Injuries have slowed Wahlert’s football growth

DUBUQUE - Dubuque Wahlert flew into the 2015 football season with momentum from last season's playoff appearance, the first since 2010.

This postseason appearance injected a new enthusiasm into the program, now in its third year under head coach Travis Zajac. This season, the Eagles hope to capitalize on that momentum and keep the program headed in the right direction.

'The playoff appearance had a huge impact on the program,” Zajac said. 'It built excitement, not only with returning players, but also outside the program with students and teachers. Although we got handled by sixth-ranked West Delaware in the first round, the fact that we were able to play with them for the first quarter-and-a-half was extremely encouraging.”

Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of this year's team is its size. With only 25 players on the varsity roster, it was vital the Eagles weren't plagued with injuries. However, Judd White and Noah Sigwarth, the first and second string quarterbacks, and wide receivers and defensive backs, Austin Kluck and Denver Link, were sidelined with injuries.

'The injuries have been unfortunate, but we've still been able to be competitive in all of our games,” Zajac said. 'I feel terrible for all of the guys and especially Judd and Austin with it being their senior season. Injuries are a part of the game though, and I think we've done a good job of moving on.”

What the Eagles lack in quantity, they are trying to make up for in quality.

'Not a day goes by where I don't love going to practice with this group of guys,” Zajac said. 'They're just a really committed and hardworking group.”

One of the keys to the Eagles' success is the run game. With the departure of Riley Hasken, who ran for more than 1,600 yards on 302 attempts last season, seniors Mason Flynn and Lyle Klein, as well as sophomore Kelan Dickson, have helped fill that void. Flynn has run for 391 yards on 75 carries, Klein has 266 yards on 71 carries and Dickson has 247 yards on 53 carries.

'Riley was a very talented player whose job was to get the bulk of the carries,” Zajac said. 'We're trying to split the carries more this year and all three guys. Mason Flynn, Lyle Klein, and Kelan Dickson, bring different skill sets.”

The success in the running game has been a team effort with a strong offensive line consisting of three seniors - Joey Bohor, John Patrick and Tanner Horchak - junior Drew Lenz and sophomore Blake Bradley.

'It's really important for us to set the tone up front,” Lenz said. 'We have to be physical and establish ourselves at the point of attack.”

Zajac understands the importance of the running game.

'Anytime you can run the ball it gives you a chance to be competitive and control the game,” he said. 'Coach Kyle Howard does a great job preparing the linemen.”

With many games being won or lost in the trenches, trust is a huge factor for success.

'All of the guys are great,” Lenz said. 'We buy into the game plan and know that everyone will do their job.”

Along with the returning veterans, juniors fill out the remaining spots. With the loss of White, junior Noah Sigwarth stepped up as the Eagles' starting quarterback, and he credits his teammates and coaching staff for the transition.

'I think stepping into the role was made a lot easier thanks to the lineman and running backs playing well to take pressure off of me to make plays,” Sigwarth said. 'The offensive coaches also helped by calling simple passes to get me easy completions when we needed them.

'It's never ideal to lose a player like Judd, but we had to adjust, and I couldn't do it without the people around me.”

Unfortunately, the team had to adjust once again as Sigwarth was injured in the Eagles' 17-14 loss to Maquoketa. In that game, senior Isaac Evans stepped into the quarterback spot and completed 5 of 8 passes, including a 68-yard touchdown pass with under one minute to play before Maquoketa ran back a kickoff for the winning touchdown.

The Eagles still hope to qualify for the playoffs, but a long-term goal Zajac has is to make sure the players coming through the program come out as better people.

'My responsibility as head coach is to make sure that when my players graduate, they have become better men both on and off the field,” he said.

The Eagles are 2-5 with losses to Senior, Hempstead, Maquoketa and Assumption, and victories over Dewitt and Western Dubuque. They host Marion tonight.