PBHS looking to its returning starters

Written by Katie Morford Tuesday, 30 August 2011 17:09

The Peabody-Burns football team has a nucleus of eight seniors and upperclassmen. They are: back row (from left) Christian Guard, Matt Hiebert, Brody Kyle, Brent Jones; front row: Lucas Larsen, Hunter Pickens, Austin Savage, Wes Shaw.

The Peabody-Burns football team will look to experienced players to help it overcome last year’s mistakes and pursue a league title this season.

“We have five returning starters on both sides of the ball, which should help,” said coach David Pickens, who returns for his seventh season. “We also get a senior who could not play last year due to injury.

“Hopefully, both of these key things will help us be successful.”

Brody Kyle, a 6-foot, 3-inch senior, returns at tight end for the Warriors and fellow senior Brent Jones will put his 6-2 frame to use as a guard.

Austin Savage, Lucas Larsen and Hunter Pickens also are back for the offense.

On the defensive side, Kyle and Jones will do double duty as defensive ends. Savage, Larsen and Pickens will return as linebackers.

Coach Pickens said seniors Matt Hiebert and Wes Shaw are expected to be key contributors this fall, as well as junior Christian Guard.

Peabody-Burns will take on local teams Goessel and Centre for the Wheat State League title.

The Warriors had a 6-4 season last year, with a 5-2 league record.

“Little River and Wakefield should do well,” Pickens said about the schools likely to rise to the top of the WSL. “Our team, with some hard work, could be there with them.

“If we continue to build on our strengths and begin to eliminate the first-year mistakes that we made last year, we could be pretty good.”

The Warriors will open their season Friday at Centre. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.