VHS FOOTBALL
The Vian Wolverines will look to continue it’s football success in 2023, but with only three seniors on the team — linemen Clay Clark and Lane Jameson and wide receiver/cornerback Nathan Creasey. However, when it’s time for the pigskin to make an appearance, the Wolverines know what to do.
“Everybody looks forward to this time year in Vian,” Vian coach Gary Willis said. “It seems like the universe kind of centers back up when we get back in football. We’re there. We’re ready to go. We’re still pretty young as a team. We have a lot of experience from these guys last year, and they have year under their belt. That will give us a little depth.”
The front runner, and likely starter, at quarterback will be sophomore Riley Ellis, but he does have help.
“A couple of others can play there — Nathan Creasey and (sophomore) Masyn Wright, who will be our tailback,” Willis said.
(Sophomore) Draighton Fletcher will spearhead the ground game as running back.
Creasey and junior Jacob Brannick are the wide receiving front runners, but they, too, will have some quality back-ups.
“We have some good guys who can back them up — (sophomores) Michael Polecat and Trace Sanders,” Willis said.
Junior Peyton Johnson will be the starting tight end.
The offensive linemen will be comprised of Jameson, juniors Cash Collins and Nathen Cheater and sophomores Max Ross and Garritt Hunt.
Cheater, Clark, Collins and Jameson will be the projected defensive linemen starters.
“They do a good job over there,” Willis said.
Johnson and Wright will lead the linebacking corps, while there will be several individuals seeing action in the defensive backfield. The ones who will see the most playing time there will be Fletcher, Ellis, Brannick, Creasey and Polecat.
“We’ll play several in rotation back there,” Willis said. “We have a lot of guys there.”
Here are the members of the 2023 Vian Wolverines football team. front row, from left — Riley Ellis, Masyn Wright, Nathan Creasey, Michael Polecat, Jacob Brannick, Gunner Richey, Draighton Fletcher, Trace Sanders, Kaden Fullbright and Lastyn Taylor. Second row — Adoff Stahl, Peyton Johnson, Tristan Wiley, Tyrick Mosley, Joseph Miller, Kahlijah Wright, Isaiah Dean, Ricky Wolfe and Dante Glass. Third row — Spencer Dick, Cash Collins, Joshua O’Neal, Lane Jameson, Garrett Malaska, David Murphy, Garritt Hunt, Nathen Cheater, Ryan Copeland, Clay Clark and Max Ross. Back row — Coaches Johnny Teehee, Jake Taylor, Gary Willis, Lance Winans, Rob Boyd and Garett Willis.
