Two years ago when Dave Brossart took over the Dixie Heights football program, there were a lot of questions surrounding his team with the departure of long time head coach Tom Spritzky and a young group returning. While the first year was challenging, the Colonels finished 3-8, Brossart thinks that adversity helped mature his team and give them momentum after a heart breaking 57-50 loss in the first round of the playoffs to Henry Clay.

 

 

"Two years ago I inherited a bunch of sophomores (when I took over for Coach Spritzky)" Said Coach Brossart. " Those kids have really developed over the past two off seasons. We went from 3-8 to 8-4 last season. Our kids have learned a lot physically and emotionally and grown up a lot. This season is going to be tough, but I like what we return."

 

 

The Colonels will return 7 players who have started since their sophomore year, with 3 of those returnees starting their freshman year in the playoffs against Lexington Lafayette when Brossart was an assistant to Tom Spritzky.

 

Offensively, the Colonels put up 31 points per game last year and should be tough to defend again with the return of quarterback Drew Moore, running backs Ben Owens and Luke Zajak, as well as 6'5, 225 lb tight end Andrew Hedger and 3 starting offensive linemen.

 

 

Moore, who spent his summer attending Division I camps to refine his skills, is widely regarded as one of the toughest quarterbacks in the area to game plan for because of his athleticism. Western Kentucky, Cincinnati, Kentucky, and Purdue, among others have shown interest in the talented senior.

 

 

"Ben Owens is a physical north-south runner who will be a great blocking back and also catch the ball out of the backfield. He's going to play a role offensively and he'll be out there for short yardage and to get the tough yards."

 

Complimenting Owens in the back field is 2 year defensive back starter Luke Zajak, who really came on late in the season when he was given opportunities at running back.

 

" Late in the season he did some really good things for us at running back so he's going to be competing for the job with sophomore Cam Barrett."

 

 

With the three headed rushing attack of Owens, Zajak, and Barrett to go along with Drew Moore, the Colonels will use a similar approach offensively as a big physical team who likes to use the spread offense to get their athletes in space.

 

 

"We want to use fresh bodies and play situational football," Brossart explained. " We should be solid up front and with three returning linemen and Andrew Hedger, who didn't catch as many balls last year but has improved with his blocking and gotten bigger and stronger."

 

Hedger has put on around 15 lbs this off season and currently holds offers from Austin Peay, Hampton, and Holy Cross.

 

While the Colonels haven't been known for their wide receivers over the past few years, two of their better junior varsity players from last year have had great off seasons and will be expected to make an impact this season out wide.

 

" Luke Caple and Gunther Faeth really had nice off seasons," Said Brossart. "They're not guys who are going to get down field but they're great possession guys, run great routes, catch the ball in traffic, and are intelligent players. We really like what we return at the skill positions."

 

The key for the Colonels this season will simply be how they manage their personnel in situations as they will have several guys will go both ways.

 

The biggest improvement since Coach Brossart took over has been the growth and development on the defensive side of the ball.

 

"I really thought our team was one of the most physical that I saw last year," Coach Brossart said. " I think we play a very physical brand of football and I think the way we run our offense helps the way we play on defense."

 

After giving up 34 points per game two years ago, the Colonels ranked 6th in the state last season at 11 ppg and should be formidable once again this season with the return of Linebacker Ben Owens, All Conference Corner Ethan Harrison, Cornerbacks Luke Caple, Peter Fields, and Gunther Faeth, Safeties Luke Zajak and Ethan Schulte, who started against Henry Clay as a freshman.

 

" He's a smart kid who doesn't make a lot of mistakes," said Brossart on Schulte.

 

 

The strength of the defense should be up front, however, with the return of 3 year starter Colson Machlitt and Brandon Johnson, who holds an offer from Eastern Michigan and has also received interest from Western Michigan and Western Kentucky.

 

" I really think we have two of the best linemen in Northern Kentucky," Brossart said. " These guys just get it done. I can't think of two better guys to lead the defense up front. I expect to better defensively this year compared to last year."

 

The key for Dixie's success is simply being healthy.

 

"This team is a lot like the Cooper team that went to the state finals two years ago. If we can stay healthy and get some breaks with a little luck, I think we can make a great run."

 

Expectations are high for this group of Colonels.

 

" At 3-8 we were developing, and last year it was about winning football games and we did that. This group has their sights set on Covington Catholic. We want to win this district. It's been a few years since we have and it's a tough district. We want to be conference champs. We expect to beat our non conference opponents and win every game and make a run at state this year."

 

With the amount of experience and talent that the Colonels return this year, is this the year they finally get over the hump and win their district? Can the Colonels compete for a state championship? How good can this group be?

 

The journey begins August 30th at 1:00 pm when the Colonels travel up Dixie Highway to take on their rival Covington Catholic Colonels.

 

Schedule:

 

Aug 30, 14 at Covington Catholic 1:00 PM

Sep 5, 14 Beechwood home 7:00 PM

Sep 12, 14 at Turpin (Cincinnati), OH 7:30 PM

Sep 20, 14 at Newport Central Catholic 1:00 PM

Sep 26, 14 at Boone County 7:00 PM

Oct 3, 14 at Tates Creek 7:00 PM

Oct 10, 14 Campbell County home 7:00 PM

Oct 17, 14 Simon Kenton home 7:00 PM

Oct 24, 14 at Ryle 7:00 PM

Oct 30, 14 Cooper home 7:00 PM

That Red Colonel/Blue Colonel game should be a great one this year.

That Red Colonel/Blue Colonel game should be a great one this year.

 

I'm confused - is Coach Brossart saying in one sentence, they have their sights set on Cov Cath and that they want to win this district? Implying CCH is in their district this year?

I'm confused - is Coach Brossart saying in one sentence, they have their sights set on Cov Cath and that they want to win this district? Implying CCH is in their district this year?

 

I don't read it that way. I take it as in addition to winning the district Dixie has their sights set on neighborhood rival Covington Catholic.

Brossart has done a fantastic job at DH. They've gotten better every year and I'd expect that trend to continue.

I'm confused - is Coach Brossart saying in one sentence, they have their sights set on Cov Cath and that they want to win this district? Implying CCH is in their district this year?

 

I took it as they're focusing on them as their first opponent.

Is it Luke Caple or Noah Caple?

I thought Dixie returned 9 starters on defense?

Another part of my Dixie preview....full interview with Coach Brossart previewing this year's team:

 

 

We've heard about the D being in good shape returning but didn't realize they had that much returning on offense. Moore, the TE and 3 o-line is a very nice start.

That Red Colonel/Blue Colonel game should be a great one this year.

 

Is there extra "juice" in this game because of Coach Brossart's coaching history???

Who are the key players that Dixie lost from last year's team? Key names that come to mind for me are the RB Washington, who also played defense I believe. Another guy who I think was a two way starter was Risch who played TE and DE. He was really good at DE. Seth Caple was a stud. Lineman Bohn was very good. Any others I am missing? Those guys were all very good players. Dixie has a good team returning but they lost some really good players too.

Who are the key players that Dixie lost from last year's team? Key names that come to mind for me are the RB Washington, who also played defense I believe. Another guy who I think was a two way starter was Risch who played TE and DE. He was really good at DE. Seth Caple was a stud. Lineman Bohn was very good. Any others I am missing? Those guys were all very good players. Dixie has a good team returning but they lost some really good players too.

 

 

Fisk at LB.

Who are the key players that Dixie lost from last year's team? Key names that come to mind for me are the RB Washington, who also played defense I believe. Another guy who I think was a two way starter was Risch who played TE and DE. He was really good at DE. Seth Caple was a stud. Lineman Bohn was very good. Any others I am missing? Those guys were all very good players. Dixie has a good team returning but they lost some really good players too.

 

Washington is the first that I think of and obviously Bohn.

 

Cam Farmer and Fisk will be losses on both sides of the ball as well.

 

Joe Radenhausen was a nice change of pace back and Lopez played OL and LB.

 

I still think Dixie returns a lot though and will be really good. The JV team had some decent talent last year.

 

I'm disappointed to hear that Hunter Meyer isn't playing football this year. Even though he's a sophomore, he would have started in the secondary and probably been the back up QB to Moore. Really nice athlete that decided to focus on hoops instead.

 

A lot of people don't realize how hard it is for Coach Brossart to get some of the better athletes out who play baseball and basketball.

 

Would love to see what kids like Liam Rabe, Austin Schreck, and Matt Isbel could do out wide with this offense.

Washington is the first that I think of and obviously Bohn.

 

Cam Farmer and Fisk will be losses on both sides of the ball as well.

 

Joe Radenhausen was a nice change of pace back and Lopez played OL and LB.

 

I still think Dixie returns a lot though and will be really good. The JV team had some decent talent last year.

 

I'm disappointed to hear that Hunter Meyer isn't playing football this year. Even though he's a sophomore, he would have started in the secondary and probably been the back up QB to Moore. Really nice athlete that decided to focus on hoops instead.

 

A lot of people don't realize how hard it is for Coach Brossart to get some of the better athletes out who play baseball and basketball.

 

Would love to see what kids like Liam Rabe, Austin Schreck, and Matt Isbel could do out wide with this offense.

 

Can you get us a roster?