Fall Sports: Cross seeks discipline from Wildcats in 2015

Everyone will likely get plenty of playing time for the Banner County football team in 2015.

The Wildcats have just eight players on their six-man football team roster, although three return from last year's squad that finished the season with a 2-6 record.

First-year head coach Brady Cross, who was an assistant on last year's team, said things are going well to this point as the Wildcats prepare to open the season at Maywood-Hayes Center on Sept. 4.

"We're figuring out that we're out of shape. We don't have a ton of size, we don't have a lot of speed," he said. "We're just going to have to out-hustle everybody. We're going to have to get in shape and strategize our plays and go from there."

Cross, who played football at Banner County when it played eight-man football, said last year was a tremendous help to him in adjusting to the six-man game.

"It helped a lot, just getting to know the pace of six-man football," he said. "It's different to see when you look over, you look to your right and look for a sub if someone needs one, and you've only got one or two other kids. It's slim pickings but that's why I said that it made me understand that being in shape is really important.

"The kids have to be very disciplined. Blocking, you have to block and if you don't, you're definitely going to see who made the mistake. It was a very good thing being an assistant and not just walking into a head coaching position. It was very good."

Stepping in as his assistant this year is Missouri native Trey Mosby.

"He's very knowledgeable and great with the athletes," Cross said. "He hasn't seen a six-man game yet, but on paper and in practice, he's already adjusted to the tempo. He's very good ad readusting to everything. He came from a bigger school in Missouri. He played football, 11-man there. Just coming out here is a little different ball game then what he's used to, but he's enjoying it."

The three returnees from last year's squad are Austin Dolberg, Abby Russell and Garrett Grubbs. Cross expects leadership from all three this season.

"They've all three got really good poise and desire," he said. "They're going to be really good leaders, I think, for this team."

Offensively, Cross would like to be more of a running team but is not sure if this squad fits that bill. Whatever ends up being the team's identity on offense, the head coach expects disciplined football.

"I don't really like being spread out and passing the ball. I like the run right over the top of you style, but I don't know if we'll be able to do that this year or not," he said. "That's my main goal, just good, disciplined football. If that doesn't work, we'll have to go from there and get situated and maybe spread things out a little bit, and what speed we do have, we can maybe utilize it being spread out.

"That's one thing that I learned last year from coach (Heath) Johnson. He was very good on the offense side. He was very strategic and really quick to acclimate to the game."

The Wildcats will have an entire new backfield this season. Cross said James Sandberg or Trenten Eskew will play quarterback, with the other seeing time at running back.

"They both have really good speed, they both have really good hustle, and they see the field really well," Cross said.

Austin Dolberg could also see time at running back this season.

"He's kind of a powerhouse," Cross said. "He's got the build. He's got a lot of heart, a lot of try in him and he's hard to shut down."

On the offensive line, Cole Blanke will get the nod at center and Grubbs will likely start at guard. Russell and Seth Dvorak will see playing time at the third offensive line position.

Grubbs will also start at defensive end. He was second on the team last year with 50 tackles.

"You ask him to do something, he's going to do it," Cross said. "He might get held up for a second, but he's very aggressive."

Dolberg could start at nose guard or at middle linebacker, Cross said, while Blanke could start at nose guard or defensive tackle.

The first-year head coach said he is still looking at starters for other defensive spots.

Cross stressed that conditioning will be a major factor for the Wildcats this season with only eight players on the roster. He said his team will have to be disciplined and hopefully avoid any injuries.

"We were there once too, when it comes to conditioning and running. It's just going to be who outhustles the other guy when it comes down to it," he said. "This is going to be a very disciplined year. We'll see how we do with injuries and hopefully we just don't get any."