INDIAN RIVER – Everybody knows about the Inland Lakes football stars.
Guys like Aidan Fenstermaker , Mitch Crawford , Jack Wilson and Andre Bradford have all been key leaders in the program in recent years – and it’s resulted in great success.
But someday, those players won’t be there, and a new cast will have to step up and move the program forward.
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Over the last few weeks, the Inland Lakes football youth movement has started to show its face as several underclassmen have delivered in victories.
“I think what we see is a lot of kids that get to find some time early in their high school career and really do focus on the learning, and as soon as they’re focused, their physical abilities start to catch up,” Inland Lakes coach Travis Meyer said. “You see it all kind of click, and we get to see that out of a lot of sophomores and juniors in big moments sometimes.”
On Friday, you could point out several young Bulldogs who made an impact. Look no further than the relentless play of sophomore defensive end Alyx Willis, who terrorized Rogers City all night during a 54-16 Homecoming victory.
Those watching were in great awe of Willis, who’s developed into one of the most impactful Bulldogs in a short time span. Mainly, it was his coach delivering praise, along with a notable Inland Lakes superstar.
“He's so fast off the line sometimes that he’s affecting the play as the quarterback is catching the ball,” Meyer said. “He’s not necessarily at the mesh point or anything, but he’s already making the quarterback move his feet before he’s got the ball in his hands, and he’s aggressive and he’s got a high motor.”
“Alyx is an animal – he's an absolute best,” senior Aidan Fenstermaker echoed. “He’s a dog.”
As good as Willis has been so far, he's not alone. Joining Willis on the youth supporting cast are sophomores Landon Fenstermaker, Damien Bradford, Landen Perkins, Matthew Crawford and others who have made a huge impression.
Just last week, Landon Fenstermaker and Bradford were two of the Bulldogs’ top defenders in a hard-fought win at Ishpeming. With help from the upperclassmen leaders, it’s allowed the young ‘Dogs to thrive quickly.
“You just want to do your job; you don’t want to mess up. Just go out here, do your job,” Landon Fenstermaker said. “It’s pretty cool to see the older guys do their thing and learn from them. We really look up to a lot of them, like Aidan (Fenstermaker), Jack (Wilson), Chris (Foldenauer), the (offensive) line.”
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Aidan Fenstermaker pointed out what really stands out about the underclassmen who are doing their part every week.
“Their ability to be smart on the field and just be so careless – they will hit with zero care about their own body, but they do it so smart to where it’s really good,” Fenstermaker said. "They know they belong on a varsity field.”
When those upperclassmen are gone, it’ll be up to these current young I-L players to take the torch. Those above them believe they’re more than capable of sustaining the success that the program has had in the last half-decade.
“These kids have a lot of potential,” Inland Lakes senior offensive lineman Jack Wilson said. "All those kids go out there and put in the work, and it shows on the field.”
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com . Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: 'They know they belong on a varsity field': Inland Lakes football youngsters making impact
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