MERKEL, Texas -- The Merkel Badgers are coming off their first playoff appearance since 2012, and they are expecting to make another run at the postseason in 2017.
Head coach John Cornelius' team is loaded with returning starters with seven back on both sides of the ball.
It's been a while since winning gold football was a realistic goal, but it is this season.
The players say they are going to have to put in the work to get it done.
Jonah White said, "Just to work harder and we know that we have the ability to make it farther and farther every year if we just push each other and work hard."
Coach John Cornelius said, "Well we've talked a lot about putting some gold balls in the trophy case, whether that be a district championship hopefully first, if we do get that or if we don't, win some playoff trophies. Each one of those wins is a ball in the trophy case and we want to get back to putting balls in the trophy case."
Brady Bilbrey said, "We plan on that being the start of something new, we made it to the playoffs last year, plan on making it back this year, and hopefully we can do something special."
The Badgers start the 2017 season picked to finish third in the district behind Comanche and Clyde.
They open the season in the Champions Classic against the Eastland Mavericks.
More...
Head coach John Cornelius' team is loaded with returning starters with seven back on both sides of the ball.
It's been a while since winning gold football was a realistic goal, but it is this season.
The players say they are going to have to put in the work to get it done.
Jonah White said, "Just to work harder and we know that we have the ability to make it farther and farther every year if we just push each other and work hard."
Coach John Cornelius said, "Well we've talked a lot about putting some gold balls in the trophy case, whether that be a district championship hopefully first, if we do get that or if we don't, win some playoff trophies. Each one of those wins is a ball in the trophy case and we want to get back to putting balls in the trophy case."
Brady Bilbrey said, "We plan on that being the start of something new, we made it to the playoffs last year, plan on making it back this year, and hopefully we can do something special."
The Badgers start the 2017 season picked to finish third in the district behind Comanche and Clyde.
They open the season in the Champions Classic against the Eastland Mavericks.
More...