Meskwaki to face #3 ranked Preston

TAMA NEWS-HERALD- Football season has finally returned and the Meskwaki Warriors will be the first local team to hit the gridiron this Friday, just three days into their school year. “One thing you hate to see as a coach,” said Todd Dale, Meskwaki Athletics Director and the varsity 8-man football team head coach, “is a game the first week of school.” To make matters even more challenging, the Warriors are pitted against the number three ranked team in the state, the Preston Trojans who finished last year with 10 wins and only a single loss.

Coach Dale doesn’t seem the least bit worried though. “Last year, we beat the number five ranked team,” and they managed that with a roster of only 10. This year, the Warriors with be fielding a much larger team with a much deeper bench to draw from. With 16 members on this years team the Warriors are going to have a lot more flexibility, diversity and resources at their disposal.

Last year, they still managed to pull off a 4-7 record and that was just their second year in existence. “We’re way ahead of where we were last year,” said Dale with confidence.

Another secret weapon on the side of the Warriors is a bigger support staff this year. Asst. Coach Kenneth Mauskemo, who’s been with the team since it first started, will be returning this year aided by three more assistant coaches, Matt Bear, Heath Brown and Steadman Brown.

Even though the match won’t count toward the playoffs as the Warriors are in District 5 and the Trojans are in District 4, it will affect their overall standings. And they’ll have some serious bragging rights if they do win. If not, “since it doesn’t count toward the playoffs it’ll be a chance to practice live,” said Dale.

The Warriors first regular season game will be on Sept. 2, when they face off against the Midland Eagles in Wyoming, Ia.

Friday’s game against the Trojans will be held in Preston at 2:30 p.m.