Posen ushers in a new season with Friday?s home opener

With the start of another high school football season already upon us, one needs a checklist to make sure everything is ready for opening night. Is there enough air in the ball? Check! Did somebody bring the tee? Check! Does everyone have a helmet? It does not matter as much because the game is at home, but check! Have the returning Viking players forgot about last season?s 3-6 record? Not entirely. Last year?s less than stellar record has been a driving force for a 2006 team that has some things to prove. Most notably, that the Viking football program is about winning and playoff berths. While the consecutive playoff streak came to an end at six last fall, the young men in the red and white uniforms are ready to start a new one.

THE SEASON will start with an opponent that defeated the Vikings in the opener one year ago. Posen?s six game winning streak ended against Cedarville. The Trojans won last year?s contest in the UP and went on to make the playoffs. This year the season-opener is on the home field with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Look for a better start from a Viking offense that scored only six points in the first two games of 2005. The offensive line is more experienced with five returning players up front, and another player that received playing time at tight-end. Head coach Glenn Budnick, who is beginning his 13th season, has the entire left side of the line back from a year ago, which has made it easier to introduce more offensive plays.

?LAST YEAR

we had a lot of new guys on the offensive line due to graduation from the previous year,? said Budnick. ?This year we have that experience back, so we are able to put our plays in at a fast pace.? “We should be more versatile come the first and second game of the season. We did not have our full offense in until the middle of last season.? Last year the offense started slow, while the defense held its own. The reverse was true at the end of the campaign. The offense was unstoppable, while the defense struggled. Along with introducing offensive plays at a quicker pace, defensive practice time has increased.

The coach said the attitude has been excellent from the first day of practice as captains Jordan Hincka, Jason McLeod, and Jason Romel continue to push the troops. Two of the first three games are on the home turf. Look for more details on the 2006 Viking football team in next week?s fall sports preview.