The last play of the season ended with the Hunt brothers connecting in the endzone to bring back the Monon Bell for the first time in nearly a decade.
Though only half of the duo remains, junior wide receiver Andy Hunt and a new core of talent are gunning for a repeat and a conference championship.
“We’ve been excited about this football team ever since we got done last year,” said Head Coach Bill Lynch.
The Tigers will be getting back senior wide receiver Jake Hagan, who’s been out since early last season with an injury. Hagan will join wide receivers Nolan Ayres, Chase Sadler, and Ryan Grizzard to round out a strong senior offense.
The team’s biggest concern will be on defense, which has been a consistent strength in past years. The Tigers look to replace linebackers Thomas Gray and Will Longthorne as well as Pete Nelson and Michael Mitsch on defensive line.
“But again, we’ve got some good young guys, too ,who have practiced a lot and worked hard, and it’s their turn,” said Lynch.
Key losses: Quarterback Matt Hunt, running back Jason Kirchhoff, kicker Marko Adams, wide receiver Ian Good, linebacker Will Longthorne, linebacker Thomas Gray
What to Watch For: With quarterback Matt Hunt gone, Lynch will get a good look at who wants the starting job. The group of candidates will include senior Jake Lasky, junior Matt Labus, and freshman Chase Andries, who was an Indiana All-Star his senior year at Beech Grove.
Best Case Scenario: The Tigers quickly fill the holes left by last year’s seniors. The team beats both Wabash College and Wittenberg University and earns a berth in the National playoffs.
Worst Case Scenario: The team struggles to find a consistent replacement for Hunt. Unable to duplicate last season’s magic, the Tigers lose the Bell and miss out on another chance at Conference.