WIBW Football Team Preview

ROSSVILLE, Kan. (WIBW) -- The Rossville Bulldogs had a season to remember last year going 14-0 and capturing the schools first ever 3A State Championship.

Rossville doesn't want to get too complacent though after going 26-1 over the last two seasons.

"It feels good and we can't have too much confidence but we have to have a little bit. We have a good team this year," said Rossville senior offensive lineman Kole Davoren. "It's going to be a good season."

"Well we definitely have a big target on our back but you know we just have to face it like we did last year," said Rossville senior offensive lineman/linebacker Zach Jensen. "Nothings changed."

Derick Hammes is entering his third season as Rossville's football coach, and he's confident even with a target on their back his team can answer any challenge.

"I think that's going to be different. People will be shooting for us. We will have that target as you say and it will be different but it is a challenge for us, and our kids for the two years that I've been here have rose to the challenge," said Hammes. " I think they'll be up for it."

The Bulldogs boasted a juggernaut on offense last season scoring more than 40 points a game running and passing their way through the Mid-East League.

Although a handful of people on last year's offense graduated the team knows they can use their experience to build up the depth.

"We have to keep working on developing our depth because obviously like you said we lost some kids," said Davoren. "We just got to keep getting the younger guys better so we can keep the tradition going."

The Bulldogs do have senior quarterback Tucker Horak who had 50 combined touchdowns through the air and on the ground last year, but it's the guys who protect him that will be key.

"Obviously having an All-State quarterback returning is going to be what a lot of people look at, but we might have as deep and talented offensive line that you could have in 3A football, said Hammes. "So I think that's kind of a hidden secret for us. We got some kids up front that are battling for positions right now but we really have some kids that can block, and that's going to help everybody offensively."

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