The Cardington-Lincoln football team is looking to rebound off a 2-7 season in which it went 1-5 in KMAC, but the team ended on a winning note with a close victory over Mount Gilead.
Coach Ryan Goetzman hopes that the team can pick up off this momentum to make a turnaround in 2022.
“Our team as a whole set the expectations to get into the playoffs,” said Goetzman, who is in his first year as a head coach. “Cardington has never earned a full playoff berth (one in 2020 under COVID structuring). That is a big deal for these guys. Becoming the first team to earn a berth into the playoffs is our goal and something we talk about with them often. They understand it won't be an easy road in the tough KMAC, but it is something that if we earn it, it will be very special for our boys and this town.”
The team is running a spread RPO for offense, and Goetzman said that the Pirates have solid athletes who are hungry to get the ball as often as possible in a number of ways.
“We have a great group of seniors that have taken the leadership role seriously and wanted to put the work in,” he said. “They are leading by example and want to be the change we see in this program. All seven of them will be on the field on Friday nights contributing in some manner. I am excited for them as a whole.”
Goetzman has been coaching high school football for five of his eight years coaching (he's also coached baseball), but he knows being a first-year head coach will bring its challenges.
“It is most definitely a learning experience every single day,” Goetzman said.
Cardington-Lincoln looks to start the season on a high note with the first game coming on Aug. 19 against Fairbanks, with kickoff at 7 p.m.
