ELDRIDGE – Every year brings some sort of transition for high school football teams. Graduated seniors to replace, new personnel to mix into the varsity lineup, and new opponents to prepare for. Well, at North Scott High School this fall, coach Kevin Tippet’s football program is also making another big adjustment – to a new stadium that features a new synthetic surface on which to play home games.
Final touches are being put on a multi-million dollar stadium project – part of the school district’s Vision 2025 plan – that gives the Lancers and their fans a shiny new facility. “It was just time,” said Jason Schroeder, North Scott activities director. “We finally got to the spot where we felt as a community and district that we had the funds to do what we wanted to get done in the district.
” The rebuild at Lancer Stadium was extensive, as opposed to the approach taken to build a new softball complex that opened this summer and replaced the old field. According to Schroeder, the Lancer Stadium work included installing a new artificial playing surface on the football field, resurfacing the track, and building new and expanded bleachers on the home (north) side of the stadium that included a new press box on top of those. Home and visitor’s locker rooms, an athletic training room and an officials’ office/shower area along with additional storage space was added in a free-standing structure underneath the new home stands.
A new entryway and ticket booth were also constructed along with a new concession stand and public restrooms. Fencing was also installed along the home side of the field to separate the grandstand from the track. New LED Musco lighting was installed to the field about six years ago, according to Schroeder, and a new scoreboard/videoboard was installed a couple of years later.
While the major construction part of the project is done, interior and finishing work is still being completed. Schroeder says that the project is expected to be completed in time for the Lancers’ home opener on Sept. 13 against Davenport Assumption.
Tippet said the first game action scheduled on the field will be a JV contest on Sept. 9. He was told the facility would be ready for that.
“I’m really thankful that we have a great administration; they care about us a lot here,” said North Scott senior football player Will Schneckloth. “They have blessed us with these great facilities and a great locker room, and obviously a beautiful looking field. “Hopefully, we can take advantage of that.
” Tippet’s eyes light up when talking about the stadium work. "We’re very fortunate that our school board and Mr. Stutting (Superintendent Joe Stutting) all invested in the future," said Tippet.
He can’t wait to make the move into the new digs. “It’s kind of like a Christmas present sitting under the tree for two or three weeks and you can’t open it,” he said with a chuckle. “The kids are really excited about it.
...
It’s a nice facility.” Tippet said that the team has practiced on the new artificial surface several times this fall. Regular practices, though, have still been conducted on the grass practice field adjacent to the stadium.
While the players are looking forward to their home games on the new artificial turf, an irony strikes as their first two games – at Central DeWitt and Waverly-Shell Rock will be on natural grass. “Just like every other year, we’ll have some games on turf and some grass,” said senior Cash Bowe. “I think this year we only have two grass games.
We’ll be used to the turf and be fine.” Schroeder notes that the turf will allow for more use of the field, including morning band practices, physical education classes and soccer practices in bad weather that will save the natural grass soccer pitch across First Street. Still, the decision to switch to the artificial surface was not easy.
“It was definitely difficult,” said Schroeder of the decision to switch. “We had an amazingly good field – one of the best grass fields in the state.” Schroeder also noted that the new surface will relieve the district’s maintenance crew of hundreds of hours tending to the grass surface.
“There were a number of factors that had to be discussed,” he said of the switch. The move to the artificial surface has been easy, according to the players after a few practices on the new surface. “It’s definitely a lot easier to make cuts and get out of breaks,” said Bowe, a senior receiver who led the team last year with 47 catches for 680 yards and 5 touchdowns.
“Being on grass, you have to be conservative on your cuts so you don’t lose your footing. “On turf, you don’t really have to worry about that – on turf, everywhere on the field is the exact same and you don’t have the dead spots you have on grass.” Playing on a quicker surface this season may be a huge benefit to the Lancers, who hope to build off last year’s 8-3 record with losses only to Cedar Rapids Xavier and twice to Western Dubuque.
All three losses were by a total of 27 points. Featuring a skilled and athletic team, North Scott could be built for turf. Senior Chase Smith has the task of taking over at quarterback for district Player of the Year Kyler Gerardy, who threw for 1,380 yards and rushed for 843 despite missing time with an ankle injury.
That, though, allowed Smith to get time under center and he produced. As a junior, the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder completed 60.4% of his passes for 306 yards and 5 TDs, adding 109 yards rushing on just 14 carries and two more scores.
“He’s put a lot of work in on his craft and worked on his skills,” Tippet said. “I’m really excited to watch him play. He’s going to be a really good quarterback for us.
“He spins it really well. He’s got a quick release and his football IQ is extremely high. He’s very athletic – in the mold of some of the really good quarterbacks we’ve had.
He’s really fast, he’s got the whole package and should have a good senior year.” And he has plenty of weapons returning in a deep receiving corps topped by Bowe and senior Carson Lage (24 catches, 349 yards, 4 TDs last year). Running back Jarrod Lee, a 5-9, 195-pounder, will lead a vaunted ground attack.
He rushed 144 times last year for a team-best 935 yards and matched Gerardy’s 13 touchdowns while adding 9 catches for 56 yards and another score. “Chase can throw the ball really well and Jarrod is a good running back,” said Bowe. “We should be balanced running the ball and throwing it.
We have a great O-line – new linemen, but they’ll be great.” This year’s goal for the Lancers is simple: “To win a state championship,” said Schneckloth. “We’re really aiming for the Dome this year.
We really fell short against Western Dubuque last year and we’re hoping to beat them and Xavier this year and get to the Dome.” And get yet more action on artificial turf that they will now be plenty familiar with. Sent weekly directly to your inbox! sports writer/golf editor {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
.
