By TYLER HENRY
Little Apple Post contributor
After a dominant 9-1 2021 campaign, the Riley County Falcons underwent a full makeover, graduating 18 of their 22 starters ahead of the 2022 season.
Those changes also came with a drop in classification, and Coach Willimon’s squad will enter Class 2A for his second year at the Falcon’s helm.
“3A and 2A are both really tough,” Willimon said. “You’re dropping Andale and Concordia for Silver Lake, Rossville, Nemeha Central, and Sabetha so it’s of a wash for competition and we expect our district to be just as tough.”
Despite the turnover, Riley County has nothing but optimism heading into the new year and will be eager to take the field when they host Silver Lake on Friday.
“Our strength this year is in our chemistry,” he said. “We have a really good senior class that showed up to the weight room all summer and have once again set big goals. I look forward to seeing how their leadership develops but we’ve been very pleased with how they’ve stepped in and carried the load.”
While many in Riley County may not recognize all the members of the new-look offense right away, Falcons fans should be in for a treat as several stars step up to take their turn under the Friday night lights.
“We’re not returning a lot of offensive experience but we’re returning a lot of offensive potential,” Willimon said. “We’re excited to get these guys out there and see what they can do.”
The biggest change will come at the quarterback position, where Eli Harmison will take over as the Falcon’s signal caller.
Harmison will be joined in the backfield by Samson Waggoner and Brett Hopper, with Lukas Kulp, Sammy Allen, Kaden Root, and Noah Frese headlining the receiving corps.
In the offensive trenches, Riley County returns all-league first-teamer Torin Sheaves, who will be joined by Jackson Shanahan, Brogan Schuh, Eli Sias, and Trent Webber.
As expected in Class 2A, the Falcons will have a number of two-way players, with Shanahan, Sheaves, and Sias also lining the defensive front.
The linebacker corps will consist of Brogan Schuh and Brett Hopper on the inside, and Lukas Kulp and Samson Waggoner on the outside, while Sam Allen and Jace Woodard patrol the deepest parts of the field at safety.
Rounding out the defense is another two-way star in Noah Frese, who will take his spot at corner opposite KJ Davis.
While the personnel on the field has changed a lot from 2021, the mission in the Falcon locker room has not, and Riley County will enter the new season with traditionally high expectations for their foray into 2A.
“The expectation has and will always be to make the playoffs and advance in November and that doesn’t change,” Willimon said.
“That’s the expectation in Riley County and every day in practice we work to get there but we understand that it’s going to be a battle.”
The Falcons will kick off their season on September 2nd hosting a Silver Lake team that comes off of a 9-3 campaign in 2021.
For more on Riley County football all season long stay tuned to the Little Apple Post.