COLO – It’s business as usual for the Royals.

Even after losing a strong senior class to graduation, not much is going to change when the Colo-NESCO football team approaches the 2016 season in 8-man District 5 play. The Royals will look to reload as much as possible rather than rebuild after making a quarterfinal run in the playoffs a season ago.

“We’re really excited. I know we’re going to be young this year, so we might have some growing pains at first,” said Colo-NESCO head coach Josh Nessa. “I really like what I see so far, especially the older guys that are really plugged in. We didn’t make a lot of changes in formations or plays. It’s going to very similar stuff that we’re doing.”

The staple Colo-NESCO will look to reload around to try to improve on a 9-3 2015 record will be senior tailback Garret Tiarks. The veteran presence around the Royals, Tiarks ran for 1,589 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior a year ago. Tiarks is the leading returning rusher in all of the 8-man level. Tiarks has rushed for 2,353 yards and 40 scores in his first three years as a Royal.

“(Tiarks) was a great leader last year even though he was a junior. He does things right,” Nessa said. “He’s a really good kid in and out of the classroom and on the field. He just needs to keep doing what he’s doing. Hopefully the other kids will figure that out, and learn to lead as well.”

Junior Phillip Bower will replace the graduated Brady Stoeffler as commander of the offense. While Bower completed only 1-of-4 passes for 12 yards last year, he does have varsity experience while playing quarterback at the junior varsity level. Bower carried the ball 20 times for 224 yards and three touchdowns in 2015. He also was the main returner on kickoffs and punts, including returning a punt for a touchdown in a week three home game against Charter Oak-Ute last season.

“He’s doing a terrific job thus far,” Nessa said. “Really improved his mechanics and how he releases the ball. He’s gotten more accurate. He’s very shifty. I think he’ll fit into our system well.

“We’re going to have to rely on some sophomores this year, but we had to last year even with that great senior class. We’re really optimistic about how things are working out.”

The Royals will turn to Tiarks as well as junior Garrett Packer, a pair of all-district linebackers, on the defensive side of the football. In front of the linebackers will be junior Bryce Niemeyer, who will be expected to anchor the defensive line. Tiarks recorded 87.5 tackles, 14 for loss and five sacks. Packer added 56 tackles and three sacks. Up front, Niemeyer tallied 24 tackles and two sacks.

“They’re very aggressive players. Have motors and don’t come off the field hardly at all. I look to those guys for leadership,” Nessa said.

The Royals will start the season on the road for the first two games. They’ll travel to Ackley in Week 1 to face AGWSR, a team transitioning from 11-player football to 8-man. Colo-NESCO then journeys to Coon-Rapids Bayard in Week 2 before returning to Colo for the home and district open against Meskwaki Settlement in Week 3.

“It took us a few games when we transitioned from 11-man to 8-man. It took us really even a few seasons to get comfortable with what we do,” Nessa said. “I like the chances that we have. They’re going to be big and physical is what I hear from other coaches. I’m sure they’ll be a tough team.

“It’ll be nice to have two tough teams right away in Ackley and Coon Rapids-Bayard. Both have good traditions. We like have those difficult at the beginning because it will help prepare us for our district play.”