SEBEKA, Minn.– As the calendar races towards September, it’s time for another season of Sebeka Trojans football.
“If we can roll out a few wins during the regular season and win a playoff game or two, I think that would be a pretty good season for us,” said Trojans head coach Tanner Burgau.
Opening night of the 2024 season is Thursday as the Trojans host the Nevis Tigers. The squad has been hard at work the last two weeks getting back into football shape.
“So far we haven’t done my favorite drill, which is the Oklahoma drill. you basically just go head-on with someone else,” said Senior Mason Plautz.
The Trojans are now in their fifth season since returning to Sebeka football. Fourth-year head coach Tanner Burgau says their numbers are higher than ever.
“It was a rough transition to start. but we’ve seen a building up of the numbers. And now we’re at the highest point we’ve seen in a long time for numbers for football,” said Burgau. “We’re over 30 kids so yeah it’s good to see the kids excited to come and go out for football and stick it out and do their best for it.”
Coach Burgau loves where his team is at by putting in the work in the weight room and the classroom all summer long. That means in practice the trojans can focus on the next level, finding the need for speed.
“This year it’s been a big emphasis on speed,” Burgau. “We want to be a lot faster. But at the same time not losing the physicality and power. So, we want to be athletic and be able to move and be able to run with anybody.”
One of those Sebeka seniors that’s hitting the ground running is Mason Plautz, a linebacker and fullback.
But has it hit Plautz that it’s his final season in trojan purple?
“It has and it sucks. it doesn’t even feel like I’m a senior,” said Plautz. “It still feels like I was a freshman last year.”
Plautz is a two-way player but he says defense is his calling card.
“You don’t really have a job when you’re on defense. you just see ball, get ball. so just kind of do whatever you want. So, if you’re really good at what you do then it makes it a lot more fun,” said Plautz.
Trojan football is going to log quite a bit of miles round trip going to their four away games in 2024. 900 miles to be exact. But coach Burgau says it’s an opportunity to showcase Sebeka football all across the region.
“Go around and show what Sebeka football is all about,” said Burgau. “a lot of two-plus hour drives but yeah that mentality is all business. we want to do what we do wherever it is.”