The 2010 Leavenworth Pioneers have taken on the theme “under construction”, referring not only to the on-campus stadium that’ll be unveiled at the end of the month but also to the changes that will come with new head coach Kevin Kopecky. With a revamped look, Leavenworth is anxious to put last year’s 0-9 campaign far behind them.
“There’s a lot for them to learn: The way we practice, the offense, the defense, the special teams, but they’re doing a really good job,” Kopecky said. “They’re paying attention.”
The Pioneers will be play their first game, a Sept. 3 contest at Lawrence, before they begin school. That first game, Kopecky added, is one that Leavenworth is really looking forward to.
“I think it’s a game that our kids deep in their hearts know is a game they can compete. Last year it was an overtime game with Lawrence and I think that helps us. We’re opening with a team that our guys have some confidence against and I think that’s half the battle. We want to come out of there in the worst way with a win,” Kopecky said.
Under Kopecky the Pioneers will be running a no-huddle spread offense, a game plan the coach says he thinks fits perfectly with his personnel.
“I’m encouraged by a lot of things. I think the schemes we’re using are going to work well here,” Kopecky said. “We’re not asking our offensive linemen to run anybody over because we’re pass-oriented most of the time. I think we can get the ball out to our athletes and keep space in our offense. Defensively it’s the same thing. We’re getting our guys to run to the football and we’ve got guys here who can run. It’s fitting really well.”
Kopecky said the defense will base out of a 4-3 front and will look to capitalize on aggressive play.
“We can’t forget our special teams, you can win a couple games every year on special teams,” Kopecky added. “We certainly spend a lot of time on that.”
With the new spread offense, returning quarterback Mark Dabeck will play a vital role for the Pioneers, as will emerging wide receivers Devarious Sullivan and Anthony Truelove. Other players Kopecky said are coming on strong in the early goings of preseason work include safety Alex Waugh, cornerback Eli Keppler, defensive ends Jesse Colver, Devyn McPhaull and JT Core, linebackers Jacob Decker and Miquel Powell, offensive tackle Nathan Butler and Judson Cole, who’ll fill a variety of roles for the Pioneers.
With many new faces on the field to go along with the new coach on the sidelines, Kopecky said they’ll be looking to steadily improve as the season goes along.
“We’ll look to peak at the end of the season when we play our three district games and I think if we can ... get to the state playoffs that would be huge for this program.”
Although he acknowledges that the Pioneers are getting a lot thrown at them, Kopecky said they’re doing a great job adjusting to the changes.
“When you talk about installing all new everything ... that’s a lot. But they kids have good focus and we’re heading in the right direction.”
The Pioneers get their first game at Pioneer Stadium in week two, hosting Lawrence Free State on Sept. 10.
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The 2010 Leavenworth Pioneers have taken on the theme “under construction”, referring not only to the on-campus stadium that’ll be unveiled at the end of the month but also to the changes that will come with new head coach Kevin Kopecky. With a revamped look, Leavenworth is anxious to put last year’s 0-9 campaign far behind them.
“There’s a lot for them to learn: The way we practice, the offense, the defense, the special teams, but they’re doing a really good job,” Kopecky said. “They’re paying attention.”
The Pioneers will be play their first game, a Sept. 3 contest at Lawrence, before they begin school. That first game, Kopecky added, is one that Leavenworth is really looking forward to.
“I think it’s a game that our kids deep in their hearts know is a game they can compete. Last year it was an overtime game with Lawrence and I think that helps us. We’re opening with a team that our guys have some confidence against and I think that’s half the battle. We want to come out of there in the worst way with a win,” Kopecky said.
Under Kopecky the Pioneers will be running a no-huddle spread offense, a game plan the coach says he thinks fits perfectly with his personnel.
“I’m encouraged by a lot of things. I think the schemes we’re using are going to work well here,” Kopecky said. “We’re not asking our offensive linemen to run anybody over because we’re pass-oriented most of the time. I think we can get the ball out to our athletes and keep space in our offense. Defensively it’s the same thing. We’re getting our guys to run to the football and we’ve got guys here who can run. It’s fitting really well.”
Kopecky said the defense will base out of a 4-3 front and will look to capitalize on aggressive play.
“We can’t forget our special teams, you can win a couple games every year on special teams,” Kopecky added. “We certainly spend a lot of time on that.”
With the new spread offense, returning quarterback Mark Dabeck will play a vital role for the Pioneers, as will emerging wide receivers Devarious Sullivan and Anthony Truelove. Other players Kopecky said are coming on strong in the early goings of preseason work include safety Alex Waugh, cornerback Eli Keppler, defensive ends Jesse Colver, Devyn McPhaull and JT Core, linebackers Jacob Decker and Miquel Powell, offensive tackle Nathan Butler and Judson Cole, who’ll fill a variety of roles for the Pioneers.
With many new faces on the field to go along with the new coach on the sidelines, Kopecky said they’ll be looking to steadily improve as the season goes along.
“We’ll look to peak at the end of the season when we play our three district games and I think if we can ... get to the state playoffs that would be huge for this program.”
Although he acknowledges that the Pioneers are getting a lot thrown at them, Kopecky said they’re doing a great job adjusting to the changes.
“When you talk about installing all new everything ... that’s a lot. But they kids have good focus and we’re heading in the right direction.”
The Pioneers get their first game at Pioneer Stadium in week two, hosting Lawrence Free State on Sept. 10.
