KHQA/ADVANCE PHYSICAL THERAPY BARNSTORM TOUR

STOP #13: CONCORD TRIOPIA TROJANS 

2009 RECORD: 10-2, IHSA Playoff Qualifier

RETURNING STARTERS: 2 on Offense, 5 of Defense

STRENGTHS: Speed and Athleticism in the Offensive Backfield, Defensive Backfield, Linebackers, Brad Dinsmore 

CONCERNS:  Size (or lack thereof) up front, Brand New Starting Quarterback

FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Visited Saturday morning for first contact workout and despite the lack of "veteran" players, Triopia enjoyed an incredibly crisp and impressive workout. I don't know where they are all coming from, but Rich Thompson has no less than seven kids who could start and star for him at running backs this season. Trojans are small up front (no starter over 205 pounds) but very athletic in the trenches. How small you ask? Tailback Brad Dinsmore may now be the second biggest kid on the team (in fairness, though, the All State candidate put on 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason)

A SOUR AFTERTASTE: The only thing worse than having your season ended...is having your season ended by your archrival in upset form. Triopia's stunning loss to Routt in the IHSA 1A Playoffs last year saw the Trojans commit the one unforgivable sin in Trojan Football annals: coming out flat against the Rockets. The Trojans got outhustled and outhit last Fall against a team they soundly defeated in the regular season; a case perhaps of Triopia looking too far ahead to a potential rematch with Tuscola. If there is a silver lining to that dark cloud, the Trojans say, to a man, that living with the ghost of that defeat has been powerful preseason motivation. Rich Thompson would only say that his team has changed its Off Season Weight Training Program and that participation was intense and spirited within that new lifting regimen.

PUT UP YOUR DUKES: Taylor "Duke" Joehl left an indelible mark on Concord Triopia Football as a standout tailback. Now, it looks like his little brother Jansen will have two years to do the same thing under center for Rich Thompson. Jansen has won the preseason Quarterback Battle and been impressive enough to allow Kody Kleinschmidt, last years field general, to move to wingback. Kleinschmidt, who is tougher than a three dollar steak, gives the Trojans a nasty blocker and infusion of toughness on the edge that the team desperately needed while allowing the super quick Joehl to bring even more breakaway speed to a team that already has ground weapons in abundance. Jansen throws well on the run and demonstrated a quick, efficient release when I got to watch him in practice Saturday. This looks like a win/win situation for all involved.

UNLIKELY NICKNAME:  He is one of the toughest, smartest, and most hardnosed kids on the team, if not the entire WIVC. So I am guessing that Alec Bunfill's "Bunny" moniker is more a function of his name than some indictment of his style of play. Still, I got a good chuckle out of seeing the word BUNNY on the strip of tape on his helmet.

THE PLAYER YOU ALREADY KNOW: Even with the embarrassment of riches in play in the running game, Brad Dinsmore is still the Franchise in Arenzville. He rushed for just under 1100 yards last season, tallying just over nine yards per tote along the way to scoring 18 total touchdowns. He's added a lot more muscle, which should help resolve some of the durability issues that plagued him last season and based on what I saw in camp, he is going to exponentially exceed the paltry two pass receptions he caught last season. Rich Thompson has found all manner of new ways to use this intriguing offensive set piece. And he remains one of the most gifted Defensive Backs in the entire region to boot.

THE PLAYER YOU NEED TO KNOW BETTER: Quietly, Phillip Whited enjoyed a monster sophomore season at the heart of the Trojan Defense, posting 93 total tackles and earning All WIVC honors along the way. Andy Phelps has proven a master over the years at maximizing the gifts of the kids he has on his defense and ultimately that means the Trojans resident Defensive Guru could use Whited at Defensive End, Linebacker, or even Defensive Tackle. But he isn't the only incoming junior who caught our eyes. Adam Kircher is a high motor kid with good growth potential who posted 31 tackles in a cameo role last season. Expect him to be among the higher volume tacklers in WIVC play this season.  

THE PLAYER WE DISCOVERED; Actually, I walked away very impressed with a number of underclassmen who may be destined for breakout campaigns. I am not sure how much he will see the field in this Running Back Logjam, but Brad Dinsmore's understudy, Jonah Wayland looks like a real keeper. I also thought sophomore Derek Schone did a very comparable Clay Nordsiek imitation as one of those quick up backs Rich Thompson loves so much in the Wing-T. The kid who seems to have the coaching staff buzzing, however, is expected starting Fullback Kyle Meyer, who runs like 200 pounds of ticked off bramha bull. As I said, the Trojans are deep in the Running Back category. But just in the interest of equal opportunity, allow me to tout 6'2" tight end John Love, who is going to make Jacob Fricke's graduation a little more palatable to take than I ever suspected. If the Trojans want to throw the football this season, they certainly have the capability.