By Murray Gleffe, Correspondent

The Jaguar football team is coming off a 5-5 season in 2016. Last season provided a game for the ages win with Green Bay Southwest, but also some tough setbacks vs Green Bay Preble and Pulaski. Head Coach Mark Jonas, “We let a couple of games get away from us last year in Preble (when we had a big lead) and Pulaski (when we threw a couple of pick six’s). Two of the other losses were to Bay Port and Notre Dame who made it to the State Quarters and State Finals. I feel like it easily could have been a 7-2 season. Our three goals are always to win all of our home games, make the playoffs, and to win the Conference Championship.” The Jaguars do have to replace QB Ryan Johnson, RB Brock Koski, and all conference receivers David Clark and Peyton Ellis. However, key backups return and they look to make some noise heading into the 2017 season.

Jaguar defensive back makes play on ball

Anthony Guarascio took snaps under center as a Junior, Alex Stanko rushed for over 200 yards as the backup running back, and Will Adair went over 100 yards in 2016. Nolan Reese, Katayen Gardner, and Max Nooyen will anchor the line. On the defensive side of things, Tanner Mellinger, Anthony Boyd, Kevin Liu, Cam Wheeler, and Diego Zastrow either started or saw considerable time on the depth chart. Coach Jonas, “We have a strong senior class out (28). It’s a testament to them that they have remained consistent since about 6^th grade for most of them. A few of the line kids will have to pull double duty in order for us to be in the mix this year. We will find out where we are as a team when we scrimmage Appleton North.” The Jaguars will find out where they stack up in the FRCC after they tackle the Hornets, Tritons, and Redbirds in consecutive weeks before the school year even begins.

2017 Jaguar Football (Roster by Position-returnees, unless noted)

QB-Anthony Guarascio, Ashton Steinike

RB-Alex Stanko, Troy Lo

WR-Will Adair, Griffin Baierl, Noah Steward, Collin Secor, Ben DeLaurelle, Parker Murphy (newcomer)

TE-Evan Wood, Justin Beauleau

OL-Katayen Gardner, Travis Eifler, Max Nooyen, Nolan Reese, Kenneth Brooks (newcomer), Dylan Landsinger (newcomer)

DL-Matt Farley, Tanner Mellinger, Remy Rickert, Hunter Schermitzler, Anthony Boyd, Jake Tilkens, Josh Clay, Henry Kratochvill, James Murdock

LB-J.T. O’Connell, Conner Hakenjos, Michael Vannieuwenhoven, Cam Wheeler, Jack Snyder

DB-Alex Smolik, Evan Atkinson, Jack Kiser, Riley S. (newcomer), Kevin Liu, Diego Zastrow, Caleb Opperman, Jose Guzman

PK-Kole Kolinski

 2017 Jaguar Football Schedule (All Games at 7:00)

August 17                 vs Green Bay Preble

August 25                 at Notre Dame

August 31                 at DePere

September 8             vs Bay Port

September 15           at Green Bay Southwest

September 22           vs Manitowoc

September 29           at Pulaski

October 6                 vs Sheboygan North

October 13               at Sheboygan South

October 20               WIAA State Playoffs (Level 1)

October 27               WIAA State Playoffs (Level 2)

November 3             WIAA State Playoffs (Level 3)

November 10           WIAA State Playoffs (Level 4)

November 17           WIAA State Finals (Camp Randall Stadium)

(2017 Ashwaubenon vs Green Bay Preble Football Preview)

The Green Bay Preble Hornets won a 42-41 affair over the Jaguars in 2016. The contest featured 732 yards of total offense. The Jaguars saw a 28-6 lead early in the game dissipate late in the 4^th quarter. The Jaguars scored late but saw the two point try go awry and lost by a point. The Jaguars generated 427 of that total, of which 333 was through the air. The Jaguars will again look to the air in 2017 but also have a proven tailback in Alex Stanko that they will go to often to balance the two out. The Hornets will have to replace Wisconsin Badger Coy Wanner at Quarterback, 600-yard rusher Darionne Hughes, and top receiver Cody Dietz. However, the cupboard isn’t dry. University of Iowa recruit Henry Geil returns for his senior season after rushing for a team high 784 yards. Due to the lack of depth at QB for the Hornets, Geil will take some direct snaps at the QB position. Both defenses will be energized and ready to better the 6 touchdowns each gave up last year.