His football team’s depth chart still isn’t exactly where he’d like to see it, but Brad Dement says Beloit Memorial could seriously make a run at something missing since 1999.
The WIAA playoffs.
It’s been a 24-year drought for a program that used to routinely qualify for the playoffs in the 1980s and 1990s under John Heineke.
Dement sees enough talent on his roster for a breakthrough — if the Purple Knights can avoid injuries to their key players and weather a bit of early adversity with a few players ineligible for the season opener at Racine Park Aug. 23 due to academic issues.
“My expectations are to make the playoffs this year, with the experience we have and the returning starters,” Dement said. “We should make a push to get over that hump of three wins. Realistically, looking at the schedule I think we could win six if we can stay healthy and gain some experience for our backups. I think we have some real good senior leadership taking control of the team.”
While Dement believes the Knights could be more dangerous on offense this season with quarterback Adyn Potter and his favorite target, Dontavious Olson, both returning, it’s still a run-first attack. And why not, with First Team All-Southern Lakes Conference running back James Ford returning to the backfield?
As a sophom*ore, the elusive Ford rushed for 1,189 yards on 198 carries (6.0) and scored 10 touchdowns for last season’s 2-7 Knights.
“James is going to get his carries for sure,” Dement said.
The key for the Knights, the coach said, starts up front.
“It will all revolve around our offensive line and they’re pretty good,” Dement said. “They all put in the time in the weight room. They’re big, athletic and strong. These are kids who can win their 1-on-1 battles in this conference.”
You can start with Jaedyn Coleman, a 6-foot-3, 300-plus senior right tackle who earned Second Team All-SLC honors last season. Jacob Popp returns at center, Dilllon Larson and Mike Nora will be the guards and Tucker Sherrod returns at tight end. Left tackle is still a competition between two more quality players: senior Jeremiah McCallister and sophom*ore Xavier McBride.
Quarterback Potter also put in the extra effort in the off-season after a junior year in which he and his receivers did some struggling early on, but improved over the course of the season.
“He came on pretty strong and was throwing the ball well,” Dement said of Potter. “He worked out all summer and he’s ready to go. I’d rather not have to play him on defense, too, but he’ll start at safety because he’s that good.”
Olson also will see plenty of action on the other side of the ball at free safety.
“Dante is looking smooth and catching the football,” Dement said. “He did a really good job in track , getting faster, stronger and more flexible. He also has a good connection with Potter.”
Tucker will be a dependable receiver and Dement is auditioning a lot of others.
“We have some guys out from the basketball team who are quick and show a lot of promise,” Dement said. “I think we can throw the ball to spread some teams out and still run the ball with James (Ford) and Potter. Vincent Reed is even smaller than Ford, but he’s very fast and we also have Owen West, who’s a real tough kid. We’ve got capable guys back there and we’re going to be strong if our offensive line keeps chugging away.”
Dement said perhaps six or seven players will see regular duty on both sides of the ball, including Coleman, Tucker and West on the line of scrimmage, Larson and Nora at linebacker, Olsen and Potter at safety. The secondary looks particularly strong with Caiden Price also returning at cornerback and Olson earning All-SLC a year ago.
It will help the defense if the kicking game can bury opposing offenses deep in their end. The Knights return punter Beckham Denu, who will also battle Noah Fry as No. 1 place-kicker.
West earned Second Team ALl-SLC honors as a utility player a year ago, lining up at running back, nose guard, linebacker, safety and as the Knights’ long snapper. He had 51 tackles last season, two for losses, blocked a kick and forced a fumble.
The Knights’ schedule has three of the toughest teams in the SLC on the back end: Westosha Central, Badger and Waterford.
“We need to start strong with our non-conference games (against Park and Madison East),” Dement said. “We need to be 2-0 for a change. Then we have to take care of business when we host Elkhorn the first week in September. Last year we played a terrible game over there. We have to figure out how to win the games we didn’t win last year. Maybe experience will help us get over that hump.”
2024 SCHEDULE:Aug. 23: at Racine Park; 30: at Madison East, 6 p.m.
Sept. 6: ELKHORN; 13: at Union Grove; 20: at Westosha Central; 27: WILMOT.
Oct. 4: at Burlington; 11: BADGER; 18: WATERFORD.
