Lakota's Jalen Wagner takes over at quarterback, relieves pressure on CJ Biddle

Lakota coach Mike Lento put the entire meal on CJ Biddle's plate as a junior.

All three phases. Not a quarterback, Biddle was thrust behind center because of an injury, led the team in tackles at safety and returned kicks.

Biddle won't have to play quarterback this season as sophomore Jalen Wagner takes over. Wagner injured his knee last season.

"This year is different," Biddle said. "He's a quarterback. The last couple years we've been searching, we had some injuries, I had to fill in. He can sling the ball. We've been missing that, the quarterback mostly running with me back there.

"He can throw the ball, that's for sure. He's a small guy, 5-5. He can move around well. He can put it right where it needs to be."

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Biddle won't take many breaks this season, but he's likely to have more opportunities to recharge.

"It's kind of what I started last year," Biddle said. "Grant Bomer got hurt. It shocked me my coaches trusted me to put me in all those spots. They needed somebody, I'd rather it was me. I'll give my all, and I know that for a fact.

"Some games got long, and I was tired, but I didn't worry about that. Football is fun. Sometimes you get mad when you're taken out, that didn't happen for me."

Unfamiliar with the menu, Biddle didn't have to much to chew. He rushed for 799 yards and seven touchdowns on 128 tries.

He completed 62 of 128 passes for 688 and five scores. He was the punter.

Smaller bites might lead to mouthwatering execution.

"I wasn't a quarterback," he said. "Honestly, I'm glad with more of a role that suits me. We didn't have many wins, it puts it in perspective we didn't have a quarterback, the biggest guy you need. It's good where I'm at to give me the ball.

"This year, other guys can step up. We have a little more depth. You get some big plays out of you [when you're fresh] in that sense."

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Senior Chase Dussel and Avery Shilling are outside receivers. Dussel led the team with 33 catches, including four touchdowns and returned a kickoff for a score.

"Chase was a huge playmaker last year," Biddle said. "He'll have to be that again. The last few years, I don't know where his speed came from, his baseball or whatever. Avery, he's only a sophomore, he's going to have to step up to that real varsity level and be that receiver I know he can be."

Biddle and sophomore Lucas McEwan are slot receivers.

"Graham Harmon, he's a freshman, he's small and fast," Biddle said of another option. "Lucas improved. He went to state in track. He's very fast. Avery is probably our biggest receiver [at 6-4, 175]. He's made some plays in practice and scrimmages.

"He realizes he can be the guy."

Senior Micah Williams is the lead running back. Biddle can carry the ball and bulked up junior Bomer (175 pounds) can play an H-back role in some packages on offense.

"One thing this year, we're moving around," Biddle said. "We're low on numbers. Our guys are agreeable moving here or there. Grant wants to be on the field. That's the way the team is this year, willing, it's about a win on Fridays."

Seniors Drew Matz and Gabe Garlick are tackles, classmate Isaac King is a guard and sophomore Stevie Hornyak center. Junior Paul Williams is a guard and freshman Max Nordhaus swings in.

"Our linemen aren't huge either," Biddle said. "We're using our speed. Short, fast plays, get the ball out. Coach says get the ball to the playmakers and make plays as fast as we can. We're small, the size of the guys, but people will regret overlooking us.

"Our speed will kill."

Garlick and Matz are defensive ends, while Nordhaus and King are tackles on defense. Micah Williams, classmate Zane Frey-Quick, Paul Williams and Harmon are linebackers.

"We have a lot of young guys that have to step up," Biddle said. "We're going in a good direction, team-wise, last year was a tough year. This year, we're a team. We're al working together. Last year is motivation to do good this year."

Dussel, who had three interceptions last season, and McEwan are cornerbacks. Dussel, who had 102 tackles, and Shilling complete the secondary.

"I seen holes and I wasn't afraid to come up and make a hit," Dussel said. "Sit back, let the play develop and hit a hole. It's just what I do, I find the ball and I go to it."

Lakota won two games last season after earning its way into the postseason for the first time in program history with seven wins the year before.

"I'm giving it everything I've got, it's my last chance out on that field," Biddle said. "It hits you hard. We'll give it everything and the young guys understand that because they want the young guys to do that behind them.

"We're unified. I'd compare it to sophomore year, we're flying around and working hard. Last year was tough. It's already starting to be fun for us. That's how it felt when I was a sophomore."

mhorn@gannett.com

419-307-4892

Twitter: @MatthewHornNH

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Lakota High School football: Jalen Wagner takes over for Biddle at QB