The Audubon Wheelers football team will lift the lid on a new season early with a week zero match-up this Saturday against Winfield-Mt. Union. They will do so with a new leadership group after the departure of a stellar senior class that led them to the State Semifinals last season. Star quarterback Gavin Smith is gone along with many other impact players such as Braden Wessel, Jackson Deist, Carter Andreasen, Matthwe Beisswenger, Joey Schramm, Garrett Christensen, Alex Foran and more. Audubon Head Coach Sean Birks said it’s not easy to replace one of their most decorated classes ever but plenty of guys have been waiting their turn.

Coach Birks has some thoughts on who those next leaders will be but more will need to emerge.

The Wheelers get a quick start to the season as part of a week zero Saturday doubleheader that will be hosted by Martensdale-St. Marys. The Wheelers will face Winfield-Mt. Union on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. with that game followed by Southeast Warren vs. WACO at 5:00 p.m. Coach Birks said it was something that just fell into place for everyone.

Both Winfield Mt. Union and WACO wanted to get in an early game because they each lost a game last year due to another program folding the season. Coach Birks said it will be great for Audubon and Southeast Warren to both get in that early game as well before they meet in Week 1.