What a difference a year makes.
Last year at this time, Menominee Indian High School football coach Chris Clache was looking for players just to fill his roster. The season was a struggle as the Eagles went 0-8 overall, 0-6 in the Northern Lakes Conference.
This year the numbers are up almost as much as the attitudes.
“The bodies make a big difference, but also the attitudes, too,” Clache said. “Last year, there was a lot of negativity around here. Everyone is a lot more upbeat and happy. With our offseason program, a lot of these guys were in the weight room all summer. That makes a big difference.”
The team, which lost only three seniors — Donald Tourtillott, Derek Waupoose and Nike Kaquatosh — has 30 players out this year, including 15 freshmen.
“Overall attitude, they’ve had enough. They want to do something,” Clache said. “They want to change everything around.”
For example, the offensive line, a weakness a season ago, has the ingredients to turn into a strength this season.
“We only lost one guy, but all of them played at one point or another last year,” Clache said of this year’s group. “We had a different offensive line, because of injuries, almost every week (last season). Every one of these guys had at least three or four games of starting experience.”
The line will be made up of a combination of seniors James Pecore, Austin Lyons, Kyle Winker, Nigel Waupkenay, junior Mario Waupoose and sophomore Abitak Martin.
If the line gels, that could mean big things for Menominee Indian’s skill positions, which will feature quarterback Dallas Madosh, a 5-foot-6, 130-pound senior, returning for his second year as starter.
“Dallas Madosh is returning. He is being pushed by Clint Gauthier. Right now it’s kind of looking like Dallas is pulling ahead,” Clache said. “He’s way improved from last year. He never played quarterback until last year, so he went through a lot of growing pains.”
Madosh passed for 766 yards, completing 60 of 167 passes for two touchdowns and 15 interceptions. More importantly, he played every game for the Eagles.
“He was the only player to play in every game last year, and he took a lot more punishment than anybody else,” Clache said. “He’s not very big, but he’s probably one of the toughest kids we have. He’ll play hurt, he’ll play injured, it doesn’t matter.”
Clache has converted fullback Naeciwat LaTender, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound senior, to halfback.
“He lost 35 pounds since last year. He was our starting fullback. He hit the weight room. His bench and squat went way up,” Clache said. “So he’s stronger and faster than last year. We moved him out to halfback.”
Forrest Webster, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound transfer from Shawano Community High School, also will be in the mix.
“Both of them are having a pretty good camp so far,” Clache said.
Brett Pecore (5-foot-9, 212-pounds) is making the transition from lineman to fullback for the Eagles.
“We saw a lot of potential in him last year as a fullback, but because of our depth problems we couldn’t move him back there,” Clache said. “This year we finally made the move. He’s pretty good. For as big as he is, he’s one of the faster guys on the team.”
On defense the coach expects his linebacker corps to be a strength and for defensive back Warren Miller to provide leadership.
“He’s been a starter since his freshman year about five games in and he’s the one that’s kind of the overall leader on the defense,” Clache said of the 5-foot-11, 145-pound senior. “He’s led our team in interceptions every year since he’s come here. … He’s another one that hit the weight room and got stronger. I think it’s really going to show.”
The MIHS defensive line is young and inexperienced, but has good size, with many of the offensive linemen playing both ways.
“I think the defense is going to be much improved this year,” Clache said. “A little more size up front and more speed on the edges. We have to keep our turnovers down so our defense isn’t sitting on the field for most of the game.”
Another player that has caught the coach’s eye is freshman running back/defensive back Antonio Mahkimetas.
“For a freshman, he’s been really impressive. It looks like he’s probably going to start on defense and will spend a lot of time on offense as well,” Clache said. “I don’t usually start freshman, but he’ll see a lot of playing time on varsity. He can handle it, too. He acts like a junior and he’s built like it, too. He’s one of the stronger guys we have on the team.”
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