Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about the football season now!
Q&A with South Central Calhoun quarterback Gavin Batta
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Football has been going great since this year. I have a bigger role.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I am never satisfied with how I play, because I know there is always room to improve.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team is coming along, we started out shaky, our offense is great but our defense needs more work.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“We can work on our defense, and just have more energy and play together.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Our defense, in the past we have been successful because we have had a top 5 defense every year, besides this year.”
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Q&A with Roland Story athlete Hesston Johnson
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Everything has been going very well this football season. Last year our varsity struggled but we have shown this year how much work we have put in.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I have been very happy with the way I've been playing. I have 26 tackles as a safety which is pretty good, and 1 interception.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team has been playing well, each week we are getting a lot better and we’re starting to play as a whole.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“I think we can improve on making tackles 1on1 and just flowing to the ball better.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“We need to keep playing together and even when we are down just keep pushing.”
..............................................
Q&A with Dubuque Senior wide receiver Walker Tart
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Good. Currently 3-2 after a tough loss to Cr Kennedy.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this year?
“I’ve had a solid year so far but there’s always room for improvement and I know I can become a lot better.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team is starting to play up to their potential. Throughout the year we have improved every week.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“Tackling low and wrapping up is something we could improve the most.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Playing together and giving it all we’ve got.”
..............................................
Q&A with Hampton-Dumont athlete Marco Guerrero
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“The season has been going well. We are currently sitting at 3-2 and won our first district game last Friday. I really enjoy this group of guys, these are the guys I grew up with and always talked about playing under the lights on Friday night.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied with my play. There’s a lot of areas I can improve on.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our district is a tough one and you have to excel to compete in 3A. My team has grown from last year. We gained experience last year and have matured this year. This year we have preached doing the little things right. I remember in Week 2 we faced adversity for the first time. It was a home opener and the guys started to calm down. It was entering the fourth quarter and our opponent put up 14 unanswered points headed into the fourth. We were losing 14-10 and we put together a great drive to punch in the game winning touchdown. Our defense played stellar the rest of the game and I knew this team could do something special from then on.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“There’s plenty of things to improve on as a team. If we focus on doing the fundamentals right and focus on your role we can be great.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Some keys to being successful are staying disciplined. We have a great Coach in Coach Miller. He makes sure that we finish through any drill touching the line. It translates to a game for sure. Another key is earning the trust not only from your coaches but your teammates. These are the guys you are going to battle with for 9 weeks straight. You have to create a great culture within each other.”
..............................................
Q&A with Cedar Rapids Kennedy linebacker Ryker Stelling
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“The football season has been going great so far. Our team is 5-0 and one of the top ranked teams in the state for 5A.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I am pleased with how my play has been this season but I feel like I can play even better as the season goes on.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“My team has been playing well this season. Our play just keeps getting better week by week.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“Our team can improve on bringing more energy to our game and playing faster off and to the ball. Also, we can improve on doing our jobs to the best of our ability on both sides of the ball.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Some keys for our team to be successful going forward in the season is our defense needs to play faster and recognize plays quicker. Another key to be successful is to share the ball between all our offensive weapons. The more dudes we get involved in the offense the harder it will be to stop it.”
..............................................
Q&A with South Central Calhoun quarterback Gavin Batta
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Football has been going great since this year. I have a bigger role.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I am never satisfied with how I play, because I know there is always room to improve.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team is coming along, we started out shaky, our offense is great but our defense needs more work.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“We can work on our defense, and just have more energy and play together.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Our defense, in the past we have been successful because we have had a top 5 defense every year, besides this year.”
..............................................
Q&A with Roland Story athlete Hesston Johnson
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Everything has been going very well this football season. Last year our varsity struggled but we have shown this year how much work we have put in.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I have been very happy with the way I've been playing. I have 26 tackles as a safety which is pretty good, and 1 interception.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team has been playing well, each week we are getting a lot better and we’re starting to play as a whole.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“I think we can improve on making tackles 1on1 and just flowing to the ball better.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“We need to keep playing together and even when we are down just keep pushing.”
..............................................
Q&A with Dubuque Senior wide receiver Walker Tart
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Good. Currently 3-2 after a tough loss to Cr Kennedy.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this year?
“I’ve had a solid year so far but there’s always room for improvement and I know I can become a lot better.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team is starting to play up to their potential. Throughout the year we have improved every week.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“Tackling low and wrapping up is something we could improve the most.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Playing together and giving it all we’ve got.”
..............................................
Q&A with Hampton-Dumont athlete Marco Guerrero
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“The season has been going well. We are currently sitting at 3-2 and won our first district game last Friday. I really enjoy this group of guys, these are the guys I grew up with and always talked about playing under the lights on Friday night.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied with my play. There’s a lot of areas I can improve on.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our district is a tough one and you have to excel to compete in 3A. My team has grown from last year. We gained experience last year and have matured this year. This year we have preached doing the little things right. I remember in Week 2 we faced adversity for the first time. It was a home opener and the guys started to calm down. It was entering the fourth quarter and our opponent put up 14 unanswered points headed into the fourth. We were losing 14-10 and we put together a great drive to punch in the game winning touchdown. Our defense played stellar the rest of the game and I knew this team could do something special from then on.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“There’s plenty of things to improve on as a team. If we focus on doing the fundamentals right and focus on your role we can be great.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Some keys to being successful are staying disciplined. We have a great Coach in Coach Miller. He makes sure that we finish through any drill touching the line. It translates to a game for sure. Another key is earning the trust not only from your coaches but your teammates. These are the guys you are going to battle with for 9 weeks straight. You have to create a great culture within each other.”
..............................................
Q&A with Cedar Rapids Kennedy linebacker Ryker Stelling
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“The football season has been going great so far. Our team is 5-0 and one of the top ranked teams in the state for 5A.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I am pleased with how my play has been this season but I feel like I can play even better as the season goes on.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“My team has been playing well this season. Our play just keeps getting better week by week.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“Our team can improve on bringing more energy to our game and playing faster off and to the ball. Also, we can improve on doing our jobs to the best of our ability on both sides of the ball.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Some keys for our team to be successful going forward in the season is our defense needs to play faster and recognize plays quicker. Another key to be successful is to share the ball between all our offensive weapons. The more dudes we get involved in the offense the harder it will be to stop it.”
..............................................
