“You're in good hands” is the well-known slogan for insurance company Allstate, and with returning all-state quarterback Jake Hoffman leading the team, the Red Bud Musketeers are definitely in good hands for the upcoming football season.
Red Bud is looking for back-to-back trips to the state playoffs, and the talent is there, as the Musketeers return nine starters on offense and eight on defense.
“Our strengths this year will be our line play, on both sides of the ball,” said Red Bud coach Dave Lucht. “Our skill positions on offense will all be very dangerous.”
Senior quarterback Hoffman (6’3, 215) is entering his third year as the starter and looking to improve on an impressive showing his junior season.
“Jake does a good job of reading the defense and making the right decisions,” added Lucht. “He has very good arm strength, and he is a big powerful runner who is hard to tackle. We are hoping his decision making keeps improving, and we are expecting another big season from him.”
Junior runningback Tyler Hubert (5’9, 160) returns to the backfield and is expected to see most of the carries this season.
“Hubert had a great year last season as a sophomore, and we are expecting good things out of him again this year,” said Lucht.
Senior Tyler Magruder (6’, 160) and junior Alex Phegley (6’, 185) will also see time in the backfield for Red Bud.
“Our runningbacks are the hardest working group we’ve ever had in the program,” said Lucht. “They have a lot of dedication, which also means they have a lot invested in this season already.”

Hubert, Magruder and Phegley will all see time lined up as receivers, as will junior Kenny Cheek (6’4, 170) and seniors Tyler Henry (6’1, 160) and Seth Heizer (6’2,180).
“We have good depth at receiver, and they all make good targets for Jake,” added Lucht.
The Musketeers return four starters on their offensive line with seniors Bubba Donjon (6’2, 180), Richard Burgess (5’10, 200), Carl Borja (6’3, 290) and Cameron Mueth (5’11, 260). Burgess and Mueth will be the starting guards, while Borja will be back at center, Donjon and junior Jason Greer (6’3, 210) are the tackles. Juniors Ryan Moll (5’9, 180) and Alex Adams (6’1, 170) will also see time along the offensive line.
“We have the experience along the offensive line,” said Lucht. “These guys really know the system. We are not real big up front, but they all can move really well. They can get down field and get in that extra block.”
On the defensive line, Greer, Burgess and Mueth will be the starters, but Red Bud has plenty of options and plan on using a rotation to keep guys fresh. Also expected to see time along the defensive line are Donjon, Adams, Moll, Borja, first-year senior Andrew Schlueter (5’10, 210) and senior Matt Hooten (5’8, 220).
“We have a good mix of speed and size in our defensive line,” Lucht said. “We also have the personnel to do a lot of different things depending on what kind of team we are facing. We can be very versatile up front.”
The Musketeers also have depth at the five starting linebacker positions. Hubert and Henry return to start on the outside, while Phegley is back inside. Battling for the other two spots are Heizer, juniors Ben Huegle (6’, 175) and Kevin Crafton (5’10, 170) and seniors Trenton Guebert (5’11, 150), Alex Craig (6’, 170) and Josh Cornstubble (6’, 180).
“We have good depth at linebacker, and they play well as a unit,” said Lucht. “They move well to the ball and they are capable of making the big play.”
Magruder is the lone returning starter in the defensive secondary and is back at safety. Cheek will start at cornerback while junior Ryan Williams (6’1, 150) and first-year senior Jordan Buch (5’9, 145) are battling for the final starting spot. Junior Zach Haas (5’7, 135) will also see time in the secondary.
“We are not real experienced in the secondary, but we have some great athletes,” said Lucht. “We also have some linebackers who can also play in the secondary to help us out.”
Sophomore Colin Wiegard (6’, 160) will handle the kicking duties, while Huegle and Crafton will take care of the punting.
Red Bud looks to be one of the top teams in a tough Cahokia Conference this year.
“Breese Central has a lot of talent back as well and Freeburg has good numbers and good size,” said Lucht. “You can never count out Columbia, then Carlyle, Wesclin and Dupo can also beat anyone on a given night. I think we will be right at the top of the race. The competition on top will be real tough this year. It’s going to be a fun season.”
The Musketeers host Pinckneyville Friday night to open up the season. Red Bud then hosts Wesclin in week two before traveling to Carlyle in week three.