By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news has finished its tour of preseason football practices at all 10 Shawnee County high schools and will post preview stories over the coming days leading into the opening games of the 2022 season Sept. 1-3.
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You might think that new Silver Lake football coach Logan Pegram would have been fighting some butterflies when he walked out onto CJ Hamilton Field for the start of fall practice on Aug. 15.
After all, Pegram is taking over for a living legend in Hamilton, the winningest coach in Kansas history, and is the Eagles' first new head coach since Hamilton returned from a short stint at Washburn University in 1979.
First-year Silver Lake football coach Logan Pegram, a former Eagle standout, puts his team through a drill during a preseason practice. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
But the Silver Lake graduate, who said he benefitted from having all summer to get to know his new team, said all he was feeling was excitement to get started in his new role.
"So much goes into it with the preparation throughout the summer that the relationships with the kids are there and you know what to expect and they know what to expect, and I have five rock-solid assistant coaches,'' Pegram said.
"The only thing I got a little nervous about is when I came out and they weren't warming up like we told them to warm up, but it was awesome coming out here. It's like the start of a good school year and I was ready to rock and roll.''
Pegram, who was a star lineman for Hamilton at Silver Lake before playing collegiately at Northern Illinois, said he wants to embrace the Eagles' rich tradition, which includes eight state championships and 18 championship game appearances under Hamilton, moving forward.
Pegram's coaching staff includes multiple holdovers from last year's staff and he also added a couple of other coaches very familiar with the program to complete his staff this season.
"I was able to hire two Silver Lake alums, Brit Dewey, who had a really good career here and was a Shrine Bowl guy, and then we got Jace Lowe, who was also an ex-Shrine Bowl guy here,'' Pegram said. "So all of us played in the program and all of us understand 'IT.' ''
Pegram has a good nucleus of returning players from last year's 9-3 Eagle team that reached the Class 2A state semifinals to build this year's team around.
That group includes seniors Troy Heiman (wide receiver), Kaden Walker (offensive/defensive lineman) and Braxton McDaniel (offensive/defensive lineman), juniors Tanner Martin (quarterback), Eli Barnes (wide receiver/defensive back), Blake Redmond (running back/defensive back) and Chase Root (offensive lineman/linebacker) and sophomore Brody Renfro (running back/linebacker).
Several freshmen could also challenge for playing time for the Eagles, including Dayne Johnson (wide receiver/defensive back), Joel Miller (wide receiver/linebacker), Ben Renfro (quarterback/linebacker) and Bryson Burgos (running back/linebacker).
Silver Lake begins the Pegram era on Sept. 2 at Riley County, part of a tough five-game slate to open the season.
The Eagless will host traditional state contender Hayden in Week 2 before playing St. Marys, Rock Creek and two-time defending state champion Rossville.
"Those first five games are like, 'Welcome to Silver Lake,' '' Pegram said. "I think we will be a better team starting the (2A) playoffs in Week 9 because of the games we will play in our first five weeks. You can't really shy away from (tough games).
Pegram can't wait to get started.
"It's going great,'' he said. "I think you always go back to the fact that it's about the community. I know it sounds like cliche', coach-talk, but we have good people here.''
SILVER LAKE
2022 football schedule
September -- 2 at Riley County, 9 Hayden, 16 St. Marys, 23 at Rock Creek, 30 Rossville.
October -- 7 at Pleasant Ridge, 14 Maur Hill, 21 at Atchison County, 28 Playoffs.
Next up: Topeka High.
