Eagles ready to compete

After saying goodbye to a large senior class that graduated in May, Vista del Lago has got a whole new football team this year, including a new coach in Mike Struebing. If that name sounds familiar it should, as Struebing returns to coaching the team after a four-year absence, as he coached the team previously from 2013-2020. Struebing is refreshed and ready to go and so are the Eagles, despite having so few returning starters. On the offensive side of the ball, the Eagles return only three starters: receivers Kyle Cromwell and Dylan Davis and running back Jack Cromwell. Kyle Cromwell and Davis were the Eagles third and fourth-leading receivers a year ago, while Jack Cromwell was the team's second-leading rusher. He would have been the team's top rusher if he wouldn't have missed half the season injured. Expect big things out of these three. "I think the offense is really coming along," Jack Cromwell said. "We've learned it really well and have progressed a lot since summer and we have the playbook down. Everyone knows what they're supposed to do, and we just keep getting better every day." Cromwell is not concerned about the youth and inexperience of the team. "Everyone is stepping up," Cromwell said. "Everyone knows what they have to do. We might have a lot of junior varsity players up from last year, but these guys know how to play football. Once they get used to varsity level and hitting, they'll be fine." Cromwell averaged six yards a carry last season. A healthy Cromwell means a healthy running game for the Eagles, something every team needs, especially with a young quarterback. The Eagles starting quarterback this year is sophomore Jacoby More. Coming off an outstanding freshman season that saw him pass for 20 touchdowns and just three interceptions in leading the team to a perfect 10-0 season, More appears more than ready to lead the varsity team. If More struggles, Struebing can turn to last year's junior varsity quarterback, Christian Chavez. The quarterbacks have a slew of receivers to throw to, led by Kyle Cromwell and Davis. A season ago, Cromwell caught 21 passes but seven went for touchdowns, while Davis hauled in 14 passes. "We're looking pretty good and I'm excited to see what we can do this year," Kyle Cromwell said. "We've got myself and Dylan along with two new starters. Everyone is looking fast and shifty. We've got a good quarterback who can throw it far. The line is looking stronger than it did last year on junior varsity and the offense has good chemistry. "I think we'll be a good team. A lot of people doubt us because of our size and because we're young, but I think we'll be fine. We'll definitely be competitive in league." Other receivers in the mix include Luke Roberts, AJ Righini, Brody Benoit, Cael Rens and Ethan Kowalski, among others. In the backfield along with Jack Cromwell will be Joseph Ahola, who was last year's third-leading rusher, and sophomore Gavin Brainerd, who like More, had a strong season on the freshman team a year ago, rushing for 938 yards and 21 touchdowns. Rounding out the offense is the most important part; the offensive line. The Eagles will need to be able to block for the young skill players to be able to execute. Struebing likes his group, which includes Lucas Garcia and Dominic Kascheres at tackle, Nico Esteves and Porter Maldonado at guard and Mason Lemm at center. Garcia and Lemm are seniors. Vista del Lago's defense lost its top-12 tacklers from a season ago, so new defensive coordinator Ryan Munyer has his work cut out for him. The top-two players on that tackling list returning are Travis Triplett and Jack Cromwell, who figure to be leaders on the defense this season; Triplett at defensive end and Cromwell possibly in the secondary, though Struebing said he's likely to keep Cromwell as fresh as possible, as he's the team's starting running back. Up front, the Eagles will rotate several linemen along with Triplett. Lucas Hromanik, Mason Lemm, Dominic Kascheres, Nico Esteves and Kingston Foster-Davis and Joseph Ahola, will all see time, among others. "I expect Triplett, Hromanik and Foster-Davis to make a big impact," Struebing said. "Triplett should be good for us this year." Lucas Garcia, Patrick Dixson and Trenton Kaestner lead the linebackers playing the inside. Playing the nickel this year will be Ethan Rhee, Miles Schulze, Jake Colangelo and Jack Cromwell. "All three of those guys have been good at nickel, and Ethan has been tremendous," Struebing said. Garcia likes the defense. "We're getting a lot better," Garcia said. "We've got a lot of fronts and movements and we've got a lot of depth. We're coming along well. "I might be biased, but I think the linebackers will be the strength of the defense. I feel like we're the voice of the defense and we try to get everyone in the right places." John Bridges, Brendan Miller and Ethan Kowalski at safety, Ethan Rhee at nickel, and Brayden Caylor, Colin Lund, Jack Gibbons and Brody Benoit at corner are expected to contribute in the secondary. "John Bridges will make a huge impact at safety," Struebing said. "He's been a pain in practice making life difficult for our offense." Struebing said he wants to see the best version of his team this season. "The only thing I ever talk to those guys about is becoming the best version of themselves," Struebing said. "I don't normally talk wins and losses. We have not talked about team goals yet, but I just want them to be the best version of themselves and let the chips fall where they may. "The key to the season, offensively, is us generating explosive plays. Losing Matt Werpy and Will Greene, those two guys were unreal. How do we replace them? As a group, I think we're better so I think we'll be able to create some explosive plays. "Defensively, the key will be not giving up the explosive play and finding a way to force turnovers."