The Hermantown football team fell just a touch short of the section championship last season. For the Hawks though, that only gives them more motivation to hit the ground running this year.

“Last year was pretty disappointing at the end to lose the section final, but every team’s different,” said Mike Zagelmeyer, the Hawks head coach. “We lost 15 guys last year and these guys are ready to make a statement for themselves. The group of seniors we have and the juniors that are going to help us out, and even maybe possibly a couple of sophomores…Last year’s last year. This is a new year and that’s the way they’re approaching it, but there’s a little bitter taste in the mouth still from losing that section final game.”

Having a veteran QB like Alex Schott doesn’t hurt either, as he knows how to navigate the ropes of the section.

“We’re ready to go,” said Schott. “We’re chomping at the bits to get to that first game. The “Hammer game”, it’s a big one and I think for us it’s kind of just one step at a time. We know we got to think about the playoffs but it’s the beginning of the year. We got one game at a time and it’s just good to be back out here and I think everyone’s excited. Have the pads back on, start hitting people and start getting back in the groove.”

The Hawks first game is the “Hammer Game” against Proctor on August 30th at 7 p.m.