PILLAGER, Minn.– Pillager Huskies football is coming off a successful 2023 season. Now 3rd year head coach Paul Clark is ready for his team to pick up right where last year’s bunch left off when they travel to Osakis Thursday night.
“We have the same expectations every year,” said Clark. “We just want to get better and be playing our best football when playoff season comes out.”
The Huskies went 6-3 and a win away from the Section 6AA championship game at the Fargodome in 2023. Coach Clark says that the tough ending motivated his players to train hard over the offseason.
“It’s been great. third year, everyone is more familiar with all of the drills and everything going on. so it’s less time teaching that type of thing so there is more time teaching the actual skills,” said Clark. “Which has been phenomenal. and the attitude of the team has been outstanding this year.”
Senior quarterback Christian Hooge loves slinging around the football at practice. But the biggest challenge for him this season is moving from a safety in the secondary to a defensive end at the line of scrimmage the last two weeks.
“The first practice, it was rough,” said Hooge. “I didn’t really know what I was doing. just the stunts and all that come with it and knowing what everyone else is doing around you so that you’re in the right spot to make the play is probably the biggest thing I’ve improved in since the beginning of the year.”
Senior tight end and defensive end Justin Anderson says it’s bittersweet to begin his final year playing football at Pillager.
“It hit me this week,” said Anderson. “It’s fun to be the top dog and be a leader and just lead by example. It’s hard too. It’s a happy, sad thing.”
That being said, Anderson is still ready for the challenge in 2024. And making memories along the way.
“It’s a grind, you know? You just learn to love the grind and it’s been really fun. Football is my favorite thing to do. favorite sport so just being out here with my best friends, working hard and making memories is just fun for me,” said Anderson.
A lot of the excitement surrounds Pillager football in 2024. Players and coaches are both ready to feel the support from the Husky faithful for their home opener against Wadena-deer Creek on friday, September 6.
“This is my 26th year of coaching. and if you don’t get excited for that, then it’s time to give it up,” said Clark. “But I still get excited over that. I haven’t slept in like a week and a half, two weeks right now with practice started. I’m juiced and it’s just the passion I have I guess.”