Prep Football Preivew: Getting More Comfortable

The transition has been seamless and the comfort level is starting to take shape.

It's year two for Harrisburg's Al Way in his return to Bulldog football, a position he was out of since 2005.

Way returned last year and led Harrisburg to a 7-2 record before bowing out to Quincy Notre Dame in the first round of the playoffs.

Fast forward to this season and Way said the transition this summer was so much easier and made note that this year's junior class, is also the same class he had as freshmen three years ago when he served as an assistant under then head coach Jason Roper.

"I just feel like our kids understand the terminology and what we are trying to do so much better," Way said.

With that, he also doesn't feel like after losing a strong senior class that included the likes of Noah Vallette, Kane Carrigan, Corbin Crim and Tylor Marler that it's a rebuilding season as much as it is reloading.

"We lost tremendous speed and speed kills," he said. "It's a great thing to have and we will not have that kind of speed this year. Therefore, we cannot make as many mistakes. We killed ourselves over and over last year. So offensively, we have to cut down on our mistakes and defensively, we just have to play better. If we don't play better defense than we did last year, we'll be lucky to win five games."

The defense is a coin flip for Way right now. That unit returns more with guys in key spots, like Jordan Bartok at linebacker and guys like Austin Hefner and Jordan Gould in the secondary.

"I think we understand what we are trying to do, but again, until you can really start going live, full-go and get a better look at kids, you're not 100 percent positive. Potentially, I think we can be better defensively, but again, until you play you don't know.

"We do have some experience, but it's going to be our other guys that have to fill those other spots and really step up for us."

One other player that Way knows will have to step up is Isaiah Saulsberry. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound junior replaces two-year starter Noah Vallette at quarterback. In the early going, Way hasn't seen anything that makes him think Saulsberry can't accomplish that feat.

"He's just a good athlete. We won't run him very much, but he can run with the football. So, if he gets in trouble, he can run out. He's got a very good arm and so far, his timing has been really good."

After going 7-2 last season, Way admitted it could have very easily been 3-6.

"That number was so minuscule, it was a play here or a play there. We look at our schedule and see the usual. Mt. Carmel, Du Quoin, Murphysboro, Herrin. We have to go to Indiana this year, so it's a tough road. We have to stay healthy and correct some of the big mistakes we had last year if we want to get over .500."

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register and Eldorado Daily Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.

The Roster

No. Name Hgt Wgt Class Position

01 Dalton Drone 5-10 160 Sr. K

02 Austin Hefner 5-9 160 Sr. WR/DB

03 Axavier Doss 5-11 195 Sr. RB/DB

05 Isaiah Saulsberry 6-1 165 Jr. QB/DB

07 Jordan Gould 6-0 165 Sr. WR/DB

08 Walker Henley 5-9 135 Jr. DB

12 Blake Drue 5-10 165 Jr. RB/LB

14 Baylee Pate 5-8 130 Jr. DB

18 Peyton Jackson 6-0 205 Sr. TE/DL

20 Hunter Smith 5-11 160 Jr. RB/DB

22 Noah Mayer 5-8 150 Jr. RB/DB

24 Ryan Ragsdale 5-10 175 Sr. RB/LB

30 Preston Wargel 5-9 145 Sr. DB

32 Devin Jaegers 5-4 140 Jr. LB

34 Chandler Bowling 5-10 130 Jr. K

38 Zach Haney 6-0 165 Jr. DL

40 Kent Cletcher 5-9 230 Jr. RB/LB

44 Jordan Bartok 6-0 226 Jr. RB/LB

45 Hunter Jackson 6-0 203 Jr. LB

46 Presley Gauch 5-11 216 Jr. TE/LB

50 James Tanner 5-10 197 Sr. DL

52 Jase Leinenbach 5-4 182 Jr. DL

55 Nathan Abraham 6-1 210 Sr. OL/DL

56 Chase Pritchett 5-8 181 Jr. LB

58 Cade Joiner 5-9 160 Jr. OL/DL

60 Jacob Janaskie 6-2 250 So. OL/DL

62 Jeremy Wright 5-9 300 Sr. OL/DL

64 Riley Barnard 6-1 265 Jr. OL/DL

65 Trey Reamer 6-3 240 Sr. OL/DL

66 Jared Schmook 6-0 180 Jr. OL/DL

68 Brandon Sherrod 5-9 200 Sr. OL/LB

70 Devon Roe 6-1 250 Jr. OL/DL

74 Chase McDaniel 6-0 260 Sr. OL/DL

75 Rajah Peacock 6-2 300 Jr. OL/DL

76 Nick Foster 6-1 296 Sr. OL/DL

77 Joey Hancock 6-2 290 Sr. OL/DL

78 Alex Johnson 6-0 226 Jr. OL/DL

82 Zach Gibbs 6-3 230 So. TE/DL

86 Cole Ferrell 5-10 150 Jr. DE

88 Cole Vaughn 6-2 170 Jr. TE/DL

Head Coach: Al Way

Assistant Coaches: Greg Langley, Josh Allen, Gabe Angelly, Greg Davis, Kyle McGowan, Zach Cox, Reid Roper, Matt Griffith, Jason Harbison, Chris Willsey.

Harrisburg Football Schedule

<p><strong>Date    Opponent        Time</strong><br />Aug. 26    MT. CARMEL        7 PM <br />Sep. 2    at Du Quoin        7 PM <br />Sep. 9    at Boonville, Ind.         7 PM <br />Sep. 16     at West Frankfort        7 PM<br />Sep. 23    MASSAC COUNTY        7 PM<br />Sep. 30     BENTON (Homecoming)    7 PM<br />Oct. 7     at Murphysboro        7 PM<br />Oct. 14     HERRIN (Pink Out)        7 PM<br />Oct. 21     CARBONDALE (Senior Night)    7 PM</p>