The Kettle Moraine Lutheran football team went .500 for the second straight season in 2024 and took a 12point lead into the fourth quarter against Delavan-Darien in Round 1 of the WIAA Division 4 playoffs.

Ultimately, the Chargers would let that lead slip away, as they lost in the first round of the postseason for the fourth consecutive year under David Kren, who took over a struggling program in 2017 and turned it into perennial playoff team.

While that was a tough pill to swallow for KML, it does bring back a considerable amount of talent from a team that finished fourth in the East Central Conference but has some notable holes to fill. At the top of that list is Adam Zylka, who rushed for 718 yards and nine touchdowns and was KML’s top tackler from the defensive backfield last season.

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First-team all-conference offensive lineman Noah Tanck also graduated, as did quarterback/linebacker Collin Draeger, linebacker/running back Anthony Mish (485 yards, six TDs; 42 tackles, four TFL, sack, forced fumble) and Ryan Thistle, a standout at receiver and defensive back (46 tackles, three fumble recoveries, two interceptions).

In fact, KML loses its top two receiving threats from last season, as two-way contributor Samuel West (32 tackles, two INTs) is also gone to graduation. So while some new names will have to step up out wide, the cupboard is far from bare in the backfield.

Junior Jonah Kruse saw extended time at quarterback last fall when Draeger was nursing an injury, and senior Josh Duba is the unquestioned leader on both sides of the ball after rushing for a team-best 902 yards and 11 touchdowns to go with 26 tackles (12 for a loss), two sacks, a forced fumble and an interception at linebacker.

Kruse only threw the ball 13 times across four games, but rushed for 164 yards and three scores. The Chargers also return some experience in the trenches — seniors OL/DL Alex Ganshow, who had three sacks, Mason Gundrum (28 tackles, INT) and Jacob Krahn (30 tackles, sack, INT).

Senior defensive back Nathan Kabelowsky also returns after posting 42 tackles and an interception.

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Bottom line

Being the smallest team in the ECC, Kettle Moraine Lutheran will benefit from the revised playoff qualification procedure — but only if it’s able to find the win column at a similar clip to the past few seasons. That could be a tough ask considering the Chargers’ schedule, which begins with a visit from Campbellsport, as they must play Stoughton and Edgewood in their Badger- Small crossover games. Then it’s one last trip through the East Central before joining the brand-new Glacier Trails Conference next season. But should KML start out strong, it will put itself in good position to return to the playoffs for a fifth straight season.

At a glance

Coach: David Kren

2024 record: 5-5 overall (3-4 conference)

Key personnel losses: OL Noah Tanck, RB/DB Adam Zylka, K Barrett Waldvogel, QB/LB Collin Draeger, LB Anthony Mish, WR/DB Ryan Thistle

Notable returnees: senior RB/LB Josh Duba, senior OL/DL Mason Gundrum, junior QB Jonah Kruse, senior OL/DL Jacob Krahn, senior WR/DB Nathan Kabelowsky, senior OL/DL Alex Ganshow, senior OL/DL Mason Gundrum