We’ve got to have a short memory in regards to the way last year ended. It’s a new year, new team. We have to stay focused each practice and be ready every Friday.”

Ridge Kupke

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The NCHS football team kicks off the regular season with an away game against Rocky Mountain in Cowley on Friday, September 6 at 6 p.m.

LUSK – After three straight quarterfinal exits, this year’s small group of seniors are hungry to make a deeper run this fall. Quintin Bieri, Ridge Kupke and Jackson Smith enter their third season as full time varsity starters and have high expectations.

“We’ve got to have a short memory in regards to the way last year ended,” Kupke said. “It’s a new year, new team. We have to stay focused each practice and be ready every Friday.”

Head coach Chris Skeen begins his third year and has Chris Smith (third year) and Reece Andre (second year) back as assistants and the group continues to become more comfortable together.

“These three seniors have stepped right into leadership roles, and I think that basketball run we had last spring was a good confidence booster,” said Skeen. “Maybe the biggest thing they gained from that is a trust in each other.”

“When you get that close to a championship, like we did in basketball – now we have to carry that through football and until we graduate,” said Bieri. “That definitely helped our confidence, and we have young guys that have gotten stronger and more comfortable.”

In addition to the veteran trio, Colton Bracklesburg and Xander Hite are attempting to earn playing time with about 20 others practicing. Managers for the team are Connor Luker, Arnan Walker and Malachi Ybarra.

“Whenever a small school like we are has success in anything, we celebrate those moments,” coach Smith said. “After you have that taste of victory, you just want more of that.”

Juniors Cody Himes and Nathan Miller have been key pieces of Skeen’s plan and that won’t change on either side of the ball. Isaac Assman and Cian Kimes have also looked good in early practices.

“All of us upperclassmen are focused and not screwing around, so the younger kids see that and think they don’t want to be the one starting that,” Jackson Smith noted.

Sophomore Raynce Brott was an all-state player last season and is expected to improve, while Ron Krueger, Brady Swisher and Ryan Youngquist will have expanded roles this season. A handful of newcomers and freshmen are working to learn the system.

“We’ve got speed and athletes – It’s just a matter of putting them in position to make plays,” Skeen added. “I saw a lot of good things at the team camp, and they’ve retained that knowledge. We’ve got to take care of business earlier during the season, and not put ourselves in the number four playoff spot. Everyone wants to get home field advantage for the playoffs, so we have to be prepared each week in a tough conference.”

With no official scrimmage set this year, NCHS will resurrect an old tradition with an intra-squad Red-White scrimmage for the Tiger fans. Donations accepted include water, healthy snacks and towels. The middle school Tigers will scrimmage on Gibson Field at Fullmer Stadium beginning at 4:30 p.m. while the high school scrimmage will begin around 5:30 Thursday afternoon. NCHS opens with a non-conference game at Rocky Mountain on September 6. Kickoff has been changed from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Cowley.