By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
After a 4-6 1A campaign in 2021, the Ell-Saline Cardinals will join the ranks of 8-Man Division I for the upcoming 2022 season.
“I think the transition is great for our program,” Cardinals head coach Joe Roche said. “With the number of kids that we’ve had on our roster in the last few years competing against really strong 1A teams was really tough to do at times.”
While the 8-man game is drastically different in many ways, Ell-Saline has handled the transition well and will be eager to put the things they’ve learned to the test come week one.
“We’re not changing up our style of play but there are a lot of little differences with the angles and amount of personnel on the field and we’re still figuring that out,” Roche said. “Our kids have been patient, they have great attitudes and I think we’ll be successful because of that.”
Regardless of classification, the Cardinals will return several key starters from last season’s team, including senior quarterback Kade Wilson, who will look to take another step forward after a productive offseason.
“Kade got better and better as the season went on last year,” he said. “He took some shots but he gave some shots right back. As a quarterback, he’s a better, more accurate thrower and he has a better understanding of our playbook. It’s been fun to watch him develop and he has some good targets to throw to.”
Among those targets will be senior tight end Mason Ellerman, and junior wideouts Joe Heichel and Hunter Holmgren who should provide the Cardinals with explosive speed this season.
Joining Wilson in the backfield is senior running back Obed Ruiz, who will look for lanes behind the offensive line of Ryder Dent, Victor Ruiz-Torres, and sophomore standout Jacob Tillberg.
“We have some good team speed with some kids who have a little bounce in their step offensively,” Roche said. “Defensively we have some physical kids who like to hit and we’re going to come right at you.”
That hard-hitting defensive unit will be led by an experienced secondary consisting of Kade Wilson, Hunter Holmgren, and Joe Hiechel, with Marshall Johnson patrolling a range of positions.
The linebackers will be anchored by Ryder Dent, while in the trenches Obed Ruiz returns, joined by newcomers Mason Ellerman and Melvin Lutes.
While Ell-Saline faces an uphill battle against a tough slate of perennial 8-man powerhouses, the Cardinals aren’t afraid of the change and have banded together to conquer this new challenge.
“The quality of our kids and their desire to play the game together and support each other is our strength,” Roche said. “We have great chemistry and that’s been the case in our locker room for years now. These kids are in it to win it and they had a great summer in the weight room.”
The Cardinals will kick off their 8-man era with a road trip to Moundridge to take on the formerly 3-6 Wildcats.
For more on Ell-Saline football all season long stay tuned to the Salina Post.