2016 Needles Football Capsule

NEEDLES

League: Class 2A Southern

Head coach: Matt Fromelt

2015 record: 9-2 (7-1 Division III Southern League, second)

Returning lettermen: Five

Returning starters: Five offense, five defense

Top offensive players: RB Derek Wagstaff (Sr.), RB Frankie Garcia (Sr.), QB Jayden Yeager (Jr.)

Top defensive players: MLB Mario Rabanales (Jr.), DT Dylan Hetrick (Sr.), DL Adam Jenkins (Sr.), CB Derek Wagstaff (Sr.), LB Frankie Garcia (Sr.)

Key losses: WR/DE Trenton Poe-Evans

Outlook: The Mustangs lost to Yerington in the Division III state semifinals last season, but should be back near the top this season.

Wagstaff, who rushed for 1,242 yards and and 17 touchdowns, will be one of the Class 2A Southern League’s top two-way players for his senior season.

Rabanales led the team with 68 tackles a season ago and also is back.

“I think we should be pretty competitive,” Fromelt said. “Our strengths should be just overall running the ball. I think we have good running backs. Defensively, we should have pretty good team speed.”