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The Parkers Prairie football team lost a big senior class last year, including Bennet Arceneau, their defensive MVP, District Defensive Back of the year and number one receiver, Caden DeBoer their most valuable offensive lineman, Mason Mittag (Mayville State) their outstanding special teams player, Jacob Swedal, all-district linebacker and offensive lineman, and Blake Adickes an all-district honorable mention offensive and defensive lineman. The Panthers also graduated Ben Harrington (TE/DE, now at Norther State University), Tyler Carstensen (Mayville State), Ryder Ashbaugh, Gus Johnson, Brady Blackstone and RJ Reigstad.
“We had a challenging schedule last year and battled to get better each week,” reported Head Coach Mike Johnson, now in his fifth season. “As a team, we will need to fill the void of a strong graduating class from last year. There will be several players who will be in new positions this year so there will be a learning curve right away, but so far we have seen good things from those players who are stepping into new positions or taking on bigger roles on our team. Our roster is not as big as it has been over the past few years so we look to help develop our underclassmen to help us out with depth at the varsity level.”
Returning starters include third year starting quarterback Cohen Noska (SR), Team MVP and 3rd year starting running back and defensive back David Revering (SR), 3rd year starter at linebacker and running back Mason Boesl (JR), and 3rd year starter at linebacker and offensive line Zach Mrnak (SR). Other starters returning are Holden Truax (SR, LB/ET), Devin Eggert (SR, C), Kayden Leininger (SR, DL/OL) and Seth Sansness (SR, OL/LB). Other letter winners with extensive varsity time are juniors Nolan Steidl (TE/LB), Shane Hanson (DB) and Chavous Wendt (DB). Junior Joe Johnson (FB/DL) and sophomore Trevor Rounds (OL/DL) are also back. Senior Dylan Debilzen (WR/DB) is “an extremely athletic player who will make an immediate impact on our team,” stated Coach Johnson. Mason Schultz (SR, OL/DL) will also be counted on up front.
“As a team our strength is our returning leaders and playmakers,” noted Coach Johnson. “Noska has led the helm at quarterback as a 10th, 11th and now 12th grader and has had a great camp entering his senior year. Revering and Boesl have led the team in several categories on both side of the ball and bring experience as they have been multi-year starters for the Panthers. Holden Truax looks to be a top target at tight end and is returning as one of our defensive leaders from last year. Up front for the Panthers offensive line we will be led by multi-year starters Devin Eggert, Zach Mrnak, Seth Sansness, and Kayden Leininger. New comer Dylan Debilzen will provide us with a playmaker at wide receiver and in the defensive backfield. All of those guys put together with some strong athletes under them, the Panthers have high expectations.
Underclassmen looking to be a big part on the team include Jackson Hubbling, Ben Wagner, Isaac Ruckheim, Evan Lenzen, Leighton Gesell, Orran Hart, Reid Hartman, Ethan Knauf, Riley Looker, Eric Lorsung, Gavin Boesl, Justin Olson, Zach Ruckheim and Brent Bak.
“We are excited for the upcoming season,” concluded Johnson. “Our team moved to different district and section this year so we will be seeing some different teams throughout the regular season and post-season. Along with the Panthers, the Mid-Northwest Central district is made up of New York Mills, Wadena Deer Creek, Pillager, Staples-Motley, Pine River Backus, Walker Hackensack Akeley, and Breckenridge. We moved from Section 4 to Section 6. Section 6 has the Panthers along with West Central Area, Pine River Backus, Lake Park Audubon, Walker Hackensack Akeley, New York Mills, Breckenridge, and Ashby-Brandon-Evansville.
Looking at the competition in our new district and section, the Panthers will have plenty of strong opponents. We are expecting to be in the mix with the top teams in our district and section once the regular season comes to an end. With the leaders we have on our team this year, the experience, and the competitive drive this team has we are excited for the opportunity in front of us. We know we will have to earn everything we get and these guys have embraced that challenge by putting in a huge amount of work throughout the past year to prepare for this season. Our goal ever year is to get better each and every day, week, and by the end of the season be playing our best football.”
Johnson will be assisted by Eli Gesell, Darby Carlson, Jeremiah Burnham, Brady Yrjo and Drew Johnson.