Bellevue West football looks for deeper Nebraska postseason run in 2015

Video: Junior year
See Bellevue West's Spencer Sidzyik in action last season.

Lighting up a scoreboard has never been an issue for Michael Huffman at Bellevue West. Defensively, however, the Thunderbirds have taken their share of lumps the past two seasons, losing five contests in games in which they scored 27 points or more.

But the return of bigger, stronger and more experienced junior and senior classes, along with a couple of transfers, has Thunderbird nation expecting a much deeper postseason run in 2015.

"We are pretty excited for the upcoming season," Huffman said. "We think we are going to be better. We now have juniors and seniors along our lines. We are tested. The guys have spent a lot of time in the weight room and they're a year older. Our linemen now have more physically mature bodies, and I think they will hold up better against the more powerful teams we will face this year."

Huffman will find out soon enough just how well his Thunderbirds will hold up. Playoff-caliber contests are looming in the first two weeks of the season. Huffman projects Bellevue West's first opponent, Omaha Westside, as Class A's No. 4 team.

Papillion-LaVista South, meanwhile, upended Bellevue West 42-21 in first-round playoff action a year ago. The Titans host the dynamic Bellevue West offense Sept. 4.

"I believe that we have one of the best schedules in the state," returning first team all-state quarterback Jadyn Kowalski said. "And I like that. It's no fun playing in games in which you get pulled right away. Besides, when you play against good teams you find out right away what you've got, and what you have to work on. It makes for great football games."

With another year in the weight room, Huffman said he now has seven linemen ready to go on offense and six on defense.

Senior Spencer Sidzyik (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), an FCS talent, and junior Tyler Ciurej (6-3, 285) return to anchor the defensive line. Liberty North (Mo.) transfer MJ Savea (6-0, 240) is quick and aggressive up front, while junior Malcolm Lee (6-4, 225) is expected to be a dominant run stopper.

A pair of regulars return to Huffman's linebacking corp. Senior Austin Points (5-10, 175) is a solid linebacker that is very sound in scheme and technique. Diego Galvan (5-9, 190), a junior, has an excellent nose for the football and is a violent hitter.

In the secondary, juniors Chris Finn (5-8, 160) and Kevin Ponec (5-9, 180) return to their starting positions of a year ago. Senior Trystn Ducker (5-9, 160) transfers in from Omaha Creighton Prep after starting for the 2014 Class A state runner-up Junior Jays in 2014. Both Finn and Ponec are big hitters, while Ducker, a South Dakota commit, has explosive speed and possesses great coverage skills.

With so much experience returning to his defense, Huffman is switching from his traditional 3-4 defense to a 4-2-5 attacking defense, which should be plenty fun for the Thunderbirds' unit.

"I love the new changes," Sidzyik said. "We are going to be a lot more aggressive this year. We'll be more of an attacking defense and that's going to make us much more effective. We are holding our gaps well.

"We are getting ready for the season. On that first play we're going to have to be ready. Everything comes together after that first hit. It's going to have to. There is no easing into it this season."

Despite the graduation losses of record-setting receiver C.J. Johnson and No. 3 receiver Malik Hluchoweckyj, Huffman is excited about the offense he returns in 2015. Of course, it all starts with Kowalski, who threw the ball for 3,059 yards and 37 touchdowns a year ago.

Kowalski will miss the talents of Johnson, Class A's record holder with 195 career receptions for 3,548 career yards and 44 career touchdowns. Johnson tied another record twice after scoring four times each in wins over Bellevue East and South Sioux City a year ago.

The University of Wyoming receiver also holds five school records. Hluchoweckyj, meanwhile, has opted to play basketball at Bowling Green this winter after capping his prep career with 46 catches for 677 yards and six scores a year ago. Johnson caught 63 Kowalski tosses for 1,214 yards and 20 scores as a senior.

Cade Johnson, Kowalski's No. 2 receiver a year ago, is set to fill his older brother's rather large shoes after he reeled in 36 receptions last fall for 698 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cade Johnson has a knack for bringing down the deep ball and is expected to have great success as both a kick and punt returner.

Huffman is hoping to take advantage of Finn's good hands and speed in the aerial game and hopes Ducker's explosive speed will equate to big numbers there as well. Caleb Goetz (6-0, 175) has plenty of experience in Huffman's spread offense, and he is a sure-handed route runner and a punishing blocker.

Look for the Thunderbirds, who have finished 6-4 in each of the last two seasons, to be more balanced this year with the return of junior running back Jaylin Bradley (6-0, 185), who ran for 671 violent yards and 11 touchdowns in just six games last fall. Huffman said Bradley is already getting plenty of looks from FCS recruiters thanks to his quick change of direction.

"With his workload expanding this fall, a huge season should be in the works," Huffman said.

Returning up front to protect Kowalski and open gaping holes for Bradley are juniors Sam Vanderslice (5-11, 240) and Ciurej, sophomore AJ Forbes (6-3, 270) and senior Brett Thiemann (6-3, 265). Senior Adonis Dotson (6-4, 220) started four games a year ago before tearing his meniscus.

Vanderslice has an intense motor and finishes blocks well, while Ciurej is a punishing level-one blocker. Forbes also has a tremendous motor and does a lot of damage once he is locked onto a defender. Thiemann is big and strong and has continually improved his footwork and tenacity.

Chris Hahn will once again handle the kicking chores after earning second-team all-state honors a year ago. Hahn connected on 57 of 58 PATs and four of seven field goal attempts with a long of 42 yards and was credited with 39 touchbacks.

"Everybody is working together," Sidzyik said. "We're all hyped up, excited and yelling and stuff. We're having a good time and joking around. But we have each other's backs. We're cheering for our teammates. We're picking up our assignments right away. That was tough to do in the past because we were younger. Now we're picking it up right away."