C/G EAGLES LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK INTO PLAYOFF CONTENTION

CHRISLIP, HERRERA, NIGHTINGALE, HENRY, TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP

By Staff

         CANTON – After so many seasons of long runs into the state playoffs, the Canton/Galva football program stumbled on hard times under the guidance of a new head coach in 2024, but return a relatively young but experienced core of players to rebuild the line of success as the Eagles look to return to gain playoff contention games in 2025.

 “We were a very young, inexperienced team last season,” noted head  coach Ted Regehr when asked to talk about his first season as head coach. “We had a lot of guys who never played meaningful varsity level football before, especially in starting positions. That along with me being a first-year head coach made for its challenges.  We did not have the season we all wanted and missed the post season for the first time in seven years, but everyone gained a lot of experience and knowledge of what it takes to get back to competing at a high level. We also had a schedule that included a number of teams that went deep into the state playoffs, so getting to play those teams and seeing what their kids were like gave our kids a first-hand look at what kind of work they need to put in over the last year to be successful.”

         Eagle head coach Ted Tegehr enters his second season as the man in charge of the program after serving seven seasons as an assistant coach. While serving as an assistant, Regehr helped guide the Eagles to a mark of 65-13 while they dipped in his first season as head coach, just going 3-6, including 3-2 in Wheat State League games and 1-4 in district games.  Regehr will be joined on the sidelines with assistant coaches Zac Hoppes, Jason Fawcett, and Jerrid Nightingale.

         Only one notable player needs to be replaced due to graduation and that would be Noah Collins who was key receiver at tight end on the offensive side of the game while spending the past three seasons plugging up the holes in opponents’ offense as a key defensive lineman.

         What the Eagles do have is the return of eight key players who started either on offense, defense or in some cases both. 

         On the offensive side of the ball the Eagles will be directed by returning quarterback Jaxon Chrislip who will be handing the ball to either junior Ty Herrera or sophomore Mag Cathey when running a play. Returning to help build the passing attack will be junior tight end Jaxon Nightingale and a pair of wide receivers in junior Ethan Brozek and sophomore Dallas Jones. Wyatt Henry, a senior Eagle, is the lone returning lineman with much blocking experience at the varsity level.

         Defensively, it begins with the linebackers where Chrislip, Nightingale and Herrera all have started. Brozek, and Jones will join senior athlete/safety Camden Kruse in the defensive backfield while Henry and Cathey return along the line.

         Talking about the players returning, coach Regehr explained, “We gained a lot of experience and knowledge of the speed and physicality of the game last season. Every one of our starting players played significant time in 2024 so the dynamics of the game will not be new to them. The key will be for them to continue getting better at their position and improving their skillset. We have had an exceptionally good summer in the weight room and with team practices/camps, and I know we are further along at this point than we were a year ago.”

         Three newcomers that the coaches say will get solid varsity time on the field include running back/linebacker Cade Schmidt, just a sophomore along with offensive and defensive lineman Landon Potts, a junior, and Wes Prieb, just a freshman.

         Finishing his reflections on the upcoming 2025 season, coach Regehr added, “We have a good core of upper classmen that hopefully will step into leadership roles and have the team prepared and ready to go the first Friday in September. Once again, our schedule is brutal as we will play a number of highly successful  programs and the teams not normally talked about, each return some key players making them tough opponents. As long as we continue to improve and get better each week, and the kids show up every day to put in the work, I will be excited to see where we are when we arrive at week seven or eight of the season.”

         The Eagles will open the 2025 season at home hosting Centre/Lost Springs on Friday, September 5.

EAGLE 2025 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:

Friday, September 5 = hosting Centre/Lost Springs

Friday, September 12 = at Hutchinson Central Christian

Friday, September 19 = hosting Wakefield

Friday, September 26 = at Ell-Saline

Friday, October 3 = at Little River

Friday, October 10 = hosting Central Plains

Friday, October 17 = at Solomon

Friday, October 24 = hosting Goessel

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)