“FROM THE HUDDLE”

BY COACH BRIAN WALKER       

            The fall football season is here for the Falcons of Red Rock Central, and the team has been working hard for almost 3 weeks already.  This year’s version of Falcon football will open its season this Friday night as we travel to Sleepy Eye Public for a 7 pm kickoff.  The Falcons have 13 returning letterwinners returning to this year’s team, and 6 players that started on both offense and defense also back. However, graduation took its toll on the offensive and defensive lines, along with some early season injuries.  We lost 4 of our 5 starters in the defensive line, and returned only Josh Fredrickson(DE), and Turner Nickel(DT).  Fredrickson started all 9 games, while Nickel only the final 3, so we knew we had some rebuilding to do there. Right now, Jordan Wetter, Charlie Hubert, Matt Sticha, Josh Rogotzke, Trent Mattison, Chris Miller, and Aaron Furth look to fill some of those spots.  Dillon Imker, also played some in the defensive line at times last year will also get time there when he returns after breaking a bone in his foot in the off season.  The biggest loss was in our linebacking core, losing 4 yr starters Logan Swenson and Joe Pfarr.  Both of those guys had been around so long that it seemed like they should be there again this year when we started practice, but instead a new group is getting trained in.  Right now, Taylor Mattison returns as a Jr. this year after missing last season with a wrist injury.  Others looking to fill those spots will be Ryan Benedict when he returns from Basic Training all summer long.  Bevern Kedl, Zach Siemer, and Brian Benedict will also see time there.  In the secondary, Blake Walker and Eric Altermatt return with experience at the corners, and Nathan Bierman and Matt Fox will see time there as well.  On the offensive side of the ball, again the offensive line was hit the hardest, along with half of our receiving core.  In the line, we thought we had two starters returning in Clint and Dillon Imker, but a shoulder injury will keep Clint out for his senior season, and Dillon will miss a couple games with his foot injury.  Brian Benedict then becomes the guy with the most experience back as he started at center for us in our playoff game last year.  We have been really working hard to get a group ready by giving several players a lot of reps in practice.  The list includes Travis Erickson, Charlie Hubert, Turner Nickel, Josh Rogotzke, Chris Miller, Aaron Furth, and Dillon Imker.  For the most part we have good size up front, and hoping we can gel a unit together to fill the much important role as an offensive lineman.  In the backfield, Blake Walker returns at Quarterback after throwing for 729 yds in 7 games last year.  Ryan Benedict returns at fullback after rushing for close to 400 yds last year, but has missed the first two weeks being off to basic training, so in his place, we have put Turner Nickel.  Turner has been learning several positions, fullback, tailback, and guard.  It is nice to have some versatile players that can learn and play several spots to help the team.  Bevern Kedl will dot the I, and ran for 265 yds last year and 4 TD’s.  The receiving core returns Josh Fredrickson at TE, but like Turner, Josh has learned the fullback, split end, and tackle spots beside his tight end spot.  Eric Altermatt started the final 7 games for us last year, and caught 4 balls, and on defense had 3 interceptions.  Jordan Wetter has been getting time at both Split End and Tight End, and like Josh gives us a tall 6’5” target.  Matt Fox, Nate Bierman, Brandon Juenemann, and our newest player, Matt Sticha have all seem time either as a running back, wing back, or split end. 

            Our team is made up of 41 players this year: 10 seniors, 8 juniors, 13 sophomores, and 10 freshman.  We were able to scrimmage some different teams last weekend, in Cedar Mt./Comfrey and SW United, both teams that are in our section this year, and our Falcons did very well.  Like with all scrimmages, it is a matter of learning and just another practice against other team’s starters, so it gave us some things that we need to sharpen up before we open this week.  Once again, our Southern MN Conference will be as solid as ever. Last year, three teams made it to the final 8 in the state tournament, with NU Cathedral finishing runner-up in Class 1A.  We finished with 4 wins on the field last year, and lost 4 by a touchdown or less.  We are looking to find a way this year to turn those close loses into wins, and this group of young men have been great to work with, and have shown improvement already in the first two weeks, and look for much more to come.  The Falcons will return home on Sept. 7^th when we host Renville County West. Prior to the game, we will have our annual Whopper Feed Tailgate Party with all proceeds going to the Cody Olson family.  Let’s get a huge crowd here to open our home season and show our support of Cody.  GO FALCONS!!!