Banner Graphic, Volume 17, Number 304, Greencastle, Putnam County, 27 August 1987 — Page 16

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1987 SOUTH PUTNAM HIGH SCHOOL EAGLES Eagles want to keep respect

The South Putnam High School football team earned respect throughout Indiana last November when the Eagles defeated top-ranked and previously undefeated North Judson, 29-21, to capture the Class A state championship. However, that 1986 respect turns into a strike against Mark Wildman’s boys in 1987. “After last season, we have to be considered a respected power in Class A in Indiana,” Wildman said after a practice session in preparing for Friday’s season opener at Tri-West. “Last year, I don’t think people respected us. We caught some teams off guard and we beat them en route to winning it all. That won’t happen this year. People know who South Putnam is. People will be more prepared.” In fact, the Eagles are probably on the other side of the fence this time around as it will be up to them to live up to the billing of defending state champions, and to not let some other “unknown” come along and dethrone them. South Putnam has the tools to go far again this season and may just be in that state championship game again on Nov. 27 in the Hoosier Dome. “We really don’t want to turn around after last season and just play mediocre ball this season,” Wildman said. “If we play well through the regular season, the playoffs should take care of themselves. “But, we are not thinking about the playoffs now. We are thinking

about the regular season and about Tri-West.” The Bruins - a Class 2A power and a nemesis to South over the years -- is one of seven straight opponents categorized in a bigger class that the Eagles will play during the regular season. Tri-West is followed on the schedule by 2A North Putnam, 2A Cascade, 4A Culver Military Academy, 2A Monrovia, 2A Greencastle and 3A Owen Valley, before Cloverdale meets South on Oct. 16 in the regular-season finale. “This tough schedule will help us to get prepared for the playoffs, but, it also presents problems with bigger risks for injuries,” Wildman said. “And, we don’t just want to have success in the playoffs because there is every possibility that might not come. We want to have success every week of the season in a long, hard schedule.” The same three teams - TriWest, Monrovia and Greencastle - have handed South its three regular-season losses in both the last two seasons. However, in that same two-year span, the Eagles are 14-1 versus Class A foes with the lone loss coming in 1985 in the semistate against Eastern Hancock, the eventual state champion that year. “One of our goals is to do better against teams on the regular schedule,” Wildman said. “Sure, it’s great to do well in the playoffs, but, we first want to gain respect in our own backyard and get by the teams in our own con-

ference. We need to prove we can play with everyone we meet. That’s what we want to do this year.” And, with the addition of Culver Military (in Marshall County and close to South Bend in northwest Indiana), the schedule is the toughest ever in SPHS history. “We need to strive to do well every Friday when we take the field,” Wildman said. “A key for us will be to play well right off the bat this month through the regular season.” South Putnam has the horses to do just that as 16 returning lettermen dot the Eagle roster. The question marks on this season’s team will be on the offensive and defensive lines, where the likes of Tony Cash, Ron Timm and Kevin Raisor must be replaced. On offense, the line will be solidified by tri-captain Chris Bombei, who will see action at center and start for the third consecutive year. The 6-1, 190-pound senior is a fixture at that position and will carry a lot of the offensive blocking load. “He’s as steady as they come in the middle of the offense,” Wildman said of Bombei. “You won’t find a better center around.” Jerry Teipen will flank Bombei’s left side at one of the guard spots, while either Jerrod Baugh, Chris Williamson or Mike Harris will lineup in the right guard slot. Neither of the three have particularly good size (Baugh is the biggest at 5-9 and 170), but their quickness and strength will be their assets.

“We will have typical South Putnam-size guards,” Wildman said. “And really, I will feel confident with any combination of them we have out there on the field.” But, the tackle position - as it is on defense as well - is the worry spot for Wildman and his staff as Cash and Timm occupied those spots for the past two seasons and left behind a bunch of inexperience there when they graduated. Vying for the spots are 6-4,185-pound senior Anthony Heavin; 61, 183-pound senior Shawn Calhoun; 5-10, 197-pound junior Wayion Walton; and 6-4, 207pound sophomore Jeremy Sadler, who is one of only four boys over 200 pounds on the SPHS roster. And, all four of them are 10th graders. Heavin is the most experienced of the bunch and will probably gain a starting spot while Sadler will most likely move up and down between the varsity and reserve roster. That means Calhoun and Walton will fight for the other starting spot, with the loser to still see plenty of action. At tight end should be Mike Trusty, who Wildman says “has the best hands on the team. ” He started a year ago at the same position, but shared it with twin brother Mitch, who is not playing football this fall, meaning Mike will get a lot of work. “He’s solid there,” Wildman said of Trusty. “He’s not a great blocker for a tight end, but he’s

more than adequate. And, we’ll split him outside some in order to take advantage of his receiving ability.” Trusty is a 6-0, 154-pound junior. Also catching the ball this fall for the Eagles will be Kevin Sullivan and tri-captain Brian Bridgewater. Sullivan, 6-0, 135pound junior - is penciled in at split end, while Brian Bridgewater - 6-1, 181-pound senior - is the flanker. Sullivan will take over the shoes of graduated brother Chris, and should do so very nicely. He had a tremendous preseason a year ago, only to be sidelined in the early going with a broken collar bone, so Wildman’s sights are high this year. “We had planned on playing him a lot last year, so you can imagine our plans this year,” the coach said. “He has the ability to do a lot of things for us in catching the ball.” So does Brian Bridgewater. He scored 12 touchdowns as a junior last season and split them evenly between rushing and passing, something Wildman wants to do consistently up and down the entire offense. “We need to make sure the passing game gets going early. We want balance throughout the season between running and passing. Last year, the rushing got off to a good start and the passing caught up later. We want things equal all season this time.” Continued on page 5