Knox: Opportunity Knox

Updated: May 9, 2012 9:42AM

Dane Dauner and the Knox High School football team have a number of goals in mind.

Dauner cites one in particular, front and center.

“One of our goals is to earn respect,” the senior wide receiver and defensive back said.

Besides achieving success in the Northern State Conference, Dauner said he and his fellow players want to come together as a team.

“I think we’ve got a good chance to achieve a lot of our goals,” he said.

Dauner tore his anterior cruciate ligament last year during the homecoming game and missed about half of the season. He’s looking to rebound this year, just as Knox is looking to build on its 4-6 record of a year ago.

“It’s been tough,” the 6-foot, 165-pound Dauner said of his extensive rehabilitation. “I feel better and stronger than last year.”

Knox head coach Terry Chestovich cited Dauner’s work ethic as an inspiration to the entire team.

“He’s just a great kid,” Chestovich said of the two-way starter. “He brings a great deal of knowledge offensively and defensively. He’s a big part of our football team on both sides of the ball. He’s a good student.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Dauner said that, “I’m definitely more of the tackling-type of cornerback.”

Offensively, he said he has improved his catching ability, and that route-running is among his biggest strengths.

On both offense and defense, he hopes to use his height to his advantage.

When asked if he hopes to have more passes thrown his way, his easy response is, “Yes, definitely. We’re doing a hurry-up offense this year, and we’ve got a lot of talent at quarterback and receiver.”

Knox struggled to score early in the season, but with Nevin Miller at quarterback, the Class 3A school put more points on the board while winning four out of five games.

Dauner names Miller and linebacker Hunter MacClellan among his closest friends on the team.

Dauner’s future plans include attending IUPUI to study engineering.

Before that, he, his teammates and Chestovich have some business to attend to on the football field.

“He’s all about the team,” Dauner said of Chestovich, who is in his fifth season at Knox. “He wants to build this program.”

And Dauner wants to be a key part of that effort.

“I’ve always led by example,” he said. “But I’ve been more vocal over the past year.”

Coach

Terry Chestovich

Coach’s record

Overall: 22-22 (fifth year)

At school: 22-22 (fifth year)

Last season

Lost 28-13 to Culver Academy in sectional opener

Key returnees

QB Nevin Miller

RB Jacob Fier

RB Garrett Majchrzak

WR/CB Dale Dauner

MLB Hunter MacClellan

Season outlook

Coach Terry Chestovich enters his fifth season with his number of players down slightly — currently at about 42 — but hopes to build on a strong finish and a 10-member senior class.

Nevin Miller leads Knox’s spread attack at quarterback, and Jacob Fier and Garrett Majchrzak head up the ground game.

“We’re still going to be an option team and mix in some pass,” Chestovich said, with two-way starter Dale Dauner among the receiving targets.

Defensively, Knox will rely on its usual 4-3 scheme, led by all-conference middle linebacker Hunter MacClellan. But this season, coach Tom Trapana will run the defense, a change from the previous setup when Chestovich called the defenses.

Class 3A Knox, which competes in the Northern State Conference, lost four straight to start the year, but won four of five before falling to Culver Academy in the postseason. Rival North Judson, the second game on the schedule, is a big one. “They have quite a bit of talent back,” Chestovich said.

Postseason

Class 3A Sectional 17 (Calumet, Culver Academies, Lew Wallace, John Glenn, Gavit, Knox, Mishawaka Marian, South Bend St. Joseph)

Schedule

Aug. 19 Winamac

Aug. 26 North Judson

Sept. 2 at John Glenn

Sept. 9 Jimtown

Sept. 16 at LaVille

Sept. 23 at Culver

Sept. 30 Bremen

Oct. 7 Triton

Oct. 14 at New Prairie

HISTORY LESSON

Season Record

2001 5-6, 4-3

2002 5-6, 3-4

2003 1-9, 1-6

2004 0-10, 0-7

2005 3-7, 3-4

2006 5-5, 4-3

2007 6-5, 3-4

2008 7-5, 3-4

2009 5-6, 4-3

2010 4-6, 4-3

Sectional titles: None

Roster

No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.

1 Jacob Fier 5-8 150 12 RB/DB

2 Nevin Miller 6-0 200 11 QB/LB

3 Garrett Majchrzak 5-9 170 11 RB/LB

6 Dakota Brooke 5-9 150 10 RB/DB

7 Korey Stamper 5-5 155 10 RB/LB

8 Mike Hardel 6-4 170 12 TE/DE

9 Brock Majchrzak 5-8 145 9 QB/LB

12 Anthony Chasse 6-2 180 12 WR/DB

14 Mason Wardlow 5-8 155 11 WR/LB

16 James Decker 6-0 160 10 QB/DB

17 Zach Baros 6-2 150 12 WR/DB

20 Cody Cowger 5-9 170 9 WR/DB

21 Colton Fox 5-8 125 10 WR/DB

23 Jimmy Hudgens 5-11 150 11 WR/DB

24 Angelo Masuka 5-7 160 11 WR/DB

27 Eric Dan 5-7 140 10 RB/DB

31 Jordon Beem 5-10 185 11 FB/LB

33 Hunter McClellan 5-10 180 12 FB/LB

34 Dylan Patrick 5-11 210 9 FB/LB

36 Mario Rodriguez 5-8 155 9 OL/DL

41 Michael Sustaita 5-6 185 10 FB/LB

43 Kyler Murray 5-7 135 9 RB/DB

44 Andy Slates 6-0 175 12 FB/LB

45 Justin Spencer 5-9 140 9 OL/DL

52 Aidas Raudonis 6-3 225 10 OL/DL

53 Chris Weliczko 5-7 210 10 OL/DL

55 Dusty Minix 6-0 245 10 OL/DL

60 Tyler Keeton 6-1 245 11 OL/DL

62 Luis Godinez 5-6 200 9 OL/DL

66 Dylan Short 6-2 210 11 OL/DL

67 Austin Hanson 6-1 240 10 OL/DL

68 Correy Lueth 5-10 210 12 OL/DL

71 Troy White 6-3 265 10 OL/DL

72 Logan Short 6-2 300 12 OL/DL

76 Cody Stacy 5-11 210 10 OL/DL

82 Steven Graman 6-0 155 12 WR/DB

83 Caleb Heineman 5-11 155 11 RB/DB

84 Dane Daumer 6-0 160 12 WR/DB

86 Isaiah Hilt 5-8 135 10 WR/DB

87 Elijah Larsen 5-6 145 9 WR/DB

88 Cody Wielgos 5-11 165 10 TE/LB

© 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.