Fieldcrest stressing fundamentals as football camp opens

MINONK – The Fieldcrest football team lost 19 seniors to graduation from spring’s undefeated, shortened season.

That group also featured players holding down 21 of the 22 starting spots, so second-year head coach Mike Freeman will have a young and inexperienced team when the season begins.

“We may be a young team, but I don’t feel like that means we can’t be a really good team.”

—  Fieldcrest junior lineman Carter Stimpert

The Knights began summer camp Monday in the gym because of rain but were working out on their home field at Veteran’s Park on Tuesday afternoon.

“Our key word throughout our summer camp, and going into the first week of official practices in a month or so, is fundamentals,” Freeman said. “As a coaching staff, we’ve talked over the last two months about getting back to real, hard, in-depth coaching and coaching the fundamentals. We are going to take a lot of time with our individual positions.

“This spring with those 19 seniors, we came right out and we’re running plays from the start of practices, but this summer is the total opposite with this young group. On Day 1 of camp on Monday, we spent all but maybe 10 minutes just working on the fundamentals.”

On Tuesday there were 23 players going through drills. Freeman said he will more than likely have only have six seniors on the roster and 25 players overall, with senior linebacker Ethan Stoeger being the lone returner with significant varsity experience.

“Our numbers are down, but it’s going to be who we are each day in practice and every Friday night this season,” Freeman said. “Our goal is to get better every day and learn from the experiences we gain week in and week out.”

Fieldcrest, coming off a 2019 fall season in which it went 12-1 with a Class 2A state semifinal playoff appearance, went 4-0 in the spring with wins over state-ranked Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley and Eureka, as well as Dee-Mack and El Paso Gridley.

“I feel ready to take on a leadership role,” said Stoeger, who earned a spot on the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week after posting 18 tackles, including 16 solo, and recovered a fumble against GCMS. Stoeger suffered an injury early in the following week’s game against Dee-Mack. “I tore my MCL in the second game this spring, finished up my therapy about a month ago, so I’m ready to go.

“Coach Freeman and I talked a couple of weeks ago about my role on the team as a leader. We are a very young team, so my goal is to try and get the freshmen and sophomores up to pace and then build from there. I’m not a huge vocal person. I like to show things with my play, so hopefully the younger kids see how I conducted myself and they follow my lead.”

Freeman said he also will be counting on junior center Carter Stimpert – the team’s long snapper as a sophomore – to be a leader on the offensive side of the ball.

“I just want to use these camp days this summer to continue to get better,” Stimpert said. “Yeah, it’s not a secret that we are going to be a young team this season, but I’m also excited to see what we can do. The past couple of seasons, even this spring with only having four games, the atmosphere around this program has been awesome and makes you want to be a part of it.

“I can’t wait to get a chance to show everyone what I can do. I’ve never really been in a leadership role before, but the seniors over the past couple of years have shown me what I need to do. As I said, we may be a young team, but I don’t feel like that means we can’t be a really good team.”

Freeman said that despite the lack of game experience his group has entering the season, the previous seniors have laid a solid foundation for players to follow.

“The juniors were around last year when we went 4-0. And as freshmen were around a team that went 12-1 and reached the playoff semifinals,” Freeman said. “So, while they may not have the on-the-field experience, they have the mindset and expectation of being a great team and winning. They’ve seen what it takes to be successful and seen senior leadership, so I feel they will be just fine taking a part in the leadership role.”