DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
As cruel or unfair it sounds, the South Adams Starfires have been judged by their performances against rival Adams Central over the past two seasons. Going 18-6 since their loss in the 2020 1A State Championship Game, coach Grant Moser’s team has incurred four of those six losses against the Jets.
How will the Stars make up ground on their in-county rivals? Coach Moser plans to do it with Owen Wanner, whom he calls “one of the best QBs in northeast Indiana.”
“We lose some very big playmakers,” says Moser, “but return a lot of our line and we have Owen. We have put a large focus on the basic fundamentals of blocking and tackling. We have seven straight 7-plus win seasons and want to keep that run going. I am excited for this season.”
The Stars will begin the season with a series of road games as the stadium in Berne transitions from grass to a turf surface. That means bus rides to Marion in Week One to take on Tipton at IWU and to Monroe in Week Two to play Bellmont.
If the Braves can navigate those two games, they will certainly be tested in Weeks Three and Four. Bluffton has developed as a real rival for the Stars and the Heritage Patriots handed South Adams a stunning loss last season.
One thing the team will have to do if it is to improve in 2023 is find a way to replace the running game of Maverick Summersett, who graduated this spring. Moser lists Colton Bollenbacher as his top running back with Conner Fear the backup.
The Starfires also have an inexperienced group of targets for Wanner and the Stars’ explosive passing game. Isaac Dee will be the leader of that group, but expect catches from guys like Caiden Neuenschwander and freshman Wes Summersett, who looks like anything but a freshman in pads at 6′ 2″ and 180 pounds.
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