Injury-plagued last year, Linn-Mar could be a Class 5A football sleeper

MARION — If anybody deserves a collectively clean bill of health, it’s these guys.

Injuries put the brakes on Linn-Mar last season after a 2-0 start.

“We didn’t have time to be frustrated,” said Ben Martens, now serving as co-head coach. We just tried to roll with it the best we could.

“We didn’t have time to think, ‘What could have been.’”

Instead, here’s what was — six losses in the last eight games, a 4-6 record and a first-round exit in the Class 5A playoffs.

Now, a year later ... what could be?

All of those injuries were a supreme bummer at the time. But it did push other guys into the lineup, ready or not, and that could trigger the Lions into a formidable unit this fall.

“I think we’ve got potential,” said Chad Tompkins, who is sharing head-coaching duties with Martens. “We had kids that had to step up. Hopefully we can reap the benefits of that this year.”

Tompkins and Martens agreed to the current dual-coaching format after Tim Lovell announced his resignation in May.

“Ben (was offensive coordinator) and had worked with quarterbacks in the past,” Tompkins said. “I took over as defensive coordinator last year.

“We couldn’t do it without the staff we have here. Ben and I have tried to get together every weekend.”

This is likely a one-year arrangement.

“I told my wife I probably can’t do back-to-back sports (as head coach),” said Tompkins, who is head girls’ basketball coach.

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In terms of complete production — returning passing yards, rushing yards, receiving and tackles — no team in 5A returns as much than the Lions.

“If we’re healthy, I think we can make a deep run,” said running back Dylan Muszynski, who ran for 643 yards and eight touchdowns despite missing three games due to a high ankle sprain.

“Our class, we’ve always had a lot of success. We hope to represent the east side of the state (in the postseason).”

Tyree Alons rushed for a team-high 656 yards last season, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. The Lions also return their top three receivers, led by Landon Sorg (28 catches, 280 yards).

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Defensively, Carson Luense was the tackles leader with 58 stops.

Bryson Miell recorded five takeaways — three interceptions, two fumble recoveries.

“I see the field pretty well,” Miell said. “I put myself in position that I can get the ball.”

“My dad told me to have the mentality of ‘the ball is yours, no matter what.’

“With as much as we’ve got coming back defensively, I think we’re going to be a bunch of monsters.”

Asked how he wanted this team to be identified this fall, Martens responded:

“I want them to be known as a tough, hard-working bunch of kids that work for each other.”

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The injuries from 2023 have mended. The Lions, according to Tompkins, are “as healthy as we can be, knock on wood.”

If that remains the case, Linn-Mar has a fighting chance for its first postseason win since 2015.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com