2022 Snapshot: Rushville
- Updated: June 8, 2022
Rushville WR/TE Dylan Thompson (photo by JV Bell)
It is time to reverse the fortunes at Rushville. The Lions come into the season on a 24-game losing streak. They haven’t won a game since September 20th, 2019. The seniors are 1-28 and the underclassmen have never tasted victory since entering his school. With 10 starters back on offense and eight on offense it looks like the time has come to reverse the programs lack of prosperity.
“Our guys are continuing to put in the work needed to change the culture here. High expectations will not survive low standards. Our guys are setting the tone understanding that. In order for us to have expectations of being successful, we have to have standards in place that match or surpass those expectations. The standard is the standard and that is what it takes each and every day to go chase greatness and get to where we want to be,” head coach Isaac Sliger states.
Sliger goes on. “We have a group that has done a great job grinding in the weight room, competing for spots, and knowing what we need to do to accomplish the goals we are striving to obtain.”
Victories will be well earned for Rushville. Five of the Lions nine regular season games are against teams that finished 2021 with winning records. This team will be more competitive than it has been in several years. A couple of wins to start 2022 could be just what the doctor ordered for the program’s first winning campaign since 2013.
Rushville RB Harper Miller (photo by: McGowan Photography)
Class 3A, Sectional 31
2021 RECORD: 0-10, 0-3 EIAC 3A
COACH: Isaac Sliger (0-10 at Rushville, one year; 0-10 overall)
TOP RETURNEES
Dylan Thompson, Sr, WR/TE – A team captain who should have a breakout senior season. A big target at 6-foot-5, Thompson reeled in 19 receptions for 124 yards a year ago. He has the talent and skill set to play at the next level.
Austin Vance, Sr, QB – Suffered a season ending injury in Week 1 last fall. Vance is expected to be back and better than ever running the Lions offense. He has thrown for 1,638 yards and accounted for 24 touchdowns (16 pass, eight rush) in his career.
Rushville QB Austin Vance (photo from Twitter: Austinvance014)
Austin Kennedy, Sr, OG – A three-year starter and anchor of the offensive line. The 6-foot-0, 285-pound Kennedy has all-conference potential.
Jayden Roosa, Sr, RB/LB – Will be the leader of the defense and carry the ball on offense. Roosa, a three-year starter is one of the strongest Lions in the weight room. He has 82 total tackles a sack and a fumble recovery in his career.
Brian Simmermon, Sr, DL – A veteran on the d-line. Simmermon tallied 32 total tackles, five tackles for losses and two forced fumbles as a junior.
Harper Miller, Jr, RB – Took on a completely new role last season at quarterback once Vance went down. Miller is a fantastic leader who will be a focal point of the offense. He heads into his junior campaign with 657 yards and seven touchdowns rushing at the varsity level.
Drew McKee, Jr, H-back/TE – Had one of the biggest off-season’s in the Rushville program. McKee is expected to be a centerpiece of what the Lions are doing offensively.
Landon Browning, Jr, RB/LB – One of the leaders of the Lions defense. Browning has a great motor and is a hard worker. He was in on 49 total tackles, three sacks, seven tackles for losses and a fumble recovery as a sophomore.
Pacey Dye, Jr, DB – Back for his second season as a starter, Dye will be a leader in the secondary. He had 51 total tackles and an interception last fall.
Chase Woolf, Jr, WR/DB – Started on both sides of the ball as a sophomore. Woolf is expected to take another huge jump this season. He finished 2021 with nine receptions for 108 yards.
Danny Corn, Jr, OT – An extremely hard worker who continued to make strides last season as a sophomore. The coaching staff expects Corn step into a large leadership role.
Will Kuhn, Jr, OL – Back for another year as a starter up front. Kuhn will be an anchor on the line.
Austin Miller, Jr, OL – A returning starter vital piece of a junior laden o-line.
Jacob Crowder, Jr, LB – A returning member of the linebacking crew. Crowder has 38 total tackles last fall.
Sam Barada, Sr, LB – Adds depth to the linebacker core. Barada had 26 total tackles in six games as a junior.
NEWCOMERS
Sophomores WR Braydon Wilson, RB/WR/DB Ralph Eakins, RB/DB Nick Jarman and junior WR Mo Manghelli all hope to fill starting roles at one of the vacant skill position openings on either side of the ball. Up front sophomore OL Trey Newman and incoming freshman OL Jordan Collins look to join the rotation.
On defense, a slew of players will vie for snaps in the trenches for the Lions including senior DL Bryce Berkemeier as well as juniors DL Mike Rohr, DL Richard Barnes, DL Justin Foreman and DL Dominick Evans. In the middle of the defense sophomores LB Adrian Apodaca, LB Zach Tressler and senior LB Tyler Smith are expected to compete for spots. Apodaca had 20 total tackles in four games as a freshman. In the secondary junior CB Keegan Bowles is back and should be very productive playing for a full season.
PLAYOFF HISTORY (16-37)
Sectional Champion (one) – 1983.
2022 SCHEDULE
Fri – 08/19/22 – MILAN (4-7 in 2021) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 08/26/22 – SHELBYVILLE (1-6) – 7:30 PM
Fri – 09/02/22 – FRANKLIN COUNTY (6-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/09/22 – BATESVILLE (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/16/22 – at Connersville (3-9) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/23/22 – at North Decatur (6-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 09/30/22 – at Lawrenceburg (11-2) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/07/22 – SOUTH DEARBORN (7-4) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/14/22 – GREENSBURG (4-5) – 7:00 PM
Fri – 10/21/22 – TBD: IHSAA Sectional 31 Playoffs
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