The North Union football team is aiming for their third straight playoff appearance after finishing off 2023 with a 5-4 record and the second playoff berth in school history.
Head Coach Matt Ernster says the team used the offseason to continue to build on the foundation of what they’ve done in the past.
The Warriors enter the season with stability at the quarterback position, as senior Grady Madden returns for his second year as the starter. Madden threw for 1088 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, while adding 292 yards and 2 more scores on the ground. Ernster feels Madden has really picked up on the small details of the North Union offense.
Much of what North Union has to replace in the starting lineup from last season comes at the offensive skill positions. Leading rusher Landon Hagedorn, who rushed for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns last season is now graduated, as well as last year’s three leading receivers Preston Guerdet, Kaden Laabs, and Talan Priester. The Warriors do not bring back anyone who had more than 6 receptions or 76 yards receiving last season. In spite of that, Ernster says there are a handful of guys who have patiently waited for their turn and are ready to step into the spotlight.
Junior Draven Keeler saw limited varsity action last year, averaging six yards per carry on 22 rushing attempts and is ready to step into the starting running back role. Drew Henderson, Eli Oleson, Nick Hanson, Greyson Colegrove, and Khael Jones are poised to see a lot of reps at wide receiver.
Ernster also expects his team to be strong up front, with three of the five starters on the offensive line returning.
On the defensive side of the ball, North Union held six of their nine opponents to twenty points or less last season. Despite graduating their top four leading tackles from 2023, the Warriors still bring back lots of players who have plenty of varsity experience. John Waller, Brennan Bollinger, and Lucas Dreyer all return after playing significant snaps on the defensive line and will play up front on both sides of the ball. Grady Madden and Caden Walders bring a veteran presense to the secondary.
The Warriors will contend with a strong district that features defending class A state champion West Hancock, Saint Ansgar, who was undefeated in the regular season in 2023, and a rising Lake Mills team that also made the playoffs last season.
After making the playoffs in both 2022 and 2023, Ernster sees playoff spots becoming more of an expectation in the program.
The first priority for North Union is to post a winning record and secure a playoff spot, but Ernster doesn’t want his team to stop there.
The Warriors open the season by paying a visit to Okoboji on August 30th in a non-district matchup, before visiting Saint Ansgar in week two to open district play.
