After a growing 2024 season under then second-year head coach Brad Wildeman, the Concordia High School football team is looking to see better results this year in a very competitive NCKL.
The Panthers went 1-8 last year, with the sole win being a 42-22 victory over Chapman. The box score didn’t tell the whole story - in many games, especially after the 24-0 loss at Marysville, the Panthers would be competitive for three quarters, with teams only getting the cushion in the fourth quarter.
“We were very young. The guys competed hard last year,” said Wildeman. “We bring back a lot of guys with experience. You always miss the seniors, but we don’t have a lot of seniors this year. Everyone is competing hard and is being scrappy.”
The Panthers lost a lot of talent at the top last year, guys like Tracer Murdock, Dane Cleveland, Kyle McFadden, Jadrian Riley, and many more key contributors, especially on the offense and defensive line. But this year there are all sophomores and juniors in the skill positions. Junior Drake Blochlinger enters year two as the day one starter at quarterback. Kyle Shroeder, Ayden Krier, Tre Hamiel, Boone Richard, and senior Rush LeDuc are all returning this year.
“A lot of guys are stepping up, they’re filling those shoes. This is a good group so far with good leadership,” said Wildeman.
The football team will travel on the road this year to open the season a Wamego on Sept. 5, and then will host rival Beloit for the home opener on Sept. 12.
“We go into each game expecting to win; that’s the approach we want to have. Right now we’re focused on ourselves, but we’re going to start keying on Wamego. We are ready and excited for the season, another opportunity as the season gets started.”
