By DELBERT PETERS

Staff writer

With 17 reporting for practice, and six returning letter winners, Goessel football is looking to finally breach the .500 mark.

Leading the Bluebirds will be senior quarterback Dylan Lindeman, who has two years’ experience as a starter.

“We feel good about the team,” he said. “It seems like we never have a lot of seniors, but our sophomores and juniors have a lot of experience.”

One of the team’s biggest advantages will be its speed, running back Jacob Hagewood said.

“We do not have size, but we have speed,” the senior said.

Receiver and running back Kale Funk, and junior receiver Nate Zogleman will be key players.

Quickness will be important on both sides of the ball, said Luke Freeman, who is spending his final season as manager after having an injury repaired during the summer.

“We will be solid on defense, and speed will overcome lack of size,” he said.

The Bluebirds finished last season with an overall 4-5 record, but emerged from district games 1-4.

“One of our goals is to finish the season with a winning record,” Lindeman said.

The seniors remembered a loss by two points last year that would have made it a winning season.

Goessel has nine games and will start its season with two home games. Moundridge will visit Sept. 6, and Rural Vista on Sept. 13.

As Coach Hiebert places underclassmen into varsity positions, it will be interesting to see how the team responds Friday night.

“We will strive for precision in everything we do,” Hiebert said.