IKM-Manning Football Preview: Wolves return seven starters on both sides of the ball

 MANNING (Aug. 27) -- August hasn’t been kind to the IKM-Manning football team, but expectations remain high for September and October.
 The Wolves enter the 2020 season with just five seniors and 32 players on the roster - a number cut by one when versatile junior speedster Amos Rasmussen suffered a season-ending knee injury earlier this month.
 The overall talent level, however, remains adequate for head coach Tom Casey’s squad, which returns seven starters on both sides of the ball from last year’s Class A playoff qualifier.
 IKM-Manning finished 6-4 overall, including six straight wins to close out the regular season, and went 5-0 to win the District 2 title.
 The Wolves host Tri-Center in Friday’s season opener.
 “It’s been kind of a slow process, but we’re getting there,” Casey said. “We have some good pieces to work with (and) a good nucleus back from last year. We just don’t have a lot of depth right now. We hope to get to that point after a couple of games. I think our first two games are going to be very challenging for us... but I think we’re making some progress. We’ve just got to hopefully stay injury free... and just believe in the process. Really what I have to do (is) find 14-15 guys that (are) ready to play on a Friday night. I think we’re getting there but we still have some work to do.”
 Offensively, the Wolves will look to draw on the experience of three returning starters in the offensive line - junior left tackle Conner Halbur, junior center Max Nielsen (6’3”, 320) and senior right guard Brody Swearingen - along with senior fullback Kyler Rasmussen and junior quarterback Nolan Ramsey.
 Rasmussen, who is also a standout linebacker on D, led the team with 937 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns on 195 carries last fall after starting the season at quarterback - the position he played in 2018.
 Defensively, the Wolves will be led by the linebacking corps of outside backers Rasmussen and Doyel and inside backers Swearingen and Mitchell Kerkhoff - all returning starters.

2020 IKM-Manning Football Schedule
Aug. 28 - Tri-Center, 7:00
Sept. 4 - at Southeast Valley (Gowrie), 7:00
Sept. 11 - Woodbury Central, 7:00*
Sept. 18 - West Monona, 7:00* (Homecoming)
Sept. 25 - at Ridge View, 7:00*
Oct. 2 - at Westwood (Sloan), 7:00*
Oct. 9 - Logan-Magnolia, 7:00* (Senior Night)
Home Games in Bold Type  * District Games
Class A Playoffs: Oct. 16, Oct. 23, Oct. 30, Nov. 6, Nov. 13, Nov. 19.

2019 IKM-M Results
6-4 Overall, 5-0 in District 2 (1st)
8/30 - ACGC 32, IKM-M 21
9/6 - Underwood 42, IKM-M 0
9/13 - South Cnt. Calhoun 31, IKM-M 0
9/20 - IKM-M 17, East Sac County 7
9/27 - IKM-M 34, St. Edmond 7*
10/4 - IKM-M 35, Manson NWW 16*
10/11 - IKM-M 21, Alta-Aurelia 7*
10/18 - IKM-M 35, Sioux Central 12*
10/25 - IKM-M 41, Ridge View 8*
* District Games
CLASS A PLAYOFFS
11/1 - West Hancock 38, IKM-M 14

IKM-Manning Tentative 2020 Starters

OFFENSE
LT: 74, Conner Halbur - 6’1”, 187, jr.*
LG: 54, Tanner Crawford - 5’10”, 185, jr.
C: 63, Max Nielsen - 6’3”, 320, jr.*
RG: 66, Brody Swearingen - 5’11”, 210, sr.*
RT: 72, Andan Spooner - 6’1”, 242, jr.
TE: 88, Luke Ramsey - 5’10”, 184, jr.*
SE: 20, Hunter Smith - 5’8”, 150, so. and 12, Hayden McLaughlin - 6’, 170, sr.
WB: 24, Drew Doyel - 5’10”, 175, sr.*
QB: 17, Nolan Ramsey - 5’10”, 176, jr.*
FB: 16, Kyler Rasmussen - 6’, 205, sr.*
HB: 27, Cooper Irlmeier - 5’10”, 156, so.
* Starting Experience on Offense
PK: Doyel
Kickoffs: Doyel and Rasmussen
Punter: Rasmussen*

DEFENSE
LDE: 88, Luke Ramsey - 5’10”, 184, jr.*
DT: 43, James Vega - 5’9”, 176, sr. and 63, Max Nielsen - 6’3”, 320, jr.
DT: 54, Tanner Crawford - 5’10”, 185, jr. and 72, Andan Spooner - 6’1”, 242, jr. and 61, Taylor Williams - 5’10”, 213, jr.
RDE: 74, Conner Halbur - 6’1”, 187, jr.*
LOLB: 24, Drew Doyel - 5’10”, 175, sr.*
ILB: 29, Mitchell Kerkhoff - 5’9”, 175, jr.*
ILB: 66, Brody Swearingen - 5’11”, 210, sr.*
ROLB: 16, Kyler Rasmussen - 6’, 205, sr.*
S: 17, Nolan Ramsey - 5’10”, 176, jr.
LCB: 20, Hunter Smith - 5’8”, 150, so. and 12, Hayden McLaughlin - 6’, 170, sr.
RCB: 27, Cooper Irlmeier - 5’10”, 156, so.*
* Starting Experience on Defense