High School Football Previews: Clearwater Indians

CLEARWATER, Kan. (KSNW) – We’re 11 days away from the start of the high school football season, and our previews continue with the Clearwater Indians.

Clearwater is looking to get back above .500 for the first time since 2020, which was also the last time this team has seen a victory in the playoffs.

They play in a tough league, but the players on this team believe they can be the group to help turn around this program and build a foundation for year’s to come.

“Just I feel like this year the effort we give is a lot more and just keep us going through. Just keep working hard every day in the weight room and out here on the field,” said Clearwater senior linebacker Dylan Hanna.

“We’re definitely a lot stronger than we were last year. We’ve been left in a lot like every day for the last year or so. Definitely a lot stronger. I think my grade has done a great job buying in compared to our last year. Senior classes. We bought in pretty well too. Burke’s philosophy, I guess, up to everything. Not a lot of seniors miss anything, and now we just tell them what they need to do. Lead by example mostly,” said Clearwater senior quarterback /cornerback Cooper Williams.

As for head coach Justin Burke, this is his second season at the helm for Clearwater. Coach Burke says he’s really liked what he’s seen from his team so far in this preseason portion, but they will need to continue to grind day in and day out if they hope to shock their rivals in the AVCTL.

“Last year, tough year at close games. We came up short on finished two and seven and we expect to be much better this year. Our kids are physical. They worked hard in the off season that 57 out here in practice that they’re going hard every day. So we’ve enjoyed watching them work and, you know, pick up some new things and try to get better. But I think our guys are like I said, we’ve got them in the weight room in the mornings. They did a tremendous job in the summertime and come out here with good energy making mistakes. And I think we’re getting better from just making mistakes to get better every time,” said Coach Burke.

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