Written by: Will Hoenike
After reaching the 1A Division 2 playoffs in 2022, the Watersprings Warriors are faced with life after do-everything superstar Jrew Plocher.
The team passed for 946 yards. Plocher had 860 of them. The team rushed for 1,963 yards. Plocher had 1593 of them. The team had ten rushing touchdowns, seven came from Plocher. The team intercepted six passes, four by Plocher. He led the team in tackles, all-purpose yards, and total yards.
He’s now on the roster of Arizona Christian University’s football team – a well-earned opportunity to play college-level football.
When the team travels to Hansen on August 25, head coach Shane Remer will be looking for new faces to step into prominent roles for the Warriors. He has some veteran players returning, led by senior offensive linemen Landyn Remer and Luke Henry. Sophomore Korban Nelson got his feet wet behind Plocher last season and will be one of the players with an opportunity to help fill Plocher’s shoes this fall.
One player can’t be expected to do it all. But Nelson at quarterback, senior Elvin Lin at running back, senior Johnny Thienes at running back and senior Luke Mathison at tight end? The four of them behind a good offensive line should give Watersprings a chance to compete in the Rocky Mountain Conference.
The three-team conference is expanding to five this year with Mackay and Clark County joining (or, more aptly put, re-joining) Watersprings, North Gem, and Rockland. Watersprings will have four non-conference games to identify new leaders and contributors before jumping into conference play on September 22 at Rockland.