By KELLY TERPSTRA, Courier sports writer
August 23, 2008 12:46 am
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OTTUMWA — The humidity dialed up the heat Friday night at Schafer Stadium.
So did Zach Wigle’s new-look Ottumwa Bulldog football squad.
Gone is longtime Hall of Fame coach Tom Kopatich. In is Wigle, the 28-year-old first-year head coach that will take over the reins of the perenniel power squad from Southeast Iowa.
Wigle will throw in wrinkles, many of them, in a distinct differing offensive approach than Kopatich, which produced 10 playoff berths in 19 seasons in the River City.
Many fans in attendance saw some of the new-fangled plays that should produce many wins in 2008.
Ottumwa opens the season next Friday at home versus Southeast Polk, a squad that will almost surely garner a high ranking in Class 4A.
Wigle smiled when asked about the specifics of the change in scheme on offense. Polk obviously doesn’t need any more help when they stroll in next Friday night.
“It’s a new offense and we’ve been doing it for two weeks,” said Wigle. “It might not look a whole lot different when you’re watching from the stands, but it’s a completely different offensive system.”
Junior Adam Goodvin will start under center at quarterback for Ottumwa and he’ll have a major target in senior wideout Clint Utter. Utter has received Division I looks and his 6-3, 180-pound frame is an appealing end-zone threat for any signal-caller. Throw in Utter’s break-away track speed and he’ll be a load to handle this season through the air.
“Clint (Utter) is very talented and gifted physically. We’ll do our best to get the ball to him and hopefully he’ll do what he needs to do and it will be a good year for him,” said Wigle, who graduated high school from powerhouse Eden Prairie, in Minnesota.
Ottumwa junior tailback Ben Lott got the majority of carries at running back and looks to be a major part of Wigle’s attack. Ottumwa seniors Adam Bowling and Jake Turner will also see their fair share of touches in Wigle’s revamped attempt at putting the leather in the end zone.
Other key returnees for Ottumwa will be juniors Michael Wetrich and Justin Rusch. Wetrich led every defensive back in the Metro in interceptions last season. Look for Wetrich to also get more touches on offense this year than last. Rusch came on strong last season as a sophomore and will be one of Ottumwa’s heavy hitters at linebacker and will carry the ball at fullback.
The offensive and defensive lines suffered losses through graduation but there are starters back.
Senior center Kyle Ward will snap the ball to Goodvin and is a key player back. Junior Blake Miller started at guard for OHS in 2007 and returns. Junior Ben Ryder, all 6-7 of him, will also be a big-time run and pass blocker for the Bulldogs and should help out on the D-line. Clint Miller started on the defensive line and also appears to be contributing well at offensive line.
Ottumwa senior cornerback Alex Kelly is also a returning starter and will again make big plays in the secondary. Senior defensive end Garrett Crosby is a player to watch on the defensive side of the ball at end. Wigle also is counting on senior Shea Amos to break open holes at offensive tackle.
New faces that appeared to be starters during the first-team run-through on defense and will also be prominitely featured on the field are junior Kevin Anderson (DE), senior Dylan Smith (LB), junior Aaron Keith (LB) and junior Nick Donlin (safety).
Ottumwa junior Joe Roark will be Wigle’s kicker.
Wigle has this to say about the intra-squad scrimmage and the outlook for the season.
“It was good. The kids played hard and hopefully they had a good time,” said Wigle. “Obviously our goal is to win every game and that’s what we’re telling the kids. Is it realistic? — we’ll see. There’s a lot of good teams. Teams that are going to be more talented than we are, but we’re going to do our very best and execute to the best of our ability.”
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