Untested John Marshall football team geared up for productive season

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Sep. 1—ROCHESTER — Opportunity.

That's the overriding theme for this year's John Marshall football team. The Rockets have a pack of players who'll be feeling their way as first-year starters.

JM coach Kyle Riggott likes the looks of them. He especially likes their attitude.

"Things look good," said Riggott, whose team finished a deceiving 1-8 last season, with some close losses. "We had a really good summer. We have about 80 kids out for football, grades 9-12, and there were 70 kids who were consistently in the weight room this summer. We've got a large amount of guys who are committed. They're ambitious and ready to step into roles they didn't have last year.

"We had two large senior classes in a row. Now, it's these (former reserves') opportunity to compete for those open spots."

One such opening is at quarterback. That's where the Rockets graduated one of the better QBs in southeastern Minnesota last year, the athletic Savy Vath. A three-year starter, Vath threw for 1,264 yards and ran for 775 last year.

In his place will be one of two guys, junior Lliam Swenson (6-foot-1, 155 pounds) or sophomore Jack Klein (6-2, 165). Riggott hasn't settled on a starter yet. He likes how Swenson runs the offense, but is intrigued by Klein's strong arm.

"Lliam has a ton of moxie; he commands the huddle and plays the position like a point guard, seeing the field well," Riggott said. "Jack has a strong arm and is very raw. But he loves playing quarterback. He's got a great arm. There aren't many spots on the field he can't put the ball into."

Whoever winds up with the starting job figures to benefit from a big and strong JM offensive line. The Rockets have great size, averaging 260 pounds up front.

The leader there is Aiden Prosch. The 6-1, 225-pound senior is a returning starting center.

"I am most impressed with his leadership," Riggott said. "He commands it. He's a tremendous individual."

Carter Blanchette (6-0, 230, senior) also returns as a starter. And then there is a mountain of a man at another offensive line spot, 6-6, 355-pound John Rybarczyk.

Two sophomore linemen have Riggott excited, Riley Prosch (6-2, 220) and Mason Ziebell (6-3, 280).

"We think those guys can do it for us," Riggott said of his entire line. "We believe in our offensive and defensive fronts."

They'll be doing their run blocking for Angel Felix, a, 5-8, 185-pound senior who played a reserve role last year. Riggott said Felix had one of the most productive summers of anyone and is one of his team's strongest players.

Chace Larson and Roen Prigge also figure to get a decent amount of carries.

JM's No. 1 offensive weapon is at wide receiver. That's where Akit'J Williams resides. Williams is a deluxe one, at 6-2, 190-pounds, with speed, strength and rare jumping ability. A year ago, he finished with 889 yards receiving and a 21.7 yards-per-catch average.

Williams has faith in his quarterbacks that it can be another big year for him. But even more than that, he believes in this team.

"I think we are all looking good," said Williams, who has also made a strong effort to develop as a blocker. "There isn't a single person that's really standing out. But all of us are; we're all playing good."

The leader of the defense is senior linebacker and captain Ben Howard (5-8, 180). Howard saw action last year and is driven to make this team as good as it can be.

Also the president of his senior class and sporting a 4.0 GPA, Howard believes they can surprise some people.

"I've never seen these guys more excited to play football," Howard said. "Every drill we do, it's 100% all the time. Everybody is on the same page. We've got a very good group of linebackers. And our D-line, they're as feisty as ever. And our safeties, every single practice they seem to get at last one turnover."

In the back of the defense will be the team's two fastest players, De'Marreus Wells and Williams. Both are track and field stars.

Wells will also play wide receiver, giving the Rockets two speedy targets.

Riggott is impressed with the bond his team has made.

"This is a really tight-knit group," he said. "They are really fun to be around and they're having a lot of fun playing football every day."

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