The Exira-EHK Spartans are healthy and ready for a new football season.  The Spartans dealt with some injuries to key players throughout the 2015 campaign but those players are back and ready to contribute for the Spartans again this year.

Senior Kyle Petersen missed the majority of last season with a knee injury but will get his shot now to lead the Spartan offense at quarterback.

Senior Drew Buckholdt is back after having a great 2015 campaign but had to fight through injuries at the end of the season.  The tailback racked up 1,123 yards and 21 touchdowns on 144 carries in 2015 and he’s also a huge part of the Spartans defense at middle linebacker.

The Spartans will face a tough test in week one with a match-up against an Audubon Wheelers team that made a playoff run last year in the 11-man ranks and now transitions to 8-man play. Coach Petersen said it’s hard to prepare for the Wheelers because they don’t know a lot about them as a new 8-man team.

We’ll have coverage of the Spartans and Wheelers from Exira Friday night on KJAN.  Pregame at 6:30pm, Kickoff at 7:00pm.