Football Season Just Around the Corner

HARTINGTON — It may still be July, but that hasn’t stopped area residents from thinking about the upcoming high school football season. Both local schools held football camps in town last week.
Those camps will mark the last time the teams can practice together until mid-August, however.
The Nebraska School Activities Association has mandated that the start of Fall practice cannot begin until Aug. 18 for area schools. Most of the first area football games of the season will take place on Sept. 5. Any team that has an Aug. 30 season-opener is allowed to begin practice on Aug. 11.
Hartington High School will open the 2008 season on the road Sept. 5 against Pender. Cedar Catholic opens the new year that same night at home against Crofton.
Wynot faces a huge task on its season opener. The Blue Devils have an early opener — Aug. 29.
The Blue Devils have the unenviable position of taking on last year’s Class D2 state runner-up, Elgin.
Wynot will also have a new head coach at the helm. Long-time Coach Ron Rolfes retired at the end of last season. Steve Wieseler will coach this year’s team.
The local high school schedules have changed quite a bit this year, as the NSAA completed redistricting during the off-season.
Hartington High School moved back down to Class D1 this year and will compete in District  D1-4. Other teams in that District are: Emerson-Hubbard, Omaha Nation, Osmond, Winnebago and Winside.
Cedar Catholic, a state semifinalist in Class C2 last year, will move to a new District this year. In the past few years, Cedar competed with teams in a western District. For the next two years, Cedar will compete with teams in an eastern District. That District is comprised of some very tough competition. Other teams in the District include two-time C2 state champion Wakefield, Laurel-Concord, Randolph, Ponca and Homer.

Wynot will again compete in the D2-4 District. Teams in that District are: Allen, Newcastle, Walthill, Wausa and Coleridge.
All three area schools will feature a tough non-District schedule. Besides facing the 2007 runner-up, Wynot must also face  Lynch and Lydsey Holy Family in non-District competition.
Cedar will face Crofton, Plainview and West Point CC in its non-District schedule. All three teams made the playoffs last year.
Hartington High School will take on Pender, West Boyd and Coleridge to open the season.