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2011 KHQA BARNSTORM TOUR STOP #11: PITTSFIELD-GRIGGSVILLE-PERRY SAUKEES

2010 Record: 2-7

2010 Stats: Saukees scored 23.6 ppg despite hampering injury issues everywhere, while allowing 37 ppg

Projected 2011 Strengths: Great size on both offensive and defensive lines, all-state caliber wide receiving

Question Marks: Secondary

FROM THE COACH'S DESK: It's no secret that PGP is motivated for 2011. After a year of getting hampered with injuries at seemingly every position imaginable, the Saukees didn't put their heads down and mope after a tough, 2-win year. Coach Don Bigley even said that after the regular season ended the third week in October, his boys were in the weight room the first day of November in order to get back to work. Motivation is no question mark at all with this gritty group, and it has already shown on the field

PAVING A BIG PATH: A huge factor playing into the Saukees' favor on both sides of the ball this year is size. Huge size. In fact, Don Bigley even admits that in his 15 years on the job, he's never seen an offensive or defensive unit this large. What impresses him more? They can play some ball. Quick off the snap, his players in the trenches are also agile, not just big bodies that are there for intimidation. It all starts with warhorse Coltyn Pease. At 6'4" and 275 pounds, the prep senior looks more like a fifth year player in college. He'll be a big (figuratively and literally) leader for this line. That's also not to discount Austin Beard (guard) or Skyler Lambeth (center) who are some returning starters that will help give their quarterback Seth Petty ample time to find an open receiver, and opposing quarterbacks headaches with a great pass rush as most of these players will play on both sides of the ball.

THE BUTLER DID IT: And Dillon Butler will continue to do it, impressing people throughout the tri-states this fall. He has a 4.4 forty time, and is one of the most outlandishly impressive kids in the area. He took up track last spring for the first time, and claims that has helped him excel even more on the gridiron. Click above to hear it from coach himself, but he even admits in our Barnstorm Preview that it is on his coaching staff to find a way to get him the ball in some capacity or another at least 15 times a game. The beauty for the Saukees is that he is so versatile. They can hand off to him and watch him hit the edge, utilize screen passes, or continue what they did best last year and just throw the deep ball. Opponents know it will be coming, but that won't make stopping him any easier.

...AND DON'T FORGET THE DISTRIBUTOR: Seth Petty is back for his senior season looking to improve on a stellar junior year, which is no simple task. In a predominantly run-first offense, he still managed to toss for more than 1,000 yards last season to go with six touchdowns. He and Butler have worked on their timing constantly this summer, which should make the attack more potent, but he has also just worked on the overall intangibles needed for the position. Expect this team to be a bit more dangerous this time around when it comes to the offensive side of the ball, thanks to a stellar field general that is now prepped and ready to make a big splash in his senior campaign.