By ERIC FORTUNE

sports@vindy.com

CHAMPION

The Champion Golden Flashes have a new person in charge as Nick Wagner takes over for Terry Howell(22-48) who stepped down after seven seasons as head coach.

Wagner is looking to reinvigorate a program that hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2010.

“The seniors have only won nine games in three years,” Wagner said. “They aren’t used to winning. The message on the back of our shirts is win each day. We have to win each day to get into that mind frame.

“We’ve changed up in terms of practice. We’re going triples right now. Giving the kids enough time off in between. We’re going shorter practices, but more upbeat, up tempo, keeping them moving, not standing around. I’m not saying that is what they did before. That’s the thing, I don’t necessarily know what they did before, not being here. I just know what we’re doing.”

Offense

The Golden Flashes will again have the services of quarterback Brandon Allen (959 yards passing, 253 yards rushing). His passing numbers have increased over the last two seasons as Wagner expects his team to be more of a passing team that spreads the opposition out.

Noah Bayus (612 yards receiving) also returns to an offensive unit that averaged 19.3 points per game.

Running back Nate Stahlman will be a focal part of the offense. Wagner feels he’s shown a lot on both sides of the ball.

“We have a lot of skill, but the line’s young,” Wagner said. Our line as I said is sort of our weakness. We’re going to play call to make them our strength.”

Champion is looking to employ up-tempo and avoid doing a lot of play action to help hide that weakness.

“We might not have the biggest kids, but we have kids with a ton of heart that are going to at least get in the way of somebody and block them for a second or two and allow Brandon to read the defense and throw it,” Wagner said.

Defense

The defensive side of the ball sees the return of two first-team All-All-American Conference White Tier players in Chris Chaney and Griffin Howell. The Flashes will look to build upon a unit that gave up only 272 yards per game last season.

“I think we’ve picked up where they left off on defense,” Wagner said. “We have a majority of our core back, with Howell, Logan Brown and Chris Chaney. We have some all-conference guys back. That’s helpful.

“Our seniors are on defense. Our defense in scrimmages played more man because we weren’t sure what we had, and they were athletic enough to do it. I think our defense, by far, is ahead of our offense.”

Special Teams

Wagner said he feels that in regards to special teams, with their team speed and skill guys they’ll be alright. Noah Bayus will handle punting and PAT duties for the Golden Flashes.

Outlook

Wagner is aware Champion is more known for its soccer and softball programs which he feels helps temper expectations. He wants to get back to what Champion had more than 20 years ago and build something on par when the Flashes had back-to-back playoff appearances in 1993 and 1994.

“We still feel we want to win games, but we’re not walking into a situation where we have to go 10-0 and win a state championship the first year,” Wagner said. “I think we’re going to change that mindset. We have to change the mentality. That’s one of the big things I felt coming in. It’s tough when you aren’t winning games. We have a young staff that I feel brings enthusiasm to practice. I feel it’s brought something fresh and new to the program.”