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Howell Central Spartans Attempting to Get Back to Winning Ways

After going 4-6 in last year, Howell Central is looking for first winning season since 2006.

Even though it isn’t publicized much, fans of the Francis Howell Central High football program know the Spartans play one of the toughest schedules of any team in the area.

In 2010, Howell Central went 4-6 over the course of the season, with all six losses coming to teams that made the playoffs.

In fact, with Spartans being the only team in the area that played six regular season games against teams that made the playoffs, and the only team to play at least three 10-win opponents, the case could be made that Howell Central played the most difficult schedule of anybody in the area last year.

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“We’re not afraid to play a competitive schedule,” Howell Central head coach Todd Berck said. “It’s a learning experience. We play in a tough conference and we schedule tough games out of conference. We didn’t do well against it last year, but I believe we’re on the rise.”

It certainly seems that way for the Spartans, who bring back a number of talented players for the 2011 season—especially on offense where the starting quarterback and three other potentially dynamic performers will be back as well.

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Senior Chip Miller (6-foot-3-inches, 175 pounds) will be calling the signals for Howell Central for the second straight year. Last year Miller threw for 898 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Spartans also get back their top receiving threat in gritty senior Jayden Lumpa (5-foot-7-inches, 150 pounds) and junior tight end prospect Derrick Puni (6-foot-2-inches, 200 pounds).

“We’ve got the potential to be a real good passing team, but we’re an option team," Berck said. "Even though we’ll attack whatever the opposition gives us, we’ve got to be able to run the ball this year.”

That’s why Berck has decided to move senior Joshua Wade (5-foot-10-inches, 150 pounds) from wideout to tailback.

Wade was second on the team in receiving last year, but Berck believes Wade’s speed and his junior fullback tandem of Jonathan Cherry (5-foot-10-inches, 185 pounds) and Ian Loy (5-foot-9-inches, 180 pounds) will be a real weapon for the Spartans in the run game.

“Even though we’re a little (inexperienced) in the backfield, we’ve got some good depth at running back,” Berck said. “We’ve got several guys that will get a chance and we feel will be able to help us this year.”

The leader on the offensive and defensive lines for Howell Central this year, will be senior masher Daulton Daies (5-foot-10-inches, 275 pounds).

A ferocious competitor, who’s getting college looks on both sides of the ball, Daies ranked near the top of all GAC South defensive linemen with 61 total tackles and two quarterback sacks last year.

Joining Daies on the defensive front this year will be fellow senior Andrew Heuvelman (5-foot-11-inches, 210 pounds).

Those two will be looking to keep opposing blockers away from standout linebackers Cherry, who Berck called Howell Central’s biggest hitter, and another senior Brett Davis (5-foot-11-inches, 180 pounds).

“We’re going to mix it up some for sure,” Berck said. “I’d like to think we’ll be physical enough to not be ‘stunting’ all the time. But we’ll try a lot of different things. We’re definitely a reading (the play) kind of defense.”

Howell Central will begin its 2011 campaign Friday, August 26, when it hosts GAC South rival Troy Buchanan High at Don Muench Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff that night is scheduled for 7 p.m.

2011 FRANCIS HOWELL CENTRAL SPARTANS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Date
Opponent Time

Aug. 26

vs. Troy 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at CBC 7 p.m. Sept. 9 vs. Wentzville Holt 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at Rockwood Summit 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at Wentzville Timberland 7 p.m. Sept. 30 vs. Fort Zumwalt West 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at Vianney 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at Francis Howell 7 p.m. Oct. 22 vs. Pattonville 7 p.m. Oct. 27 vs. Fort Zumwalt North 7 p.m.
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