2023 Record: 3-6 overall, 2-5 in Flyway (6th)
Did not qualify for postseason.
Key Losses: RB/LB Jack Wellhoefer (1st team), OL/DL Xander Sowls (2nd), QB Keenan Rahn, OL Parker Krokstrom
Key Returners: WR/S Mason Huth, QB/RB Lucas Kasuboski, FB/LB Wyatt Powers, RB Brock Frye
Omro’s 2023 season could well have ended in a playoff berth if the Foxes would have been able to finish off a few more close games.
During a three week stretch, Omro lost to Lomira by three points, Mayville by 12 and Winnebago Lutheran by seven. All three of those opponents ended up in the playoffs.
Returning senior Wyatt Powers said he hopes the team learned from those losses and that the team can turn them around this season.
“Those losses are great learning opportunities because then you can go back and learn. We have to know what our job is and how to work as a team better,” Powers said. “We have to push through the fourth quarter [better]. In the fourth quarter, people tended to fall apart, but we have to push through that last quarter.”
First-year coach Eric Doll is installing a new offense that he hopes will help make the team more dangerous and multidimensional this season.
Doll said he has been impressed with this year’s group and its ability to learn quickly.
“The guys are smart,” Doll said. “They’re picking up the new offense really well. From day one to now, we’ve established quite a bit and gotten pretty far.”
The biggest question offensively will be who ends up under center for the Foxes after the graduation of three-sport athlete Keenan Rahn.
One possible candidate is junior Lucas Kasuboski, who would provide a dual-threat look. Last year, he averaged 7.4 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns in limited opportunities.
“Even if there’s no one open, he can take off and if we can get him to the edge, he’s dynamic,” Doll said. “Even at our running back and receiver position, we have that speed and we can throw a lot at a defense with the offense that I’m running.”
Senior Mason Huth is one of those speedy athletes and one of the top returning receivers in the Flyway. Huth had 315 yards receiving and two TDs, averaging 28.5 yards per catch, making him one of the more dangerous players in the conference.
Huth said he is looking forward to seeing how explosive the offense can be in the passing game.
“I think our balance can be better than it was last year,” Huth said. “I think our run game is going to be there like it has been in the past and I think we’re starting to get more confident throwing the ball.
“I’m hoping we can have a little more 50-50 going on and we can sling the rock a little more because if you can do both, it’s pretty dangerous.”
Running back Brock Frye will be one of the players looking to replace the production from Jack Wellhoefer, who was the third-best runner in the Flyway last year.
The running game has the fortune of running behind Powers, the team’s fullback, who is physical and athletic. He said he hopes the team is ready to give the effort it takes to get Omro back to the postseason.
“All these guys are capable of doing great things, it’s just the mentality that they have to have and the effort that they want to give,” Powers said. “If everyone does those two things, I believe everyone out here is a great football player.”
Huth and Powers will also be impact defensive players for the Foxes, which gave up 150 points a season ago. Huth was a second-team pick as a safety, where he forced two fumbles and was second in the conference with 10 passes defended.
Huth said he understands the importance of his role as a leader.
“We’re getting better at communication on the field and I think that’ll help us determine whether we need to be in run support or pass support faster,” Huth said.
Doll said he sees the urgency from Huth with how he leads.
“He’s really good at communicating with the other guys so the secondary should be solid in their communication and we shouldn’t have any failed coverages,” Doll said. “That leadership really does help out.”
Powers said he has seen a hunger from the team defensively.
“I see everyone, even the younger guys, trying to step up and make big hits here, which is what I like to see,” Powers said. “If we can translate that to big games and stop that run and make teams throw the ball, it’ll make us so much more successful on defense.
“The bond that we have as a team is really good. We can trust one another that we’re going to do our job.”
Kasuboski was the team’s returner last season, which included a punt return for a TD. It would be interesting to see if Omro would use him in that capacity if he is the QB this year.
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