Lisbon set to break in new football field with highly-ranked team

LISBON — Don't think for a minute they were not appreciative.

The Lisbon football team has spent the past couple of seasons as true road warriors. With Walmer Field undergoing a renovation, the Lions played their "home" games just down the road in Mount Vernon at Ash Park on the Cornell College campus.

“Cornell has an awesome facility and it was great playing there the last few years,” said Lisbon Coach Phil Whitman, “but there is something special being a Lisbon football player playing at Walmer Field in front of your fans on your own school grounds.

“I just think for us it is going to be awesome to play all of our home games at home this year.”

When the Class A fourth-ranked Lions come charging on to Walmer Field for their opener this Friday against West Branch, they will do so with high expectations. Lisbon returns nine starters from a team that finished 7-3 and qualified for the Class A playoffs in a 2020 season that was a challenge for all teams due to COVID-19.

As Whitman begins his fifth season at Lisbon, he is blessed with depth at an unlikely position for a Class A team.

Senior Gavin Wollum began the 2020 season as the starter at quarterback. He was sidelined with an injury and was replaced by junior Cohen Kamaus. Both players put up similar statistical numbers, giving Whitman additional options this fall.

“With Gavin going down with a broken finger last season, Cohen stepped in and did a great job,” Whitman said. “I see us using both guys this year. Each is totally capable of the starting spot.

“The best part is that both have gained strength and speed and compete with each other daily in practice. They want each other to do their best and will give everything for the best of the team.”

Wollum, who threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns, also was a standout on defense, getting in on 13 tackles. Kamaus threw for 312 yards and six scores.

Lisbon also has several capable ball carriers returning. Senior Jaimen Moore ran for 810 yards on 118 carries, scoring 10 touchdowns. Junior Caden Kaspers chipped in with 610 yards and six scores. Seniors Max Kohl (296 yards, three TDs) and Will Bennett (217 yards, two TDs) are other options returning for Whitman.

“Offensively, we will be looking to get the ball into our playmakers’ hands quicker and utilize the width of the field,” Whitman said. “Along with Jamien and Max, Kaden Caspers and Will Bennett will be some of our playmakers on offense.”

The biggest concern on offense will be replacing three starters on the line. Whitman said he is looking at some juniors and sophomores who haven't had much varsity experience to step up.

“What you see from us on the field may look different, but for the linemen not a ton will change from verbiage to assignments, they played in the same system last year at the JV level,” Whitman said. “My concern would be more with the speed at the varsity level.”

On defense, Kohl and Moore will be the anchors from their linebacker positions, along with defensive tackle Tyson Scott. The speed that will be evident on offense also will be key to the defense.

“Defensively, pressure will be key for us, utilizing a multitude of guys to play on the opposition's side of the ball,” Whitman said.

The ability to spend more time working with players in the offseason also was a plus for Lisbon after being limited to mostly no contact last summer due to COVID-19.

Whitman said the difference at the start of fall camp was easy to see after a summer of playing 7-on-7 against other area schools, including Solon, Clear Creek Amana, Marion and Anamosa.

“All of them gave us great looks against solid competition,” he said. “I feel we are far away ahead of where we were at the beginning of the season last year just implementing our offense and defense this summer.”

Whitman is cautiously optimistic about the season. He cites Wapello and Alburnett as teams to watch in the District 5 race.

“As with most Class A schools, an injury here or there will and can be detrimental,” Whitman said. “I think we have a very solid group of kids that have learned to compete in athletics. We have guys that are key members from a state runner-up wrestling team, a state runner-up track team and a state tournament baseball team. If we can stay healthy and bring our young guys up to speed, our goal is to compete as hard as we can to be 1-0 each week.”