By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

STEVENS POINT – It is year two of the Ryan Eigenberger era for the SPASH football program, and players and coaches are ready to learn and grow from last season. 

The Panthers finished with a 3-7 (2-5) record in 2022, Eigenberger’s first year as the head man.

With obvious growing pains, Eigenberger says that everyone is prepared more than ever, both physically and mentally. 

That growth starts with discipline. SPASH struggled with offensive penalties last season, especially once it got close or into the red zone.

“Yeah, for sure,” Eigenberger said when asked if penalties will be an improvement this year when playing up-tempo. “Tempo is just such a great weapon that we like to use. We found last year, too, we did find success with it. I think we’d catch teams early with it. We definitely want to be aggressive still. We’re never going to be a team that’s going to sit back.”

Junior Grant Chandonais was under center for SPASH last year, throwing 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. 

His development on and off the field isn’t unnoticed by the coaching staff.

“I think for Grant, the biggest thing of development is, I mean he put a lot of work in throwing, he put a lot of work in getting stronger, but he’s a great leader,” Eigenberger explained. “I think that’s his biggest growth. Quarterback isn’t just I’m going to catch a ball and throw a pass. It’s about leading the team.”

On the other side of the ball, a defensive unit that gave up an average of around 30 points per game in 2022 wants to be more physical and disciplined this season.

The Panthers lost a few linebackers and some players in the secondary.

Eigenberger highlighted that his junior class is up for the challenge. 

“We had a really good JV group for defense. Our junior class they love playing defense,” he stated. “Having them flying around on the ball and, you know, being able to make some plays. Because that’s really what we have, we have guys who are playmakers, who are aggressive.”

The first real-game action for SPASH is a scrimmage at De Pere on Thursday, Aug. 10.  

SPASH’s first regular season game is Friday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. vs. Mukwonago at Goerke Park in Stevens Point.