Find out what some of the top players in the state are saying about the football season now!
Q&A with Humboldt running back Lance Coon
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“As a young athlete coming off of a respectable freshman season of with 27 touchdowns, I can wholeheartedly tell you varsity is a whole different ball game, with the level of talent at each position being the best every school can offer, I am blessed to have one of the best rounded teams in the class of 3A we have an offense that is capable of running up the score but any team can score what sets the Humboldt wildcats apart from the rest is defense with fast versatile defensive backs and linebackers that more than happy to hit, as well as an edge pressure by @Tayeton_lohaus a monster player with an aggression we love in this game, our team has been coached as close to perfection as one can, our only drawbacks would have to be when we and I can tell you myself don’t trust the process our stray away from our own job.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“The key to our success moving forward is simply to trust the other 10 men on the field with us at the time to do their jobs and return the favor.”
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Q&A with Ankeny Centennial safety Beau Gerke
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“This year's football season has been great, putting in work and getting better.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I am not satisfied with my performance on the field. As I believe you should always be looking to get better. However, with each passing week I’m growing my skills to reach the goals I have set for myself.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“As a team we have been putting in the hours in the offseason and season now it’s just a matter of putting the pieces together and becoming the force we all know we can be.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“As a team communication is key and while we struggled in the past games we are getting more and more proficient by the week.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“As team discipline is extremely important. Whether it be showing up to practice ready to go. Or maintaining and carrying out our assignments on the field. Discipline is definitely a key for success moving forward.”
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Q&A with Southeast Valley linebacker Justin Loseke
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“The football season has been going great so far! We are 7-0, ranked #1 in 2a, and are district 2 champs.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I have been pretty pleased with the way I have played, but there is always room for improvement and I can clean a lot of things up heading into the postseason.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team has played great. We have been clicking and playing great as a team.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“We lead the district in penalties, so that’s something we need to improve on. We also have some mental mistakes that we need to clean up.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“We just need to take it one game at a time and just stay focused week in and week out.”
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Q&A with Wapello offensive lineman Ryan McDonough
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Everything with the football season is going great, good practices, good games and a good environment.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I’m somewhat pleased with how I have played so far but there are many improvements that I still need to make, to make me a better football player overall.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I feel our team has played pretty well. We have definitely gotten better from the beginning of the season and we are continuing getting better every day we step on the field.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“I feel that my team could Improve on getting all 3 stages (offense, defense, special teams) of the game working together and have good games on all 3 sides of the ball.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“The keys for the team being successful in the future are just working through adversity during the game and staying together and not pointing fingers at each other and executing on all sides of the ball.”
..............................................
Q&A with Sumner-Fredericksburg running back Kade Mitchell
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Football this year has been fun for me as usual. I am very close with a lot of my teammates and it makes it special. I enjoy the energy and time spent with coaches and everyone around me.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I would say I have played pretty decently due to the tough district but as always there is definitely room for improvement. So far this season with 2 games to play I have 6 tds, 432 rushing yards, and average 7.4ypc on 58 attempts. On defense I also have 29 total tackles on 21 solos (cb). None of that would be possible without the help of the teammates around me.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I’m going to be honest we have struggled a lot early in the game and then once we get going sometimes it is just too late; last week against Beckman we came out tough right away for sure and stayed in the game the whole time and it was a blast playing against some of the best competition in the state.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“I feel as a team we need to improve on our offense. We have sparks of good but just sometimes struggle to finish the drive.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Going forward we need to just keep the positive energy and keep working as a team. We can’t be giving up now just because we're getting near the end of the season. If everyone does their job and keeps working hard we will be rewarded.”
..............................................
Q&A with Humboldt running back Lance Coon
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“As a young athlete coming off of a respectable freshman season of with 27 touchdowns, I can wholeheartedly tell you varsity is a whole different ball game, with the level of talent at each position being the best every school can offer, I am blessed to have one of the best rounded teams in the class of 3A we have an offense that is capable of running up the score but any team can score what sets the Humboldt wildcats apart from the rest is defense with fast versatile defensive backs and linebackers that more than happy to hit, as well as an edge pressure by @Tayeton_lohaus a monster player with an aggression we love in this game, our team has been coached as close to perfection as one can, our only drawbacks would have to be when we and I can tell you myself don’t trust the process our stray away from our own job.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“The key to our success moving forward is simply to trust the other 10 men on the field with us at the time to do their jobs and return the favor.”
..............................................
Q&A with Ankeny Centennial safety Beau Gerke
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“This year's football season has been great, putting in work and getting better.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I am not satisfied with my performance on the field. As I believe you should always be looking to get better. However, with each passing week I’m growing my skills to reach the goals I have set for myself.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“As a team we have been putting in the hours in the offseason and season now it’s just a matter of putting the pieces together and becoming the force we all know we can be.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“As a team communication is key and while we struggled in the past games we are getting more and more proficient by the week.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“As team discipline is extremely important. Whether it be showing up to practice ready to go. Or maintaining and carrying out our assignments on the field. Discipline is definitely a key for success moving forward.”
..............................................
Q&A with Southeast Valley linebacker Justin Loseke
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“The football season has been going great so far! We are 7-0, ranked #1 in 2a, and are district 2 champs.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I have been pretty pleased with the way I have played, but there is always room for improvement and I can clean a lot of things up heading into the postseason.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“Our team has played great. We have been clicking and playing great as a team.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“We lead the district in penalties, so that’s something we need to improve on. We also have some mental mistakes that we need to clean up.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“We just need to take it one game at a time and just stay focused week in and week out.”
..............................................
Q&A with Wapello offensive lineman Ryan McDonough
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Everything with the football season is going great, good practices, good games and a good environment.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I’m somewhat pleased with how I have played so far but there are many improvements that I still need to make, to make me a better football player overall.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I feel our team has played pretty well. We have definitely gotten better from the beginning of the season and we are continuing getting better every day we step on the field.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“I feel that my team could Improve on getting all 3 stages (offense, defense, special teams) of the game working together and have good games on all 3 sides of the ball.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“The keys for the team being successful in the future are just working through adversity during the game and staying together and not pointing fingers at each other and executing on all sides of the ball.”
..............................................
Q&A with Sumner-Fredericksburg running back Kade Mitchell
How has everything with the football season been going so far?
“Football this year has been fun for me as usual. I am very close with a lot of my teammates and it makes it special. I enjoy the energy and time spent with coaches and everyone around me.”
Have you been pleased with how you have played this season?
“I would say I have played pretty decently due to the tough district but as always there is definitely room for improvement. So far this season with 2 games to play I have 6 tds, 432 rushing yards, and average 7.4ypc on 58 attempts. On defense I also have 29 total tackles on 21 solos (cb). None of that would be possible without the help of the teammates around me.”
How do you feel your team has played?
“I’m going to be honest we have struggled a lot early in the game and then once we get going sometimes it is just too late; last week against Beckman we came out tough right away for sure and stayed in the game the whole time and it was a blast playing against some of the best competition in the state.”
What do you feel your team can improve on?
“I feel as a team we need to improve on our offense. We have sparks of good but just sometimes struggle to finish the drive.”
What are the keys for your team being successful going forward?
“Going forward we need to just keep the positive energy and keep working as a team. We can’t be giving up now just because we're getting near the end of the season. If everyone does their job and keeps working hard we will be rewarded.”
..............................................
