North Tama returns 10 football letterwinners from last season’s team. Pictured, from left to right, are: Keegan Brooks, Mason Hosek, Tyrus Luker, Clayton Williams, Gavin Rausch, Kolt Knaack, Chaz Hall, Josh Dostal and Kayler Morris; not pictured: Brayton Cibula. PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER

TRAER — North Tama football thinks it has the experience to tip the scales in its favor this fall.

The Redhawks return several key components on both sides of the line of scrimmage and hope that experience can carry them back to their first playoff berth since 2021’s state quarterfinal run.

“These senior leaders know this is their last go around, and they’re going to leave it out there every time,” North Tama head coach Andrew Knaack said. “We’re going to be one of the older teams in the district with seven seniors and we may not have the biggest kids but I don’t think they’re the kind of guys that are gonna take a backseat to some of these teams that may have bigger or better kids.”

Four first-team all-district selections return in Kolt Knaack, Josh Dostal, Gavin Rausch and Tyrus Luker.

Quarterback Kolt Knaack returns after throwing 1,148 yards with nine TDs and eight interceptions last year and running for five more scores on the ground. Four of Knaack’s top receiving targets return as well, led by Dostal who caught 25 passes for 525 yards and four scores in 2023.

Rausch, the team leader in tackles (72.5) and tackles for loss (8) returns to lead the defense, along with Knaack, Dostal, Luker and second-team all-district lineman Chaz Hall who were primary contributors on the defensive side.

The biggest question marks are on the line of scrimmage, where three newcomers will file in around Hall and Mason Huck.

“Those younger guys will have the older guys pushing them to get better to get on their level,” Knaack said. “You’d always like to have more numbers, we’ve got 27 kids currently, but I think our senior group can lead us to win some close games.”

North Tama had no shortage of nail biters last season, with four of the six losses coming by eight or fewer points.

“I think our guys are a bit more relaxed but we’ve got an attitude shift,” Knaack said. “Between Kolt and Gavin’s state wrestling tournament experience and just knowing the physicality, I think we can hopefully turn some of those games around where we’re the ones winning by 7-10 points.”

Wapsie Valley, quarterfinalists last season, are once again the favorites in Class A District 3 where the Redhawks finished fifth out of seven teams last season. North Tama opens the season against 1A playoff qualifier Hudson in Traer on Friday.

2024 North Tama Football Schedule

(all games at 7 p.m.)

Friday, Aug . 30 v. HUDSON

Friday, Sept . 6 v. NASHUA-PLAINFIELD

Friday, Sept. 13 at AGWSR

Friday, Sept. 20 at BCLUW

Friday, Sept . 27 v. WAPSIE VALLEY

Friday, Oct . 4 v. NORTH BUTLER (Homecoming)

Friday, Oct. 11 at South Winneshiek

Friday, Oct. 18 at North Mahaska