NEVIS, Minn.– Nevis Tiger Football enters into a new era to begin the 2025 season in more ways than one.
New head coach Kevin Longtin takes over for previous head coach Shawn Klimek after Longtin spent the last five years on the Tiger coaching staff. In his first year leading Nevis football, coach Longtin says his job is simple.
“‘Keep the train on the tracks,’” said Longtin. “You don’t really want to go in [and mess with] a program that’s lost one game in two years. so the big thing right now is to keep that winning attitude and that tradition going.”
A new jungle awaits the Tigers in 2025, elevating from 9-man to Class A, 11-man football for the first time in school history. At the end of the day, football is football. but Nevis has spent the first two weeks of practice familiarizing themselves with the new style of play.
“Usually, you’re adding another skill position guy on offense and another lineman on offense. So you add another gap for the running backs, you add another passing threat for the quarterback. On the defensive side of the ball, you just got to work on more keys. The field is wider so you have to really understand where your zone is expanding to,” said Longtin. “But overall, a lot of the guys have made comments that, you know what, this transition isn’t as big as they had anticipated it to be.”
Most of the contributors from the 2023 Prep Bowl championship team have graduated. Coach Longtin is excited to put together his depth chart, a mix of five seniors and several openings for other young players to prove themselves in.
“With the success that we’ve had, a lot of our guys that might have been backups last year, they were able to take a lot of snaps [at the end of games]. So they may not have been starters per se but they do have a lot of experience playing under the lights on Fridays,” said Longtin.
Stepping into the starting quarterback role for the first time is senior Ethan Buckholtz, who is ready to lead the Tiger offense into their 11-man era.
“Just the responsibility I hold getting to help everyone know what they have to do every play. know what everyone has to do, where we block, what routes we’re running. All that,” said Buchholz.
Buchholz’s favorite moment as a Tiger was the state championship two seasons ago. but now, he has his sights set on another milestone for the Nevis football program.
“I really want to win us our first 11-man playoff game in school history. That would be nice. Personally, my goals are just do what it takes to win games,” said Buchholz.
Also looking to get a milestone in the record books is defensive end AJ Bessler. In the trenches, Bessler is making it his mission to terrorize opposing passers.
“Rushing the quarterback and getting sacks. Last year I almost set the sack record for the school,” said Bessler. “So this year I’m going to try and get that.”
His goal for 2025 is to clear the program’s single-season record of 11 sacks.
“It’s great. I’ve been waiting since last year to do that. Should have fun this year,” said Bessler.
The new season gets underway August 29 at home against Crookston. No matter how many players are on the field, Nevis football is ready to go back on the prowl.
“The guys are ready to hit somebody else that’s not in a green or a yellow jersey,” said Longtin. “We’re excited to see this next step in Tiger football and where we can move it. Keep it going.”