PHOTO PROVIDED - West Marshall football returns 15 letterwinners from last fall’s squad. Pictured are: front row (from left) Brady Larson, Jace Eich, Kinnick Geers, Dawson Goodman, Ben Gonzalez, Holden Simms and Vincent Cawson; back row: Aiden Knea, Cash Johnston, Caden Pfantz, AJ Dee, Connor Kemmerer, Luke Steward and Michael Lechnir.

STATE CENTER — The West Marshall football team ran its postseason streak to six years in a row last fall, but it didn’t feel like it for the Trojans.

A 2-6 regular season was followed by a decisive first-round exit as West Marshall endured its worst season since 2015, but the Trojans won’t be licking their wounds this fall.

Head coach Cody Hackett has 14 returning letterwinners from last year’s 2-7 campaign, and those are the guys he said have been leading the charge toward positive change this summer.

“Obviously going 2-7 a year ago is not a typical West Marshall football season, but we have a lot of juniors coming back who are seniors now that are showing up every day working hard,” said Hackett, who begins his 11th season at the helm of his alma mater. “I think they have a bitter taste about how last year went and I don’t think they want that to happen again. It’s a great group to work with, there’s a lot of leaders in the group that are trickling down to the other guys, showing effort and attitude and just helping them out. I think they’re doing a great job of working together.

“When a team goes 2-6, it just didn’t seem like a normal playoff-type of season that we’re used to. Were we glad we got into the playoffs? Absolutely. Did it feel like we should have been there? Probably not, to be realistic.”

The Trojans got a good look at what it took to be a playoff team last season, facing six other squads that reached the postseason. Losses to all of them, however, have at least been fuel for the fire leading up to the new year.

“We lost 41-21 to New Hampton in the first round, but it was another game for the guys to play,” Hackett said. “The juniors got another game of experience at the varsity level to better prepare them for this year, so that was good. It was a quality opponent that we played.

“For us going into that game it was good seeing what type of team was there (in the playoffs) and looking ahead to this year knowing what type of team we need to be to get there,” Hackett said.

West Marshall’s perennial ground-and-pound style of offense fell short of a traditional season last year, but the Trojans have introduced a little bit more size up front to clear the way for their ball-carriers. Hackett said his front line is averaging 265-270 pounds in hopes of generating more than last year’s 16.7 points per game.

“We’re going to be big up front, and that’s something we haven’t had for quite a while,” Hackett said. “We’ve got some big boys up there and only one senior.”

Cash Johnston stands in at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds as the elder statesman on the offensive line, and he will call the blocking assignments for his fellow linemen this season. Flanking him across the line looks to be juniors Luke Steward (6-5, 315), Todd Peters (5-11, 245), Connor Schuler (6-3, 280) and Brady Larson (5-10, 255).

“Cash is a returning guy from a year ago, he’s our leader of the front line, our communicator who makes sure our hogs up front are on the same page,” Hackett said. “He does a great job with that. I’m liking where we’re at.”

A battle for the quarterback position has been driving the competition in practice for the Trojan offense, as seniors Vincent Clawson and Michael Lechnir have both taken snaps this summer.

“They’re both able to lead a huddle and keep guys on the same page, but unfortunately we’ve got to pick one,” Hacket said. “We might be able to continue that dual quarterback because that’s two of our better kids who we think have to be on the field at all times.”

Senior tailback Ben Gonzalez brings back just shy of 1,000 yards rushing from a year ago. Gonzalez carried the ball 196 times last season for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns, making him the bell cow once again for the Trojan offense. Junior Kinnick Geers and senior Dawson Goodman will see time in the backfield as well, with Goodman making the move from center to fullback as one of West Marshall’s best run-blockers.

Senior AJ Dee has bulked up from a year ago and looks to line up at tight end for the Trojans, while an experienced cast of receivers will flank him on the outside in Holden Simms, Jace Eich, Caden Pfantz and Geers. West Marshall’s passing game sputtered a bit last fall, but Hackett said an improved run game will help to kick open the door for more passing opportunities.

“Last year we were young, only six or seven seniors, so it was really a lack of experience coming off the prior year when we went 9-1,” said Hackett. “Did we get better last year? Yeah, but I’m really looking forward to this year seeing where we’re at. You can just tell at practice it’s a different feel — camaraderie, chemistry. It just feels like we’re one.”

West Marshall’s traditionally sturdy defense bent a bit last fall, allowing 30.67 points per game, but Hackett likes the pieces he has in place to resist opposing offenses this fall. It won’t be easy, of course, considering the non-district schedule the Trojans have assembled. West Marshall opens at Nevada, followed by back-to-back home games against South Hamilton and Hampton-Dumont-CAL.

Class 2A District 6 looks to be PCM’s to lose, according to Hackett, but the Trojans will do their best to contend once again.

“You look back to a year ago and there’s a couple games, two or three, that I felt we should have won but we just couldn’t make the plays at the right moments,” he said. “We were inexperienced and kids were having to deal with adversity that some of them haven’t had to deal with at the varsity level.

“The teams we play this year are going to be tough, but I really like where we’re at. Obviously our guys are a year older and we’re playing well together right now so I’m excitedd for that first game. I think that’ll tell us where we’re at.”

Hackett feels like his squad has added depth on the defensive line and linebacking corps, boosted by the rise of senior linebackers Aiden Knea and Shane Hanford. Knea will anchor the defense at middle linebacker, while Hanford — a state wrestling placewinner — is expected to make an impact on the outside. Lechnir will feast from the strong side, Hackett said.

“If there’s a guy that’s gonna really stand out for us on defense, I believe it’s going to be Michael Lechnir,” he said. “He’s big, fast, physical, tough, he flies around the field and likes to hit. Just his mentality this year, I’m really looking forward to seeing him play and watching him on Friday night.”

The return of kicker Wade Weuve, one of the school’s better soccer players, will help the Trojans find success in the special teams margins this year, too.

“I think we’re gonna surprise some teams,” Hackett added. “I’ve coached some good teams, but I put this team up there with some of them. I just like where we’re at, but we haven’t dealt with adversity yet. It’ll be interesting to see how we handle that.

“I think we’re a top-16 team but we’ve gotta go out and show it and prove it.”

West Marshall Football

Aug. 30 at Nevada, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 6 SOUTH HAMILTON, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 HAMPTON-DUMONT-CAL, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 20 at Vinton-Shellsburg, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 27 JESUP, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 at Iowa Falls-Alden, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 PCM, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 at Union Community, 7:30 p.m.