HS FB Preview: Fillmore Central Falcons know 2021’s success doesn’t guarantee the same in 2022

(ABC 6 News) — Falcons football is ready to go all out in 2022, after only losing just four players from a year ago, the squad and the community have strong expectations for this season.

“Well, I think this team has a lot of confidence because they did finish last year at the section final,” Falcons Head Coach Chris Mensink stated. “But like we’ve talked about, last year’s success does not predict anything this year. They got to go out and earn everything. And I think our kids took that to heart and had a great offseason and a great summer.”

Once again leaning on a strong rushing offense, the Falcons have running back Bryce Corson back for one last season. The senior says he’s looking to get bulkier as the season goes to compliment his quick speed.

“Definitely think I need to get bigger, be able to break some more tackles I think I’m fast enough, but now I just need to be able to run through some people,” Corson noted. “Because you know, we’re a quick offense, we run the ball a lot, quick-to-quick the snaps are right back to back.”

Defensively, it’s going to take the same kind of consistency that nearly got the Falcons to state a year ago. The team has a gritty schedule that includes a rematch with Rushford-Peterson on September 9th.

“Two years ago, when we met them in the section championship, that was a close game,” Falcons wide receiver/cornerback Jake Fishbaugher reflected. “Last year was a close game in the section finals and we’re obviously — yeah, its a goal of ours to get back there, it’s going to be fun.”

The goal is still the same for the Falcons. While the gang is practically still all here, every team in their way must be taken just as seriously as the next. How high the Falcons fly doesn’t hinge on their strength in numbers, but what they do with those numbers.

“They don’t have big egos, they know that they have areas they can improve on,” Coach Mensink said. “They’re just a great group of kids to be around, you can have fun with them, they know it when you want to – you can joke with them a little bit, but you can rein them right back in and they’re ready to get back to work…”

The Falcons open up their season against Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton at home Friday on September 2 at 7 PM. Fillmore Central beat JWF last year, 53-13.