You’ll have to look high and far to find a high school football team that is returning all its starters from last year — unless you live in Markesan, WI, of course.
After a pair of down seasons, the Markesan Hornets find themselves in prime position to make a leap in their conference standings and into the playoff picture.
“We are way ahead of schedule this year,” head coach John Dunlavy said. “We [have] seniors who are doing a lot of teaching and coaching…just because they have such a good grasp on what we want them to do.”
2024 Season Recap
The Hornets recorded a 3-6 record in 2024, but they started their campaign out with plenty of promise. Eclipsing their 2023 win total (1) in the first three weeks, Dunlavy’s squad alternated wins and losses through five weeks to start the season 3-2.
The youthful Hornets did run out of gas towards the end, falling in their final four matchups.
Markesan made used a punishing run-game to etch out their identity, keeping the ball on the ground on more than 85% of the plays. Quarterback turned fullback Treston Eckstein and running back Aiden Goehring accounted for 1,285 of the team’s 1,890 rushing yards, and they were a huge reason for the team’s 4.7 yard per carry average.
On defense, eight different players recorded at least half a sack. Defensive back Austin Moderow, who has graduated, accounted for five of the team’s eight defensive turnovers.
Everybody’s Back!
Markesan fans who go to a game this year won’t have to worry much about learning new names; everyone is back.
Coach Dunlavy said the playbook knowledge is evident across the board.
“They’re almost at that mastery level,” Dunlavy said. “It’s a lot of fun to coach when you get groups like this.”
Grayden Vredeveld will be taking over the reigns as QB1 in an offense that could see a little more of the pass in 2025, but even he is another returning starter.
Climbing The Eastern Suburban
Dunlavy’s squad will be aiming for their first above-.500 season since 2022, when the program posted an incredible 8-2 record with a 6-1 showing in conference.
Last season, the Hornets went 2-5 in Eastern Suburban play; this included a 21-7 triumph over Deerfield and a 26-22 win over Fall River/Rio.
Even when they fell 41-21 to Marshall, that game marked the third in four tries that Markesan posted 20 or more points. This year, the conference could look much different.
“This year, I feel like [the conference] is wide open,” Dunlavy said.
Wire-to-wire offensive production will be key in Markesan’s pursuit to return to the WIAA bracket, as they were held scoreless in two of the final four games.
Having a whole crew that knows Dunlavy’s playbook could go a long way in accomplishing that as well as stacking up more wins.
Watch Markesan on Daily Dodge TV
Daily Dodge TV will air Markesan’s Sept. 26 showdown with Poynette.
The full interview with coach Dunlavy is available below.
