Milwaukee-area high school football top-10 countdown: No. 9 Brookfield Central
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel will be counting down our top-10 greater Milwaukee area football teams entering 2023 with analysis and reporting from practice visits. These stories will be released in a one-per-day countdown leading up to Week 1 of the WIAA high school football season.
No. 9 Brookfield Central
2022 finish: 10-3 (5-2, second place in Greater Metro Conference), lost in WIAA Division 2 Level 4 playoffs to eventual Division 2 state champion Kettle Moraine, 7-0.
Key losses: OL Aaron Effert, OL Joe Staff, QB Drew Edmond, RB Mike Franz, LB Daniel Coffman, LB Ben Otto, DL Anthony Mack
Key returners: DB Gavyn Sell, RB Nick Foster, DL Carter Wellsmith, DB Brady Bluhm
Visit takeaways
Like many opening practices, there was a sense of optimism and confidence for one of the area’s most consistent football programs over the last couple of decades. It’s a time for teaching and questions being answered and the Lancers aren’t exempt from that with some new faces in new roles. It'll be a tall mountain to climb to reach Madison for the first time since back-to-back trips in 2017 and 2018, but the Lancers appear up to the challenges they'll face throughout this season.
One of the big takeaways from visiting Brookfield Central was the return of defensive back Gavyn Sell. The senior was a first-team All-GMC performer last season with three picks and two defensive scores for the 10-win Lancers, who finished a game behind champion Sussex Hamilton for the title. He's back as one of the leaders of this year's bunch and is rearing to get the program back on the cusp of another state trip. "Last year, with all of the achievements we had, it showed how fun this sport can really be," Sell said. "We're trying to basically do the same thing we did last season, only with a little bit more success this time ... continuing to play hard, work hard and play aggressive."
Another returner for the Lancers is do-it-all offensive weapon Nick Foster. The versatile Foster had 94 total touches as a junior with 21 of those catches for 214 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 411 yards and five scores on the ground. With quarterback Drew Edmond and all-conference running back Mike Franz both gone, it's Foster's time to step into a vital role for the five-time state title game finalists. "I love to train guys, work with guys and do whatever I can to help guys," Foster said. "I always try to lead by example and show them the right way."
Biggest question mark
How does a program replace four all-conference offensive linemen and their starting backfield?
It's no secret what the Lancers want to do. They want to control the clock on the ground offensively. As a unit, the Lancers ran for 3,536 yards and 42 total touchdowns last season. Out of those totals, 2,064 yards and 25 of those 42 touchdowns came from two guys. Franz was one of the league's best backs, while Edmond gutted his way to a 1,200 -yard campaign on the ground as the signal-caller with 15 scores. Aaron Effert and Joe Staff were first-time All-GMC linemen, while Andy Karampestos and Connor Renner took two of the four slots on the second team. That's a boatload of production and talent to replace. Foster is the only one of the four top ball-carriers last season to return this year, but junior Jack Lortscher (58 carries, 340 yards and three touchdowns) should help in that department.
They said it
"This is kind of a big shot, but ... I think we can win the conference. I really think we can. It's gonna come down to who wants it more. I really think this team has that mindset of, 'We're gonna go out and win every game.'" — defensive end Carter Wellsmith
"The conference has had to replace a lot. Only about 30 percent of all-conference kids are coming back across the board. My big message to the guys is — you hate to be cliché because kids can see through it — but it's really gonna be who the best team is. You're going to have to be the best collection of kids every week. The coaches in this conference are really, really good. To think we're doing something crazier than them is not realistic, so now, it's who is going to have those little edges?" — head coach Joel Nellis
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee-area HS football top-10 countdown: No. 9 Brookfield Central
