DT set to kick off new season
By Asher McKenna
This upcoming DT football season is just hours away from kickoff. The Cardinals will take on the Broncos of Amherst for the week one match-up. This year’s Cardinal football team heads into the season ranked #10 in C2 in the NE Preps coach’s poll.
“This is a unique group that has a lot of personalities. I'm excited to coach them and help them improve at football, and continue to grow,” said head coach Mr. Jordan Conner. “Our #1 goal is always to make football a great experience for everyone who participates. Besides that, we think we have the ability to make it to the semi-finals.”
Last season DT football team went 7-3, with their losses coming to Lincoln Lutheran and Wood River. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2019, where they lost in the first round to Wood River.
DT has a solid schedule for this 25/26 football season, starting with an unranked Amherst in week one and hosting an unranked Centura for their home opener in week 2.
“This group of upperclassmen has had a lot of success on the basketball court, and now that they have tasted that success on the football field, I am excited to see what the team will do this season,” said assistant coach Mr. Avery Umphreys.
This Cardinal team has a lot of depth; they’ll be leaning on the 10 returning seniors to set the bar. At WR, 4-year starter Jack Poppe is coming off a great season from last year, where he scored 10 touchdowns. And then there’s Taylon Bennett, who is coming off a great season with 515 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Returning at QB, senior Parker Volk, who is coming off a collarbone injury in week 3 last year, is ready to come out and dominate.
“I think the receiver room we have this year is stacked. Jack Poppe, for starters, is one of the most mechanically sound receivers I've ever seen. Then you have Taylon Bennett, the shifty receiver in Class C2 football. He's going to have a breakout season this year and show Class C2 how to play the game of football,” said sophomore wide receiver Carsyn Breckner.
The Cardinals hope that injuries won’t plague them again this year, but have already experienced a major setback, as senior WR Luke Askey was injured in the first week of practice and will be sidelined for some time.
The DT football team has something that other high school football teams don't have, and it's the bond they share with their teammates, coaches, and everyone who is a part of the team.
“It means a great deal to me to be part of the 25/26 football program because I love competing on a team that has great confidence and immense potential,” said sophomore running back Sawyer Smith. “The energy every one of the players on the team possesses makes me so pumped up for each game and every practice. WELCOME TO THE STONEYARD!!!”