When Herculaneum quarterback Keaton Reeves was lost for the season with an injury in Week 9 against De Soto, Dallas Fritschle and Chase Luebbert each took snaps at QB the rest of the game against the Dragons.
After the loss to De Soto, Blackcat coaches had a week to prepare for John Burroughs in the Class 3 District 2 tournament, and to decide whether Fritschle or Luebbert would pilot the team against the nine-time state champion Bombers. Luebbert got the nod and mainly handed off to running back Clark Struckhoff, whose 205 yards carried Herculaneum to a 36-21 win. Struckhoff graduated in the spring.
Luebbert only attempted one pass (incomplete) against John Burroughs, and of his four passes the next week in a blowout district semifinal loss to Valle Catholic, one was intercepted.
No matter, Herculaneum head coach Blane Boss was confident that with two district games under his belt, Luebbert was going to start working to be the team’s next starting QB for his senior year.
“Yeah, losing Keaton, a three-year starter, like that, was tough because with what we do offensively with the option – he became so good at it – you can’t just throw somebody else in there and be a game manager. We tried (a new QB) in the De Soto game, and it just didn’t work out.
“Obviously, by the next week. Chase did a heck of a job filling in, and that playoff win against John Burroughs, he had a week to get ready, and he did as good as you possibly could. That’s probably one of the bigger reasons Chase will be our quarterback. The biggest thing we really miss about Keaton is his leadership because he would hold his teammates accountable, get on them if they weren’t doing something right.”
Just because Fritschle isn’t the new QB doesn’t mean he’s without a job. Quite the contrary, he will start at running back and defensive back. The two playoff games pushed Struckhoff over 1,000 yards rushing, and Fritschle could be the next in line to reach that milestone. Junior Michael Hankins scored three touchdowns against the Bombers and could be another starter at RB. Other RBs include senior Austin Brinkley and juniors Luke Smith and Aaron Mardrosian.
“I told Dallas, ‘Hey man, you’ll do a great job at (RB),’” Boss said. “He said, ‘I’ll do whatever’s best with the team.’ He’s just a super unselfish kid that wants to do what’s best for the team and his teammates.”
Known more for his talents in baseball and basketball, Tanner Duncan became one of the top wide receivers in the Quad County Conference by the time he wrapped up his senior season in 2025. Senior Chase Goodwin, junior Kamdon Reeves, Keaton’s brother, and freshman Ben McLaughlin are the front-runners to start at WR. Senior Gavin Feltmann and junior Michael McClain give Luebbert more targets at tight end.
“I think it was our second-to-last game Tanner’s junior year when he kind of started to figure out a way to receive, like actually play and understand the sport, and when he did that, he was pretty good, and he carried that in last year, and obviously he had some big catches,” Boss said.
“Chase is not as fast as Tanner, but he kind of does everything well. Ben’s a basketball kid with good size. I think, honestly football could be his best sport.”
Seniors Carson Webb and Dylan Boys return as starters on the offensive line. Boss said senior Taylor Hill-Greenlee has all-state potential on the OL. Senior Ayden Bowling is the starting center again.
“I think they all want to have a great year,” Boss said of the OL.
In this decade, Mikey Moloney and Struckhoff have led the Blackcat defense at middle linebacker. Boss said he thinks Boys can be that next run stuffer and defensive leader.
“I think this year Boys will be the next guy,” Boss said. “Whoever’s the weakside linebacker usually steps up the following year. He is just a great kid that every coach would love to have on their team,” Boss said. “There’s not many people on the football field that’ll outwork him. He lives in the weight room and doesn’t miss. We’re very fortunate to have Dylan on the team.”
Reeves, Smith, Fritschle, Goodwin and McLaughlin are in the defensive backfield.
Junior Conner Pajda will handle the kicking duties.
“He’s added a couple yards onto his kickoffs,” Boss said. “I’ve never really had that luxury to have a full-time kicker. Hopefully, over the next 2 years he continues to get bigger, stronger, and it would be really nice to have a guy that can kick it in the end zone.”
After kicking off the last six seasons against Windsor, Herculaneum begins 2026 Friday, Aug. 28 at home against Affton, which a year ago was in Class 4 and had a record of 3-7. The Blackcats finished 6-5 overall and 3-2 in the Quad County Conference. Bayless, Cuba, Grandview, Jefferson and St. Vincent are in the QCC.
“Obviously, as a coach, and our players understand, we want to compete for a conference title,” Boss said. “We want to be in the mix in districts, but we never know who we’re going to get.”