Ready for a fresh start [Herald & Review, Decatur, Ill.]

Aug. 27--Charlie Brown has accomplished something that didn't seem possible last year.

He's drummed up excitement for Sullivan-Okaw Valley football.

Entering the season, which begins tonight, the Redskins have 73 players program-wide -- up from 40 last year, when Sullivan had to cancel its JV games after Week 3. That won't happen this year.

"We had an awfully good recruiting year for an 0-9 team," Brown said, chuckling. "We got in the hallways and started talking to kids. I think there were athletes out there who thought about it in the past, but got tired of all the coaching changes and lack of interest.

"But then they saw we were serious about turning this around, and they decided they wanted to be a part of it. Still, a jump of 33 is pretty incredible."

A 28-person freshman group was a good start. But the senior class is six players larger and last-year's four-player sophomore class is now an 11-player junior class.

But will the numbers lead to wins?

"I'm excited to find out," Brown said. "It's going to be a challenge -- the Okaw isn't an easy place to learn to play football. But I'd rather have this challenge than what we had last year. At least now we have choices."

Okaw Blue's bruisers

There's no shortage of big names on the three teams expected to vie for the Okaw Valley Blue Divison.

Tuscola has quarterback Jud Wienke and the receiving trio of Phillip Meyer, Pat Yoakum and Cody Shelmadine; Maroa-Forsyth has quarterback Logan Stelzriede, receiver Joe Hockaday and running back Gary Scott; and Central A&M has quarterback Collin Townsend, running back Evan Hayes and receiver Matt Davis.

The teams are probably a wash at the skill positions, which means the champion will be decided on the line.

That gives the advantage to Tuscola, which returns four of five starters on the line, including guards Chase Little and Trace Quinn, tackle Kolby Clough and center Jack Leonard.

Maroa returns just two starters, but they're good ones in Tyler Marsh and Aaron Ford.

"Those two have a chance to be as good as any tandem in our league," Maroa coach Josh Jostes said. "They'll have to be the anchors."

While A&M returns just one lineman who started full time in right tackle Colton Callan, left guard Trent Conlin and left tackle Zack Allen both saw varsity time. Junior Ross Workman will likely step in at center, with sophomore Reece Ade and junior P.J. Zeitler fighting for time at right guard.

"We're still trying to piece together our line," A&M coach Mark Ramsey said. "All the kids we lost were productive, so right now that's still a work in progress."

Different places

In addition to the two players who transferred to Maroa -- Eisenhower's Gary Scott and Normal West's Tyler Cisco -- two other key players transferred to county teams.

At Eisenhower, 300-pound senior Paul Davis came to Decatur via Hannibal, Mo., and will start at tackle on the Panthers' offensive line.

Sangamon Valley now has two quarterbacks to choose from with sophomore Arik Bueltmann transferring from Edwardsville. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds with a strong arm, Bueltmann may start -- with junior Nick Craig moving to receiver -- and will at least see snaps at the position.

Different faces

The area saw just three coaching changes from last year. That includes Andy Kerley replacing a legend in Paul Workman at Cerro Gordo, and a legend in Gerald Temples replacing Jarod Kiger at Arcola.

It's rumored that Kerley chafes at being asked what it's like to step in for a Hall of Fame coach, but seemed to have a solid perspective on it.

"They always say that you don't want to be the guy who takes over for the guy, but it's been good so far," Kerley said. "There's pressure there to maintain that level. But this is the kind of program you want to take over -- good tradition and a lot of winning. People in Cerro Gordo take their football seriously, and it's up to me not to mess that up."

The area's other coaching change was in Oblong, where Randy Littlejohn takes over for Gary Plummer. The Panthers are still looking for their first playoff appearance.

Hockaday comfortable at receiver

Maroa senior Joe Hockaday went into last year as the Trojans' No. 2 quarterback, but ended up as their No. 2 receiver.

Hockaday took some important snaps at quarterback last year, but Maroa coach Josh Jostes ended up turning the reins over to Logan Stelzriede, who returns this year.

That doesn't necessarily bother Hockaday, whose brother Luke was a prolific passer for Maroa's 2006 state championship team. Joe is expected to be Maroa's No. 1 receiver and cornerback this year.

"I like the change," Hockaday said. "I don't have as good an arm as Luke did, or Stelz does. But I'm a little faster than Luke was."

jconn@herald-review.com 421-7971

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