3 things to know about Poynette football before the 2024 season (2024)

Conference realignment has moved Poynette into its third conference in six years.

The Pumas move into the Eastern Suburban Conference and joins area teams in Pardeeville and Fall River/Rio as challengers to Marshall, which has won four straight ESC championships. Poynette spent the past four seasons in the South Central Conference and was in the Capitol North Conference before that.

Poynette coach Greg Kallungi said while he doesn't know what to expect from these unfamiliar opponents, the Pumas’ identity remains the same.

“Offensively we want to create that identity of running the ball and I feel like we have a good group in the backfield to do that,” Kallungi said.

The Pumas hope this conference change also brings them newfound success. Poynette is seeking its first winning season and playoff appearance since 2021.

“We made the playoffs our freshman year so the biggest goal for senior year is making playoffs and ending the drought,” senior wide receiver/defensive back Julian Sanger said.

Poynette has all-conference linemen to replace

Kallungi said Poynette's No. 1 goal is controlling the line of scrimmage.

The Pumas must do that without Jackson Geitner and Luke Romack, who were first team all-conference linemen last year.

“With them gone we have some holes on the offensive and defensive lines, so those starting competitions are wide open,” Kallungi said.

Seniors Hunter Webster and Ashton Nindorf become the dominant forces on Poynette's offensive and defensive lines.

“They got valuable experience last year which certainly is going to help them,” Kallungi said.

The 6-foot-2, 190 pound Nindorf had a team-high 4 sacks and 4 tackles for loss last season, according to WisSports. Meanwhile, Webster had 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss and 24 total tackles last year.

Poynette's offense seeks balance

Quarterbacks and running backs were steadily working on Poynette's option attack during the first day of practice Aug. 6. That included pitches and perfecting handoffs on read-option plays to prevent any fumbles.

Vance Hathaway, the team’s leading rusher, returns after tallying 413 rushing yards, 273 receiving yards and three total touchdowns a year ago, according to WisSports.

Joining Hathaway in the backfield is Carter Petersen, who played just one game last season before suffering a season-ending ACL injury.

“Carter has done a great job rehabbing from surgery and has gotten himself ready to play this year,” Kallungi said. “He’s been great all summer with his leadership and we’re excited about what he can do during a healthy season.”

Senior quarterback Ashton Meister is the primary benefactor of this potentially potent rushing attack. The Pumas will look for openings in the play-action passing game with their top 4 receivers returning.

Senior Owen Breuch led the receiving corps with 169 receiving yards, while senior Bryce Frey had a team-high three touchdown receptions.

“Ashton is a great quarterback that I can always depend on to get me the ball,” Sanger said.

Sanger is amongst a group of receivers fighting for starting spots as “nobody is handed a position,” Kallungi said. The receivers worked on post and corner routes during practice.

Meister held offseason workouts this summer with all the receivers to elevate their on field relationship.

“The goal is to understand what type of passes they can handle and what they’re best at on the field,” Meister said. “We’ve shown the younger guys our new routes, too, because that transition to high school football isn’t easy and we want them to excel.”

Poynette's lockdown secondary its greatest strength

Senior Chayse LaSarge, junior Mason Freimuth and Sanger headline a secondary that’s Poynette’s strongest position group.

Sanger led the team with two interceptions, while LaSarge had a team-high two forced fumbles. Freimuth was the team leader with seven pass deflections last season, according to WisSports.

The experienced secondary guides a young Pumas’ defense that seeks to create more turnovers. Poynette forced just 10 turnovers in nine games last season.

“We know we’re going to see teams that love throwing the ball and we’re confident in the guys in the secondary,” Kallungi said.