By MICHELLE GARMON
RGarmon@cherryroad.com
What a difference a year can make may be a cliche, but it can also be true. At least for the Tipton High School football team.
Less than two weeks into the 2023 season and before Tipton had its scrimmage against Peru, the Blue Devils were down two players – Vince Hoover and Izayah Mahaney – and they were two-way players at that. Hoover, who was the starting quarterback the previous two years, never even put on the practice pads as he had had a second shoulder surgery the previous spring. Mahaney suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in practice. Hoover graduated in June, but Mahaney is back and raring to go as a junior.
Unfortunately, the Blue Devils continued to suffer from the injury bug as the season continued. Something a squad low on numbers and experience could not afford. Thus, Tipton suffered through its worst season (2-9) in more than 40 years. Fast forward to August of 2024 and Tipton returns more experience, has higher numbers and is healthier. All good things as the Blue Devils kick off the season on Friday, Aug. 23 versus South Adams. The game will be played at Indiana Wesleyan.
“This year’s edition of the Blue Devils should be much improved,” Tipton coach Aaron Tolle said. “We have a lot of returning players coming back that earned valuable experience last year and the hope is that this will pay off towards a much more successful season. We are returning 16-17 starters from last year, and we have a very large freshman group that is going to help with depth. Our goal is to be one of, if not the most improved team in 2A this season.”
The Blue Devil roster includes 42 players, 18 of which are freshmen. Tipton also has seven seniors.
Key returnees from last season are: quarterback/safety Dallas Capshaw (58 of 107 for 436 yards, 4 TDs passing and 22 solo tackles, 28 assists); running back/outside linebacker Calvin Condict (203 carries for 865 yards, 6 TDs rushing and 34 solos, 37 assists, 6 tackles for loss and an interception); wide receiver/safety Landon Spidel (36 receptions for 324 yards, 4 TDs and 17 solos, 29 assists); wide receiver/safety Dakota Garmon (4 receptions for 120 yards, 2 TDs and 12 solos, 16 assists, an interception); wide receiver/corner back Oliver Conaway (8 receptions, 41 yards and 14 solos, 3 assists, 2 interceptions); offensive and defensive lineman Jack Roach (10 solos, 14 assists, 1 sack); offensive lineman/inside linebacker Nathan Hawkins; center/inside linebacker Cole Hussey (32 solos, 43 assists, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks); offensive/defensive lineman Riley Coleman; running back/outside linebacker Slade Springer (4 solos, 15 assists); running back/inside linebacker Chace Hussey (35 solos, 50 assists, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack); offensive lineman/inside linebacker Brady Henderson (8 solos, 16 assists); wide receiver/corner back Joe Clouser (21 solos, 10 assists); and wide receiver/outside linebacker Zach Ridgeway (5 solos, 7 assists, 2 tackles for loss).
Although he did not play last year because of injury, Mahaney is another key Blue Devil with varsity experience. He is expected to see action as both a running back and wide receiver this season and has moved from outside linebacker to cornerback.
The Blue Devils, meanwhile, graduated just six players who suited up on Friday nights – lineman Aidan Blair (52 tackles, 3 sacks), linebacker Peyton Tragesser (48 tackles), corner back Tyler Carver (35 tackles), kicker Dakota Foerg (12-14 PATs, 2 field goals), kicker Christian Paredes and linebacker Jackson Nevil.
Tipton also has some key newcomers. Brogan Foerg is taking over the kicking duties from his brother Brogan. Others expected to contribute on Friday nights are Zakk Emberton (WR/CB), Grayson Witherow (OL/DL), Luke Merrell (OL/DL), Jarren Auler (TE/ILB), Quinn Tolle (QB/S), Joe Vautaw (OL/DL) and Brock Turner (OL/ILB)
“We think we are light years ahead of where we were last season at this point,” coach Tolle said. “We have a ton more of Friday night experience, so hopefully with some good senior leadership we can be much more successful.
“I feel like our team strength is again our experience. Overall, we should be pretty balanced, in that we have a lot of returning starters on both sides of the ball,” the Blue Devil coach continued. “I feel like our running game and our passing game should be improved. Defensively, we have a lot of returning linebackers and secondary pieces. Our kicking game should also be solid. Our long snapper, holder, and punter all return.”
Last year, Tolle and his staff were trying to find players to fill holes because of injuries. This year, players are battling for positions.
“There are a lot of position battles currently going on,” the Tipton coach said. “Starters will be determined in the next couple of weeks after we see ourselves on film. We have a lot of returning starters that are being pushed and creating a lot of good competition that we really didn’t have last year.”
Another positive this season is the schedule is not quite as difficult as a year ago. Tipton opened the 2023 season against South Adams at Indiana Wesleyan as well. The Blue Devils also had to travel to state-ranked Tippecanoe Valley and hosted state-ranked West Lafayette. Neither of those teams are on this season’s schedule. Northwestern also is not on the schedule as it is now a member of the Three Rivers Conference.
The Hoosier Conference also has undergone changes. Logansport replaces Lewis Cass, who left the conference at the end of the 2022-23 school year. But with Northwestern leaving, the HC is at nine teams, thus the format has been changed for football into two divisions – big school (five teams) and small school (four teams). Joining Tipton in the small school division are Benton Central, Lafayette Central Catholic and Rensselaer. The large school division has Hamilton Heights, Logansport, Twin Lakes, Western, and West Lafayette.
“Our schedule is a lot different than last year,” coach Tolle said. “The conference has an odd number of teams, so the Week 9 crossover game is gone. The conference is split into large school and small school. We will play all the teams in the conference except West Lafayette and Logansport. LCC and Rensselaer are expected to both be solid in the small school division. Our out of conference games are South Adams, Elwood, and Heritage.”
The sectional also is a little different this year. Frankton has moved up to Class 3A and back-to-back sectional champion Bluffton has switched sectionals. Wabash and Rochester have replaced those two teams. Alexandria, Blackford, Eastbrook, Eastern, and Elwood remain in the sectional.
“Our sectional has a lot of carryovers from the past few years, the Blue Devil coach said. “I think the field is very balanced and our hope is to be in the mix for a sectional championship at the end of the year. Rochester had a very good year last season and Eastbrook is always good. Eastern should also be solid.”
Tolle and the Blue Devils are optimistic heading into this season.
