Garrick Hodge/MDN Senior quarterback Job Bachmeier runs with the ball in a scrimmage held last week at Minot High School.

BERTHOLD — Three years removed from making the playoffs and posting a winning record, the Lewis & Clark-Berthold/Our Redeemer’s Christian School Bombers enter the 2017 season with a defense first focus.

“I think our defense will be our strongest side,” Bombers second-year head coach Matthew Eraas said. “We have a good core of linebackers and our linemen are mixing in with them as well. We are going to be able to run some stunts with them and get some pressure on the quarterback and running backs.”

The Class A, Region 3 Bombers finished last season at .500 with a 4-4 overall record, and did so on a rather sour note with back-to-back shutout losses against Des Lacs-Burlington (18-0) and Westhope-Newburg-Glenburn (20-0) to cap the campaign.

It was a first-hand glimpse at what a strong defense can do.

Among those attempting to slow the opposing teams down will be senior linebacker Kaiden Bredahl, senior safety Job Bachmeier and junior lineman Cole Erickson. It won’t be an easy task.

“We have some pretty good speed, but we are lacking a little bit in size,” Eraas said. “We only have a few guys that have substantial size. But, other than that, they play hard, keep their shoulders squared and are fundamentally sound. It’s going to make them better as the year progresses.”

Bachmeier will also be handling the quarterback duties, replacing graduated standout Alex Nelson.

“This is his first year playing quarterback,” Eraas said. “He is a senior and was a running back previously. He was moved there just during the fall camp.”

Finding playmakers will also be critical with the Bombers losing wide receiver Cody Hamilton to graduation as well. In total, Berthold needs to replace over one-third of its roster with six seniors gone from last year’s 17-man roster. Meaning, new faces need to emerge.

Eraas also expressed concern about the Bombers’ tempo.

“We need to get a little faster, getting the plays in and called,” he said. “We have low numbers, so we can’t really test ourselves in practice very much. We got to get used to this game speed and just the bigger, faster and stronger players that we are going to be going up against.”

The Bombers get to test their resolve at home first against Garrison/Max on Friday. The Region 4 Troopers have won two games over the last two seasons (2-14). The last time these two teams faced each other was in 2012 with the Bombers winning 40-7.

Alex Eisen covers Minot High School, Minot State athletics and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.