Wolverines realign for 2025

WARRENSBURG | The Warrensburg-Lake George/Bolton Wolverines football players are facing a considerable challenge this season, as nine players on the 2024 team, nearly all of them All-Stars, graduated last June. The Wolverines' 2024 team was undefeated and ranked the No. 1 in the state for Class D when their season was canceled mid-season due to an incident of misconduct by two Lake George students on the team. The season's termination by school district administrators angered the team members, their parents, and fans. The coaching staff was not retained primarily due to a decision by Lake George school district administrators, who this spring chose legendary John Irion as head coach for the 2025 team. The fallout from the misconduct incident and the season cancellation blunted some athletes' enthusiasm for the sport, and as of last week, several 2024 accomplished players have not yet committed to play this season. This situation has thinned the team's roster of 35 players in 2024 to its present lineup of 22, but Irion is still recruiting, he said Sept. 5 in an email Armed with his impressive resume, Irion may overcome the players' and fans' lingering resentment over the season's cancellation and how longtime coach Mike Perrone was bypassed for the 2025 coaching post although his football team had compiled a 29-2 win-loss record between 2022 and 2024 and his 2024 team had competed in the Class D Final Four. Irion was a coach at Queensbury High for 20 years, and during this tenure, he led the football team to a 2013 Class A state championship in 2013 and reached the state finals game three other times. During his 44 years as a coach, he spent years in that role at Granville and South Glens Falls. Irion said the athletes who have committed to this year's Wolverines team were working hard. "I am optimistic because of the great effort they are exhibiting," he said. "We seem to have good chemistry, but we haven't gone against any other team yet." He said he was planning to utilize a double-wing offense, and his players were engaged in strength training to ensure it was effective. Irion used that offensive attack with Queensbury in 2022, and it yielded 3,300 yards of rushing in seven weeks of competition. He said that three senior linemen will be clearing the way for the running backs as they run the double-wing offense: Liam Foy, Dereck Graven and Will Briscoe, noting they are "strength-trained and have years of football experience." Irion said senior Owen Jones will likely fill roles as quarterback, receiver, and defensive back, noting Jones is "athletic and a great route-runner." Senior Lucas French will serve as a running back and linebacker, Irion said, describing him as "a very physical player." Junior Thomas Kohls, a talented kicker, will be handling kickoffs, punts, and field goals when needed. Jace Hubert, a key player on the 2023 and 2024 Bolton-Warrensburg soccer teams that won league championships, will be a running back and linebacker, Irion said. Not competing in any preseason scrimmages, the 2024 Wolverines' first test is their season-opener versus Voorheesville at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 on the Blackbirds' field. Voorheesville's record was 3-6 last fall. lrion said his team has shown dramatic improvement in recent practices. "I believe we will get better substantially as the season progresses," he said. "If we can avoid injuries, we should have a good shot to go .500 or better."

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Wolverines realign for 2025

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