Shiner football: Comanches face Muenster for state title for second year in a row

Editor's note: Due to the Shiner-Muenster 2ADII state game kicking off at 11 a.m. Thursday, the preview story will be available for free on the web site and Facebook page. 

Returning to the state game has been the goal and expectation among the Shiner football team for nearly four months.
The Comanches will once against battle the Muenster Hornets for the 2ADII crown in a rematch of last year’s 36-29 win for Muenster. It will also be Shiner’s fourth state-title game appearance in six seasons.
“It is huge because these kids have worked their tails off to give themselves the opportunity to be back in the state game. This the goal they set back a while ago in August,” Shiner head coach Daniel Boedeker said. “They have never backed out of any challenges we have given them in practice or in any of the games.They always came back ready to work on Mondays. They did it this week and so I know they will be ready to go.”
Senior center-defensive lineman Jacob Nerada is thrilled the seniors close out the career at the state title game.
“It feels great after we set the goal in August and even after last year;s game left a bad taste in my mouth,” he said. “I get to come back this year and hopefully, change it.”
“We have been working for this all off season; getting that bad taste of losing to them last year out of our mouths and win the game,” junior running back-linebacker Clayton Fric said. 
The Hornets are 13-2 on the season, averaging 46.26 points a game on offense and hold their opponents to 17.6 points a game.
They get 446.5 yards of offense a game — 176.8 passing, 269.7 rushing.
“They are very similar to last year’s team. They have a lot of guys back,” Boedeker said.”They are basically running the same scheme on offense and defense so there are familiar faces and schemes we know we have to get ready for.”
Their spread offense is once again led by quarterback Casen Carney who has completed 145-of-207 for 2,514 yards, 167.6 yards a game, 35 touchdowns and two interceptions. 
He is also the leading rusher with 1,621 yards, 108.1 a game, 10.2 average per carry and 22 touchdowns. 
“We have to make sure we tackle well like we have preached all year and facing these good teams once you get into the playoffs,” Boedeker said. “We cannot get caught up in all the different formations that Muenster is going to do. We have to make sure we are in position to make plays by being lined up right. We want the kids to play fast.”
“The quarterback will be the main challenge facing our defense,” Fric said. “We are going to make sure we get all the guys to the ball as quick as we can and gang tackle everyone. 
Backing Carney’s running attack up will be Nolan Peel (120-833, 11 touchdowns) and Dustyn Croft (70-705, nine touchdowns).
Top receiver is Garrett Hess (37-690, 18.6 a catch, 49.3 a game, 11 touchdowns).
Top defenders are Rhett Walterscheid (105 tackles, 81 solo tackles, 24 assists, 14 tackles for loss); Simon Johnson (83 tackles, 64 solo tackles, 19 assists, nine tackles for loss; Hess (four sacks) and Titan Binder (seven interceptions).
While Muenster’s defensive line is not bigger than Shiner’s offensive line, the Hornets are very athletic.
“We have really been working on keeping our pad level low during practice (Monday),” Nerada said. “We know they will have size and speed. Last year, we thought we had it but did not try hard enough at practice, did not stay low enough and this year, it will be different.”
“It will be matter of coming off the ball fast with good pad level and staying on our blocks,” Boedeker said.