The Iowa Falls-Alden football team is entering the season with a majority of last year’s starters back. Some of the offensive line and all the offensive skill positions are back. On defense, the top seven leading tacklers have returned, setting up the Cadets with a wealth of experience on both sides.
With the players knowing the system and expectations, Head Coach Eric Walkingstick says the preseason has been a lot of mental training.
“Last year, there were some games where we were contending and we’re in good places,” Walkingstick says. “And it’s kind of been a little bit of our Achilles is just us kind of beating ourselves up and getting down mentally. When realistically we were in a good place, we’ve really worked on that this year and done a lot of mind training and mental training to try to get in a place where that’s not our Achilles anymore. And the kids have really been responding well to that. The kids know where we can get to and to know what we’re capable of. It just comes down to for us executing it and doing our job, and realistically, with the age of our kids, we don’t have any more excuses. That’s what we have on the back of our shirts this year, “No Excuses” and realistically there can’t be. There’s no reason why we can’t be good this year and do some really good things and make some really big noise.”
A key returning starter is senior Karsen Kalous at quarterback. Last season, he completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,299 yards, 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Walkingstick has seen notable year-to-year growth.
“We get a kid that comes back at quarterback that’s had a year’s experience. And he has done such a great job, such a great leader. He has grown exponentially. And at about the point whenever I think he stops growing, he goes and surprises me and just turns it up more. He is in a great place. He’s seeing things. He’s understanding things. He’s really thinking at a high level right now, to be honest with you.”
Kalous was also the leading rusher with 107 carries for 553 yards and five touchdowns. Leading receiver Cade Olberding is back after recording 42 catches for 657 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Cadets will open by hosting Webster City on Friday, August 28.
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