Velva Football Preview

Unlike years past, this year's Velva/Drake Football team will have a number of holes to fill on b...  More »

Unlike years past, this year's Velva/Drake Football team will have a number of holes to fill on both sides of the ball. The three time state champions lost 15 seniors to graduation and return only 2 starters. Head coach Larry Sandy says the team will be young and points to team speed as a key to the Aggies success. Larry Sandy, Velva football coach:Our returning starters are Josh Weidler and Troy Jesperson. They'll be a couple of our leaders. Our 3 returning seniors, we look for them for leadership and along the way some of our young kids are really gonna have to step up and probably step into leadership roles that usually at this time they're not accustomed to. Our strengths are probably going to be in our team speed I think. We got good athleticism. Overall we like the athleticism, the athletes that we have in our kids. Josh Weidler, junior:We got three returning seniors that have been stepping it up, been leaders all around which helps us out a lot. Obviously what 10 seniors gone, need some leaders and they're doing a pretty good job right now. The Aggies open their season on Friday at Minot Ryan and the team is concentrating more on themselves than the Lions. Sandy:We're focusing more on ourselves and understanding what Minot Ryan does that's part of the process. But for the most part you try and take from this first game as I think we always historically have just working on what we do and taking care of what we can. Game time Friday night is at 7 p.m. at Herb Parker Stadium.  « Less