Heartland Lutheran's success depends on keeping players healthy

Heartland Lutheran isn't looking at wins and losses for its biggest goals this year.

Instead, the third-year program is focused more on things that can add up in the win column.

"We're hoping to come together and perform as a family," senior fullback/linebacker Nick Langenburg said.

Make that a small family.

With only 14 players out, coach David Plond knows that much of the Red Hornets' success will depend on keeping players healthy.

"The key thing with only 14 kids out is depth," he said. "If I get somebody injured, I'll have to shuffle the cards and see what I can come up with.

"We'll have to be in better shape than other teams. They'll have 20-30 kids, so we'll have to be in better shape."

Heartland Lutheran is coming off a 1-7 season in which it earned the school's first victory. Offensively, the Red Hornets rarely struggled to put up points. But defensively, the team found the going tough.

That often led to shootouts in which Heartland Lutheran just couldn't keep up. Langenburg said that's an area the team thinks it can take a big step forward.

"It's more mental on defense," he said. "You have to think that everyone can help everyone else. You have to know plays."

Said Plond: "Our defense has to step it up. On the offensive side we like to run the ball so we can shorten the game. To have a chance to win, the defense has to play better.

"We're not a shootout team. There's a lot of pressure on the defense this year. But (early in practices) our defense has been a little ahead of our offense."

The Red Hornets return five starters, including four seniors. They are Langenburg, Jacob Kreutzer (tailback/linebacker), Daniel Gibson (guard/defensive end) and Kyle Dibbern (center/nose guard). They are joined by junior end/cornerback Josh Messersmith.

"We've made a great improvement in team speed," Plond said. "The kids are a lot faster and they look to be a little stronger."

Another thing that may be stronger is Heartland Lutheran's schedule.

The season stars Sept. 5 at Lawrence-Nelson, a team that has qualified for the playoffs all nine years since the two schools consolidated. The Raiders have two state titles and two state runner-up finishes in that span.

The next week sees Heartland Lutheran go to Clay Center before its home opener Sept. 19 against Cedar Rapids.

"(The schedule) got tougher," Plond said. "We picked up quality opponents. Lawrence-Nelson, Clay Center and Sargent are all quality opponents."

Plond will focus on continued improvement for his team.

"The first year, we were not very competitive," he said. "Last year we started being competitive. This year we can compete with anybody.

"If we continue to improve, good things will happen.”