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  Lewistown Returns Seven All-Conference Selections and Two All-Staters

  It's a position that coaches love, entering a new season. Lewistown is coming off a (7-3) campaign, and a berth in the IHSA Class 1A playoffs. Even better, the team returns 10 of 11 starters on each side of the football. "We are very excited about the 2010 Lewistown football team. Team speed and strength is very good, but intelligencde is the key," head coach Darren Winkler says.

  In all, seven players earned eight all-conference nods in the final year of the West Prairie Trail Conference, including six first-teamers. Two of those players earned honorable mention All-State. Darth Winkler (6'1" 215 Sr. OG) and Zack Rilea (6'3" 225 Sr. WR/DE) earned all-state honors in Class 1A. Rilea caught 38 passes for 596 yards and 6 touchdowns.

  Matt Sepich (5'10" 160 Sr. QB) returns to lead the offense. Last season, he completed 80/157 passes for 1,136 yards and 13 touchdowns, and earned first team all-conference. Another first-teamer is Zach Duncan (6'0" 175 Sr. RB), who rushed for 1,200 yards on 179 carries and 14 touchdowns. Austin Howerter (5'9" 160 Sr.) and Kody Gravitt (5'7" 195 Jr.) are also returning starters in the backfield. Gage Beekman (6'1" 170 Jr.) is back at Wide Receiver.

  Joining Winkler up front on the offensive line is 2nd team all-conference Tackle, C.J. Goddard (6'2" 220 Sr.), along with returning starters Chris Henzler (6'2" 200 Sr. C), and Kyle Orwig (5'10" 180 Sr.).

  Kyle Orwig is back on the defensive line, where he earned first team all-conference last season, along with second team all-conference defensive tackle, Jeramy Sheets (5'10" 185 Sr.). C.J. Goddard was a two-way all-conference pick, also earning the award on defense, at Linebacker. Other returning defensive starters are; Darth Winkler at Middle Linebacker, Zack Rilea at Defensive End, Chris Henzler at Defensive Tackle, Zach Duncan at Outside Linebacker, Kody Gravitt at Defensive Tackle, Tyler Telander (5'11" 170 Sr.) at Outside Linebacker, Austin Howerter at Defensive Back, and Gage Beekman at Free Safety.

  The Indians defense gave up just 14.3 points/game, including three shutouts (Elmwood/Brimfield, Abingdon, Peoria Heights). On offense, Lewistown scored nearly 29 points/game, posting 30+ points in five of their ten games.

  Newcomers this season will be; Brodie Welker (6'3" 210 Jr. TE/MLB) and Cody Johnson (5'10" 175 Jr. RB/LB).

  "Along with a very high level of varsity experience, we look for our senior group to be fantastic leaders throughout the season." The new season will be a new look, of sorts, for the Indians' conference. Lewistown will compete in the "new" Prairieland Conference. The Prairieland Conference has stayed in existence, however teams that were members of the league moved into the West Prairie Trail Conference for football only in 2006. "With the dissolving of the West Prairie Trail, the Prairieland Conference has made its return with two divisions. Our division is up in the air...could go to anyone," Winkler said. The two divisions will be the Black and Blue division. The Indians will compete in the Black division with Abingdon, South Fulton, B-PC/A, North Fulton, and Peoria Heights.

  Darren Winkler has coached the Indians the past 10 seasons, compiling a (62-39) record. He was also an assistant at Lewistown for 10 years. He has guided the team to the playoffs in eight of his ten seasons as head coach. Winkler played Defensive Tackle at Millikin University from 1986 to 1990. His son is Darth Winkler (OG/MLB), the senior all-conference performer.

  Assistant coaches at Lewistown are; Greg Bennett, Mike Spratt, Bill Carl, Ed Wilcox, Cory Row, Will Hamm, Jake Green, and James Hagaman.