Park Rapids returns 16 letterwinners who played significant minutes last season when teams were limited to six games in the regular season while the section semifinal and championship games and the state playoffs were canceled because of COVID. The Panthers went 1-5 during the regular season and received the No. 6 seed for the Section 8AAA playoffs. Perham, the No. 3 seed, defeated Park Rapids 57-12 in the section quarterfinals before the rest of the playoffs were canceled.
Being counted on to lead the Panthers this season are seniors Nick Michaelson, Kobe Burton, Parker Harmon, Logan Jackson, Jaxson Lund, Kaleb Stearns, Sam Reish, Josiah May and Tristan Hill; juniors Mason Yliniemi, Ethan Eischens, Luke Hartung, Cory Johnson, Harley Wellman and Lucas Kritzeck; and sophomore Noah Morris. Hill, Michaelson and Reish were chosen as captains.
“We had a really good summer and that has carried over to the first week of practice. So far, things are going really well,” said Nordick. “This is a really unselfish group. They all want to learn the game and are willing to be coached. We’re trying to turn the corner and win the close games and win some games we’re not supposed to win. Our top 20 kids have a lot of experience at the varsity level. They come in with a little more swag and moxie. I think that confidence will make us much more competitive and lead to more wins.”
The Panthers should be more efficient on offense with the return several starters, including Yliniemi (right tackle), Eischens (right guard), Hill (center), May (running back), Reish (running back), Morris (quarterback), Michaelson (wide receiver), Jackson (wide receiver) and Hartung (tight end).
May started the season at quarterback, completing 11 of 32 passes for 148 yards and one TD before moving to running back, where he rushed 50 times for 143 yards. Morris completed 30 of 71 passes for 464 yards and five TDs and rushed for 134 yards on 60 carries with three touchdowns. Reish rushed 17 times for 136 yards and two TDs in the Panthers’ playoff loss to Perham.
Michaelson led the Panthers with 13 receptions for 270 yards and two TDs and also completed a 71-yard TD strike. Reish (four receptions for 63 yards and a TD), Jackson (three receptions for 37 yards) and May (three receptions for 18 yards) also aided Park Rapids’ passing attack last season.
Looking to fill the other starting spots and provide depth on the offensive line are senior Kiergon Wilkins (tackle), Wellman (tackle), Johnson (tackle) and Kritzeck (guard), junior Nicholas Graham (line), and sophomores Jack Moses (line) and Hunter Harrison (line). Stearns (running back, receiver), Lund (receiver), Harmon (receiver), Hill (running back), sophomores Matt Johanning (quarterback, receiver) and Noah Larson (receiver), and eighth grader Jaydon Walen (running back) are also being counted on to fill key roles offensively.
“We’re going to have a lot more balance on offense,” said Nordick. “We have talented receivers, so we’re going to be able to throw the ball more. We also have some explosive kids in the backfield. The key will be the offensive line. If they can create holes and give our quarterback time, we should be able to make a few more big plays.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers also return plenty of experience with Michaelson (end), Jackson (end) and May (nose guard) returning up front along with Hill, Burton, Reish and Wellman back at the linebacker spots and Hartung returning at safety to lead the secondary.
Hill had 42 tackles (including 26 solo), Michaelson had 28 tackles (including 15 solo), Burton had 24 tackles (including 16 solo), Reish had 16 tackles (including 13 solo), May had 15 solo tackles, Kritzeck had 12 tackles (including 10 solo), and Wellman was in on 10 tackles. Hill forced three fumbles and recovered two fumbles while May led the team with six tackles for loss and Reish had two interceptions.
Looking to challenge for starting spots and providing depth on defense will be Kritzeck, Eischens and Wilkins up front; Yliniemi, Johnson, Johanning, Harmon, Martin and Larson at the linebacker spots; Stearns and Lund at the cornerback positions; and Morris at safety with Walen and sophomore Andrew Stopka adding depth in the secondary.
“We’re going to stick with our same defense and stress having 11 guys swarm the football,” said Nordick. “We have good athletes on the defensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary. We have smart kids who I feel will make some big plays for us.”
Michaelson will handle the kickoff and punting duties with Walen kicking extra points and field goals. Returning punts and kickoffs will be Reish, May, Walen, Stearns and Morris.
The Panthers graduated nine players in Caleb David, Joe Huber, Lane Monaghan, James Hartig, Kenton Klein, Kaiden Walsh, Tate Usher, Chaise Persons and Ronaldo De La Cruz Gomez. David was the team’s leading rusher, gaining 314 yards on 60 carries, while adding five receptions for 102 yards and a TD. Hartig caught 10 passes for 153 yards and three TDs while Usher had two receptions for 18 yards. De La Cruz Gomez kicked two extra points. On defense, Klein played nose guard; David, Usher, Huber and Persons played linebacker; and Hartig and Monaghan led the secondary.
Rounding out the varsity and junior varsity roster are junior Jakob Holmer (lineman); sophomores Alex Brewer (offensive lineman, linebacker), Anthony Tyge (wide receiver, defensive back), Blake Morris (wide receiver, defensive back), Brayden Kohrs (lineman), Bryant Tesch (lineman), Eli Burton (running back, defensive back), Mason Sherva (lineman), Nolan McKenna (lineman), Quinn Hoscheid (running back, linebacker) and Justin Baker (wide receiver, linebacker); and freshmen D’Andre Johnson (lineman), Gannon Hrdlicka (running back, defensive back), Kale Ravnaas (wide receiver, linebacker), Kaleb Weaver (lineman), Landon Strasburg (wide receiver, defensive back), Mason Nisius (lineman), Owen VanBatavia (wide receiver, defensive back), Thomas Hartung (wide receiver, defensive back), Holden Banket (wide receiver, linebacker) and Zamareon Miller (running back, linebacker).
Serving as assistant coaches are Randy Thompson (defense and receivers), Brian Johnson (offensive line), Jesse Bucholz (defensive line), Charles Hrdlicka (defensive backs) and Kevin Murphy (special teams).
Park Rapids will battle Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton, East Grand Forks, Fergus Falls, Perham, Roseau and Thief River Falls for the Section 8AAA title, starting with a game at Perham to open the season. Nordick feels D-G-F and Perham will be the teams to beat in the section with Pequot Lakes and Detroit Lakes joining those two atop the Midwest Red District standings.
The Panthers will be seeking their first winning season since 2013. Park Rapids has posted a 15-48 record over the last seven seasons. If his team can stay healthy, Nordick feels the Panthers have the talent to finish above .500 and develop into a contender for the district and section titles.
“I know the guys are excited to play Perham right away. They’re excited about the opportunity to compete against the best in Section 8AAA. They want to show up and let everyone know that this isn’t the same Park Rapids team. We’re not going to be an easy win on the schedule any more,” said Nordick. “We need to change our culture and go from hoping to win to knowing we can win. Finding that mentality and eliminating that doubt is going to be huge for us. We need to learn how to overcome and win. I think we can sneak in there and compete with the best. The coaching staff and the kids are excited about this season. If we can stay healthy, I feel we can beat anyone on our schedule.”
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Park Rapids football team looking to 'turn the corner' - Park Rapids Enterprise
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