The 2024 season for Exira-EHK Football is bringing a lot of younger faces to the field as last year’s (6-4) team graduated eight players over the summer. Most head coaches would be apprehensive about losing a strong crop of seniors, but second year Spartans head coach Drew Buckholdt explained that the opening spots on the depth chart has created an opportunity for competition.

There will be some familiar faces to Spartans fabs that will look to increase their production. Players like senior Alex Hansen who rushed for 578 yards and 11 touchdowns. On the defensive side senior Cannon Hansen had 76 tackles and junior Bryce Brabham who contributed 5 tackles for a loss last season. The Spartans are also seeing improvement in the weight room with their lifts increasing.

The tone of this year’s Exira-EHK squad works well with the strength of their team considering the Spartans size. Coach Buckholdt has been preaching tough and aggressive play starting as soon as the ball is kicked off.

A week before the start of the season, Exira-EHK has a scrimmage scheduled with the Glidden-Ralston Wildcats on August 23rd. Coach Buckholdt explained how scrimmages are a great opportunity for teams to grow and prepare for fall.

After summer workouts and practices Spartans fans can expect this year’s squad to be a gritty one. Coach Buckholdt is creating a group that prides themselves on smash mouth football and embracing a higher level of intensity on both sides of the ball.

Exira-EHK starts their football season at home on August 30th against the Ar-We-Va Rockets.