2016 High School Football Preview: Janesville

Janesville hopes to continue building on the success it's enjoyed the past four years under head coach Dale Eastman. The Wildcats enter the 2016 season as the defending champions of 8-player, District 3.

2016 SEASON PROSPECTUS: JANESVILLE WILDCATS

2015 RECORD: 9-1 Overall / 8-0 District
2015 PLAYOFFS: 8-Player 2nd-Round

HEAD COACH: Dale Eastman
School Record (Years): 34-7 (4)
Career Record (Years): 34-7 (4)

2015 STARTERS RETURNING (1):
Kevin Hahn, RB/LB - 72 carries, 455 yards / 61 tackles

2015 LETTERWINNERS RETURNING (6):
Kevin Hahn, RB/LB
Dalton Woodyard, RB/LB
Peyton Meyer, QB/S
Spencer Hoff, WR/LB
Dawson Charley, RB/LB
Keigan Feldmann, WR

KEY LOSSES FROM 2015 SEASON (9):
Noah Dodd, QB - 94 completions, 158 attempts, 2182 yards, 34 TDs
Jack Thode, WR - 39 catches, 927 yards, 15 TDs
Jacob Ruth, DE/G - 63.5 tackles
Conner Hinckle, DE/C - 46 tackles
Spencer Snodgrass, NG/G - 36.5 tackles
Nick Nelson, RB - 102 carries, 1153 yards, 17 TDs / 10 catches, 333 yards, 4 TDs
Josiah Hovenga, WR/LB - 27 catches, 656 yards, 13 TDs / 73 tackles
Riley Liekweg, LB 42 tackles
Brady Smith, LB - 42.5 tackles

HOW COACH EASTMAN VIEWS UPCOMING SEASON

Team Strength Entering 2016:
"We have a hard-working group of kids who have been backups the past couple of years and are eager to get their names in the paper. They want to continue to make Janesville a team that others want to beat."

Concerns Heading Into 2016:
"We have one player with a lot of varsity experience. The team is young when it comes to playing time at the varsity level and getting them up to speed with the speed of the game."

Offensive Focus:
"We will continue to do what we have done in the past by putting pressure on defenses with both the run and pass."

Defensive Focus:
"We are trying different things, and trying to see what will work best for our group of kids."

District Outlook:
"Turkey Valley returns a lot off of a playoff squad last fall. Riceville and Northwood-Kensett also have good squads and will be making a run at the district title."

Expectations For 2016 Season:
"We work hard and with hard work we have had success. We continue to work hard everyday and I'm excited to see where this team can go. We will get better every week and hope to continue with the winning ways that we have experienced over the past couple seasons. A lot will depend on how fast we grow up-front and adapt to playing varsity football."