Countdown to kickoff: Mustangs ready to tackle challenging schedule, seek return to playoffs

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MENDON, Ill. — An early-season gauntlet once again awaits the Unity-Payson football team.

The Mustangs are scheduled to face three playoff teams from a year ago — Winchester West Central, Greenfield-Northwestern and Camp Point Central — during the first four weeks of the season.

And just not any playoff teams. Those three opponents combined to go 32-5 in 2023, and Greenfield-Northwestern reached the Class 1A semifinals, losing to Camp Point Central, which went on to win the state championship.

Easing into the season will not be an option. The tests come early and often.

“If we want to go places in the postseason, we have to beat teams like that,” Unity-Payson coach Matt Woodworth said. “If we can get through that front stretch 2-2 or 3-1, that really sets us up to make a run to get to the playoffs and get the best seed we can, if and when we get there.”

The Mustangs lost to all three teams last season to fall to 1-3 before reeling off five consecutive victories to earn their fourth playoff berth since 2019. Like the other postseason appearances, though, their season ended with a first-round road defeat, this time to then-undefeated Bloomington Central Catholic.

“We kept stressing to the kids, ‘Don’t give up. Trust the process. We believe in you so you need to believe in yourselves,’” Woodworth said. “They never gave up and worked through it to get the best ending you could have hoped for.”

Unity-Payson graduated nine seasons of starting experience along the offensive and defensive lines in Ethan Voss, Brady Muegge and Cage Thompson, along with versatile playmaker Cody Shaffer. Those losses will be felt.

Yet, Woodworth believes the return of junior quarterback Sawyer Allen and a host of skill position players give the Mustangs the offensive firepower to contend in the Western Illinois Valley Conference North, a division Central has dominated for more than a decade.

“Even though we lost kids on the line, we have a lot more experience returning,” the coach said. “I think we’re better prepared. The kids know what to expect. We’re not experimenting as much as we were last year.”

‘I’m not going into it new’

Despite some early growing pains after beating out Connor Howell for the starting job in the preseason, Allen threw for 1,169 yards and 13 touchdowns and led the team in rushing with 497 yards and 12 scores as a sophomore despite not taking an offensive snap in the Central game after ripping off a fingernail on his throwing hand on the first defensive play.

At 6-foot and 200 pounds, Allen is a big-bodied player who can punish defenders when he runs or can throw to open windows and let receivers break to the ball. Once the offense began to click, Unity-Payson averaged 42 points per game over its final five regular season contests.

Allen sees no reason why that cannot carry over to this season.

“I already feel more comfortable in the pocket,” he said. “I’m not going into it new. I know how to prepare for it. People are expecting something out of me this year, and I’m ready for the challenge.”

Allen will have a versatile array of weapons to utilize.

Howell, a senior, and junior Austin Janssen return in the backfield. They combined for more than 500 rushing yards and six scores last season. Junior Justin Cramm will be among several in the running back rotation.

Johnny Keefe, who emerged as a junior to finish with 26 receptions for 432 yards and three TDs, headlines the receiving corps. He also can play out of the backfield.

“He’s more of a glider,” Woodworth said of Keefe “It doesn’t look like he is moving as fast as he is. He can make a lot of good plays happen.”

Skylor Goudschaal is another experienced pass catcher. Woodworth said Kendall Knox and Blake Arnsman are tall, long-framed receivers who run good routes. Cole Wray and Noah Voss will also contribute offensively as the coaching staff rotates personnel to keep players fresh.

“We want to get all the players involved, use everybody,” Allen said. “We want to get in there and be able to move the ball on offense and put points on the board.”

Senior returnee Nick Boone will anchor the rebuilt offensive line. Junior Brody Dahmm is among those vying for starting roles as Woodworth searches to “find our best five to put out there.”

“We have a nice mix of size, speed and quickness that I think will make us tough to defend,” the coach said. “At the same time, I don’t care how good the skill positions are, you still have to block better than the other team, tackle better than the other team and keep turnovers to a minimum.”

‘Making the playoffs is always goal No. 1’

Howell, a linebacker, and Boone, a lineman, are the top returnees on a defensive unit that yielded 135 points the first four weeks last season and just 50 the final five games of the regular season.

“Connor Howell was the heart of the defense last year. He made a lot of plays by filling holes and taking on lead blockers to allow teammates to make plays,” Woodworth said. “Nick Boone is strong, explosive and quick. He gives teams fits.

“It took us a few weeks for everybody to get comfortable in their roles (on defense). And it took us, as a coaching staff, a while to learn what worked.”

Clearly, a better start to this season could propel the Mustangs past the six-victory mark, and with that hopes of a higher playoff seed and possible home game.

“Making the playoffs is always goal No. 1,” Woodworth said. “We have gotten to the point where we have made it the last three years — four if you take out the covid year. We stress that as the standard.

“Now we want to get those seven-, eight-, nine-win seasons where we can start hosting games and make a deep run. We need to make sure we don’t have an off night and keep grinding.”