ABOVE: Front Row, from left: Zander Johnson, Alex Benck, Jonah Moeller, Bowan Sill, Wyatt Lewis, Lane Kruse, Reagan Emmert, Elijah Jensen. Second row, from left: Tyson Oeltjenbruns, Keagan Berhow, Griffin Studer, Khyran Claxton, Tanner Maulsby, Jacob Mattson, Brock Steinbrink. Third row, from left: Aiden Preston, Logan Zimmer, Brahm Sill, Luke Jostad, Jaxson Bellecourt. Fourth row, from left: Kamden Schwebke, Austin Walters, Ethan Jaskulke, Silas Masseen, Mason Engel Back row, from left: Coach Alex Roorda, Coach Jordan Petschke, Coach Luke Miller, Coach George Sill. Photo by Sue Petrowiak.

GRANADA – After losing eight seniors from last season’s roster, Granada Huntley East Chain/Truman High School football coach Alex Roorda looks to a young group of individuals to replenish the lost talent.

“When you have normally about 20 to 30 kids, losing eight seniors is a huge drop off,” Roorda said. “That’s almost a third of your team, so to lose that is really tough.”

Last season, the Jaguars finished the season with a 3-6 record. After losing three of their last four games before the postseason, GHEC/T fell to Edgerton 72-42 in the Section 3 9-Player playoffs.

Now, with many key roles being vacant – Jayden Bellecourt, Jackson Madsen, and Braeden Shell, just to name a few – eyes are on the up-and-coming underclassmen to seize this chance to make their mark on the program.

“The opportunity in the fact that we have a bunch of juniors, who are now seniors, now it’s their team,” Roorda said.

Roorda and the Jaguars this season do boast a handful of returners who have already made impacts during the first handful of weeks this season.

GHEC/T expects to bring out a senior-led offensive line in 2025. Headlined by center Xander Johnson, Roorda expects big things from a unit that has seen a lot of football.

“Even when you lose a bunch of seniors, if there was one key part that would be great to not lose is the offensive line,” Roorda said. “They are bigger, stronger, nastier, so I like it. It’s going to be good running ball.”

A strong group up front is key to any quarterback looking to run the offense, even more so when it’s his first year starting. Senior Reagan Emmert has been waiting in the wings for an opportunity to start for the Jaguars. So far, Roorda has seen nothing but good things from his first-year starter.

Another newcomer to the offensive side of the ball is Bowan Sill. After winning the Jaguars’ “Iron Man” offseason competition to start the season, Roorda sees the sophomore playing both running back and linebacker this season.

“We determine how much kids have lifted, and how much bigger, faster, stronger they are, and the winner this year was a sophomore by the name of Bowan Sill,” Roorda said. “He’s going to be a great athlete for us. He’s one of the great baseball players, he’s a great basketball player, he runs track when he can.”

The motto for Roorda’s offense this season is establishing the line of scrimmage and running the ball. This is not only because of the seasoned presence the team brings back up front, but it also opens up many options in the pass game.

“Being more of a defensive-minded coach, they say, ‘As soon as the snow flies and the weather gets cold, you’ve got to run the ball,” Roorda said. “My hope is we can run the ball really well, establish the run early, and open up the passing

game because I know Reagan can throw it.”

On the opposite side of the ball, defensive coordinator Jordan Petschke looks to make his mark on his first season guiding the “Purple Ambush.”

Some key pieces of this unit include secondary player Griffin Studer, linebacker Keagan Berhow, and nose tackle Mason Engel.

“As long as we can be really good, execute, and fill our gaps, we are going to be really good this year,” Roorda said.

The Jaguars begin their season this Friday with a road matchup against Westbrook/Walnut Grove. Kickoff is set to begin at 7 p.m.