PILLAGER, Minn.– Ready to start a new season once again, the Pillager Husky football team is gearing up to pull the sled in 2025.
“I think we have a lot of talent. It’s just executing and working hard in practice,” said senior Tyson Decker.
Racing during the 2025 season will feature a big challenge. With double and triple-a schools lined all the way through the schedule, including an August 28 season opener in Warroad. Along with over 1,000 miles round trip of travel on the road this campaign.
It’s a challenge. But 4th year Huskie head coach Paul Clark wants to make his team’s presence felt each and every week.
“I hope we play good, hardnosed football. and teams win or lose, they feel it. When we play them, they feel it,” said Clark
Pillager is led on the field by their 12 seniors. A unit fully immersed in coach Clark’s system and ready to springboard from last season’s seven-win performance.
Landon Albertson is ready to turn on the heat for his senior season.
“We have to be intense. You just have to be 100 percent every down, not thinking about it but just going 100 percent,” said Albertson.
Continuing that intensity is senior linebacker and offensive tackle Lucas Hoglin.
“Because I get to hit people for fun,” said Hoglin.
While it sounds simple, roaming the middle of the field isn’t always easy as a linebacker.
“You’re trying to read around everybody else’s positions. Or like if someone else makes a mistake, I have to work around that,” said Hoglin.
Battling in the trenches is tough work for senior lineman Earl Brown. Popping the pads on the offensive line is what drives him the most.
“I’m a bigger dude, I’m a heavier dude, it’s easier for me to play. It’s just fun. It’s fun to go pancake guys instead of getting pancaked,” said Brown.
A rematch with their number one rival Staples-Motley is on the huskies mind’s. It’s been top of mind for senior running back and linebacker Tyson Decker.
“Every game is really fun and important,” said Decker. “But I am really pumped up for [Staples-Motley].”
They know each game is a challenge. At the same time, being under the Friday night lights is a reward for the work they are clocking in the first weeks of practice.
“Practices right now suck,” laughed coach Clark. “We tell them all the time, ‘It’s not fun going through these first two weeks in the hot sun. It’s humid, you’re sore and you do all of this stuff. Man, the games are what’s fun and we look at it as, that’s your pay check. you put in the work in the week and your paycheck comes on Friday night.’ and man, I can’t wait.”
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