Making an impact

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Todd Kiewitt attributes the Seymour football team’s recent success to teamwork.

“A lot more playing as a team, and playing with each-other and talking to each-other,” he said. “Our defense has actually came alive the past three games, and our offense is getting a lot better than what it was the first two games.

“We’ve had a lot of improvement in position groups like quarterback or linebacker or something. Just the little things can make a big difference.”

Kiewitt was second on the team in tackles last season, and leads the Owls in tackles this fall through six games as he has 55 solos and 10 assists.

The senior said being in the right place at the right time comes through knowledge and experience.

“I work on my formations and what I have to do during the game,” Kiewitt said. “I do that in practice too. If they run to my side I have them, and if they run a screen pass to my side I have them. On counter or reverse like Brownstown did a little bit, I have that.”

Kiewitt, who starts at outside linebacker, has to fight off blocks and try to contain and keep the plays inside.

“I’ll try to stay outside or if I have a different responsibility I’ll go do that,” Kiewitt said. “Most of the time I like to keep it inside because then our swarm can come. If he goes outside I have to get him.

The thing Kiewitt likes most about playing defense are the big hits.

“I like tackling people, see how many tackles I can get a game,” he said. “I like the playing with the guys I have on defense.”

Kiewitt began playing football in fifth grade, and recalled his sophomore year he played slot back on offense and didn’t play much defense until last year.

He feels like this year’s unit is clicking as the season progresses.

“I like playing with my teammates,” Kiewitt said. “We have really good teammates. I like pushing my teammates to make them a lot better”

The work in the weight room has really benefited the team.

“Here lately I’ve been working on my squats,” Kiewitt said. “I’ve been working on my bench and everything else, too, but my squat has been going up a lot. Working on your lower body, and different stuff will help you on the field like push-and-pull.”

The coaching staff at SHS pushes keeping a strong mental game in games.

“One thing that Coach (Josh) Shattuck stresses the most is you have to have a strong mental game,” Kiewitt said. “That’s a big part of us winning, too. We try not to get down on ourselves if (opponents) score or they get a fumble recovery. We try to stay up.”

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Name: Todd Kiewitt

School: Seymour High School

Parents: Chad and Sherry Kiewitt

Siblings: Cody, Shawn

Sports: football 4 years, track 2 years, wrestling 1 year

Athletic highlights: All-Hoosier Hills Conference Honorable Mention

Plans after high school: attend college, play football

Favorite food: Chinese

Favorite TV show: Family Guy

Favorite musician: Lil Wayne

Favorite movie: When The Game Stands Tall

Favorite team: Dez Bryant

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What: Jennings County (0-6) at Seymour (3-3)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Bulleit Stadium

Radio: 92.7 Nash Icon

Last outing: Seymour def. Brownstown Central 34-32, Bedford North Lawrence def. Jennings County 41-23.

Most recent meeting: Jennings County won 15-14 on Oct. 2, 2015.

Series past 30 years: Seymour 25-6.

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