The Hampton-Dumont-CAL football team is working to solidify some of the offensive skill positions ahead of its first game week.
After graduating the bulk of last year’s rushing production, Head Coach Cole Miller says Jacob Mahler, Joseph Powers and Luke Showalter are the frontrunners to take over at running back. He also says it’s likely that all three will be used at some point.
“Those three have been competing and battling for a spot,” Miller says. “And I think we’ll see a little bit of all three of them headed into the season at some point. We like to play a physical brand of football. So I want to try and take some hits off of them by making sure that we get a good rotation going. And the three of them have done a great job. I keep bringing it back to the weight room, but watching those three work together and push each other, everyone’s aware of what the others are doing. So they’re trying to stay on pace and outwork each other. It’s been great to watch those three work and try and fill the role that we graduated last year.”
All three received minimal carries on varsity last year.
Ryder Strother is back for his senior season at quarterback, having passed for 412 yards and rushed for 279 last year. Miller says Strother and sophomore Blaek Burmester have each taken reps at quarterback.
“Ryder has worked on getting faster and stronger in the weight room. He’s working on getting a better understanding of the offense. He’s been working out with Blaek Burmester, who’s been another quarterback that’s really come on strong and made it a great competition this offseason. Both are going back and forth trying to compete with each other and push each other to get better. It’s been a cool dynamic to see, watching them work together and help each other out as well as they’re fighting for the same spot. That dynamic has been really interesting and they’ve both done some great things. I’m excited to see how they keep progressing over the preseason heading into regular season play.”
They’ll begin the season on Friday, August 29 at Osage.
Cole Miller interview:
