Ben Lippen’s Drake Porter
Perception can often be a fickle thing. For instance, the beginning of Ben Lippen’s 2024 season could be seen as the start of a great one following wins over First Baptist and Trinity Collegiate. However, that perception changed over the next eight games as the Falcons lost six times, including back-to-back games at Augusta Christian.
“I tell people it’s kind of like the college football world. If you win your bowl game, you feel pretty good about your team heading into the offseason, but if you lose that game, kind of like we did, it changes maybe the perception or some people’s feelings about the season,” Ben Lippen head coach Bennett Weigle said. “I think we were maybe a game away from having what we thought was a successful season, compared to a season where we didn’t meet expectations. Those were the last two games against Augusta Christian. We felt we could have won both of those games. To lose both of them in close games put a damper on our season and kind of changed the perception of it.”
The Falcons have lost in the first round of the playoffs and their win totals have decreased in each of the last two years.
“I think we are stable,” Weigle said. “I think we’ve kind of figured out now, going into year four, who we want to be as a program, who our school is. It takes a long time to figure those things out— our identity as a program, how the school values our program. I think we’ve gotten to that point in year four. That helps a lot. Everyone is on the same page.
“Our coaching staff is intact. We’ve lost some players. Our roster looks different than it did last year, but our core group coming back is kids who want to be here, kids who value the Christian education they are getting, and kids who want to win. That’s what we are trying to do here.”
Weigle says Michael Traynum is his No. 1 returning player on the offensive side of the ball. Traynum plays the slot position for Ben Lippen. He’s a dynamic player coming off a big year as a sophomore.
Jonathan Eckert got a lot of playing time last year. Listed as a running back, Eckert will look to improve the Falcons’ 159.8 average rushing yards from last year.
Shep Barnes anchors an offensive line group charged with protecting a new quarterback.
Marcus Moore, Ben Cole, and Graham Bokinsky will compete for the starting quarterback position. Weigle didn’t rule out the possibility of more than one seeing playing time at quarterback. Moore got hurt last year and didn’t have much of a shot. He’s the more polished passer of the trio. Cole is a threat with his legs. Bokinsky is a pocket passer with a great arm. Moore and Cole are likely to see playing time at other positions if they aren’t the starting quarterback.
“The biggest thing with our offense, we aren’t looking to throw it 20-25 times a game,” Weigle said. “Everybody uses this term one way or the other and I view it in a positive way, we are looking for a kid who is going to manage the game for us. He needs to make smart decisions and not turn the ball over. He needs to be a great leader and connect on those 10 to 15 passes we are going to ask him to connect on throughout the game.”
The defense is also returning a few starters including leading tackler Drake Porter at mike linebacker. The linebackers may be the strongest position group on the team as Holden Parnell, Ben Morris, and Colin Evans round out the unit.
Justin Kolp, Sam Catoe, and Asher McGuire will have to fill the shoes left by Austin Huff and Kellen George on the defensive line.
The secondary will have several new starters. Some of the returners include Ben Cole, depending on his role on the offense, and Cooper Traynum.
“We have some new faces. Some haven’t played much,” Weigle said. “They’re bought in to what we are doing. That goes a long way in today’s football world. Everything is so transient. We need some stabilization and I think we have it.”
The great unknown may be the best way to describe Ben Lippen’s 2025 schedule as six of the Falcons’ ten opponents have new head coaches. Four of the first six games are on the road, with the home games being against Trinity Collegiate and Cardinal Newman. The Falcons finish the year with three home games in four weeks with the lone road trip to rival Hammond.
“We are playing with a chip on our shoulder,” Weigle said. “We have guys who have been waiting their time and now it’s their year. It’s going to be exciting to watch them. They wanted their shot and now they’re going to get it. Now it’s about them proving something and them playing with an edge.”
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