and picked up a wealth of lessons along the way a year ago. Two of the four linebackers in Boiling Springs 4-4 defense, and a pair of defensive linemen are return as well. If the offense gives them a little more meat on the bone to stay fully engaged, this unit has the tools to be much better.
Biggest Game: Sept. 13 at Big Spring
More Boiling Springs: 2013 Schedule | Tentative 2013 Roster
Shay’s Crystal Ball: Clearly the focus on this group will be on the offense. Touchdowns were way too hard to come by, and it had to be a rough ride knowing surrendering 14 points pretty much sealed the outcome. There’s 15 starters back and plenty of opportunity knocking for the Bubblers. This has to be a hungry group. And the system of the new coaching staff should fully be in place. The Capital Division is full of tough outs, but the first step for the Bubblers is to be more relevant late into games and see what happens. Five wins feels like a stretch right now. But it’s always easier to play free when expectations don’t weigh you down.
More: Complete Countdown to Kickoff coverage
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