By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
When Kurt Webster took over as head coach at Chapman in 2017, he inherited a program that had been through three head coaches in nine years and hadn’t seen a winning season in the decade prior. However, in just his second season as head coach, he led the Fighting Irish to a 7-3 record and a playoff berth, giving many in the community hope that winning football had returned to Chapman once more.
Many who looked at the box scores on Saturday mornings were disappointed in Chapman’s 2-7 2019 campaign. But for those who showed up to watch the games and heard the starting lineups announced, a realization hit — this team was young, very young.
“We started fourteen sophomores and three freshman at different points in the year,” Chapman head coach Kurt Webster said. “We really didn’t have a lot of experience or many seniors, and we’re much smaller than all of the other schools in our league, so when we have a small senior class that really kills us.”
Despite the overwhelming lack of experience on the field, Chapman fought admirably in 2019, keeping six of their seven losses within two scores or less. When the page turned over to 2020, the Fighting Irish returned nearly the entire roster from 2019. Now, there is a new wave of veteran players hungry to get back to the teams winning ways.
“All the little puppies we had last year are growing up,” Webster said. “When we get off the bus we’re gonna look like a football team, now we have to get them to play up to the standard they’re capable of.”
That standard will be a very high one, and it all starts with the play of senior quarterback Trevor Erickson.
Erickson, whose father’s military service moved him away from the program during his first two years of high school, returned to Chapman and took over the starting job in 2019. He went on to lead the league in touchdown passes.
After just one season, Erickson has garnered very high praise from coaches and teammates alike. He has even drawn a comparison to Nebraska legend Scott Frost.
“He has the ability to be one of those dual threat guys who gets the ball to the right person,” Webster said. “He’s unselfish, a good leader and he can throw the ball very effectively.”
Erickson will have a lot of help in the backfield from junior fullback Eli Riegel, who will reprise his role as the bell cow back from 2019. Joining Erickson and Riegel in the backfield will be junior Trevor Mead and senior Lawrence Smith, who should add some versatility to the run-heavy attack of the Irish this year.
The wall that Chapman will have to run behind will look similar to 2019 as well. The Irish are returning four juniors to the offensive line: Colt Sell, Mason Barnum Torin Cavanaugh and Keegan Craig. Sophomore center Brayden Lexow will be the lone newcomer to the group this year, replacing Kel Stroud, who signed to play DI football for South Dakota after graduating last year.
While receiving options for Chapman will vary, there is a lot of optimism surrounding 6-3 basketball star John Jenkins, who should give the Irish a dynamic aerial weapon to test out this season.
Coach Webster made it abundantly clear that this offensive unit was not one he was concerned about heading into 2020.
“Scoring wasn’t our problem last year, we’ve put a big emphasis on being more physical on defense and really improving that side of the ball,” Webster said.
While the offense will be returning almost everyone from 2019, the defense will be undergoing some personnel changes. The new look should give the Fighting Irish an edge on defense.
Torin Cavanaugh, who spent most of his time on the offensive line last season, will be transitioning to defensive end. His size will give Chapman an intimidating presence coming off the edge. He will be joined by junior nose guard David Morgan, who will be getting his first taste of true varsity action this year, and Colt Sell, who earned an all-league honorable mention in 2019.
Tate Milton will return as Chapman’s stopping linebacker in the middle and will be flanked by Eli Riegel and John Jenkins, who will have to adjust to playing both sides of the ball this year.
The secondary will be anchored by Trevor Erickson, who plays safety in addition to quarterback, and junior Cam Liebau, who will be stepping into a major role as one of the team’s first options at corner.
The Fighting Irish will be tested early, starting their season on the road against Sabetha (6-3 in 2019) on Friday. Chapman will follow their opening week with a home game against Holton (7-3 in 2019) in week two.
“We scheduled two great teams right off the bat so we’re gonna figure out if we’re worth anything pretty quick,” Webster said.