Norse look to continue building physical team

In Tyler Bortle’s first season leading the Whitehall football team, it established itself as a physical team. If they continue down that path, Bortle thinks the wins will start coming.

“It really comes down to the team growing as a whole,” Bortle said. “If we can develop the players and us as coaches, I believe we can have even more success out on the field.” 

Whitehall won two of its final three games last year to finish 2-7 after a tough opening slate, including games against the three best teams in the Dairyland Conference. The Norse could’ve had two more wins, but their game against Colfax was cancelled right after halftime as Whitehall was driving to potentially tie the game. A crucial mistake cost them late against Arcadia.

Those are part of the growing pains as Bortle took over a program in transition. The Norse had graduated a large senior class the year before and didn’t have many experienced players returning. Bortle installed a new offense that relies on misdirection and power running and saw some success as Whitehall out-rushed its opponent in nearly every game.

“Running the ball is our number one goal and it’s a thing of beauty to see everyone working together,” Bortle said. 

While the team lost its top two rushers in quarterback Devon McCune and running back Eric Kleinhans to graduation, it is returning four starting offensive linemen, a major plus for Bortle and the scheme he wants to run.

In addition to a smaller senior class last year, the team didn’t have many juniors. It will have just one senior this year, Brock Sluga, who is the team’s leading returning rusher and tackler. 

“He is a workhorse and is the guy I’m leaning on heavily to lead this young team in all phases,” Bortle said. 

In addition to graduation, the team lost some younger players who moved out of the district. However, the team returns plenty of talent. It had to rely on a number of sophomores last year and likely will again. The team has returning size in players like Braxton Smith (listed at 282 pounds), Ben Lisowski (340) and Mason Bautch (262). 

Sluga returns to the backfield along with other skill position players like Mason Pientok and CJ Johnston, two players who averaged more than four yards per carry last season. Pientok was the team’s leading receiver, catching four passes for 91 yards. 

Bortle took over the job, essentially building a program from scratch and has already seen the benefit of being in his second season. He said the experience has helped the team dive deeper into its scheme and the drills it runs in practice. 

“The players are all aware of how we want things done for the team,” Bortle said. “Practice is already clocking and older players are helping the young ones develop.”

Whitehall’s season begins with a game at Colfax next Friday. The following week, they’ll host Arcadia before opening Dairyland Conference play with a home game against Augusta on Sept. 1.