Wolves primed to contend for Class A, District 2 title
MANNING (Aug. 24) -- The IKM-Manning football team will become quite familiar with state highways 71 and 20 during the next two years as it joins the newly-aligned Class A, District 2 starting this fall.
IKM-M is by far the southern-most school in the six-team league, which also includes Sioux Central (7-3 last year, Class A playoff qualifier), Ridge View (6-3), Manson-Northwest Webster (4-5), St. Edmond (3-6) and Alta-Aurelia (3-6).
The Wolves, who are coming off a 7-3 campaign and a trip to the Class 1A playoffs, must be considered a strong contender to claim the District 2 title and the automatic playoff berth that goes along with it.
Head coach Tom Casey’s squad returns 13 letter winners and seven starters from a 36-player roster, including a 1,083-yard rusher in steady senior fullback Stephen Grimm, who scored 18 touchdowns last year following a sophomore season that saw him total 861 yards and 10 TDs.
The offensive backfield will also include senior wingback Nathan Blankman (8.6 yards per carry, 11 catches for 128 yards last year) and senior halfback Keaton Allmon, whose season was cut short by injury. Junior Colten Brandt and promising freshman Amos Rasmussen provide depth.
Senior left tackle Ian Bornhoft anchors an offensive line that promises to be solid, senior Alex Lingle (9 catches, 122 yards) returns at wide receiver and seniors Ethan Carter and Grant Stracke will split time at the tight end position.
The Wolves’ new quarterback will be 5-foot-10 sophomore Kyler Rasmussen, who takes over for two-year starter Jared Johnson - a dual threat QB who passed for 1,571 yards and 14 TDs the last two years. Rasmussen was unable to get his offensive reps at the JV level last fall due to starting at outside linebacker for the varsity and playing with a broken wrist, but the Wolves like what he brings to the table.
Defensively, IKM-M returns a solid nucleus of players and will likely split time between a 5-3 and a 4-4 base. The Wolves graduated two of their top three tacklers in Austin Ahrenholtz (117 total stops, 3 INTs) and Marshall Hansen (13 TFL, 4 sacks), but this year’s unit is senior laden.
Lingle, a senior safety, made 74 total stops last year, linebacker Dane Blom had 59 tackles and defensive tackle Tegan Garrison had 53.
2018 IKM-M Varsity Football Schedule
Aug. 24 - at ACGC (Guthrie Center), 7:00
Aug. 31 - Underwood, 7:00
Sept. 7 - South Central Calhoun, 7:00
Sept. 14 - at East Sac County (Wall Lake), 7:00
Sept. 21 - at FD St. Edmond*, 7:00
Sept. 28 - Manson-NWW*, 7:00 (Homecoming)
Oct. 5 - at Alta-Aurelia*, 7:00
Oct. 12 - Sioux Central*, 7:00 (Senior Night)
Oct. 19 - at Ridge View (Holstein)*, 7:00
Home Games in Bold Type
* District Games
IKM-M Projected 2018 Starters
OFFENSE
LT: 52, Ian Bornhoft (6’1”, 200, sr.)
LG: 75, Dane Blom (6’0”, 179, sr.)
C: 77, Tegan Garrison (6’0”, 227, sr.)
RG: 66, Brody Swearingen (5’10”, 178, so.)
RT: 59, Jacob Dentlinger (6’5”, 265, jr.)
TE: 83, Ethan Carter (6’5”, 172, sr.) and 19, Grant Stracke (6’2”, 196, sr.)
WR: 15, Alex Lingle (6’1”, 150, sr.)
QB: 16, Kyler Rasmussen (5’10”, 192, so.)
FB: 44, Stephen Grimm (5’10”, 179, sr.)
HB: 37, Keaton Allmon (6’0”, 168, sr.)
WB: 30, Nathan Blankman (5’11”, 160, sr.)
PK: 19, Grant Stracke (6’2”, 196, sr.)
Kickoffs: G. Stracke & S. Grimm
DEFENSE
RDE: 16, K. Rasmussen (5’10”, 192, so.)
RDT: 52, Ian Bornhoft (6’1”, 200, sr.)
NG: 68, Chris Birks (6’0”, 220, jr.)
LDT: 77, Tegan Garrison (6’0”, 227, sr.)
LDE: 83, Ethan Carter (6’5”, 172, sr.) and 19, Grant Stracke (6’2”, 196, sr.)
OLB: 44, Stephen Grimm (5’10”, 179, sr.)
MLB: 75, Dane Blom (6’0”, 179, sr.)
OLB: 45, Colten Brandt (6’0”, 189, jr.)
S: 15, Alex Lingle (6’1”, 150, sr.)
RCB: 30, N. Blankman (5’11”, 160, sr.)
LCB: 37, Keaton Allmon (6’0”, 168, sr.)
Punter: 16, K. Rasmussen (5’10”, 192, so.)