Tiger football—work hard, play hard and have fun!
With the new school year underway, it is time to think Tiger football! Head Coach Bob Fink and Assistant Coaches Adam Meyer, Brandon Wilhelmi, Shane Neperman, Pat Moriarty, Jeff Kuehn, Mike Scheffler and Cliff Heglund started practice with the team last week. There are 59 players on the team this year with 28 returning letterman. Last season, the Tigers had an 8-5 overall record, captured the Section 3 Championship and was the state semi-finalist, losing to the eventual state champion.
Coach Fink feels this year’s team is experienced with great speed and size. “We return many key players at key positions. Our players like to get after it and are not intimidated by anyone.” He believes the team can improve its offensive input from last season where they averaged 24 points per game to 30-35 points per game this season. Last season the Tiger defense allowed 27 points per game and would like to see that number drop to fewer than 10 points per game.
Decker Scheffler will return as the starting quarterback. Returning linemen will be Mason Rummel, Kaden Johnson and Ivan Hovland. The offensive line will be led by right tackle Dylan Rubey, right guard Seth Lorenzen and left tackle Curtis Tauer along with Ashton Danielson, Andrew Baumann, Jason Berberich, Sylvan Tauer, Mason Flor and Jacob Platz. The defensive line will be led by Tyler Michel, Xandar Asmus, Shane Clemon and Jerry Majors.
Tiger linebacker positions will include starters Mason Rummel, Ivan Hovland, Nolan Hovland and Kaden Johnson along with Caleb Hauger, Joseph Anderson and Kyle Quesenberry. The defensive backfield will be led by four returning starters—Dylan Batzlaff, Tori Helget, Owen Bertram and Decker Scheffler—along with new team member Jordan Toll. Vying for playing time at the four receiver spots are Mason Leonard, Tori Helget, Jordan Toll, Nolan Hovland, Tyler Vanderwerf and Owen Bertram.
The Tigers lost 7 outstanding football players that graduated with the Class of 2019. They were good players and leaders both on and off the field. Coach Fink commented, “The team really started to believe in themselves last year and the wins kept coming. The players have so much more confidence than a year ago at this time. The strong finish last year allowed us to have many more practices and games. The kids are now more comfortable with everything we do. They know what is expected of them and their work ethic and enthusiasm for the game has been outstanding.”
Chad Hovland, the Tiger strength and conditioning coach, prepared the football players for the upcoming season. “It was obvious on the first day of summer football camp that we are bigger, stronger and faster than a season ago,” Fink commented.
All of the Tiger football home games will once again be played at Riverside Park after having played at Sticker Field last season. The Tigers will open their season against Lac qui Parle Valley at Madison on Thursday, August 29 at 7 p.m. The first home game will be against Minnesota Valley Lutheran on Friday, September 6 at 7 p.m.
In anticipating this season Fink commented, “Our goal is simply to be the best we can be. Our motto is to work hard, play hard and have fun! If we do those things, the wins will come and we will have a successful season.” Go Tigers!