The team will be led by seniors Landon Thacker (RB/LB), Carter Thielke (QB/WR/DB), Andrew Johnson (QB/RB/DB), Cole Zierden (WR/DB), Sam Sorum (WR/DB), Cole Wentworth (WR/DB), Owen Babolian (WR/DB), Luke Newman (WR/DE), Jonah Sorum (RB/LB) and Lucas Oliphant (OL/DL).  Juniors who lettered last season include Josh Sternberg (WR/DB), Alex Jensen (OL/DL), Jordan Sitagata (OL/DL), Eli Draegar (RB/DB), Hayden Dondoneau (OL/DL) and Cole Kimball (OL/DL).

“We will look to control the line of scrimmage with a big offensive and defensive line,” commented Head Coach Steve Olson, now in his ninth season.  “On offense we will focus early on getting our linemen comfortable with their assignments based on all of the different fronts and stunts they will see.  We will need to improve in the passing game so we can take advantage of the opportunities we get in the air.  We will have a lot of options at running back and our quarterback will have to be a running threat as well.  On defense, besides controlling the line of scrimmage, we will have to find someone to replace last year’s ‘tackling machine’ Kaden Hartwell.  We probably won’t find just one player to do that, so as a unit we will have to be good tacklers.  Our secondary returns a lot of players, so we will count on them to be a solid unit as well.”

Olson will be looking to seniors Tristan George (WR/DB) and Quinn Werner (TE/DE) and juniors Isaac Johnson (RB/DB), Delvin Roberts (OL/DL), Wyatt Carlson (OL/DL), Riley Pesek (OL/DL) and Jacob Wandersee (TE/DE) to compete for varsity minutes as well.

Assistant Coaches are Shane Thielke, Kevin Pearson, Keith Pearson, Josh Steer, Judah Burlingame, Ike Carlson and Steve King.

Olson says Perham, DGF and Pequot Lakes are among the top teams in Section 8AAA.