KROX Radio/KROXAM.com have compiled the Section 6 9-Man Football coaches poll and preseason preview. Win-E-Mac is deemed the preseason favorite while newcomer Fertile-Beltrami is a close second. Unfortunately, the coach from Blackduck didn’t respond, but we have the poll and previews for all the teams.
SECTION 6 9-MAN COACHES POLL
- Win-E-Mac (4) – 38
- Fertile-Beltrami (2) – 37
- Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal (1) – 28
- Clearbrook-Gonvick – 23
- Nevis – 26
- Blackduck – 22
- Park Christian – 15
- Laporte – 7
Win-E-Mac – Coach Aaron Cook
The Patriots went 5-3 in the regular-season last year. Win-E-Mac beat Nevis 38-6 in the Section playoff semifinals, but fells to NCE/UH at the Fargodome 30-20 in the Section championship game. Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal was the only Section team to beat Win-E-Mac last season.
Top returners– Sr. RB Nathan Fortmann (182 rushes, 964 yards), Jr., RB Gavin Walker (104 rushes, 684 yards; 64-106, 883 yards passing), Sr. Gavin Haskett, Sr. Dustin Osland, Sr. Zach Simonson, Sr. Connor Johnson, Jr. Kobe Hame, Jr. Bryer Strom
Season preview – (Provided by Coach Cook) – “After making a run to the section championship last season, we are looking to build off of that success. We have a good core group of returning players that have continued to work hard and get better in the off-season. We will have guys competing in the preseason for a couple starting spots and top backup positions. If we can continue to improve and stay healthy throughout the season, we hope to compete for another section championship.”
Fertile-Beltrami – Coach Brian Nelson
The Falcons enter 2019 as the preseason Section favorites after dropping down to 9-man football from Section 8A last season. Fertile-Beltrami went 5-3 last season playing 11-man football, before falling in the Section 8A semifinals against eventual State champion Mahnomen-Waubun 31-6.
Top returners – Soren Larson—QB/LB, Micah Tollefson–RB/LB, Hunter Hitchen–RB/CB, Damian Gudvangen—G/NG, Dawson Fuglseth–G/DE, Adison McCollum–WR/FS, Hunter Bjerk–TE/DE
Season preview – (Provided by Coach Nelson) – “We have some key players returning but depth is a concern– we will need to learn quick and stay healthy to be a competitive team.”
Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal– Coach Dustin Flaten
The Titans enter 2019 as the defending Section champions. NCE/UH went 8-0 during the regular season before beating Rothsay 34-8 in the semifinals of the Section playoffs. In the Section championship game, the Titans beat Win-E-Mac 30-20. NCE/UH lost in the first round of the State tournament against Cromwell-Wright 14-7.
Top returners– Defensive returning starters: Treyton Klemetson (41 tackles and 2 pass deflections), Kasy Lisburg (98 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 fumble caused), Chase Green (52 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 pass deflection, 2 fumble recoveries), Riley Resnick (78 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 pass deflections, 1 fumble caused, 1 fumble recovered), Gavin Jacobson (89 tackles, 2 pass deflections, 2 fumble caused, 1 fumble recovered)
Offensive returning starters: Kasy Lisburg, Riley Resnick, Kennedy Ramstorf, Parker Lien
Season preview – (Provided by Coach Flaten) – “We have the majority of our offensive line back so we will have a little adjustment with our skilled players until they get the speed of the game down. Defensively we have a lot of leaders back on the field who like to fly around and make plays. We are hoping to be playing our best ball by the end of the year so it gives us another shot at playing in the section championship.”
Clearbrook-Gonvick – Coach Casey Kroulik
Clearbrook-Gonvick is moving into Section 6 after playing the past few seasons in Section 8. The Bears went 4-4 during the regular season before exiting in the first round of the Section 8 playoffs falling to Goodridge-Grygla 59-20. The Bears did play Section 6’s Nevis, Laporte and NCE/UH last season going 2-1 against their new Section foes last year.
Top returners –Sr. RB Jonny Hamnes (59 rushes, 425 yards; 9 receptions, 107 yards), Alex Dawson, Jr. Obadiah Hammer (24 rushes, 150 yards)
Season preview – (Provided by Coach Kroulik) – Did not respond
Nevis – Coach Shawn Klimek
The Tigers ended the regular season 2-6 in 2018. Nevis beat Laporte 35-8 in the Section playoffs before falling to Win-E-Mac 38-6 in the semifinals. Nevis did top Section 8 runner-up Kittson County Central 36-21 in last year’s season-opener.
Top returners– Senior WR Luke Dewulf, Senior WR Logan Funk, Senior WR Dan Mistic, Senior TE Cooper Henry, Junior QB Derek Lindow, Junior RB Reese Kline, Junior Center Dan Aman, Junior Guard Brody Johnson, Senior LB Luke Dewulf, Senior S Logan Funk, Senior LB Dan Mistic, Senior DE Cooper Henry, Junior DL Dawson Andress, Junior DE Brody Johnson, Junior LB Reese Kline, Sophomore LB Ian Ahrendt
Season preview – (Provided by Coach Klimek) – “This fall we return several starters on both sides of the ball. The 2018 Tigers gained a lot of experience but were hit with several injuries that depleted almost the entire offensive and defensive lines. Last fall, eight different lineman missed games due to injuries. This fall, we believe if we can stay healthy we should be improved and competitive. Once again we play a very tough schedule and should play a few top ten ranked teams. We open up on the road against Stephen Argyle who has made the state tournament the last five years. Like every year, we hope to compete for our District title and to be competitive in our Section this fall. Coach DeWulf will once again lead the defense. He does a great job game-planning for us each week and putting the guys in places to make plays.”
Blackduck – Coach Dan Hangaard (Did not respond)
Blackduck enters 9-man football after competing in Section 7A last season. The Drakes went 5-3 last season including one win via forfeit. Blackduck beat Braham 36-20 in the Section tournament first round before falling to Deer River 26-6 in the semifinals.
Top returners –
Season preview – (Provided by Coach Hangaard) – Did not respond
Park Christian – Coach Lawton Burgstahler
Park Christian beat Hillcrest Lutheran Academy 41-40 for their lone win in 2018 finishing with a 1-7 regular-season record before falling to Rothsay 38-0 in the Section playoff’s first round.
Top returners – Ethan Jorgensen – WR/Safety – Sr. – Ethan was one of the top receivers/running backs in the district last season. He is looking to improve on his 900+ All-Purpose yards from last season.
Ian Ziebarth – RB/LB – Sr. – Ian was one of the top tacklers in the state last fall. We are hoping he can continue to wrap up guys along with run a bit more this season.
Allen Daugherty – TE/DE – Sr. – Allen is our returning All-District Player from last year. We have moved him from Center to TE and hope to use his great blocking on the edge. He is as tough as it gets and brings it every play.
Season preview – (Provided by Coach Burgstahler) – “We will be very competitive this year. We return all of our starters from last season (9 Seniors) and have added some size from our younger guys. It will be a lot of fun to see our guys play a new group of teams and see how they compete in the North. Ultimately, we want to have fun but at the same time change the way teams look at PCS Football.”
Laporte – Coach AJ Dombeck
Laporte failed to win a game last season and forfeited one game against Stephen-Argyle last season. The Wildcats lost in the first round of the Section playoffs 35-8 against Nevis and allowed over 30 points in every game played.
Top returners – DE Gibson Smith and LB Wyatt Johannsen each had over 70 tackles last season.
Season preview – (Provided by Coach Dombeck) – “We have a large group of juniors who have been playing varsity since 8th grade. We also have the highest number of players that we’ve had in many years.”
