The Rocket football fuel gauge is full

The Big East Conference Offensive Player of the Year is back for Cedar Grove-Belgium High School’s football team, and so is his favorite target.

Quarterback Logan Arrowood and wide receiver Sam Peiffer may keep scoreboard operators’ fingertips busy again this season.

In five games last season, Arrowood went 58-for-85 passing for 1,130 yards with 19 touchdowns and three interceptions. He ran 41 times for 162 yards and three scores.

“He’s looking really good. The ball is coming off his wrist really well — good, tight spirals,” coach Dan Schreurs said. “We’re going to utilize him in the running game as well.”

Peiffer caught 33 balls for 623 yards and 15 touchdowns in five games and was chosen to the Big East first team and the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-Region team. Schreurs said Peiffer has since gotten stronger.

“I’d be shocked if there’s anyone in this conference who can cover him one on one,” he said.

Junior Gabe Egan will be the featured halfback after putting on 25 pounds in the weight room and getting taller. Schreurs was impressed with his work in Friday’s scrimmage against University School of Milwaukee, Burlington Catholic Central and Living Word Lutheran.

“He was able to break some tackles and spin off tackles,” he said, adding Egan is Arrowood’s second-favorite target in the passing game.

Junior Colten Sellin, who started last year, is back at fullback.

“He wants to hit you first, lower his shoulder and stiff arm you into the ground,” Schreurs said.

“This is a running game that we haven’t had in a while.”

Junior Caleb Beightol, a 6-3 speedster who with Egan was on the 400-meter relay that took sixth in Division 3 at the state track meet, will be a hot target in the passing game.

“He’s the fastest kid on the field. We’re going to hit home runs with him quite a bit,” Schreurs said.

At tight end, Caleb Vande Boom takes over for Big East second-teamer Cole Augustiniak, who graduated. The 6 feet, 3-inch junior was groomed in the offseason. His receiving skills are fine and he is picking up blocking well, Schreurs said.

Up front, senior Caleb Ledbeter (5-11, 185) returns at right guard after making the Big East first team. He bench pressed 185 pounds 29 times and can nearly bench 300.

“His experience is going to be huge there too,” Schreurs said.

At left guard, Big East second-teamer Connor Schmit (6-0, 180), a senior, is perhaps the most fundamentally sound on the line and he understands the schemes. Fellow second-teamer Matthew Navis (6-2, 285), a junior at right tackle, wanted to reach 290 pounds but Schreurs said he’ll gladly take 285 when most linemen barely eclipse 200.

Diego Morales (6-0, 265) is back at left tackle for his junior year. Qualifying for the state wrestling tournament helped with his confidence and footwork, Schreurs said.

Center is still open. Juniors James Knowles (5-9, 180) and Dylan Dasher (5-9, 175) are vying for the spot. Dasher is more physical while Knowles is more agile and can throw people better, Schreurs said. The two may end up splitting time, depending on the opponent.

Knowles can fill in elsewhere on the line, and Jon Deppiesse (6-0, 215) may also see time.

The defensive line is a revolving door, but nose guard is decided. Nick Oszuscik is back as a senior after not playing for two years.

Navis and Morales will play tackle, with Knowles, Deppiesse and Kyle Dehn behind them.
At inside linebacker, Justin Anzia is back as a senior to lead the defense. He grew three inches, is aggressive and can get through blocks and make tackles, Schreurs said. He made 52 tackles last season and had a sack.
Ledbeter will play next to Anzia and  fill the gap while Anzia “comes in from behind and cleans things up,” Schreurs said.
At outside linebacker, junior Deven Soerens is back after making 34 tackles and recovering a fumble last year. Schreurs said he has “physically changed” and is stronger and faster off the ball.

Freshman Billy Navis will play the other outside linebacker. He’s strong, quick, agile and smart, and he looked good at the scrimmage, Schreurs said.

Sellin can also play linebacker, as can some underclassmen.

Egan will play cornerback, along with senior Casey Katte, whose squat numbers are among the best on the team.

Peiffer is back at safety after making the Big East first team. He had 28 tackles, a fumble, forced fumble, interception and touchdown.

Arrowood will also play safety — the first time in years Schreurs is allowing his starting quarterback to play defense. He wants to take advantage of Arrowood’s height (6-2), athleticism and ability to cover ground.

Schreurs said he will pull Arrowood from the defense when the Rockets get a big lead. One reason he is allowing him to play is because he is confident in his backup quarterbacks.

Sellin is the second-string quarterback who reminds Schreurs of former Big East Offensive Player of the Year Jason von Heimburg, and Peiffer is behind him.

Freshman Ethan Minnick will be the kicker, and Arrowood will likely punt. Peiffer and Egan will return kicks and punts.

Just having a season last year was huge, Schreurs said, since eight sophomores started.

“I wanted to get these guys playing time,” he said.

Depth won’t be an issue with 57 players in the program.

The Rockets are coming off of a 5-1 second-place finish in the Big East and a 5-2 season overall  — Arrowood missed one game due to contact tracing, and Peiffer filled in at QB, and the Rockets won one game via forfeit. They lost a 53-48 barn burner to Brookfield Academy in the playoff opener.

Reedsville won the Big East at 6-0, but a 28-14 home win over the Rockets was the game Arrowhead missed.

Schreurs said he expects Reedsville to be strong again with many returning players. Hilbert lost several seniors “but Hilbert is Hilbert, and they’ll be good every single year,” he said.

The Rockets scheduled two challenging nonconference games to start the season. On Friday, they host Mayville (5-2 last season) with a big, strong middle linebacker, and on Aug. 26 they play at Sheboygan Falls (5-3), which has had six winning seasons in a row.

“We could be going into conference 0-2 but we should be very well prepared,” Schreurs said.

Homecoming and senior night is Oct. 11 against Reedsville, and the Rockets want revenge from last season.

“Our guys are rip-roaring and ready to go for that game,” Schreurs said.

The Rockets have qualified for the playoffs for 18 straight seasons, among the longest active streaks in the state.