Adam Papin/MDN South Prairie-Max running back Mitchell Bohl moves up field during practice during camp. The Royals are hoping to continue improving in a tough region

Since South Prairie-Max played its’ first football season in 2019, the program has struggled against the likes of Bishop Ryan, Des Lacs-Burlington and Velva. However, the team has made steady progress in not only growing the program’s numbers but also beginning to win games.

Last year saw the Royals knock off Killdeer 34-7 before they defeated rivals Nedrose 50-27. The two wins showed a much-improved team, after it struggled to find the program’s first win. It was also the first season that South Prairie-Max wasn’t held scoreless.

This year’s squad looks to build off that positive momentum as the team prepares for the year.

“We have a tough, gritty team,” said Royals’ head coach Justin Wieseler. “My kids gotta believe. We have three or four really good football teams in this region. And we have to go out and believe, understand that they are high school kids just like we’re high school kids, and compete our butts off every play.”

Among the returning players for the Royals are seniors Rylan Greene and Riley Johnson. Greene plays wide receiver and defensive back, while Johnson is on the offensive line and also plays linebacker.

“Those two are servant leaders, and they have shown servant leadership on the field. They serve. They want to serve, and they want to lead by example they do a good job,” said Wieseler.

Running the ball successfully will key to a successful season for South Prairie-Max. The Royals were hit hard by graduation at the skill positions, including quarterback.

Wieseler said, “While we develop our quarterback play early on, we’re going to have to find a way to run the ball and be successful doing that. I think our offensive and defensive lines will be our strength. Those guys are going to have to lead us.”

“We really have been focused on getting our numbers up, and now we are starting to get there,” he said. “Developing commitment is next, and that means developing commitment in the summertime, and doing all those things to try and get more kids involved and understanding what we have to do to improve our program.”

While the Royals will have to travel to both Bishop Ryan and Velva, Wieseler has a different game circled as one of the most important on the calendar: the opener against Southern McClean.

“Every game is tough for us,” he said. “We have to approach game one as this is going to determine who we’re going to be. We need to be ready to go.”

The Royals opened the season at home against Southern McClean on Aug. 18. They will travel to Killdeer Friday, Aug. 25 for a 6 p.m. kickoff. South Prairie-Max will look for a repeat of last year when they knocked off the Cowboys.