top three: returning quarterbacks
- Jamie Gustafson
- Aug 1, 2019
- 2 min read
Dylan Soule, Sr., Osceola-High Plains
In their first season as a co-oped program, the Osceola-High Plains Stormdogs made the Class D-1 playoffs and shocked many across the state when they knocked off the Bruning-Davenport/Shickley Eagles 34-22 on the road. That snapped a 21-game winning streak for the Eagles.
Osceola-High Plains’ year came to an end the following week in a loss to Lutheran High Northeast, but a 5-5 season with a huge upset road win in the playoffs was a heck of an opening year for the Stormdogs. And much of the talent on that squad returns in 2019.
Osceola-High Plains has one of, if not the best backfields in all of Eight Man football in quarterback Dylan Soule and Keaton Van Housen, a couple of impressive alpha-dog athletes that are entering their senior seasons.
At 6 feet and 190 pounds, Soule is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks returning in the YNT area. In a run-heavy offense, Soule accounted for a team-high 1,897 total yards, which was 54 percent of Osceola-High Plains’ total yardage on the season.
If Soule and Van Housen stay healthy, the Osceola-High Plains offense could be a fun one to watch.
“We are looking to take advantage of our speed this season by using multiple formations to get kids out in space,” Osceola-High Plains head coach Greg Wood said. “Dylan will be a big part of the offense. We’ll be running a lot of stuff similar to what we ran before we co-oped with a mix of what we did last year.”
Soule, a multi-sport athlete and consistent state qualifier in wrestling and track, racked up a team-high 31 touchdowns in 2018 while rushing for 1,089 yards and 23 scores, throwing for 808 yards and seven touchdowns and even pulling off a pick-six on defense.
Although the Stormdogs focused on running the ball, Soule will still need to be more efficient in the passing game as he threw nine interceptions as a junior and completed just 31 percent of his throws (34 of 108). Eight of his interceptions came in just two games, however.
It’s easy to see Soule’s impact and athleticism on offense with the ball in his hands, but it’s equally easy to notice it on defense, too.
Soule ranked second on the team in tackles (107), right behind senior-to-be Tanner Kropatsch (122), another important member of the Stormdogs – he’ll anchor the Osceola-High Plains offensive line and help open the holes for Soule and Van Housen to run through.
Soule and the rest of the Stormdogs will have their first official practice on Aug. 12. The regular season begins Aug. 30 on the road at Palmer. Other road games will include Ravenna on Sept. 13; Cross County in Stromsburg on Sept. 27 and East Butler in Brainard on Oct. 18.
Osceola-High Plains will host Fullerton on Sept. 6; Elkhorn Valley on Sept. 20; Exeter-Milligan/Friend on Oct. 4 and Nebraska Lutheran on Oct. 25.
“Dylan has gotten better every year. He’s a very smart kid on and off the field,” Wood said. “He still has room to improve, and he’d be the first to tell you. He’s a kid that puts in a lot of time evaluating himself, as well as the upcoming opponents. He’s a fierce competitor and we’re glad to have him on our side.”
Credit - Steve Marik
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