Lamont Morrison lines up at receiver during practice Thursday night. Morrison will be a leader on both sides of the ball for the Vulcans this season, after racking up 31 tackles, and 28 catches last season. (photo by: John Cook)
By: Mike Gallagher
Sports Writer
VASSAR — Last season, the Vulcan football team was led by quarterback Michael Pratt, and an offense that averaged 33.4 points per game en route to a 5-4 record.
This season Vassar will count on a defense that returns nearly all of their starters, and an offense that will need players to step up at the skill positions.
“Right now we are relying on our seniors,” said Vassar head coach Jason Kiss. “ Until we get into our scrimmage next week, we have a lot of kids that are fighting for postions.”
The Vulcans must replace Pratt, the football program’s career passing leader, with 3730 total passing yards, and their leading rusher last season with 415 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. Pratt’s top receiving options from last season DeAundre Callahan (41 catches, 422 yards, four TDs), and David Wargo (612 yards, school record 1182 career receiving yards), must be replaced as well.
The quarterback postition is already set for the 2015 Vulcan football team — 6’6” senior Tyler Humpert.
“Mr. Humpert is our guy right now,” Kiss said. “ The nice part is we look to our seniors to be leaders, and he has shown that he is going to be that guys that takes charge. He is directing people in the huddle, he’s knowledgeable about the game because he has played so many positions, and he is really doing a good job for us.”
As for the other skill posititons, there are plenty of players vying for playing time, some of which saw time at those positions last year. Players such as receivers Lamont Morrison (28 catches, 445 yards, four TDs last season), and Colton Fabbro, running backs Zach Shepherd, Robbie Atwood, Chandler Peplinski, and Alex Hertel could be difference makers for coach Kiss.
“We have a core group of guys coming back, and they have all seen playing time,” commented Kiss. “Even last year the kids that were our skill position players rotated, so we have juniors that are now seniors that need to step up and fill those spots. I think that they will do that, and their leadership is going to be the key to being successful.”
Tyler Humpert throws a pass during practice Thursday night. Humpert, a senior, will be taking over the quarterback position for the Vulcans, after playing tight end last season. He was also Vassar’s leading tackler on defense last year with 61 tackles. (photo by Mike Gallagher)
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vulcans return a lot of talent from a defense that allowed 269.8 yards per game, and 26.6 points per game. Vassar returns their four top tacklers from last season – Humpert (61 tkls 5 sacks), Kane Milliken (61 tkls), Fabbro (51 tkls), Shepherd (43 tkls), and also return their top pass defender, Logan Amend, who recorded five interceptions last season.
“Since I’ve been here we’ve had a defense camp every year,” said Kiss. “Our defense is our most important thing. We tell our players that we play defense, and that is what is going to win us games, so having all of them coming back with experience is going to be key to us winning games.”
Early in the season, coach Kiss is working on getting his players on the same page.
“We are working mostly on consistency,” Kiss said. “That is thing that we lack, being consistent in our plays, being consistent in what we are doing, and communicating with one another. As long as we communicate, we do a very good job, and when that breaks down, we don’t.”
Vassar will be traveling to Birch Run next week, August 20th, before opening the season against rival Millington, a team that they haven’t played since the 2009 playoffs, and haven’t defeated since the 2003 regular season.
“From talking with their staff, they are in the same position we are,” Kiss said. “They have some rebuilding to do, just like we do. We are looking to renew the rivalry. When you are that close, couple miles down the road, we are expecting a great game, and great competition. I know they are going to get after it, and we have to follow suit.”
Mike Gallagher is a sports writer for the Advertiser, and can be reached at Sports@tcadvertiser.com.
