Campus looks to improve on one-win season in Mike Schartz's second season. |
The Colts bring back nine starters on offense and eight on defense in Mike Schartz’s second season.
Coach: Mike Schartz (1-8 entering second year at Campus. 5th year overall with an 8-37 record)
2009 Recap: 1-8 overall, 1-4 in the AVCTL Division II. The Colts struggled from the get-go losing their first four games by an average of 24 points with the worst being a 63-14 loss to McPherson. Campus got their lone win of the season in a 10-point win over Valley Center before dropping their final four games.
Returning Starters: Offense 9, Defense 8 (Garrett Cantrell, Sr., LB; Zach Chrisman, Sr., QB; Dylan Chrisman, Sr., OL; Devron Cochron, Sr., CB/WR/KR; Jason Harper, Sr., SS; LeVonte Jefferson, Sr., RB; Trent Milsap, Sr., OL; Isaiah Smiley, Sr., DB; Justin Witt, Sr., DL;)
Returning Lettermen: 32
2010 Outlook:
Offense: Coming off a one win season, the Colts offense is looking to pick up steam this year behind senior quarterback Zach Chrisman. Campus averaged just 11 points per game last season in Mike Schartz's first season at the helm with a relatively young squad. Chrisman, who returns as the team's leading passer, will also have the team's leading rusher from a year ago to back him up. Senior LeVonte Jefferson, who averaged 4.4 yards per carry last year, will again pave the way in the backfield this season. Anchoring the offensive line is a pair of returning seniors, Dylan Chrisman and Trent Milsap. Juniors Cody Walker (RB) and LeAndre Jefferson (WR) are a pair of athletes coach Schartz tabbed as players to watch this season in the Colts multi-bone offense.
Defense: The Colts defense struggled last year, giving up an average of 30 points per game. Campus returns an experienced secondary led by third-year starter and senior Devron Cochran. Joining him in the secondary are fellow seniors Isiah Smiley and Jason Harper. Linebacker Garrett Cantrell and defensive tackle Justin Witt also return to help run the Colts' 4-3 defense. With so much experience returning on defense Schartz says "expectations are high."
Odds and Ends: With the move up to Division I, the level of competition got more difficult for a team that was already struggling. That doesn’t mean the program isn’t excited about moving up in one the state’s best leagues. “We are a 6A school and we need to act like a 6A school,” Schartz said about the team's move into the top division.
District play opens with a home game on Oct. 15 against Northwest, a game Schartz wants to win to end the winning streak the Grizzlies have piled up in district play. Northwest has defeated the Colts by an average of 41 points in the past three seasons.
The Colts close out district action with two more City League foes, matching up against South and North. The Titans went 5-5 last season while the Redskins finished at 2-7.
