The first go-round as a high school quarterback was an up-and-down experience for Tyson Sackman.
The tough times that he endured during a rocky sophomore season, though, have helped set the stage for what folks in Edinburgh hope will be a breakout junior campaign this fall.
Sackman threw for 1,365 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie QB last year. He was also intercepted 21 times — the product of an inexperienced signal-caller who felt the need to gamble because his team was constantly trailing.
The Lancers’ lone win in 2017 came by forfeit. The team’s average margin of defeat was 37.6 points, with every game decided by at least 20.
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Edinburgh coach Jason Burton believes that improvement from the rest of the team will help Sackman as much as the strides that the 6-foot-4 junior has made as an individual.
“A lot of our games, we’d start flat and get down two scores,” Burton said, “and that changed the play-calling a bit trying to get some of it back. So ultimately, his numbers will get better as our team numbers get better.”
As he has learned more about the game, Sackman has raised his football IQ and his comfort level quite a bit. Last year, Burton noted, play calls were usually limited to single reads; now, Sackman is equipped to handle more double and triple reads.
“I’ve gotten more compelled to stay in the pocket and stay more calm, and I look for my teammates when they’re open,” Sackman said. “I can read the defense. We’ve worked on a lot of stuff, so I’ll be pretty good this year.
With three of his top five receivers back and the addition of running back Bryce Burton, who didn’t play last year, Sackman should have plenty of weapons at his disposal. He should also be far more equipped to use them than he was in his debut season.
“He has all the tools,” Jason Burton said. “He can make all the throws 45 yards in.”
As difficult as life has been on the gridiron for the Lancers in the past, the vibe seems much more positive this preseason — a change that stems at least in part from a greater belief in the young man under center.
“I’m really confident about this year, and I think our whole team is,” Sackman said.
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Date;Opponent;Time
Aug. 17;at Brown County;7 p.m.
Aug. 24;at North Decatur;7 p.m.
Aug. 31;Oldenburg Academy;7 p.m.
Sept. 7;Switzerland County;7 p.m.
Sept. 14;South Decatur;7 p.m.
Sept. 21;Milan;7 p.m.
Sept. 28;at Eastern Greene;7 p.m.
Oct. 5;Wes-Del;7 p.m.
Oct. 12;at Trinity Lutheran;7 p.m.
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1. Which opponent’s field is your favorite/least favorite and why?
“My least favorite is anywhere with turf, because every time I play on turf, I’ve gotten hurt.”
2. What other position would you play if your coach let you?
“I think I’d stay at running back, because I’ve played quarterback and gotten hurt. I’ve played receiver and it’s all right, but running back I feel like I’m more important to the team and I can help the team out back there.”
3. Which school that is not on your schedule would you love to play against?
“I just wish some local schools around here had football teams so we could play against them and make the rivalry more fun to have, but nobody really (currently with a team) that I’d like to play.”
4. What’s something about this year’s team that will surprise people?
“We’ve got a lot of hard work and dedication. All of our players like to put everything they’ve got into it. I think it’s a lot different than past teams, because everybody out here, they work so hard together and they play as a team, and I think it’s going to surprise most people out there.”
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Coach: Jason Burton (2nd year)
Last season: 1-9; lost to South Decatur 57-34 in Class A sectional opener
Key returnees: RB/LB Bryce Burton, WR/DB Braxton Burton, WR/DB Hunter Dean, OL/DL Ethan Armel and OL/DL Jordan Myers, seniors; QB Tyson Sackman and WR Dakota Balthazor, juniors; WR/LB Austin Streeval, OL/LB Corbin Burton, OL Zach Clarkson and OL Wyatt Williams, sophomores
Top newcomers: OL/DL Zach Giles, senior; WR/DB Darius Bennett, junior; WR/DB Preston Smith, sophomore; DB Riley Parmenter, freshman
Outlook: Enthusiasm is higher than it’s been in a while in Edinburgh, where 29 players are out for the team — including 15 who didn’t play last fall. One of those is Bryce Burton, who will carry much of the load on the ground. Sackman has a year of experience under his belt and should be much more solid. Scoring points shouldn’t be a major problem for the Lancers.
Winning games, though, will require major improvement on defense. The additional depth should help on that front, from a stamina standpoint if nothing else.
Jason Burton believes the Lancers “are much, much further ahead of where we were last year,” and he also notes a change in attitude across the board.
“Some groups in the past, they were kind of content,” the coach said. “They were okay with competing. The kids this year, they want to win. They’ve had success in other sports, and they want to see success here.”
Notable: Sackman’s 1,365 yards passing last season were more than Edinburgh had totaled in 2015 and 2016 combined.
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