Homer Looks to Get Back to Playoff Contenders

Key participants for the 2024 Homer High School varsity football team include, from left, Zach Dutton, Gavin Lewallen, Zak Smith, Dillon Stemaly, Caidan Kissinger, and Coach Nic Cass.

Jeff Steers | JTV Sports

Wednesday August 21st

(8-21-2024, 12:00PM): The 2023 record of 0-9 did not sit well with players from the Homer High School varsity football team.

After having made the Michigan High School Athletic Association nine of the last 10 years, posting a goose egg – the first in school history – really stung.

Second-year Homer Coach Nic Cass said the lack of discipline led to the poor season.

“We have to focus on discipline this season,” Cass said during JTV Media Days. “We had too many self-inflicted penalties and selfish acts that cost us in big moments last year.”

The Trojans have chosen the expression AED – Attitude, Effort, and Discipline – for 2024.

“We have a handful of senior – four who have played since junior high – and we are looking for them to embrace the leadership role,” Cass said.

Cass will switch to the offensive coordinator and Cohen Sangster will be the defensive coordinator for Homer. The Trojans gave up nearly 37 points per game last year while averaging only 13 points per game on the offensive side of the football.

Key players for the Trojans this season are seniors Caidan Kissinger (TE/LB), Zak Smith (OL/DL), Zach Dutton (RB/LB), and Dillon Stemaly (OL/DL).

Cass said Kissinger is “capable of being one of our go to guys” this season.

“We need to put 2023 in the past and move on,” Kissinger said at media day. “Everybody is working as a team this season.”

He calls Smith a player who showed “good signs of vocal leadership” in 2023.

Others expected to make contributions in 2024 are sophomores Jayden Farnham (QB/DB) and Xander Dubois (RB/WR/S).

Juniors Gavin Lewallen (RB/WR/LB), Harry Minix (WR/S), and Riley Cline (RB/LB) will also play key roles for the Trojans.

The Trojans are expected to play a 3-4 defense with multiple coverages in the secondary.

Homer High School Football Schedule 2024:

Aug. 29 Grass Lake at Homer 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 Homer at Leslie 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 Manchester at Homer 7 p.m.

Sept. 20 Vandercook Lake at Homer 7 p.m.