The Aberdeen Central football team checks a lot of boxes as the Golden Eagles prepare for the upcoming football campaign. The squad has size, athleticism, depth and plenty of experience.
This year’s team features 19 seniors on the roster.
“It’s great to have that ability to know what your guys can do, play to their strengths, at the same time. They know what to do and what’s expected of them, whether its offense, defense, special teams,” said Central coach Justin Briese. “It’s easy to look to them as leaders, especially the senior class, a lot of them this will be their third year starting. It’s going to be great to have that senior leadership, and those guys that we know we can count on.”
One of those seniors is quarterback Brayden Bowman, who saw major minutes last season due to an injury of a teammate. Bowman has put in the time during the off season, according to Briese.
“Ever since off-season started in November he’s done an awesome job of being in the weight room, all through the spring, all through the summer, helping lead the way as a quarterback and a senior,” Briese said. “He’s done a great job even through the summer. It’s good to see him get his opportunity.”
Briese, who likes to play a physical style of football, will be counting on the likes of Joey Dallmann, among other seniors to help set the tone on both sides of the ball.
“He’s going to continue to be a key part of our offense as well as on defense now, too,” Briese said. “He’s going to be a guy that we can lean on, again a guy that’s been starting and playing for three years now, along with Jack Bertsch, Felipe Gonzalez, some big physical guys again that come back. They know what’s expected of them and they do a really great job.”
With three linemen checking in at 280 pounds or more, the Golden Eagles plan to set the tone up front.
“Our big boys up front are going to be a big mainstay for us,” Briese said.
Central also has dangerous weapons at the skill positions featuring the likes of Karson Borge, Carter Lust, Ridley Waldo, and Bennett Eisenbeisz.
“It’s going to be exciting to see how we can use them throughout the year,” Briese said.
The Golden Eagles will start their season on Friday against Class 11AA top-rated Pierre, followed by a contest against perennial power Tea Area.
“It’s just the way the schedule works out again this year. Regardless of how you look at it, it’s either a good spot to see where you’re at, whether you win or lose, hey, how are we competing against this team, that year in and year out has been successful,” Briese said. “And if we can compete against those kind of teams early on in the season, I think we’ve got a lot of things to build on for the rest of the season.”
Like every other team in the state, Central hopes to be in the hunt for a possible state championship at the end of the season. Briese said the concentrating on the little things, however, will help to make the big things possible.
“Focus on this week, what do I have to do to help us win this game, whether it’s just one play at a time, one rep at a time,” Briese said. “How do we get our guys to just focus and just think this one little task, take care of that and that’s going to build into those big things that we need to win.”
Regardless of the opponent or the location, look for the Golden Eagles to focus on the battle in the trenches each week, knowing that the line of scrimmage determines the outcomes of most games.
“I think no matter what coach you talk to, they’re going to talk about offensive and defensive lines, being able to control the game,” Briese said. “That’s where the games are really won and lost.”
That’s where Central’s physical style of play figures to make a big impact this upcoming season.
“We’re always going to have a level of smash-mouth as far as our big boys up front. Let them do their work and then let the guys behind them, whether that’s offense or defense, being able to make plays,” Briese said. “There’s always going to be that to an extent and I think this year with our front, offense and defense, having the guys that we have there, it’s going to be a big part of it this year as well.”
