Team Preview:
Written By: Sven Alskog

A year ago the main source of excitement surrounding the Hansen football program was the fact that the team was able to separate from Murtaugh and play a full schedule with no co-op.

As the Huskies get set to embark on year two, the task will be find a way to win some games after going 0-7 a year ago.

Jim Rife is back on the sideline to lead the way, with senior quarterback Paxton Stimpson highlighting the returners on the offensive side of things.

Multiple faces are back to keep consistency going forward.

“We have a good group of playmakers, just not a lot of depth. We are returning five offensive starters in Stimpson, Radley Hill, Roger Hartgrave, Cruz Huizar and Jonathan Camarillo,” added Rife.

The coach wants to see improvement in the play of the line up front. If the Huskies can make that happen, the offensive unit can be productive as evidenced by some of the higher point totals the group put up last season.

When Hansen is on the field defensively expect to see some good athleticism.

“We have good overall speed, [but] just need to play more disciplined,” said Rife.

He did identify one major area for improvement.

“Need to tackle better.”

As is the case in many small schools, especially at one like Hansen that was forced to co-op for a period of time, numbers are not high within the football program.

“We have a good group of kids, but not a lot of depth in the program. [We will] probably only end up with about 16 in the program,” said Rife.

Hansen last won a football game on August 31, 2012 at home against Murtaugh, so the Huskies are hungry to get on the win column again this season. The first opportunity to do so for the team will come on August 24 at Lighthouse Christian.