“It will be an interesting year with the move to 11-man,” acknowledged Head Coach Chuck Ross.  “Playing all new schools I’m not sure what to expect, but I know our sub-district and section will be challenging.  We will be competitive, but it will be a learning curve as we adjust.  Our weakness would be just like a lot of other schools and that is the number of bodies we have and our depth.  We have to try and build some depth with our freshmen and sophomores to be successful this season.”

The Rockets will miss graduates Daxton Olson (QB/DB), Levi Blaskowski (WR/DE), Thomas Noyes (RB/DB), Nick Seiple (TE/DE) and Thomas Kaste (OL/DL).  Kaste is playing college football at Valley City State University.

“We have a good nucleus of seniors and all of them should contribute,” said Ross.  “I think our captains, Wyatt Thorson (FB/DE), Nik Gardin (QB/DB) and Zane Swanson (RB/LB) will lead the charge.”

The Rockets are also looking for big things from Tyson Rieken (OL/DL), Winston Heifort (DE/TE), Logan Johansen (OL/DL), Tim DeVaney (RB/LB), Noah Schleske (OL/DL), Logan Aune (OL/DL) and Chase Janu.

“They all have experience from last year that should help us be successful,” noted Ross.  “Replacing Daxton at QB will be a big factor and right now Nik Gardin and Reed Leabo are looking good, especially since we are putting in a new offensive scheme this year.  They are catching on quickly.”

Leabo, Joey Kupfer, Krosby Aasness and Laredo Bugbee are new to the varsity lineup and are expected to make an immediate impact.

Ross will be assisted by Ryan Hendrickson, Brian Hovland, Casey Foertsch, Evan Meece and Jason Rogers.

“Breckenridge, Ada-Borup and OTC will be the Section 6A favorites, but it’s hard to say who will win our Sub-District because I really know nothing about these new teams we are playing.  I would hope to be right in the thick of things at the end,” concluded Coach Ross.