2024 Pigskin & Hoops Football Preview: Silver Lake Eagles Football

TEAM: Silver Lake Eagles

CLASSIFICATION: 2A

LEAGUE: Big East

COLORS: Maroon & Gold

SOCIAL MEDIA: @SilverLakeFB on Twitter

HEAD COACH: Logan Pegram (3rd year, 14-5)

2023 RECORD: 8-2 (2A Regional runners-up)

2023 IN REVIEW

The Silver Lake Eagles enjoyed an outstanding regular season in 2023, with their lone blemish coming against the 3A state runners-up from Hayden. The Eagles enjoyed a three week stretch with thrilling wins over St. Marys and Rock Creek before earning ‘War on 24’ bragging rights in a 42-28 win over Rossville. They cruised unblemished through district play and dominated Minneapolis in their playoff opener, but came up on the short end of a 45-34 barnburner against Sabetha in the Regional round of the brutal 2A East bracket.

KEY DEPARTURES

The Eagles will dearly miss running back Blake Redmond, a heart-and-soul leader who was a first team All-Mid East League selection, and quarterback Tanner Martin, who was a first team 2A All-Class pick by KSHSAA Covered. Chase Root was also first team All-League at linebacker.

TOP RETURNERS

The strength of this year’s Silver Lake squad might be on defense, where the starting secondary returns intact. Dayne Johnson was first team All-League as a sophomore last year at safety and pairs with senior Logan Cathcart there, while seniors JP Whitehead and Brody Deiter are back at cornerback. Senior Trent Rollenhagen returns to anchor the linebacking corps, while the line is led by senior Braden Strasbaugh, another first team All-League player, and Samson Webber. Offensively, Strasbaugh was a first team O-lineman at tackle and he and guard Trent Harris are the returning starters. Four receivers return in the Eagles spread offense, led by Rollenhagen (first team All-League) and joined by Cathcart, Deiter and Johnson.

2024 SCHEDULE

9/6 vs Rossville

9/13 vs Nemaha Central

9/20 @ Perry-Lecompton

9/27 @ St. Marys

10/4 @ Baldwin

10/11 vs Riley County

10/18 @ Osage City

10/25 vs Council Grove

Big East League, District game

2024 OUTLOOK

Success at Silver Lake is measured in banners, and they only hang those for state championships. It was 2013 the last time the Eagles football team hung one for themselves, and this program is always hungry to hit those heights. Whoever wins the three-way QB battle between Dysen Schooler, Ben Renfro and Jett Ross has big shoes to fill, but also has a solid line and outstanding targets to throw to. The defense should be stout enough to keep the Eagles in games if it takes the offense time to hit its stride. There won’t be any easing into the season for Silver Lake, not with the ‘War on 24’ and the defending 2A champions coming to town in back-to-back weeks, but those tests should only serve to make the Eagles tougher for district play, and they’ll be, as ever, dangerous when the playoffs roll around.

FROM THE COACH’S HEADSET

“We graduate a bulk of our production from the last two years, but have some kids that start year three in our program. The focus and growth I have seen to start year three is unmatched. Our challenge will be how quickly we can come together with one of the toughest schedules in 2A.” – Logan Pegram

–Dan Lucero

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