Only one step left for Gardner Edgerton

Marvin Diener doesn’t want to sound overly confident, but he’s never been short on optimism.

At least, not since he took over Gardner Edgerton football before the 2006 season. He left a state championship-winning program at Salina Central because he thought he could build another in Gardner.

“We’ve really made a lot of progress fast,” he said after practice last month.

The Trailblazers won two games the year before his arrival, went 5-4 in his first season and 7-4 last year. They made the 5A state playoffs last season and won their first-round game against Lansing. Diener said it was the first playoff victory in the program’s long history.

And then there’s this – Gardner Edgerton returns the bulk of its 2007 starters (as many as 18 players with starting experience), including its entire offensive line.

So, yeah, there’s some excitement brewing within the program.

“Our first step was to become a good football team, and I think we accomplished that the first year,” Diener said. “Last year, we became a playoff football team that won in the playoffs. And right now there’s really only one step that is left, and that is to be in a state championship game.”

The pieces seem to be in place for another strong season, if not a postseason run.

Senior Christian Haggy, junior Cameron McLain, junior Jeremiah Reece, senior Shawn Bones and senior Matt Wright return in full on the offensive line.

Senior Taylor Richardson moves from fullback to tailback. Senior Isaac Mallory and junior Justice Berry return as receivers.

Sophomore Bubba Starling is a new starter at quarterback, but the multi-sport standout is full of potential.

The defense returns starters in senior defensive ends Nick Mauszycki and Andre Jolly, senior linebackers Jeremiah May, Billy Erhard and junior linebacker Jeremy McLennan, and senior free safety Josh McLennan. Senior Bryan Rushing moves from receiver to cornerback.

They know what the goal is.

“We’ve got a sense of urgency with this many seniors,” Richardson said. “We’ve got a big sense of urgency to get it done and be the first ones.”

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submitted by RYAN YOUNG - 2008-09-02 13:51:02

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