Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Brady VanDeurzen Shawano Community High School quarterback Jack Hanauer throws under pressure from linebacker Noah Brodhagen during practice last Thursday at the school.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School running back Kien Moorman, left, will be asked to relieve some pressure from the Shawano passing attack this fall.
Led by quarterback Jack Hanauer, one of the Bay Conference’s top passers, and wide receiver Dylan Sumnicht, who holds the school’s single-season receiving record, the explosive Shawano offense is preparing to put up even bigger numbers in 2016.
Running back Kien Moorman returns as well, and Connor Klish is showing flashes during camp that could help make up for the loss of graduated senior Adam Bartz, who posted 658 yards in 2015, out wide.
“I think this offense can really carry us,” Shawano head coach Alan Tomow said. “We have the potential to be one of the better offenses we’ve had in a long time in terms of big play ability.”
The Hawks, who will continue to implement a no-huddle offense to give Hanauer, who threw for over 1,500 yards in 2015, time at the line of scrimmage to read opposing defenses, could count on Moorman to help take pressure off the quarterback.
“We just try to become more explosive and try to get the running game a little bit more involved so that defense has the respect that as well, so we can throw the ball more,” Hanauer said.
Sumnicht, who runs a 4.44 second 40-yard dash, is ranked as a top-15 wide receiver in the state by wissports.net. He has worked with Hanauer over the summer on their timing. After breaking Tomow’s single-season receiving yards record by hauling in 822 yards on 59 catches, Sumnicht sat down with the coach to learn how to get better.
“At the end of the year last year, he told me the few that I missed and if I break one more tackle, how easy it is to get to 1,000 (yards),” Sumnicht said. “That’s our goal.”
Losing left tackle Zeke Gueths to graduation will hurt, but the team is counting on Dakota Maltbey to fill the blindside spot, and Casey Baumann and others to continue improving on the offensive line.
The protections are still coming together for the Hawks, who went 2-7 overall last season and 2-6 in the Bay Conference. Tomow said the offense might have to use quicker routes or rollouts to keep the defense off-balance.
“We’re still trying to find creative ways if we can’t hold up blocking in front as long as we need to,” Tomow said. “We can move our pocket or get him on the run and be able to make plays on the run. It’s been a little bit of everything.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Hawks are moving from a 3-5 to a 3-4.
“In the past, we’ve had to be more of a contain team because we didn’t have the kind of athleticism we have now, so now we’re able to … use more of our speed and a little bit more of our lateral speed moreso than having to bunch things up,” Tomow said. “It’s been a nice adjustment.”
Shawano allowed 39.4 points per game last season, and senior linebacker Jarrett Laatsch believes the change can lower that number.
“There’s more communicating going on,” Laatsch said. “As long as we know our fundamentals and basics, we should do pretty well.”
The Hawks will open the season against Clintonville on Aug. 19 and are looking to avenge a 28-18 loss in the opening game of 2015.