Shorthanded Bronco Football Team Still Condfident
HARRIS---The Bark River-Harris High School football team practiced under the lights Monday night, and they had to make sure that nobody hit anyone too hard. That's because the Broncos have only 14 players, and have to make sure that no one gets hurt by "friendly hitting". They practiced with the junior varsity players, but Bronco Varsity Head Coach Al Stenberg says they have to be careful to stay healthy. Stenberg says that is not an invitation for oppoents to think that the Brocnos will be soft. "If there's ever a team, a group of guys, that I think could go two weeks without much contact, it's this group. They're just naturally an aggressive bunch of kids." For their part, the kids aren't whining about a lack of numbers heading into the season. "I think we're going to be good," BR-H senior lineman Dylan Draze said. "We've got a solid group of players. Everyone wants to win. It's just gonna take being cautious in practice, and playing mean in the games. Because if you're mean, you ain't gonna get hurt!" "I think the season will be good as long as we stay healthy," BR-H senior running back Alex Mathias said, "and if we keep working hard like we have been. It's gonna be tough, but I feel that we can beat them (tough opponents) if we work our hardest." The Broncos will not get much sympathy from their opponents. BR-H made the state playoffs last season, but so did six of their nine opponents on this year's schedule. "With our schedule, we don't have much wiggle room," Stenberg said. "It we get a kid or two hurt, the end record could go bad depending on how the season shakes out." "It's gonna be hard, but we have the possibility of making the playoffs if we work hard, stay healthy, and keep doing what we've been doing," Mathias said. Bark River-Harris opens its season this Friday night at home against Forest Park. Click the thumbnails in ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS to see photos and videos |