Coming off a 7-3 season that included a 5-2 record in the LincolnLand Large School Division, the Macomb High football squad and coach Tanner Horrell went back to work.
“We had to rebuild the offensive line,” he said. “We lost four starters up front. Plus we lost Braden (Holthaus) at QB. That was our focus point of summer, to see who could fit into those roles, what they do and what they do well and focus on that going into the season.”
“Defensively, we have a lot of guys back,” added Horrell. “It was replacing those key seniors that we lost.”
The senior linemen played an important role in Holthaus throwing for 1,933 yards and 22 touchdowns a season ago. He was also the team’s leading rusher, chalking up 718 yards on 92 carries with 11 scores.
While the losses are significant, the Bombers do have a number of key returnees entering 2025.
Senior Drew Watson (5-feet, 11-inches, 165 pounds) is a four-year starter at wideout and a three-year starter at defensive back.
He caught 56 passes for 776 yards and 11 TDs last season.
“He’s a great receiver with great instincts,” said Horrell.
On defense, he recorded 46 total tackles, including 16 solo stops.
“He sets the tone in the defensive backfield and gets us in the right coverage,” said Horrell.
“He’s really a true captain,” he added. Junior Drake May (5-11, 185) starts at linebacker for the third year, already recording 200-plus tackles during his first two seasons.
Last year, he finished with 129 total tackles, including 44 solo stops, along with four sacks.
He is also the team’s leading returning rusher after recording 282 yards on 38 carries with three scores last season.
“He’s going to take a lead role at running back,” said Horrell of May.
Up front, junior Charlie Bodiford (6-5, 285) returns at offensive guard and nose guard.
“He’s a key piece who really has come into his own now as an upperclassman,” said Horrell.
Junior Kyler Norton (6-1, 165)enters his third year where Horrell expects him to be “more prominent role as a receiver in the number two or three slot.”
Norton caught 12 passes for 186 yards last season.
On defense, he recorded 34 total tackles last season. This year, he makes the move to corner and be the “shutdown corner” for the Bomber defense.
Another two-way player for MHS is senior Nolan Hoge (6-5, 180). A two-year starter, Horrell looks to Hoge to be an option for the team’s fourth receiver at tight end, while setting the edge at safety on defense.
Hoge had one TD grab last season, along with 30 total tackles.
A newcomer for the Bombers is WR/DB Carter Havens (5-10, 172), a transfer from Brown Couny, where he played varsity for the Hornets last year as a sophomore.
The million dollar question for the Bombers though is who will be quarterback.
Enter junior Kaden Knupp (6-0, 175). “He’s got some of the same attributes as Braden, but he hasn’t played quarterback at the varsity level,” said Horrell. “As a starter, he’s just going to have to try to settle in and be ready to go.”
“He throws a nice ball and he’s very mobile,” he added. “He’s a strong kid that’s also fast. He’s that dual threat still that we had with Braden. We don’t expect him to be Braden. He’s got great receivers out there that he can just put the ball up and those guys can go make plays for him. And we look to have a strong running game. We feel like we have 3-4 running backs, along with Kaden.”
“He’s got the recipe for success,” said Horrell. “It’s just a matter of getting up to speed and settling in early.”
The team improved it’s running game a season ago, averaging 171 yards per game, but Horrell believes there remains room for improvement.
“We still feel like we can be better in that aspect,” he said. “But we took what (the opposing defenses) gave us.”
In many cases, that was man-to-man against the receivers, where Horrell admitted that he “likes our matchups.”
On the offensive line, a pair of juniors take over at tackles in William Thomas (6-0, 205), who will be a starter both ways, while Aiden Reynolds (5-11, 180) played center for JV last season.
As for LincolnLand Division play, Horrell expects highly competitive race.
“It’ll be interesting to see who all rebuilds,” he said. “Farmington is obviously the team to beat. Until someone beats them, it’s their conference. They always seem to reload.”
“It’s the same with Elmwood/Brimfield,” he added. “They have sustained success and I expect them to be pretty good.”
But Horrell also noted that Illini West and West Hancock will be improved, while Bureau Valley has a new coach in veteran Patrick R. Elder.
“Hopefully, we’re up there at the top when it all settles,” said Horrell.
“We felt like we let a conference championship slip away last year, losing a couple of tight games,” said Horrell. “We want to get that title back. It’s been a few years.”
The Bombers lost at Farmington in overtime before losing the following week by three points at Elmwood/ Brimfield.
“You have to be ready to go,” said Horrell. “You have to prepare every game like its the biggest game of the year and just go one week at a time.”
In addition to a conference title and return to the playoffs, Horrell is hoping for the opportunity to break through in the postseason.
In order for that to happen however, Horrell noted a number of things will have to go his team’s way during the season.
“We’re going to have to be good up front,” he said. “We’re going to have to move the football in the run game.”
“We’re going to have to win the turnover battle, stop the run and make teams try to throw on us and we’ll be successful.”
“And if we get the ball to our playmakers and let them be special, I think we’ll be alright.”
