By RICHIE HALL
The Fishers football team won its first sectional championship in seven years last season.
The Tigers return eight of their offensive starters and have 11 senior starters on defense this year, so that means Fishers’ expectations are very high this year.
One important returner is quarterback Gage Sturgill. The senior was having a dominant year last season before he was injured during Week 5 and missed the remainder of the season. In those five games, Sturgill threw for 1,156 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“He’s fully recovered and we’re really excited about his senior year,” said Tigers coach Curt Funk.
Another key returner is senior Ryan Thembulembu, who led the rushing with 727 yards and nine touchdowns. Thembulembu also collected 21 receptions, including six for TDs. Senior Vincent Rozzi made nine catches, three for touchdowns.
The linemen returning include center Kyle Gunawan and offensive tackle Camden Funk. Junior Mason Cantwell returns, but is playing tight end this year.
“He played offensive line last season, did a really nice job, but now he’s moved back to his natural position at tight end,” said Funk. Two more juniors returning are receivers Darian Girton and Osais Sims.
The defense is completely senior-laden. The list includes leading tackler, linebacker Emmanuel Cowherd, who made 86 stops last season. Lineman Tyler Maynard made 69 tackles, while corner back Carson Eloms totaled 44 stops.
Other defensive players returning are outside linebacker Graham Imes and linemen Sean Coates Jr. and Evan Wilkins. Kayden Myers is slated for corner back, Owen Stout is listed as an outside linebacker, and his unrelated teammate Cooper Stout is a lineman.
“They are excited,” said Curt Funk. “I feel like the kids worked very hard in the off-season. They know that everybody we play is going to be extremely tough and better. We have a tremendous opponent in our Week 1 match-up Carmel.”
This will be the first time the Tigers meet the Greyhounds in the regular season. The game takes place tonight at Fishers.
“Anytime you’re putting an opponent like Carmel on your schedule, the sense of urgency is at an all-time high,” said Funk. “The kids know what kind of opponent we’re facing Week 1. It’s a big match-up.”