In 2021, the Velva Aggies football team got off to a great start, winning their first six games while holding opponents to a total of 24 points within that span. Thanks to the great start, the Aggies would finish out the year by making a run to the state quarterfinals, where their season would come to an end with a loss to region rival Bishop Ryan.

This year, the Aggies open with a home game against Hazen before they hit the road for a matchup at Beulah. Aggies head coach Larry Sandy knows the importance of being ready for early season matchups, especially if the team wants to get off to a great start once again.

“We will need to compete at a very high level from the very get go. We open up with two non-region games that will require us to be at a mid-season form if we are able to leave the field with victories,” Sandy tells The Minot Daily News.

From there, the schedule will not ease up for the Aggies as they will begin region play against Des-Lacs Burlington and Nedrose, two teams who made playoff runs in 2021. “Hopefully a high level of play is accomplished in the first two weeks to carry over and become the norm entering the region season,” he said.

The overall goal for the Aggies this season is for the team to win a Region 3 title, while maintaining their health and gaining experience as they hope to make another playoff run. As they get closer to the playoffs, Sandy would like to shift the focus to a “win or go home” mentality and aim to be one of the last teams standing.

Part of the equation that should help the Aggies reach their goals for the season is a roster that features a variety of depth across the board. Sandy expects the Aggies team to add roughly 16 freshmen to the program, as well as co-ops with Garrison and Drake/Anamoose that will help bolster the team’s depth.

“Our overall team depth will be boosted by these various aspects, and will lead to outstanding quality of competitive practices, strong sub-varsity play, and well-prepared teams for competition each week. We will also be adding depth to our coaching staff as coaches from both Garrison and Drake/Anamoose will be joining our staff and add their talents and skills to an already quality coaching staff,” Sandy tells the Minot Daily News.

With the team featuring so much depth, Sandy expects every returning player to be an integral part of the team’s success in 2022. In the trenches of the offensive and defensive line, Sandy expects the upper classmen to be cogs for the Aggies.

“We expect to be a highly competitive team from the very beginning of the season due to the quality of returning players and one that will improve each week, and every week as valuable experience and depth grows,” Sandy said when discussing what type of team he expects the Aggies to be.

Regarding which game the team is looking forward to the most, Sandy mentioned that the next game is always one to look forward to, stressing how important each game is on the hunt for a playoff bid. However, one game that he always looks forward to is the matchup with Bishop Ryan, calling it another “classic in the waiting” in 2022.

SCHEDULE

Friday, Aug. 19

Hazen 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 26

@ Beulah 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 2

Des-Lacs Burlington 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 9

Nedrose 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 16

@ South Prairie 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 23

Kenmare 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 30

@ Stanley 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 7

Bishop Ryan 7 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14

@ Ray/Powers Lake 7 p.m.

ROSTER

No. Name Gr. Position

10 Ben Schepp 10 QB-DB

11 Eric Martin 12 RB-DB

12 Treyson Iglehart 10 WR-DB

14 Payton Bodine 12 TE-LB

17 Preston Kraft 12 WR-DB

18 Reese Steffen 9 WR-DB

20 Hank Bodine 10 RB-LB

21 Bradyn Bossert 10 RB-LB

22 Mason Kraft 9 QB-DB

24 Reggie Bruner 10 TE-DB

25 Cooper Kittelson 9 QB-DB

28 Violette Sola 9 RB-DB

32 Kelson Mascol 11 RB-LB

33 Tay Martinez 9 TE-LB

34 Noah Werner 9 RB-LB

35 Matt Jochim 10 RB-DB

40 Brody Seidler 9 RB-LB

42 Anthony Belzar 9 WR-DB

45 Lucas Holte 9 WR-DB

48 Alonzo Davis 9 WR-DB

50 Luke Selzler 9 OL-LB

52 Brayden Selzler 12 OL-LB

53 Aaden Olson 12 OL-LB

54 Gabe Lakoduk 12 OL-DL

55 James Seil 12 OL-DL

56 Tyler Holdeman 12 OL-DL

58 Patrick Effertz 11 OL-DL

60 Gage Roberts 9 OL-DL

62 Kyle Sandy 12 OL-DL

63 Amarie Yellow Hammer 9 OL-DL

65 Zack Volson 10 OL-DL

67 Treyton Krisor 9 OL-DL

68 Jamison Rime 11 OL-DL

71 Jayden Foss 9 OL-DL

72 Evan Rensch 10 OL-DL

73 Anthony Biddinger 11 OL-DL

75 Tyler Meckle 11 OL-DL

78 Logan Dockter 12 OL-DL

80 Kyle Volson 10 TE-LB

81 Grady Crawford 9 WR-DB

85 Matt Bryant 9 TE-LB