By Milla Butler
Connor Brown will again be taking the reins of the Mustang football team. He will be joined by assistant coaches Scott, Bauer, and a new addition to the team, Coach Watt. Also helping out the team this year are Shaun Fisher, Jason Konen, and Allen Ehrman, who will be keeping stats. Brown says, “I am really excited about our coaching staff! Coach Watt has been a great addition to our coaching staff. He brings a wealth of football knowledge and experience that we can all benefit from in all aspects of the game.” Last season, the Mustangs finished 5-4 and qualified and competed in the first round of playoffs, traveling to Wynot. Unfortunately, the team fell short to the Blue Devils and they did not advance to the second round. Hoping to take his team even further this year, Coach Brown comments on the upcoming season: “Switching to 6-man football has made me adapt my coaching philosophies. With fewer players, each one has to cover more ground, making speed and quick decision-making crucial. Our depth will be crucial in 6-man and we need to take advantage of that. Offensively, our focus will be on our running game and being physical up front to create running lanes. Defensively, the emphasis will be on tackling in the open field and staying disciplined.”
Despite losing eight seniors to graduation, the Mustangs will return many players with quality field experience. The team boasts eight seniors this season, including returning quarterback and defensive back Lane Conway, offensive end and defensive back Paxton Sorensen, full back and middle linebacker Casey Conway, center and defensive line Cody Plambeck, and offensive and defensive end Clay Plambeck. Brown comments, “Having a large group of seniors is a huge advantage. These players have the experience and understanding of the game that younger players might not have yet. They set the tone in practice, the locker room, and the field. Us coaches rely on them to lead by example, keep the team focused, and maintain a positive attitude throughout the season.” The Mustangs’ other returning starters include juniors Landon Duester, who played offensive and defensive line; Jaxon tenBensel, who carried the ball for the Mustangs as a running back and played defensive back; Beau Bonifas, who played defensive back and quarterback; and sophomore Brody Knehans, who played defensive back and tight end. The team also adds four freshmen this season.
To begin the season, the Mustangs hosted a scrimmage on Friday, August 23rd. Brown said it was a great opportunity to see areas where they need improvement. He also said seeing their new strategies and formations in a live setting was great. He said, “I was impressed with the effort and energy, but there are some things we need to clean up. It was a valuable learning experience as we head into the regular season.”
The team will compete against Shelton in their home opener on Friday, August 30th. Brown says, “Shelton is always a tough opponent, and it will be a good test for us right out of the gate. I’m looking forward to seeing how our seniors step up and lead, how well we execute our game plan, and how the team responds to the challenge.” A team goal for the season includes competing at a high level every week and improving as the season progresses so that they are playing their best football when it counts the most. Additionally, they want to focus on building a strong team culture where everyone is accountable and supportive of one another. “Ultimately, we want to put ourselves in a position to contend for a championship, but that starts with focusing on the details and taking it one game at a time.”