They may be smaller, but the Eagles can fly.
The Menominee Indian High School football team (2-7, 1-4 Northern Lakes Conference) got younger — losing 12 players to graduation — and faster in the offseason.
“We’re not quite as big as last year, but we’ve definitely got speed,” Menominee Indian coach Chris Clache said. “Comparing 40-yard dash times from this year to last year, just overall, we’re definitely a lot faster.”
The biggest benefit of the team speed is the ability to keep guys fresh. Clache’s scheme requires speed on both sides of the ball, and the influx of young fast players means fewer players forced to play every down, both ways.
“Our defensive scheme is pretty much predicated on being fast,” Clache said. “So, that definitely opens up windows for other kids to get playing time. Last year, we were kind of stuck with the same 13-14 guys that rotated in and out. They would get tired awfully quick.
“We still run our normal spread offense. I think it gives us more options as far as personnel groupings. We can use a lot of different sets, instead of being stuck in one or two.”
Senior defensive back/wide receiver Michael Pecore (5-foot-11, 160 pounds) was one of the two-way players, and will likely play that way again this season as one of the team’s six seniors.
Named first-team All-Northern Lakes Conference on both offense and defense last season, Pecore has been playing well in the early practices.
“He has looked pretty good in camp so far,” Clache said. “He leads by example. He’s kind of a quiet kid. He’s shown the reason why he was first-team all-conference.”
Pecore caught 38 passes for 677 yards a year ago. He also snagged five touchdowns.
Running back/linebacker Forrest Webster is another senior leader. Webster (5-9, 170 pounds) ran for 379 yards and three touchdowns last year, earning a second-team all-conference spot as a running back.
“He’s looked pretty good so far,” Clache said. “He’s the only returning starting linebacker we have. He’s going to have to step up and lead by example there for a little while and show (younger players) the ropes.”
Webster might be joined in the Eagles’ backfield and linebacking corps by senior Alphonso Smith (6-1, 195 pounds), who returns to football after not playing since his freshman year.
“He’s the biggest running back that we have, and he’s one of the fastest kids on the team,” Clache said. “He’s looked impressive. He’s caught on to everything really quick. He’s definitely going to be a valuable asset. I see him being a two-way starter for sure.”
Smith, Pecore and junior Bryan Madosh have also impressed competing for the punting job.
“All of the sudden I have three kids that have been banging them 40-plus yards every time,” Clache said. “Those three look pretty good there.”
Perhaps the biggest competition in training camp for the Eagles is at quarterback, where the team is trying to replace graduated senior Dallas Madosh.
Senior Domonic Caldwell, who will switch from being a receiver/tight end, and freshman Avery Corn, who has impressed early, are competing for the job.
“It might come down where we have to make a decision on who to play in that position a day or two before the season starts,” Clache said. “It’s probably going to be that close.”
The coach said he likes Caldwell’s arm and foot speed.
“His speed, he’s not blazing fast, but he’s got some wheels on him,” Clache said. “He can move when he wants to.”
Corn has been equally impressive in the first few practices.
“For a freshman, he’s looked awfully good,” Clache said. “He’s catching on to things quick.”
The offensive line will be anchored by senior Mario Waupoose, a 6-1, 265-pounder who played on both lines last year. He’ll be joined by center Abitak Martin, a 6-3, 240-pound junior who cracked the starting lineup his freshman year.
“Right now we’re kind of battling for the other three spots,” Clache said. “There’s no clear-cut person that’s going to step in there.”
On the defensive line, junior Anthony Allery (6-2, 345 pounds) returns after missing the last four games last season with a leg injury.
The Eagles missed Allery’s run stuffing down the stretch.
“He’s a big kid. Surprisingly, he can move,” Clache said. “He was having a pretty good year last year but he got hurt. He ate up a lot of space in that D-line. He’s got a pretty quick first step and he’s a pretty powerful kid.”
The Eagles scrimmage against Green Bay West on Aug. 16 and open the season Aug. 22 at home against Milwaukee HOPE Christian.
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