By David Rice
JTV Sports
(August 15, 2023 2:00 PM ET) Coach Joe Niehaus and his team finished 3-6 last year (most wins in 11 years) but felt they could’ve finished 6-3.
“We lost some close games late, and a couple of them we flat out just didn’t show up,” said Niehaus. He is entering his third season at the helm for EJ, and is a former assistant coach and player from Grass Lake under Randy Cole.
East Jackson returns six starters on offense and four on defense coming into the 2023 campaign with a total of 48 within the program.
Some of those returning players include Austin Tingley (QB), Caleb Weaver (RB/LB), Amarr Hunter (WR), and Owen Swetland (OL/DL).
Newcomers expected to make an impact include Nate Ratliff (OL/DL), D’Angelo Alexander (WR/LB), and Amaree Padgett (RB/DB).
RB/LB Caleb Weaver is also looking to break records in 2023 including the season and career rushing yards record, along with the all-purpose yard record as well.
Linebacker depth will help the Trojans on the defensive side of the ball. Brett Hudson is entering his ninth season as the defensive coordinator and has three of four starting linebackers as seniors.
Some of the games they have circled on the schedule include the Leoni Lantern game versus Michigan Center, along with Manchester, and Niehaus’ alma matter: Grass Lake.
They play against two of the four new cascades schools in 2023 and start out with a matchup against Lutheran in Week 1.
East Jackson Trojans 2023 Football Schedule:
8/25 @ Lutheran Westland
9/1 vs Addison
9/8 @ Homer
9/15 vs Grass Lake
9/22 @ Michigan Center
9/29 vs Manchester
10/6 @ Leslie
10/13 @ Napoleon
10/20 vs Cascades East-West Crossover
