Football season is just around the corner, so get out your stadium seats and grab your team spirit!
Jay Wilkinson starts his first year as coach at Deer Creek schools, along with eight others on the coaching staff. With a nine-man coaching staff, seven of them being new, Deer Creek football will look a little different this year.
“It’s going to be a challenge for us,” Wilkinson said. “To see how fast we can adjust. The faster we can adjust, the faster the route to success.”
The team will be transitioning into Class 6A Division II football.
Last year, the team graduated around 30 players. However, a few starters are returning. Among those returning is Zach Kerstetter, one of the leading receivers in the state.
“We’re going to be counting on his leadership, especially early on,” Wilkinson said. “We’re all going to have to rise quickly to the competition and be ready to play. Week four will be when the heat really turns up.”
Coach Wilkinson said he’s also expecting some big things from Junior Preston Seibel.
More returning starting players include Cooper Moore, Ethan Renner and Jake Strickland on offense and Dalton Dawson and Abel Kwendi on defense. The team is looking at Ryan Westerhoff for some possible time as quarterback as well.
“It’s a big step up in competition for us all—with the new systems, schedule and coaches, it will be exciting,” Wilkinson said.
Deer Creek opens the season with South Moore on Sept. 2.