DANVILLE — Experience is a big advantage for teams wanting to compete at the top.
But the Danville football team is hoping some other variables can overcome a lack of experience.
“We have a group of kids that are hungry to make up for the players that we lost last year,” Danville head coach Marcus Forrest said. “That has driven them from the end of the season to this point. They are excited and motivated to make things up. We have kids who are athletic, competitive, but they are inexperienced and we have to make that up with effort and playing hard and that is something they have done well so far.”
But Forrest is realistic, knowing there will be new players in most positions, especially the skill positions.
“This year will be less experienced as a whole. We will have a new quarterback, a new running back and at almost every position, there will be a new starter,” Forrest said. “Both corners are back, we have one receiver back and our linebacker is back. We just have a lot of kids who are sophomores that are playing. They had a really good year as freshmen.”
Senior Aiden Henderson, who was injured in the opening game last year against Bloomington, will be the starter at quarterback, but it will be the first time he has played that position in years.
“He’s played it in his freshman year, but because of different things, he didn’t play quarterback in his sophomore or junior years,” Forrest said. “He’s an inexperienced quarterback, but he’s a smart and intelligent young man, who not only have I grown to trust, but he’s built trust in his teammates.
“He is not as vocal as a Tayvion Diltz was for us last year but not as quiet as Diddy Robinson was. To have him at quarterback is a really good thing and I am excited to have him there and giving him a chance to not only play, but grow through the season. We know that no matter what happens, that there is going to be growing pains. It is like having a sophomore going at quarterback in that he has to adjust to the speed of a new level of play, but he is someone that understand concepts and he is excited about getting the opportunity.”
“Offensively, we have a new QB and he’s a good friend of mine,” junior wide receiver/defensive back D’Mario Jackson said. “I look forward to him throwing to me and I know he will do great. On defense, we are going to have to pick up the intensity and be more aggressive.
“We have guys who are willing to work, willing to be here, make time for football and to just be better and that makes us stronger.”
The running back situation will be a little different as a bunch of runners will appear during the season for the Vikings.
“The running backs is more of a committee with juniors and sophomores,” Forrest said. “We have junior Allante Anderson, sophomore Rail Hibbler, sophomore Ashton Anderson, junior Amillian Beasley, and sophomore Jamen Smith. Between those five guys, they will get the bulk of the carries. It is not like we are going to have a kid that will get 25 carries, but they will share the ball and all bring something different as far as their skill set and what they are able to do.
“We are going to utilize it in different aspects. This is one of the best thing about having a stable of running backs. They are a group of kids who have nice size, nice ability, nice vision, agility and are very physical, so we are excited.”
There is some experience on the team and Forrest said that group of players will be ready to lead.
“We have Jayden Rowell, who is our most experienced player returning at cornerback and will get some reps at receiver,” Forrest said. “We have Ajani Davis, who had lingering injuries from basketball that affected him in football. He is going to play slot receiver on offense and he will be a defensive end on defense. Dylan Lee plays our linebacker, was a Big 12 honorable mention and is another senior that we will have.
“Kyle Loewenstein plays guard and as a sophomore, he was the youngest lineman that we have and now he is the oldest. He has had a year of experience and he is the one we are counting on to lead the other guys. D’Mario Jackson is our returning receiver and cornerback. He is a track kid that had a growing first year in playing defensive back. He had some ups and downs but he is excited about coming back and he is a kid that we are going to try to get the ball to and with him being a state finalist in track, he is someone that we are going to count on and be a leader for the team.”
“We are stepping up and making the leadership role known,” Jackson said. “We are holding each other accountable. We didn’t do a lot of that last year, but we are looking forward to doing that this year. (Track success) helps, it just tells me that I have to work more to be as successful in football than I have been in track. It gives me a standard to set for myself.”
The Vikings start the season against Bloomington on Friday. The Purple Raiders beat Danville 41-14 in last season’s opener and went on to a 6-4 record.
“Last year, they got us real good and we got them a couple of years back, so we go back and forth with them,” Forrest said. “They are a good Big 12 team, just like everyone we will go against. It will be a tough conference along with Crete-Monee being our non-conference game. To start with Bloomington, you get to see where you are off the bat. It is not like you are playing a lower-level school, this was a playoff team and one of the top teams in the conference this year.
“They have a lot of people coming back and they are planning on having another great year. They should be excited about playing us and with a team of their experience, we are going to have to battle it with our youth and be able to fly around. If we can fly around and play hard and do the things we are supposed to do, I think we have a chance.”
“They will be a challenge, but with this team we can overcome it,” Jackson said. “We just have to do the work and be our best selves and I look forward to playing them. We have a tough schedule, but I think we can compete with them. I am looking forward to a great year.”