BISMARCK — After an 11-1 record last season, the Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin football is ready to reload.
“We graduated a very special group of kids,” BHRA head football coach Mark Dodd said. “But, just like we have done for 18 years, you have to reload and start from scratch and build it from the bottom up.”
With the top passer (Anderson Thomas), rusher (Evan Parish) and receiver (Chaz Dubois) graduated, the focus of the returners will be along the line.
“Connor Powell is a three-year starter playing offensive guard and defensive end. He has been special as a leader and the strongest kid in the program. We are going to hang our hat in doing everything behind him,” Dodd said. “Vince Lane is a junior, has put up some great work as a defensive end and offensive lineman. Marcus Schreiner is a three-year starter at guard and middle linebacker, Marcus Alpers is a sophomore that came in last year and made an impact and Kyan Jones is going to be our tight end.”
To replace that backfield, standouts from the JV team and other sports in the BHRA program have come in to help.
“We have some inexperience in the backfield but Mason Cunningham really made a name for himself as a sprinter in track. Issac Cahill made a name for himself in JV football and in track as well. And Landen Packard has come in and has made a name for himself in trying to step into the quarterback position,’’ Dodd said. “Packard has been one that has come out of nowhere and he did that in baseball for us in coming in as our starting catcher and had a great year for us. Payton Wallace is going to be a weapon in the wide receiver position.
“We have really good, hard-working kids who have worked hard all summer. So it is not that the cupboard is bare, it is just we are lacking in experience and trying to put the pieces together.”
Along with Packard, Dodd said some younger players can make a move up the roster before the season begins.
“Braxton Schmit may see some time in the starting line up and his older brother, Bryant Schmit is going to be in our starting lineup this season,” Dodd said. “Landynn Balla started some last year and will start this year, Kyler Perez may be our starting cornerback and Liam Parish had a great season on the JV team. We have had some big surprises, but I am concerned this year because none of them have been in the thick of things in the varsity level and that will be a question mark early.”
After their opener against Clifton Central, the Blue Devils will take on Westville. Dodd said both of those games are big tests.
“I wish that game wasn’t week 2 and they would probably say the same thing,” Dodd said. “We can’t worry about that right now because we have to worry about Clifton Central. We barely won last year against them and we were down at halftime. They return a lot of guys, they are physical up front and they have two running backs returning and a new coach. We are trying to get our act together and focus on ourselves.”