2024 BRINGS A NEW ERA BEGINS FOR C/G EAGLE FOOTBALL
By Staff
CANTON – The Canton/Galva football program will look to follow the closing of a long stretch of success under Shelby Hoppes with a new stretch to begin in 2024 under the direction of new head coach Ted Regehr.
Regehr has walked the sidelines for seven seasons working under Hoppes where they coached the Eagles to an overall record of 65-13 while making several deep runs into the 8-Man, Division I state playoffs and won a state championship. After losing in the second round of the state playoffs in 2023, the Eagles finished the season 8-2.
While Regehr will be assisted by Zac Hoppes and Jerrid Nightingale, he will face the challenging task of replacing six key seniors that graduated in Lane McMannis, Wyatt Collins, Leyton Witte, Jory Ratzlaff, Isom Marston, and Jaden Ediger.
“Heading into last season, we had also lost a big senior class of key players at key positions,” pointed out coach Regehr. “Our kids that returned simply stepped up and played a significant role in leading us to having another successful season. We hope to do the same with the underclassmen from last season that earned valuable playing time and will now know what it takes to be a success and true playoff contender.”
Two valuable seniors being counted on for team leadership roles in 2024 include Noah Collins, a 6’3”, 215, tight end/defensive end, and Aiden Perez, who plays both the offensive and defensive line at 6’1, 240.
Three sophomores who gained valuable varsity playing time as true freshmen in 2023 include quarterback/linebacker Jaxon Chrislip; wide receiver/defensive back Kustom Schamp; and offensive/defensive lineman Jaxon Nightingale (5’9”, 160).
“We are going to be very young and inexperienced at many positions, though we do have really good numbers and depth at our skilled positions.”
Among a group of five newcomers who the coaches expect to contribute from the season opening kickoff are three juniors - Camden Kruse, a running back/defensive end; Ethan Harrington, at wide receiver/linebacker; and Wyatt Henry, an offensive/defensive lineman; plus, sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Ethan Brozek, and freshman tight end/defensive back Bransyn Speer.
In conclusion about his thoughts as a new coach beginning a new season, coach Regehr added, “There will be a lot of competition for several of the starting positions. We know that the kids have had a good summer and worked hard to get stronger and in better shape. As for the upcoming 2024 schedule, outside of a couple of teams, I feel like we have a favorable list of games that will challenge us and make us improve as a team. That will help us be where we want to be come state playoff time in late October.”
The Eagles begin the 2024 season and the Ted Regehr era on Friday, September 6 on the road at Centre. The remaining schedule is as follows:
Friday, September 13 – host Central Christian (Homecoming)
Friday, September 20 – at Wakefield
Friday, September 27 – host Ell-Saline
Friday, October 4 – host Little River
Friday, October 11 – at Central Plains/Claflin
Friday, October 18 – host Solomon (Senior Night)
Thursday, October 24 – at Goessel
Friday, November 1 – 8-Man, Division I Cross Bracker, TBD
Thursday, November 7 – 8-Man, Division I State Regionals, TBD
Friday, November 15 – 8-Man, Division I State Sectionals, TBD
Friday, November 22 – 8-Man, Division I Sub-State, TBD
Saturday, November 30 – 8-Man, Division I State Championship in Newton
(William Snesrud is a freelance contributor for the McPherson Sentinel and can be reached by email at wdsnez.writer@gmail.com)
