For The Tribune

What Josh Shattuck liked the most about Seymour’s football scrimmage against Corydon Central Friday night was the defense.

“Here’s the thing, defense was the story of tonight,” Shattuck said. “We were phenomenal on defense. I was very, very pleased with our defense, especially our 1s. Our 2s were still pretty good. We gave up some yards to (Austin) Kopp. He’s an All-State running back. Our 2s were going to have a hard time tackling him.

“We gang tackled them. AJ Boshears was phenomenal for being a new kid. I thought Kody Engleking and Todd Kiewitt were phenomenal off the edge. Our coverage was good, but we expect that.”

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The new turf field at Bulleit Stadium was dedicated Friday night with school administrators and members of the school board receiving autographed footballs.

“What a great experience having a scrimmage like this to get a game-like atmosphere where your mistakes don’t hurt you in terms of your won-loss record,” Shattuck said.

Senior co-captain Nik Richert he enjoyed the scrimmage and being part of the dedication ceremony.

“It’s so nice out here; it’s something that I take pride in,” Richert said of the field. “This field that our community has given us is just amazing.”

Richert, the only two-way player on the roster, expects to start at offensive tackle and defensive end Friday night at Silver Creek.

Richert said he is pleased that the team has made a lot of progress but added that there is room for improvement in all areas.

“Right now we look good, but that’s not good enough,” Richert said. “Silver Creek is coming, we’re coming at them, and it will be a battle for sure.”

Senior inside linebacker Matt Fourman feels like the defense is shaping up.

“Our defensive linemen are double gap so we find the opening and just go,” Fourman said. “There’s just a few little tune up things we need to work on, timing and little things like that.”

Offensively, Shattuck liked the way junior quarterback Alan Perry ran the No. 1 offense.

“He did a lot better tonight than he did Saturday (Aug. 6 in instrasquad scrimmage),” Shattuck said “He stepped up into his throws. He missed a couple early, but he’s not going to make every throw on the money.

“I was pleased with our pass protection first and foremost. Alan executed the plays really well, so it was good. I was very pleased with his play but he has to play well for us. He doesn’t have a choice. He did what we expected him to do.”

Shattuck said he felt sophomore Nathan O’Mara led the Owls’ running game.

“He wasn’t our running back last year, Zach Carpenter was and Zach had to sit tonight,” Shattuck said. “That gave Nathan an opportunity and Zach’s going to have a battle on his hands.

“We don’t play kids to make them happy. We play them because they’re the best player. We have a battle at that position but that’s a great problem to have.”

The No. 1 offense scored three times during Seymour’s first series of plays.

Included in those scores were a short run by Perry and a 50-yard run by O’Mara.

“A lot of people get caught up in the big plays,” Shattuck said. “It’s maybe more fun to watch a big offensive play by the home team, but at the end of the day if we’re stopping them that allows us to be more competitive. We don’t have to score all the time. We can just move the ball and flip the field or whatever.

“I like our depth. That’s the biggest thing with me. We started rolling guys pretty early. In the past we’ve had guys that had to go both ways or our 1s had to take a lot of reps. I really liked our second group. Our guys that are like one-and-a-half way guys I thought they were good.”

The Owls will open their season Friday night at Silver Creek.

“They’re going to be a good team,” Shattuck said. “They came out here last year and beat us on our home field in a game we thought we should have had. We turned it around and were able to beat them at their place (in the sectional), and that’s going be fuel for them.

“We are going to have to have an absolutely phenomenal week of preparation to have a chance of knocking them off.”

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VARSITY

August 19: at Silver Creek, 7 p.m.

Aug. 26: Jeffersonville, 7 p.m.

Sept. 2: at Columbus East, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9: Floyd Central, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16: at Bedford North Lawrence, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23: at Brownstown Central, 7 p.m.

Sept. 30: Jennigns County, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: at New Albany, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: Madison, 7 p.m.

Oct. 21: at Sectionals, TBA

JUNIOR VARSITY

August 22: Silver Creek, 6 p.m.

Aug. 27: at Jeffersonville, 11:30 a.m.

Sept. 3: Columbus East, noon

Sept. 12: at Floyd Central, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 19: Beford North Lawrence, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 26: Brownstown Central, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 3: at Jennings County, 6 p.m.

Oct. 10: New Albany, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 15: Madison, noon

FRESHMAN

August 22: at Silver Creek, 6 p.m.

Aug. 27: at Jeffersonville, 10 a.m.

Sept. 3: Columbus East, 10 a.mm.

Sept. 12: Floyd Central, 6 p.m.

Sept. 19: at Bedford North Lawrence, 6 p.m

Oct. 3: Jennings County, 6 p.m.

Oct. 10: at New Albany, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 15: Madison, 10 a.m.

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Seniors: Zach Carpenter, Jackson Morris, Evens Cribs, Alex Franklin, Nick James, Braden Thomasma, Todd Kiewitt, Matt Fourman, Dalton Miller, Gavin Blanton, Nik Richart, Austin Alcorn, Coby Shepherd, Jared Whipker, Alex Hofer, Cailen Shepherd, Jayden Combs, Dawson Cravens.

Juniors: Alan Perry, Alazae Louden, Tyler Bullard, Breadan Blocker, Tiller Cummings, AJ Boshears, Alex Holt, Michael Knecht, Kevin Smith, Leo Pena, Tanner Kimble, John Barrett, Scotty Nieves, Shawn Battice, Kody Engleking, Dustin Metz, Jacob Ault, Max Otte, Brendan McCartney, Brad Brock.

Sophomores: Nathan O’Mara, Colin McCartney, Ezra Barr, Evan Dover, Hunter Kaufman, Logan Garner, Cam Blanton, Alex Toppe, Garrett Jones, Boone Joray, Jackson Roberts, Conner Klakamp, Caleb Madden, Devin Hill, Colin Sons, Andrew Hunter, Branson Self, Laster White, Haden Mettert, Kevin Corrales, Ramon Silva, Joseph Towriss, Avery Castetter, Trenton Brigdon, Gabe Ramirez, Dawson Cravens.

Freshmen: Jacob Rotert, Brendan Smith, Cameron James, Emmanuel Quirno, Bobby Truitt, Nate Bannister, Trevor Stuckwisch, Jake Roberts, Cameron Barr, Corey Motosicky, Jackson Nay, Bret Richey, Adam Carter, Breyton Johnson, Evan Vehslage, Ely Henderson, Aiden Brown.

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