Alex Eisen/MDN Nedrose football head coach Tommy Weidler gets under center during practice held earlier this week in Minot.

Taking a hands-on approach to evaluate his team, Nedrose football head coach Tommy Weidler and his signature bucket hat took snaps under center during Monday’s evening practice.

The immersive approach placed Weidler up close and personal with the program he has helped build from the ground up since its full-time varsity inception in 2017.

Now entering season No. 4, Weidler hopes some of the initial growing pains have subsided and all the pieces are starting to come together.

This belief starts with the linemen who were protecting him and, on the other side of the ball, looking to sack their head coach figuratively.

“I think we have developed very well upfront,” Weidler said. “They are starting to come together as a unit. We are going to be able to run the ball like we want, hopefully. There is a lot of good senior leadership upfront.”

Offensive production and defensive stability starts in the trenches.

Upperclassmen toeing the line include seniors Damian Emly and Kristian Streitz, plus juniors Seyth Derheim, Griffen New, Caleb Walker and William Crawford.

On game day, the offensive line will be looking after senior quarterback Ethan Miller. The third-year starter will get his last crack at leading the Cardinals to the program’s first winning record.

After finishing its first varsity season with a 1-7 mark in 2017, Nedrose has posted a 3-6 record in each of the last two seasons. That includes a lone playoff appearance in 2018.

“We have to learn how to play a game for four quarters,” Weidler said. “We would play well for the first quarter, and then it seemed like we would take the second quarter off. Regroup at halftime and play well in the third quarter, but wouldn’t finish things out. That’s something we have been working on.”

Offensive threats around Miller start in the backfield with running back Cameron Bailey. The junior got plenty of touches last season but will see more of a workload following the graduation of All-State tailback Kelly Eggen.

“He is a good, hard runner,” Weidler said about Bailey. “He sees everything pretty well.”

Sophomore tight end Mitch Heinert is the can’t miss target at 6-foot-4.

“It’s a fun experience being able to hang out with the guys again,” Heinert said. “We get to play a sport that we love and makes you a better person, both physically and mentally.”

Other playmakers looking to get their hands on the ball include Dante Maxwell, Jersey Awalt, Stone Morin, Tyler Armstrong and newcomer Joseph Roberts.

Moving from offense back to defense, Weidler sees the linebacking core as a strength the Cardinals can rely on because of their ability to rally to the ball and survey the action on the field.

“I feel like we have gotten a lot more mentally stronger,” senior outside linebacker Michael Kalamaha said. “We have been able to go longer, play after play after play. We aren’t getting tired as much… We can’t give up. If we are losing and getting beat up, we can’t give up. We have to keep hitting them harder and keep going.”

In an odd twist, Nedrose will share its home field this season with Class A Region 3 rival Bishop Ryan. The Lions are unable to host games at Herb Parker Stadium because of the air-supported dome staying up since Minot State athletics have been canceled through Dec. 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The only scheduling conflict this caused was on Aug. 28 when both teams were set to have home contests. Nedrose kept its Friday night affair while Ryan will play the following afternoon on Saturday.

Season Schedule

Aug. 21, 7 p.m. at Rugby.

Aug. 28, 7 p.m. vs. Bottineau.

Sept. 4, 7 p.m. at Garrison/Max.

Sept. 11, 7 p.m. vs. South Prairie.

Sept. 18, 7 p.m. at DLB.

Sept. 25, 7 p.m. vs. Bishop Ryan.

Oct. 2, 7 p.m. at Kenmare/B/BC.

Oct. 9, 7 p.m. at Velva.

Oct. 16, 7 p.m. vs. Tioga.

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