Coming off a Class 1A runner-up finish last year, the Dike-New Hartford football team will begin the season Friday by hosting Jesup for a non-district game.
The Wolverines have been working to fill 10 starting positions on each side of the ball, with Dawson Dietrick on the offensive and defensive lines being the only returning starter. Head Coach Don Betts says getting varsity game reps will be a big step toward the reload.
“Varsity football is just different than JV football,” Betts says. “There’s more intensity, more physicality, the game is faster, all of those things. And it’ll just take our guys a while to get there. I think we have some very talented football players. We just need to get them some experience early in the year. And then it becomes coaching that technique and making sure that they’re doing things the correct way. And that’ll be a point of emphasis for us as we move into our non-district play, really drilling down on that technique, making sure that our guys are doing things the right way.”
The J-Hawks also have ground to make up after the graduation of several playmakers. Head Coach Jacob McMartin is a former Wolverine assistant, providing familiarity with the DNH system.
The game will start at 7:00 p.m. at Gunderson Sports Complex.
