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2024 REYNOLDS RAIDERS PREVIEW

TRANSFER – There are few certainties in high school football. There is one certainty for the Reynolds Raiders in 2024, however: No player will be out of his pregame routine on Senior Night.

Reynolds has no seniors on its roster this fall as the Raiders look to return to prominence in Class 1A. But, the absence of seniors does not mean that Reynolds lacks experience.

“The junior class was the sophomore class last year when we only had five seniors,” head coach Josh Mull pointed out. “When you look at it that way, there’s a lot of experience coming back.”

Reynolds returns its leading rusher and leading scorer from 2023 as juniors Gabe Minjarez and Xavier Zachrich both return to the offensive backfield. Minjarez ran for 828 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He is expected to again be a featured ball-carrier in 2024.

Zachrich accumulated 69 total points, including 10 touchdowns as a sophomore. He scored rushing, receiving and on a kickoff return in 2023 while playing running back and slotback. He added 317 rushing yards, 16 receptions and 275 receiving yards.

Unlike Minjarez, Zachrich may be at a different position in 2024. Zachrich and sophomore Connor Belback are competing for the starting quarterback post this fall, following the graduation of Gavin Alabran. Belback served as the backup last season and saw reserve duty during his rookie season.

“One of them (Belback) has experience at quarterback while the other (Zachrich) has lots of game experience,” Mull said.

Junior speedster Parker Nay is expected to start in the slot after emerging in 2023 with a dozen catches and 212 rushing yards. Junior Giovanni Guerino will also look to nail down a starting spot in the slot.

Junior Jacob Blackburn, whom Mull described as a “utility guy,” looks to start at wide receiver. He could also move to tight end. Freshman Aiden Resek and converted junior tackle Rocky Floch are also in the mix at tight end. Floch could go back to tackle, depending upon the health of the offensive line.

“We’re playing a little bit with the chess pieces, trying to find the right match,” Mull said. “The biggest key factor for us is that we have 21 guys.”

Junior Maddox Snyder could start at guard or center while sophomore Kristian Mull is also in the mix at center. Sophomores Jack Nugent and Chance Obenrader are competing at guard while junior Casey Resek is a returning starter at tackle.

Defensively, Reynolds will use a 4-3 alignment that can be adjusted to a 4-2-5. Sophomore Trenton Wilson returns at nose tackle to anchor the “even” front. “He’s a big kid who is hard to move,” Josh Mull said of the 300-pound Wilson.

Sophomore Cooper Bonadio will battle for a spot on the interior of the defensive line. Floch, Nugent, Casey Resek and Snyder are competing for time at end and tackle.

Mull describes the linebacking unit as “a big question mark,” with Blackburn, Minjarez, Kristian Mull, Aiden Resek and sophomore Brady Nehlen all contending for starting spots. “We do have a lot of experience but that inexperience in key spots could make us vulnerable there,” Josh Mull said. “It really depends on how well we come together.”

Guerino and Nay are slated to start at cornerback. Zachrich moved from outside linebacker to strong safety while junior Jacob Rust has the inside track to start at free safety.

Zachrich will likely punt. He and Snyder have both kicked during their respective careers. Snyder kicked five extra points and a field goal last year.

Mull understands the challenges for the 2024 Raiders. But the obstacles are not new for the program. “We have some holes to fill, we definitely do,” the 12th-year head coach said. “There’s just not a lot of bodies to solidify depth. But that seems to have been the call of the Reynolds Raiders for the last six years.”