As he prepares to enter his first season as Warrenton head football coach, Jason Koper is excited about what the future holds. He also acknowledges the challenge he faces after taking over for the retired Steve McDowell, who had been an influential part of the program for nearly three decades.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to pick up where he left his legacy off,” said Koper, who has been in the district seven years. “If I can make him proud in what I do, then I feel like I will have succeeded.”

A lot will look different for the Warriors, who have transitioned defensive schemes from a 4-3 stack to a 3-3 stack.

“We just rotated from a four-man front and our athletes are starting to pick up on it pretty well,” said Koper. “The changes on defense are purely due to numbers. We’re low on lineman and upperclassmen. We’ve only got five lineman who had high school football playing experience that aren’t freshman.”

Warrenton also adjusted its offensive scheme to more of a spread approach.

“Our timing is getting pretty good and our seniors are picking up on it well,” said Koper. “We’re going to be a little heavier on passing this year. Our skill players have had some significant time on varsity and understand what we’re trying to do to exploit some of the defense’s weaknesses.”

The Warriors return starting quarterback Caelon Weir for his senior year. Last season he completed 117 of 207 passes for 1,695 yards, while throwing 12 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He also ran for 96 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries.“He has done a tremendous job working with our coaches on the offensive scheme and learning the way we’re going to do reads,” said Koper. “He’s really taken on a strong leadership role in doing that.”Weir will have several experienced targets among which to distribute the offense.

Among them is four-year starter Kolby Meine, who recorded a team-best 486 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 27 catches last season.

“He’s been as sure-handed as we can ask for the past four years and has been going after the ball really well,” said Koper.

Warrenton also returns senior Isaiah Jones at fullback, following a season in which he amassed 160 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.

“He fought for fullback reps and had a great offseason,” said Koper. “He really worked hard in the weight room and is going to get the bulk of our reps.”

Another offensive weapon will be junior Joe Goldsmith, who showed his diversity with 112 yards on 22 carries along with 93 receiving yards and two touchdowns on six catches last season.

The Warriors’ line will be anchored by senior T.J. Ray, who recorded 27 tackles while making his presence known in the trenches last Fall.

“He was there every day in this summer and his strength numbers went through the roof and have transferred over to the line,” said Koper.

Warrenton will also lean heavily on seniors Joe Evans and John Starkey, who will both be two-way starters. They will especially be relied upon at linebacker.

Jones and Goldsmith will also play linebacker, junior Colton Brosenne and Meine at cornerback.

The line will be reinforced by junior Troy Lundy, who recorded 33 tackles and one fumble recovery last season. He will be joined by junior defensive end Cameron Faerber, senior tackle Austin Johnson and sophomore Timothy Ray, starting at center.

On special teams, Brosenne will return to his role as punter after averaging 39 yards per attempt in 2020.

“One of our goals is to defend that share of the GAC North title we won last year, and that’s always the goal we have going into it,” said Koper. “The biggest goal I have for our guys is to be leaders. The moment I got hired as head coach, I wanted to produce leaders.”
He says the Warriors are also determined to earn the rights to hosting a home game during Week 10 for district play.