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Connersville will play fearless

Becoming a consistent winner year in and year out is one of the biggest hurdles that head coach Adam Kelley faces at his alma mater, Connersville. Getting his young Spartans to step up and take things to a higher level might just be around the corner for Kelley.

Andy-Stamm-Connersville

“Aggressiveness and speed will be our greatest assets in 2015. There will be a great deal of competition for each position and we believe that will make us a better ball club. I expect us to play with high energy and good technique” Kelley says. “The mix of leadership with inexperience we believe will benefit us on many levels. It’s almost as if this group has no fear because they don’t feel like they have anything to lose. Our expectations are high as always, but this group isn’t worried about any of that stuff, they just want to strap it up and get to work. I am very excited about working with this group of players and coaches.”

“There will be a learning curve for many of our skill position kids. Because of our expected youth movement we will be a bit raw early on but I expect this group to get better at every opportunity and compete to win every week” Kelley laments about the realities that await Connersville this fall.

Class 4A, Sectional 23
2014 RECORD: 4-6, 1-2 EIA 4A
COACH: Adam Kelley (13-18 @ Connersville, three years, 13-18 overall)

HONOR ROLL
Devin Hall, Sr, OG – Hall will be a four year starter on the offensive line. Coach Kelley expects plenty out of a Hall and his leadership qualities. He was an All-EIAC 4A selection as a junior.

Andrew Stamm, Sr, ILB – Stamm enters his third year as a starter. He is a team leader and defensive captain. The 6-foot-3, 220 pound linebacker “will be a force in Southeastern Indiana this season” coach Kelley says. He was an All-EIAC 4A selection as a junior.

OTHER RETURNEES
Seth Bean, So, OT – A pleasant surprise as a freshman Bean started three games and saw action in six of the Spartans 10 games. Bean is a “very promising young lineman that we expect to play at a high level in 2015” coach Kelley states.

Paxton Caldwell, Sr, RB – The senior finally gets his shot to be the main guy after backing up Colton Gonzalez the past two seasons. Speed is one of Caldwell’s biggest assets.

Ian Hunter, Sr, C – Back for a third season as a starter on the o-line Hunter is very quick and does a great job utilizing leverage to neutralize bigger opponents.

John Spurlock, Sr, DT – Spurlock is back for his third year as a starter. He has good size, good feet and a great motor.

NEWCOMERS
Dalton Dubois, So, Slot/RB – After playing on special teams as a freshman look for Dubois to be a big part of the Connersville offense. He is extremely quick and hard to handle in space according to coach Kelley.

Jeremiah Henley, So, OLB – Henley is a very aggressive linebacker with lots of good football in front of him.

Kyle Leach, Jr, OT – Size and drive could make Leach a valuable asset to the Connersville ground game despite his limited varsity experience. Has seen limited varsity time but has the size and drive to be a big asset to our ground game.

Dalton Lee, So, QB/DB – Lee will compete for the starting quarterback position. If he doesn’t win that position expect him to play a key role in the secondary for the Spartans.

Dawson Legere, Jr, DE – The 6-foot-4, 225 pound Legere is a load to handle. “Legere is a raw talent full of potential that we look forward to seeing on a varsity field” coach Kelley states.

Dalton Light, Fr, QB/DB – Light comes in ready to compete for the starting quarterback position. “His inexperience may not be looked at as a positive but his athleticism and understanding of the game make up for it” coach Kelley laments.

PLAYOFF HISTORY
(5-30)
Seventeen times in the last 21 years Connersville has bowed out of the playoffs in Week 10.

2014 SCHEDULE
Richmond and Broad Ripple are the only non-EIAC foes on the Spartans schedule. The final three game of the regular season versus East Central, Lawrenceburg and Batesville will prepare Connersville for the post-season.

FINISHING STRONG
Connersville has lost its last four games in each of the past two seasons. Seven times in the last nine years the Spartans have dropped at least four games in a row to end their campaigns.

LEARNING TO WIN
Coach Kelley 13 combined wins over the last three season is the same total that the program was able to muster in the decade before he was hired.

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