It feels like at any high school in the United States, no matter how many sports are offered, football is the headlining sport. This is no different for South, especially in the last two seasons. In 2024, the Blue Devils went undefeated in the regular season, with an incredible 9-0 record. The domination didn’t stop there, as they have continued their hot streak with four wins to start the 2025 season.
The players are feeling good about the last two seasons of success more than anybody. Stanton Kapla ’26, who transferred from Brother Rice to South for his junior year, has yet to lose a regular-season game with the Blue Devils. The tight end/defensive end feels a strong sense of chemistry here among the players.
“I feel like we just work a lot better together as a team,” Kapla said. “We get the job done.”
The team today may be strong, but the future of the program is highly anticipated as well. Middle linebacker Throop Linnell ’27 feels very confident in the young core of the team and how those players will contribute to the team’s success in the near future.
“Our juniors and sophomores are stepping up, which is good to see,” Linnell said. “I see our team meshing and coming together. I don’t see how we can be beaten.”
It’s not just the players, either. The coaches are also feeling the strength of this team both mentally and physically. In his fourth season as varsity head coach, Chad Hepner is prepared to take the team into another deep postseason run.
“So far, we’re off to a great start. We were able to get a win over a MAC red team,” Hepner said. “Now that we’re into league play, that’s our main focus, is trying to win the league.”
Despite this, the players still feel very confident in themselves and their teammates. Linnell feels confident in the future of South football through this season and into his senior year in 2026.
“I don’t plan on losing any games. I don’t plan on getting scored on,” Linnell said. “I plan on winning all our games, winning in practice and just becoming a team that has fun.”
