Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale SCHS junior Dylan Sumnicht recorded 822 receiving yards this season, breaking head coach Al Tomow’s previous record. Quarterback Jack Hanauer and running back Kien Moorman also will get one final chance to showcase their talent this season Thursday in a game featuring players who are not seniors.
The connection between Shawano Community High School quarterback Jack Hanauer and wide receiver Dylan Sumnicht, both juniors, is one of the best in the Bay Conference.
The duo, who started playing together in fourth grade, have been major components of an improving Hawks offense that averaged 18.3 points per game this season, after scoring eight points per game in 2014.
“We can read each other’s minds a little more,” Sumnicht said.
The results include more points and, for Sumnicht, a school-record 822 receiving yards, surpassing the previous mark held by Shawano head coach Al Tomow by 33 yards. Sumnicht also had seven touchdown receptions. Hanauer, meanwhile, led the Bay Conference with over 1,700 passing yards.
With Shawano (2-7) out of playoff contention when the regular season ended Friday, the team was able to schedule a WIAA-sanctioned 10th game, against Marshfield, featuring players who are not seniors at 6 p.m. Thursday at SCHS.
Tomow implemented a new play-calling system for a no-huddle offense prior to Week 4 of the season, hoping to spread out and attack defenses in different ways. Opponents averaged nearly 40 points per game against the Hawks this season.
“It’s not necessarily a hurry-up offense, just no huddle, so we can get up to the line and give Jack (Hanauer) a little more time to read the defense and see if we have the right play called or if we need to check out of it because of the look we were given,” Tomow said.
As more players spend another year in the system, Tomow is hopeful it will lead to more wins. A consistent running game would also help, and the Hawks will return leading rusher Kien Moorman, who tallied over 750 yards on the ground and and averaged over 5 yards per carry.
Senior receiver Adam Bartz, who finished the season with 658 yards and eight touchdowns, will be difficult to replace, but Sumnicht and Hanauer believe there are capable back-ups waiting to step into a larger role.
“We have a lot of good young guys who have played varsity time, like Crede (Timm) and (Brad) Bartz, so they’ll be able to step in next year and fill in,” Hanauer said.
Tomow shared a similar sentiment.
“With Adam leaving, that’s a lot of productivity to replace,” Tomow said. “They don’t have to be Adam, but it’ll be an opportunity for them to step in and make the position their own or find a way to complement what Dylan brings to us.”