By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
ROSENDALE - North Andrew had a turbulent season in 2021 to say the least.
A young team, having graduated six all-state seniors from the state runner-up squad in 2020, the Cardinals started last year 0-2, then won three straight and split their last four games of the regular season.
After a win against Nodaway Valley to open district play, North Andrew's season ended with a 70-34 loss to Platte Valley in district quarterfinals, putting their final record at 6-5 - a tenth consecutive winning season.
Nearly a year later, with 10 total seniors on roster and seven players back with significant playing experience on both sides of the ball, the Cardinals are hopeful for a better 2022.
"We're coming back with three starters who were out last year," said senior lineman Jacob Chittum, who missed districts due to a torn labrum. "They're all starting again. So, I think coming into this year, we should have bigger shoes to fill with bigger feet. Bigger guys to fill valuable positions."
One of those 'bigger guys' is senior fullback and linebacker Andrew Goff, who had 82 total tackles and five sacks on defense to go with 616 rushing yards and six touchdowns last season.
For he and the nine other seniors, it's a 'put up or shut up' type of season coming up.
"Yeah I think we all know it's our last season to prove anything," Goff said of the senior class. "We're trying to get back where we were our sophomore year (in 2020) with a better outcome this year, and I think we're pushing all of the underclassmen to do the exact same thing."
One of those underclassmen leading the charge is sophomore quarterback Braxon Linville, who had a team best 1,467 rushing yards in his freshman campaign. He finished with over 2,400 all-purpose yards and 37 all-purpose touchdowns.
With a healthier, more experienced offensive line, Linville enters 2022 with full faith in himself and his teammates.
"We all believe in each other more and more," Linville said. "As we got further in the season, we realized some people are capable of other things and that we're all capable of something at least."
The Cardinals showed the ability to put up points last season, scoring 50 or more seven times, 60 or more five times and 70-plus three times.
With another lead rusher in senior Hayden Ecker back as well, Linville is determined to help Ecker and the nine other seniors on roster go out on top.
"That is one of my biggest motivations," Linville said. "To get them what they want. What they've wanted since freshman year, and continue their legacy."
North Andrew will host a jamboree on August 19 with DeKalb, Platte Valley and Pattonsburg and will stay home to host King City the following week to officially open the season.
The Cardinals hope to right some wrongs there after falling at King City 62-26 to open last season. They're hopeful a strong start will translate into an all around more prosperous 2022.
"They've always been really good," Chittum said of the Wildkats. "It's always a good matchup, no matter the outcome. We're hoping to get a win and start the season off better this year."
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