Boot Camp: Pekin hungry after missing 2023 playoffs

PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Pekin football coach Doug Nutter calls this year’s football team one of the strongest he’s coached in his 16 years with the Dragons.

He says they were motivated to get into the weight room after last season ended without a trip to the playoffs. And he’s not alone in that line of thinking.

“It motivated us, something you have in the back of your head every day” said senior lineman Braden Sullivan of Pekin’s 4-5 season a year ago. “You can use it to push yourself as hard as you can every day. It’s helpful to have that constantly.”

Nutter says the Dragons have roughly 130 players in the football program this year and he has seven returning starters on offense, six on defense. Three-year starting lineman Landon Erxleben anchors the Pekin defense.

All-conference lineman Hunter Lamberson may be the biggest the name on the offense. At 6’1”, 305 pounds he’s big enough to get opponent’s attention.

And missing the playoffs for the first time in four seasons was enough to get everyone’s attention.

“That was our talk all offseason,” said Nutter. “We’ve won two conference championships in the last four years and have been in the playoffs three of the last four years. We have high expectations. It’s carried over into the offseason. They have that expectation of making the playoffs this year.”

Pekin opens the season at home Aug. 30 against Rolling Meadows.

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