NM gridders face 10-game season
North Mahaska Warhawks
By R.D. KEEP
NEW SHARON – High school football teams have been playing games in August for several years, but this year North Mahaska will play 30 percent of their games in August. The first is this Friday when the Warhawks travel to Belle Plaine for the season opener.
North Mahaska was offered the chance to play an extra game when Belle Plaine had an open date. The district Belle Plaine plays in has an odd number of members. The school contact North Mahaska Coach Steve Ehret, who agreed to the game. The two schools play each other in other sports as part of the South Iowa Cedar League.
“I found out last spring when the districts came out that we would be playing the 10th game,” said Ehret. “Belle Plaine is in our conference. We played them last year.
“They called us as well as a couple others. I could have said no to the 10th game, but I thought it would give our younger kids some more game time experience.”
North Mahaska is coming of a couple challenging seasons that have been less than stellar in comparison to tradition. Last season the Warhawks finished 3-6 overall and 2-4 in district play. The Warhawks return some talent that saw a good amount of playing time last season. Leading the way will be senior quarterback Beau Freeborn. The three-year starter will once again run the play-action grind it out offense.
“We lost some speed last year,” said Ehret. “We are not going to have the break-away speed we are really working hard on technique. Three-point-three yards, 3.3 yards, 3.3 yards. First downs, first downs.
“We want to shorten the game. We want to keep the ball out of the opponent’s hands. Other teams may be faster, but we want to get first downs. Play-action that is what we do.”
Senior Alex Dawley, who played the line last year, will move to defensive end this year. John Collier, a senior, will play on the line, at linebacker and may be in the backfield some for the Warhawks. Brock Pollpeter, a 5-foot-8 junior will also be back at linebacker.
Ehret is welcoming back senior Colton Moore, who was hurt during the preseason last year.
“Our biggest kid was hurt for us all last year. He’s come back, he’s healthy and has had a good preseason,” said Ehret.
Other players Ehret said will make contributions in various roles include, seniors Tye Burch and Zach Anderson. Also junior, Justin Richards and sophomores Karson Stodghill and Austin Lanphier.
Ehret sees three teams competing for the top spots in Class A District 6. BGM, Lynnville-Sully and newcomer Pekin are tabbed as the teams to beat in 2012.
“Three teams, BGM, Pekin and Lynnville-Sully, then the rest of them are 50-50 games,” said Ehret. “The big three are above the rest. We hope that the other games could go either way with a break.”
The season will tell how the team progresses toward topping last year’s record. Playing three games in August would have been a bigger challenge with normal summer weather, especially this summer. However, the forecast for Friday is in the 70s. The Warhawks will open the district season on September 7 when they travel to English Valleys.
North Mahaska Schedule
- Aug. 17 At Belle Plaine
- Aug. 24 GMG, Garwin
- Aug. 31 WACO
- Sept. 7 At English Valleys
- Sept. 14 Montezuma
- Sept. 21 At Pekin
