Brookfield looking

to rebound from

last year’s 3-7 mark

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

BROOKFIELD

Prior to last season when the Brookfield football team was 3-7, you need to go back to 2009 to find the last time the Warriors (1-9) failed to finish at least .500.

Randy Clark enters his 15th season cautiously optimistic for better days as he returns nine offensive starters and 10 on defense.

The goal remains the same for Clark and staff as they place top priority on winning the All-American Conference Blue Division.

The playoffs would be a bonus. Brookfield made the postseason four times from 2011-15.

“I’m very excited about this team but they need to stay healthy if we are to realize our goals,” Clark said. “We have a great senior class, we’re thin with our junior group and have an excellent freshman contingent, which will need to grow up fast.

“We have 35 players out for the team and while that might not seem like much depth, we return plenty of experience.”

The Warriors lost seven of their first eight games last season before defeating Campbell (39-7) and Champion (31-17) to finish the year.

“Our schedule is always a challenge and this year is no different,” Clark said. “In addition to our league foes, we play four very tough non-league games in McDonald, Springfield Local, United Local and Columbiana.”

OFFENSE

The Warriors run a spread offense and have multiple three-year letter-winners, all of whom had a baptism under fire as freshmen and are set for their fourth varsity season.

Haden Gibson started under center as a freshman and is ready to bark signals once again. He will be backed up by freshman Donovan Pawlowski and senior Dakota King, who will also see time at wide receiver.

At running back, senior Tyler Briggs (5-foot-10, 260 pounds) started the last seven games as a junior and ended up with more than 1,200 yards rushing. He’ll be backed up by sophomore Cody Hoover and freshman A.J. Bartolin.

Clark has five three-year starters returning as targets for Gibson with Gage Emery and King the wide receivers, and Connor Filipovich, Stevie Hayes and Ryan Logan the slots.

Gavin Hogue is the center and will be pushed for playing time by Matt Burns while Lucas Beckstine, who started all 10 games a freshman last season, and Zavier Chambers are slated for left tackle.

Ethan McWilliams is the incumbent right tackle, Pat Reardon and Burns are penciled in at left guard with Mitch Sydlowski battling four others for playing time at right guard.

DEFENSE

The Warriors’ 4-2-5 defensive scheme includes Filipovich, Hoover and Hogue at end, and McWilliams, Beckstine and Chambers at tackle.

Reardon, Tyler Briggs and Burns are the players battling for two inside linebacker slots.

Sydlowski and Pawlowski are battling for time at strong safety while Hayes will back up Logan and King at cornerback.

Gibson, David Pawlowski and T.J. Laverty are the rovers while Emery is being pushed by Isaiah Jones at free safety.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Clark will depend on junior R.J. Hull to perform the kicking duties with King slated for punting duty.

Burns is the long and short snapper.

Hayes, Logan and David Pawlowski are the punt returners while Gibson and Emery are set to return kickoffs.