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CASSOPOLIS — The Cassopolis Rangers football program enters the offseason with plenty of optimism and two more victories than it achieved a year ago when Jeremiah Lee and his coaching staff put the equipment away.

Just six games into its 2024 schedule, injuries forced Cassopolis to cancel its remaining three varsity games. The Rangers, a team dominated by underclassmen that season, finished out the fall playing three junior varsity contests. 

After compiling just one win the previous campaign, Cassopolis tripled its win total and finished 3-6 in the 2025 season, including a thrilling 28-21 road win in Week 9 at Vermontville-Maple Valley in the Southwest 10/Big 8 Crossover Game. 

The Rangers’ other two wins this season came against Comstock 41-12 and by 2-0 forfeit over Sand Creek. Cassopolis dropped a heartbreaking 29-28 decision at Hartford, a game which Lee believes might’ve helped the Rangers qualify for the Division 7 playoffs had Cassopolis won. 

“We let that Hartford game slip away from us,” Lee admitted. 

The main chore during the offseason for Cassopolis will be to become bigger and stronger allowing the Rangers to be more physical on the offensive and defensive line. 

Cassopolis was outscored 327-172 by opponents this season, but the Rangers were never once shutout. Five of the Rangers’ losses this season were to teams that have qualified for the state playoffs. Those include Decatur, Centreville, Bronson, White Pigeon and Galesburg-Augusta. 

The Rangers started three sophomores and one freshmen on the offensive line, including Connor Turnbo, Colt Bement, Mason Boyer and Ethan Light. 

Cassopolis’ youth and inexperience along the offensive line were key factors as the Rangers were often one-dimensional on offense. Junior quarterback Lucas Williams was a bright spot for the Rangers’ offense with over 2,000 combined yards passing and running and 29 touchdowns.

“We weren’t able to run the ball as much as we wanted at times. Lucas did a real nice job of carrying us offensively, but you can’t be as one-dimensional like we were most of the time,” Lee said. 

Cassopolis showed its explosiveness at times, however, with Williams tossing several big TD passes to the brother receiving duo of senior Jaylin Pratt and sophomore Jamiere Pratt. 

Despite giving up the point total that the Rangers did, Lee felt that his squad made the most progress this Fall on the defensive side of the football. 

“Our defense took a huge leap in terms of competing hard, finishing plays and tackling opponents,” Lee said. 

Cassopolis was led on the defensive side of the ball by sophomore defensive end Tyson West, along with the junior linebacker duo of Lane Leach and Elijah Wagoner. 

Wagoner finished the season as Cassopolis’ leading tackler with 69, while Leach had 62 tackles. 

The Rangers, who had just four seniors on its 30-man roster, have a lot to look forward to. Lee will return 10 of his 11 starters on both offense and defense.

“We stressed to the kids after the Maple Valley game how important it is to be in the weight room and at the summer conditioning sessions. This past summer we had good attendance but it can always be better. We have to get bigger and stronger,” Lee said.  

Lee was elated with how the Rangers finished the season showing a lot of grit in attaining a win on the road at Vermontville-Maple Valley. 

“It was a great defensive game. The kids were really dialed in and  excited to play,” Lee said.