Parkview enters 2018 looking to start fresh with a relatively large group of experienced juniors and seniors, with goals of getting back in the win column and seeking the school's second-ever playoff berth.
Last year didn't go as planned, with a couple of close losses early and an increasingly difficult schedule as the season progressed. A young Vikings team took their lumps, but the players returning now have a taste of what it's like to compete at the varsity level.
"There were times we were starting freshmen last year," said head coach Bob Meyers. "But the group we have coming back, they've got experience now."
Parkview's top three rushers are all graduated, as are all of their passers from last season and two of their top four receivers. Back are leading receiver Jarrett Brown at tight end (who will transition to quarterback) and fourth-leading rusher and receiver Brayden Tracy, who should see a big increase in his role in 2018. Paving the way in front of the reconstituted backfield will be a trio of senior linemen, John Yacyszyn, Chase Carratt, and Travis Calkins.
Zac Unseth is back after being the team's leading tackler a season ago, with 75 stops and eight tackles for a loss. Defensive lineman Korben Brown (6 TFLs) as well as Yacyszyn and Carratt (combined 10 TFLs) provide depth up front. Linebacker will be a position that sees some turnover, but nearly a full compliment of defenders are back that had double-digit tackles last season.
"One area that we should have some depth at is on the lines," said Meyers. "We won't have as much depth at the skill positions."
Parkview will open the season at home against 2017 Trailways-Small second-place finisher Johnson Creek, a playoff team a season ago. Teh Vikings will hit the road for two games, first at Capitol South tri-champ Belleville and then their conference opener against Pardeeville in Week 3.
Two home games open up the month of September for the Vikings, first against Montello/Princeton/Green Lake and then last year's Trailways-Large champion, Markesan. After a road game at Dodgeland, Parkview returns home to play Horicon/Hustisford. October's Week 8 match-up is with old foe Palmyra-Eagle to close out conference play, with a Week 9 non-conference tilt against Living Word Lutheran to close out the regular season.
Here is The Big 1070's interview with Parkview Vikings head coach Bob Meyers:
,quality(10),blur(50))