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High school football in North Dakota began today as teams around the state held it's first practice of the season. The Horace Hawks are looking back, as they look ahead to their first season in 11A.
"This is really where the work starts to begin,” said Horace head coach Harvey McMahon.
Two years ago Horace football was just getting started.
"In our first ninth-grade year, it was an eye opener of what we’re going up against," said Junior center Asher Kranz.
As a Junior Varsity team.
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"It’s a little bit sentimental," McMahon said. "I looked back this morning and I saw a picture of our very first practice ever as ninth graders. We’ve sat in this ride together and we’ve grown together.”
Today, 12 of the original 14 players took the field for the Hawk’s first varsity practice.
“I’m very excited about it," Kranz said. "I’ve always looked towards.”
“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time," McMahon added. "There’s nerves, there's some anticipation, but overall it’s excitement.”
For the 11A newcomers, the challenge will be tough in their first varsity season.
“I’m excited to see what we can do this year and how we can ring the bell back to them,” the junior said.
“We can measure ourselves off of wins and losses, no doubt anyone can do that," the head coach said. "But there's so many things we can break down within a game that we can measure ourselves."
The expectations for the Hawks are simple.
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“Win, lose, or draw. We keep our heads high no matter what and at the end of the season there’s going to be even more hype than there is now,” McMahon said.
WDAY Sports will have more on Horace football on its high school preview show on Sunday, Aug. 14.
