As North Marion football head coach Michael Bicknell enters his fourth season with the Huskies, the team may well be on the cusp of its first winning campaign since 2019.
The Huskies return four all-league members from last season, losing a minimal amount of contributors, and are led by a senior class that entered the program the same time as Bicknell.
“I think the best thing for this year has been that a lot of these returning players have been under this program for four years, so they understand terminology and expectations,” Bicknell said. “We've really done a lot in the summertime to get ready. Be that with our spring camp, then we had our seven-on-seven season, and then we had our own little camp as well here.”
Former all-leaguers and seniors Elion Guerrero and Reece Hartenstein have taken the reins in their final year. Both were a constant presence throughout the offseason preparation and lead by example, Guerrero adding a vocal element to the mix.
“When you become a senior, you know that your clock is ticking for the last couple games, so it becomes a little more important for them,” Bicknell said. “They’re kind of rallying the troops and getting them excited and getting them ready to go.”
Although the two have done their part, it’s likely a slight nudge would suffice for this group of Huskies, as junior Elijah Short said he’s been most impressed with the team’s mentality through the first week of the season.
“Even in the offseason, and right after last year, everyone’s like, ‘We’re going to win next year. We’re ready. We’re all going to work for the team, not just our own personal goals and highlights,’” Short said.
Short will be under center this season after earning league honors at running back last year. He got some reps in at quarterback playing JV last year, as Bicknell said they envisioned Short rotating to the position this season. The transition has gone well, with Short’s dynamic athleticism providing more options for the offense than in previous years.
But, of course, with Short shifting responsibilities that leaves a hole in the Huskies’ rushing attack. Fortunately, North Marion has options galore, with senior Mario Mariscal and juniors London Swank and Cole Stoddard expected to share touches.
With three dudes battling for playing time, it should breed a level of intensity and competitiveness that can only be fruitful, and potentially seep to the rest of the team. It’s certainly a level of ferocity the Huskies can benefit from, hailing from a league that sent four of its seven teams to the state playoffs last year.
Previewing North Marion football's 2024 schedule
North Marion finished just outside the top-four in the Special District 1 standings last season, sitting a game behind Warrenton at fifth. The league may be tough, but it didn’t stop the Huskies from finding mild success, capturing their first victory of the season in their league opener against Valley Catholic, thumping the Valiants at home 27-7.
“I’m ready to play Valley Catholic again,” Guerrero said. “I’ve seen their new QB and he’s looking pretty strong this year. I want to see how we hold up against them this year.”
And even if it doesn’t quite break their way, there’s value in the Huskies being a part of a classification that features prominent championship contenders Banks and Kennedy.
“Playing teams that are in the top-10 consistently shows them where they need to (improve) to be in that conversation,” Bicknell said. “You want to be in a tough league because it just gets you ready if you’re in any kind of postseason play. … Either way for us it’s a win-win.’”
But remember, the time is ticking for these seniors. There’s no more offseasons to develop and further their games, unlike their younger teammates. They won’t be intimidated, and if they can help it, the Huskies will find themselves as outside contenders to slip into the state playoffs.
“I just kind of view every game the same – just another opponent we have to go through,” Hartenstein said. “I think we got a really good group this year, and we definitely have a chance at making the playoffs, in my opinion.”
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