Three area high school football programs faced tall tasks this summer in finding replacements for talent moving on to the next level.

Wide receivers Brant Hill of Marion, Michael Aschemann, of Carterville and running back Phillip Frangello, of Carterville are starting their Saluki careers this fall, while Nick Hill starts as a member of the coaching staff. Their departures left each respective programs with large shoes to fill.

The Marion Wildcats will turn to junior Izak Baker to replace Brant Hill at quarterback. Baker is taking his role as the starter seriously, spending much of his summer at Marion’s football field, throwing, lifting weights and running stairs in preparation for a tenth-straight playoff run.

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Hill led Marion to its ninth consecutive playoff appearance in his senior season. Hill made the transition to quarterback in 2013 after playing wide receiver his junior year, throwing for 1,463 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 563 yards and 5 scores on the ground. Hill will return to wide receiver for the Salukis.

“He was an impact player for our program,” said Kerry Martin, Hill’s head coach at Marion. “He could tilt the field with his running ability, his passing ability. He was one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks I ever coached.”

The 2014 Saluki roster will feature two freshmen from Carterville High School in Aschemann and Frangello. Aschemann was a two-time All-Conference and All-State selection at quarterback for the Lions, while Frangello was an honorable mention All-State and All-Conference running back.

The two were named Co-Football Players of the Year by The Southern Illinoisan in 2013. Aschemann threw for 885 yards and 15 touchdowns while running for 1,713 yards and 31 touchdowns, and Frangello added 1,712 yards and 23 scores on the ground.

Carterville head coach Dennis Drust called the loss of his two offensive cornerstones a tough situation. This year the Lions are forced to play inexperienced players to fill Achemann’s and Frangello’s shoes.

Senior Brayden Bisaillon will take over at running back for the Lions. A converted lineman, Bisaillon has impressed in his transition to a skill position.

“He’s really progressed well through the summer,” Drust said. “I’m really pleased with where he’s at as a running back.”

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Junior Blake Hicks beat out sophomore Darien Miller in the battle for Carterville’s quarterback position.

Carbondale High School lost more than just impact players graduating in 2014. Head coach Nick Hill accepted the position of quarterbacks coach at SIU for the 2014 season. Hill led the Terriers to the playoffs in his one season as head coach. Hill returns to his alma mater, where he was an All-American quarterback for the Salukis.

After a successful debut season at Carbondale High School, Hill will now be imparting his wisdom to Mark Iannotti, Ryan West and the rest of the Saluki quarterbacks.

Mark Albertini, the incoming coach at CHS faces an uphill battle towards a return to the playoffs in his first season. The Terriers graduated several key players, leaving the roster full of largely unproven sophomores and juniors. The schedule spares Albertini little time to get his younger players’ feet wet before being thrown into the fire.

“There is not a sure win on that schedule,” Albertini said. “Murphysboro, Herrin, Harrisburg, Waterloo, our non-conference games, all those teams have a lot of returning starters. They’re well-coached ball clubs. They’re tough.”

Thomas can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter at @tdonleyDE