Adam Papin/MDN Junior quarterback Ben Schepp and new coach Matt Weidler (not pictured) will lead the defending state champion Aggies as they attempt to get back to the Dakota Bowl.

The more things change, the more things stay the same. At least the Velva/Drake-Anamoose/Garrison football team certainly hopes so.

For the first time since 1988, Larry Sandy won’t be coaching the Aggies. Longtime assistant Matt Weidler will take over a Velva program that knows expectations are as high as they’ve ever been.

Last season saw the Aggies send Sandy out as a champion, capping an undefeated season with a 22-20 victory over Central Cass in the 11A Dakota Bowl.

This year’s squad knows all about how the Aggies have only missed the playoffs once since 1995. They grew up watching or hearing about the eleven-year period that saw the Aggies win eight state titles and finish as runners up once from 2000-2010.

They’ve seen the preseason polls picking them to repeat as state champions.

They’re aware everyone else in Region 3 has the Velva matchup circled with eyes on revenge.

But they know something else. They know what it takes to be a champion.

And that’s the message Weidler has spent camp hammering home to his players.

“Our expectations haven’t changed in the past thirty years,” said the coach. “We have one goal in mind and that’s not going to change. To be able to achieve goals like that, it takes a lot of work, and that level of success is a byproduct of what we do in practice every single day.”

The Aggies will have to replace much of the offensive line, but they do return a number of skill players including quarterback Ben Schepp and running back Bradyn Bossert. Reggie Bruner and Treyson Iglehart also return at receiver.

“We lost a lot of guys up front,” said Weidler. “But there’s a number of weapons skill wise that we’ll try to utilize the best we can.”

The new coach plans on steady progress and not changing too much about the systems that have already produced so much success.

“I think it’s nice for the kids that it’s not a new face,” said Weidler. “What Sandy established was a program that is built on student athletes, and for me a lot of the stuff we’re doing now, it’s the same stuff we’ve been doing for a long time.”

“I’m more so adapting to the kids every day, but we’ve been pretty consistent over the years and will try and keep it the same.”

There are plenty of challengers to Velva’s throne this year. The Aggies opened their campaign on the road in Hazen last week, and now they take on perennial power Beulah in the home opener this Friday at 7 p.m.

“When we scheduled those guys a few years ago, we were trying to get the best competition we could non-conference, so it prepares us for when we do get into conference play,” said Weidler.

Within Region 3, both Bishop Ryan and Des Lacs-Burlington received votes in the preseason poll and always are tough games.

“It’s going to take just competing day in and day out,” said Weidler. “You’re going to be in tight games, so you gotta get lucky a little bit to stay away from the injures as best you can. We’ll take it day by day and week by week.”

The Aggies know that is that path back to Fargo.