Preston Johnson and Bode Soukup are looking forward to their senior high school football seasons.
“Everything,” said Johnson, a Fort Calhoun senior, when asked what's built anticipation this summer. “Just getting to play football.”
Soukup, a Blair Bear, is excited for what his squad may be able to accomplish.
“We have a great team coming back,” he said.
The two-year starting quarterback will make it three this fall. At least two of his receiving targets — Brady Brown and Crayton Macholan — have built to this year together for a long time.
“I've been throwing to those guys since recess,” Soukup said. “I mean, I've thrown to them forever, so it just feels like any backyard football game.”
On June 28, BHS and the Fort Calhoun Pioneers worked on their passing attacks in a seven-on-seven meeting at Krantz Field. Wearing helmets, but no pads, the offenses — sans linemen — aimed to move the ball downfield, while the defenses worked to keep Bears and Pioneers covered.
Bears work with experience
“Our experience is starting to show,” Blair coach Bryan Soukup said after the June 28 session. “We have guys that have played and have gotten a lot of varsity, Friday-night-lights reps and it's starting to show.”
Underclassmen have claimed key roles for the Bears in at least the last two seasons, including last year's return to the Class B playoffs.
“Now, we're an experienced group, and you start to see that when we do some of these things,” said Soukup, the QB's father. “You start to see things slowing down at the quarterback position. You see receivers' route-running and stuff improve.”
Blair is, essentially, seasoned going into the 2023 campaign.
“Just the whole awareness of everything improves with experience,” the coach said.
Participation numbers within the high school football program are up this summer, too.
“We'll have a pretty good roster, (grades) 9-12,” Soukup said.
In June, the Bears packed in weight room sessions, position group workouts and other work, including seven-on-sevens.
This month, though, the Bears' offseason hits a critical timeframe.
“July, we're going to have to hit hard,” Bode Soukup said.
With an early, NSAA-approved “Week Zero” game on the schedule this fall, Blair starts practice earlier than normal. Coach Soukup's team will start prep for the fall July 31 as the August 18 opener against Norris looms.
“It hasn't changed our camps or anything,” he said. “We're just going to be a little more efficient with our camp and stuff like that.”
The Bears are excited, but they need to be focused, too.
“Having that Week Zero game definitely makes it where we have to get our minds right earlier,” QB Bode Soukup said. “For sure.”
FCHS coach, players build report
New Fort Calhoun football coach Zach Byrd wanted to see his seven-on-seven Pioneers lineup compete with a Class B school June 28 at Krantz Field.
“They've got a lot of talent,” he said of Blair. “With how me match up physically with them, I feel pretty good about how we went out and chased after balls and stuff like that.”
Byrd, who arrives in Calhoun from Bennington, said he wanted to see how the Class C1 Pioneers have progressed through their previous seven-on-seven work, too.
“I was pleased to see we've taken what we've learned those last weeks,” he said. “We came out a little more efficient. Timing was better. Better understanding of things.”
An understanding of Byrd's system has been a point of emphasis for the players, too.
“I'm just learning the new offense,” Johnson said. “Working with our quarterbacks — they're young. (We're) just trying to get some timing down.”
The senior caught multiple passes from Levi Lasher and Kenny Wellwood against the Blair defense June 28, including touchdowns. Grayson Bouwman and Blake Welchert were other key targets.
On top of that, Byrd said he also kept an eye on the Pioneers' conditioning during the seven-on-seven matchup, particularly with how warm it was on the Bears' turf. This fall, he'll coach several two-way players competing on both offense and defense, which is change from what he was used to in Bennington.
Overall, though, Fort Calhoun plans to give its new coach and school all of its effort this upcoming season, which begins Aug. 25 against Nebraska City.
“Showing out for the team, our town,” Johnson said of the Pioneers' goal.
