By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
The Chapman Fighting Irish football team is off to a strong 3-1 start to their 2021 football campaign and looks like a real competitor heading into the second half of the season.
Chapman’s lone loss came by just ten points at the hands of an undefeated Holton team that is ranked #4 in the state in Class 3A.
“We’ve got some tough guys and some real hitters this year and that gives us a chance to win in any game,” Chapman head coach Kurt Webster said. “We made a few late mistakes in our one loss but if you can hit with Holton there aren’t many teams you can’t hit with.”
Much of the Irish’ success this season has come from running the ball down opponents’ throats.
After returning from an injury in 2020, running back Eli Riegel is averaging 8 yards per carry and 187 yards a contest to go along with 11 touchdowns in just four games.
That success has translated across the board as of the six ball carriers with ten or more touches this season, five of them are averaging five or more yards per carry.
Defensively Chapman has looked stout as well, holding Holton to 24 points in the tight loss.
“I’ve been happy with the development that we’ve seen in our guys,” Webster said. “That Holton game was a big wake-up call for us but we’ve had two big wins since and we’re on the path to where we want to be.”
While Chapman does return a lot of talent from last year, the team does rely on youth in a lot of key positions, but that youth has taken big strides throughout the first half of the season.
“We have to keep developing players and continue to grow our younger guys especially the ones that are playing both ways,” he said. “If we continue to improve we’ll be in good shape come week nine but we can’t get satisfied with where we are.”
While many didn't know what to expect for the Irish this season, the leaders in the Chapman locker room continue to maintain high expectations for what this team can accomplish come playoff time.
“We said at the beginning of the year that we want to be league and district champions so we can make a run at a state championship,” Webster said. “We don’t want to be afraid of having big goals and we’re proud of our guys for thinking big and chasing that.”
Chapman will spend the next three weeks on the road at Riley County (4-0), Clay Center (2-2), and Council Grove (1-3) before returning home to face 4-0 Concordia in the regular-season finale.
For continuing coverage of the Fighting Irish football team in 2021 stay tuned to the Salina Post.