PREVIEW: BRAVES FOOTBALL FACES #2 HAMLIN

    The Britton-Hecla football squad has plenty of optimism heading into its 2024 campaign but will be tested in its season opener at Hamlin on Friday with kickoff at 7 p.m.
    The Chargers have been a perennial power and will sport a bit of a different look this year but are ranked number two in the Class 9AA South Dakota Media Preseason Poll.
    “I know that Hamlin lost a lot but also brings back a lot,” said B-H coach Jacob Skogstad.  “They lost a lot of their front line and are not nearly as big as they have been in years past, but they are every bit as talented as they have been on the outside.  It will be a lot different than playing against 260-pounders but they are still very dangerous when they get the ball in space and very fast to the football.  It’s a little different challenge than we’ve had in recent years but still a really big challenge for us, and a win would send a message that we are a team to be reckoned with.”
    The Braves had 39 players report for practice this fall with 19 of them being letterwinners and nine were regulars a year ago.  Coach Jacob Skogstad’s crew compiled a 5-3 regular season mark before falling in the first round of the Class 9AA playoffs last season.
    Tagged as starters for the season opener on the offensive side of the ball are Jace Rein (6-0, 145, So.) at quarterback, Bryce Hawkinson (5-7, 152, Jr.) at runningback, Daniel Person (6-1, 150, Sr.) and Mitchell Burger (5-10, 130, So.) at the wide receiver spots, Ben Suther (6-0, 170, So.) and Jordyn McGregor 6-2, 155, Sr.) at the tight end positions, and Riley Hofland (6-2, 240, Jr.), Graham Fosness (5-11, 215, So.), and Peyton Person (5-10, 215, Jr.) in the offensive line.
    Defensive starters will be Ben Folkman (6-0, 140, Jr.) and Person at cornerbacks, Hawkinson at safety, Dashel Davidson (5-9, 170, Sr.) and Suther will be at linebacker, and McGregor, Pearson, Fosness, and Isaiah Jackson (5-10, 175, Sr.) in the line.
    Skogstad has the luxury of a lot of depth this fall and Jaxon Zuelke (6-1. 175, Jr.), Will Richter (6-0, 150, Jr.), and Bryce Heitkamp (5-8, 135, Jr.) are all expected to see extensive duty on both sides of the ball.  Ben Folkman, Davidson, and Jackson will also be key players on the offensive unit, while Burger, Hofland, Canyon Brassfield (5-8, 220, So,), Colton Chapin (5-8, 158, Fr.), and Nathan Folkman (5-10, 160, Fr.) will see time with the defense.
    Skogstad said that the good numbers and abundant experience do present a challenge – how to utilize all the players to the team’s advantage.
    “We have a lot of kids that can do some stuff for us in different ways both offensively and defensively, and figuring out how to utilize that has been a fun challenge for us.”
    The Braves’ boss said his team will have a run-first mentality this season, but he feels his club will have a lot of weapons.
    “For us to be successful we have to run the ball, but I see us as a team that can really spread the wealth this year and hit your from a lot of different vantage points on the field,” said Skogstad.
    Putting together some long drives to keep Hamlin’s offense off the field will be a key for the Braves in the opener.
    “Ball control is going to be huge,” stressed Skogstad.  “If we can keep the ball out of their hands they can’t score touchdowns, so ball security, maintaining possession, and having long drives will be important.  That’s a little different than what I like, but I think that’s the way we are going to have to beat this team.  With them being smaller and us bigger, our goal is to establish ourselves and our physicality.”    
    Skogstad said the Braves need to be better against the run this season, but he thinks the pieces are in place.
    “I think we will be able to bring pressure and play some different types of coverages on the back end that may confuse some teams.  We will be a really aggressive defense that’s going to come downhill and hit you in the mouth.  We just need to stay level and keep pushing.  That characteristic will really take our football team from a good team to a great team.”
    The Braves have one player that will not be available this week.  Jade Tisher has some broken ribs and will be out indefinitely.