Confident Kernels seeking win over ESD rival Yankton

Despite being the underdogs yet again, the Mitchell High School football team practiced with confidence this week.

The winless Kernels (0-7) take on Yankton (5-2) at 7 p.m. today for an Eastern South Dakota Conference football game in Yankton.

“You could just see there was a little jump in our step and our approach this week has been positive,” Mitchell coach Kent VanOverschelde said.

VanOverschelde credited the team’s optimism to starting quarterback Matt Larson returning to the field.

After missing last week’s game with concussion-like symptoms, Larson returned to practice Monday and was cleared for contact Wednesday and will be starting for Mitchell tonight.

Larson is 68-for-120 passing on the season for 631 yards and is also the team’s third-leading rusher with 102 yards.

“Having him back gives a little more confidence with the line up front,” VanOverschelde said. “With Matt back at the helm and healthy, anything can happen.”

VanOverschelde said even with his team’s confidence, it must control the line of scrimmage to be able to beat the Bucks.

“We have to play physical up front,” VanOverschelde said. “If you think about potential, we have some there. But the reality is the effectiveness and that’s something we have to prove.”

Entering the season, the Kernels’ plan was to handle the line of scrimmage and run the ball effectively. Mitchell has gained 697 yards rushing this season, led by Landon Neugebauer with 252 yards and Mitch Johnson with 203 yards, but Yankton has accumulated 1,550 yards rushing.

Tyler Sipes, a defensive lineman for the Kernels, expects Mitchell to have success stopping the Bucks’ offense.

“We just can’t let their linemen get to the second level and get to our linebackers,” he said. “The linebackers are always able to make big plays and they’re our leading tacklers.”

Linebacker Kirby Fuerst has been the staple of the Mitchell defense, leading the team with 72 tackles. Micah Hettinger is second on the team with 38 tackles, while Alex Herrick, Jon Jamison and Evan Mastel all have 37 tackles on the season.

Yankton coach Arlin Likness said although his team’s run game has been effective — led by Levi Davis with 571 yards and four touchdowns — he would like to see the passing game show some life. The Bucks have thrown for 651 yards this season.

“We need to figure out how to throw and run the ball with equal efficiency,” he said. “We’ve been good at one or the other each game and we need to be able to do both.”

Michael Rucker is the starting quarterback for Yankton. On the season he has completed 44 of 73 passes for four touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also rushed for a team-high six touchdowns.

Both teams enter the game trying to end losing streaks. While the Kernels haven’t come out on top all season, Yankton has dropped its last two after starting the year 5-0.

“We have to focus on getting momentum and a win gives us a chance to play for the ESD Conference title,” Likness said.

VanOverschelde knows how important this game is for the Bucks.

“Yankton is fighting for one of those first four spots in the playoffs and we can play a spoiler in that,” he said.

Added Sipes: “It’d be nice for us to get some morale. Hopefully the offense can score a few points and lead us to a win.”

When/Where: 7 p.m. today in Yankton.

Last meeting: Yankton won 34-29 on Oct. 14, 2011, in Mitchell.

Coaches: Mitchell’s Kent VanOverschelde, sixth year; Yankton’s Arlin Likness, 14th year.

Forecast: 55 degrees and mostly cloudy at kickoff with a south-southeast wind at 15 mph and a 10 percent chance of precipitation.

Game notes: Yankton has a 28-game winning streak over the Kernels. Mitchell’s last victory over the Bucks came in 1987. … Mitchell’s Alex Herrick got the start at quarterback last week for the injured Matt Larson. Herrick had started on defense for the Kernels in previous weeks, however, Herrick did not return to the starting lineup on defense with Larson’s return. “That’s just how things worked out, but (Herrick) will obviously see time,” VanOverschelde said. “Alex Herrick is an important part of our team and he is going to contribute in a lot of ways.” … Yankton’s leading rusher, Levi Davis, was not an anticipated starter at the beginning of the season. The Bucks dealt with injuries early in the year and the sophomore was given more opportunities. “I thought he’d be a good backup for us and he started on defense,” Likness said. “I didn’t expect Davis to have as good of a season as he has, but we’ll take it.” Davis’ 571 yards rushing is almost 300 yards more than the team’s second leading rusher James Hisek (274).

Mitchell projected starters

Position: Name, year, height, weight

Offense

QB: Matt Larson, soph., 5-10, 150

HB: Mitch Johnson, soph., 5-7, 155

FB: Landon Neugebauer, soph., 5-11, 150

WR: Beau Brown, soph., 5-11, 145

TE: Evan Mastel, sr., 5-10, 180

TE: Ethan Jones, jr., 6-0, 180

C: Andrew Getty, jr., 6-1, 220

LT: Chandler Nelson, soph., 6-1, 220

LG: Ben Morken, sr., 5-10, 230

RG: Justice Hinker, sr., 6-1, 235

RT: Dylanger Pierson, jr., 6-4, 270

Defense

DL: Justice Hinker, sr., 6-0, 220

DL: Tyler Sipes, sr., 6-1, 250

DL: Brad Muller, sr., 5-11, 230

LB: Jon Jamison, jr., 6-2, 165

LB: Ethan Jones, jr., 6-0, 180

LB: Kirby Fuerst, sr., 5-11, 175

LB: Micah Hettinger, jr., 5-9, 175

CB: Chase Harms, jr., 5-6, 145

CB: Nathan Wahlen, jr., 6-0, 140

S: Evan Mastel, sr., 5-10, 180

S: Beau Brown, soph., 5-11, 145

Special Teams

K: Kanin Nelson, fr., 6-3, 175

P: Nathan Wahlen, jr., 6-0, 140

Yankton projected starters

Position: Name, year, height, weight

Offense

QB: Michael Rucker, sr., 6-0, 185

RB: Evan Schroeder, sr., 5-9, 175

RB: Levi Davis, soph., 5-8, 155

FB: Jordan Lightner, soph., 5-9, 215

TE: Troy Hunhoff, sr., 6-4, 232

TE: J.J. Hejna, jr., 6-4, 190

C: Adam Spencer, sr., 5-10, 220

LT: Logan VanWinkle, sr., 6-1, 236

LG: Steven McKee, jr., 5-11, 228

RG: Kellen Soulek, sr., 6-4, 270

RT: John Iverson, sr., 6-0, 2-5

Defense

DT: Steven McKee, jr., 5-11, 228

DT: Kellen Soulek, sr., 6-4, 270

DE: Troy Hunhoff, sr., 6-4, 232

DE: Sam Wendte, sr., 5-10, 155

LB: J.J. Hejna, jr., 6-4, 190

LB: James Hisek, sr., 5-11, 180

LB: Jordan Lightner, soph, 5-9, 215

LB: Levi Davis, soph., 5-8, 155

DB: Evan Schroeder, sr., 5-9, 175

DB: Kolby LaCroix, sr., 5-10, 150

DB: Tanner Termansen, jr., 6-0, 165

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