A year ago, the Hazen football team searched for ways to replicate its first state title run in school history.

One year and another Class A title later, the Bison begin that same process all over again, but this time in search of a three-peat.

Instead of replacing standouts like quarterback Stetson Carr and lineman Michael Maas, Hazen coach Rick Philion now has to fill the shoes of Class A senior athlete of the year Austin Cieslak – now a lineman for the University of North Dakota – running back-defensive back Nate Leintz and linebacker Hunter Fears, who, like Cieslak, were both first-team all-state selections.

“We lost a good group of kids, talented kids – good mentally, good physically,” Philion said. “It’s going to be tough to replace them, and some of them you can’t. Kids like (standout running back) Briar Bornemann and Austin Cieslak, you don’t come across those kids very often.

“We’re not going to replace them, we’re just going to try and fill some spots and do what we can. We won’t be the same, that’s for sure.”

However, the Bison, who went 12-0 last year to push their winning streak to 20 games, do return four experienced linemen (seniors Seth Kreil and Austin Hintz and juniors Denzel Sanders and Kyle Larson) and senior quarterback Connor Doll.

Kreil believes that closing in on a third straight state title will be more challenging than their routes to the first two.

“There’s definitely some added pressure,” Kreil said. “Going back to back for state championships has definitely put a pretty big target on our backs.”

Hazen hopes its run-heavy attack and staunch defense can carry it to another Dakota Bowl victory.

Last year, the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Doll, a second-team all-stater, ranked third on the team in rushing with 800 yards on 105 carries. He attempted fewer than four passes per game (32-for-44 for 659 yards in 12 starts), but some of that was by design. The Bison rushed for 3,982 yards on 514 attempts – a whopping 7.7 yards per carry average. Philion hopes to see more of “a 50-50 split,” but his signal-caller admits it might not happen.

“I think if we have the need to (be more balanced) we definitely will,” Doll said, “but like last year, when you average so many yards a carry, it’s like, why even switch anything?

“This year we might have to depending on how teams play us or how things shape up. It’ll all depend.”

In 2013, the recipe worked. Hazen led Class A in scoring at 40.9 points per game. But of the Bison’s 57 rushing touchdowns, less than half are accounted for. The departures of Bornemann (14 TDs), Leintz (13) and Dominick Opp (7) will be Philion’s toughest openings to fill.

“Some of them we are going to have to replace by committee,” Philion said. “We don’t have a kid that’s an elite back like Briar was, but we have some backs that are quick and can run hard. We’ll just mix and match a little bit more.”

Doll expects senior Hunter Steffen and junior Mason Faut to receive a good chunk of carries, with a couple of youngsters also vying for playing time.

“I think every one of them can do the job, it’s just going to be who wants it more,” Doll said. “I mean, yeah, you’re not going to have the ‘touch the ball touchdowns’ with Brian and Nate, but we’ll still have a very good threat from both sides.”

During their state-title run, the Bison outscored opponents by a state-best 32.6 points per game with their second-ranked defense allowing just 8.3. Until their offense begins running on all cylinders, that defense may be asked to carry the load.

“I think we’ve got some good kids (on defense),” Philion said. “Defensively, I don’t think we’re going to drop off a whole lot.”

Junior linebacker Jonah Zimmerman was the Bison’s second-leading tackler with 40 last season, while Kreil was second in sacks (4) and Doll tied for first in interceptions (3).

Hazen pitched a 20-0 shutout against Milnor-North Sargent in the Dakota Bowl, and was nearly as impressive when they stifled then-No. 2 Killdeer in a 21-6 victory in a regular-season finale that decided the Class A Region 4 champion. Both teams entered that contest undefeated.

Killdeer returns senior standouts in quarterback Trenton Rohr and running back Lewis Dobitz, and although Hazen is the two-time defending state champion, Philion calls the Cowboys the favorites in a region with talented New Salem-Glen Ullin and Heart River squads.

“They (the Cowboys) return all those kids from last year for the most part,” Philion said. “And their whole backfield, you watch anything at the state track meet and watch how fast those kids have gotten. They’re a whole year bigger, a whole year older, and they’re getting used to winning. They’re understanding what it takes, so they’re definitely the team to beat.”

If that’s the case, Hazen is a close second.