T-R PHOTO BY JAKE RYDER - South Tama returns five football letterwinners from last season’s team. Pictured, from left, are: Kinzer Jaennette, Tyrus Clegg, Cody Blocker and Anthony Thompson; not pictured: Wyatt Silhanek.

TAMA — South Tama football hopes to avoid the self-inflicted damage this fall.

Head coach Nate Doran wants the Trojans moving in a positive direction coming off last year’s winless campaign.

“There’s a few games where we’d have chances to drive and have a penalty here and there and have to battle back, third-and-20 situations,” Doran said. “We can’t do that, every team we play in that district is fantastic.”

With 12 seniors graduated from last year’s squad, it could almost be a clean slate for the Trojans.

STC will continue to lean on co-captains Anthony Thompson and Cody Blocker, two of the five returning letterwinners from last season along with Kinzer Jaennette, Tyrus Clegg and Wyatt Silhanek.

Jaennette was third on the team in tackles with 40 stops last fall, including four for a loss, and Blocker added 23 total tackles and an interception on defense as the statistical leaders from that group.

“They’re tough kids, kids that we can lean on,” Doran said. “There’s not many of them, but they’re dependable and will give it everything you got. They’ve worked their butts off and we’re looking for big things from them.”

The Trojans averaged under four points per game in a brutal schedule that included Class 3A champion Williamsburg and state semifinalist Solon.

Blocker rushed for 156 yards and Jaennette caught nine passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.

“We have some sophomores that played last year and a freshman that played last year and we’ll probably be bringing up some guys this year from those freshman and sophomore teams,” Doran said. “We’ve been getting creative here at practice, mixing it up a little bit.”

South Tama opens the season at Roland-Story on Friday.

“I want to win some football games, but I also want to make these young men better men at the end of the day,” Doran said. “We just want to make sure they’re ready and aren’t out there like the deers in the headlights. Just be prepared for football.”

South Tama Football Schedule

* all games 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 30 at Roland-Story

Sept. 6 CHARLES CITY

Sept. 13 at Knoxville

Sept. 20 CENTER POINT-URBANA

Sept. 27 WILLIAMSBURG

Oct. 4 at Grinnell

Oct. 11 at Fairfield

Oct. 18 BENTON COMMUNITY

Oct. 25 SOLON