Talented Trojans ready to make their mark on KMAC

The Centerburg football team is loaded and ready to make a run.

The Trojans, despite the loss of 11 letterwinners from a year ago, return 14 players that saw significant time, including six all league selections. The talent is there to make a push for the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference title this fall.

“We have quite a few players returning with lots of snaps and games played,” said Centerburg coach Andrew Colella. “The ability to be able to utilize that as one of our strengths early on will be a huge key to our success.”

Centerburg (8-4 overall, 5-2 KMAC) finished third in the league and advanced to the second round of the Div. VI state tournament a year ago. The Trojans averaged 30.8 points per game last fall, scoring over 40 four times.

The bulk of that offensive output returns for another season. Quarterback Blane Ball (5-foot-9, 155 pounds) is back after a stellar junior year where he threw for 1,695 yards and 21 touchdowns. His two favorite receivers (Trevin Harris and Chris Marshall) are both gone due to graduation, but he has a strong weapon behind him with the return of junior running back Miles Marshall (6-1, 165). Marshall rushed for 1,224 yards and 16 TDs last fall.

The Trojans also return a good portion of its offensive line in front of Ball, including second-team All-KMAC selections Lane Johnston (6-foot, 200-pound senior) and Aiden Gray (6-2, 215, senior). Also back are seniors Hagen Bryant (5-8, 180), Cole Evans (5-8, 230) and Evan Tudor (6-0, 245) , as well as juniors Angelo Nichols (6-1, 320)  and Clarke Redd (6-3, 260).

Junior Jackson Ballinger (6-4, 230) will return at tight end, while seniors Tommy Hause (6-2, 170) and Hayden Love (6-0, 175) will be Ball’s main targets at wide receiver.

The Trojans also have three guys ready to step into the big shoes at receiver — senior Skyler Merklin (6-0, 145), junior Brayden Nelson (5-11, 145) and sophomore Eli Indiciani (5-7, 150).

On the defensive side, the line will be one of the strengths as well. Ballinger, Evans, Gray, Johnston, Nichols, Redd and Tudor have all seen varsity action and will hope to slow down some of the more high-potent offenses in the KMAC. Bryant, Shawn Carter (5-8, 175), Hause and Carter Rhodebeck (6-0, 190) will be the linebackers, while Ball, Love and Marshall will be the team’s last line of defense.

Colella also expects Merklin, Nelson, Indiciani and Carter Waggoner (5-9, 150) to see some time in the defensive backfield.

With all that talent returning, Colella and the Trojans will be striving to move back up the ladder in the KMAC and make a deep run in the state tournament.

“Competing for a league championship is always something that we strive for each year,” Colella said.

The Trojans open the season on Friday, hosting neighborhood rival Utica.