T-R PHOTO BY ROSS THEDE - Six letterwinners help comprise the Meskwaki Settlement School’s football roster this season as the Warriors search for their first win since 2020. Pictured (from left) are front row: Layne Steen, Devin Hoag and Dorian Velazquez; back row: Jayce Thompson, Cadell Buffalo and Kenley Ryan.

MESKWAKI SETTLEMENT — It’s been nearly five years since the Meskwaki football team won a game, but the Warriors can’t worry about what they don’t have.

They’re focusing on the matter at hand — one play at a time, one day at a time.

The Warriors return six letterwinners from last year’s winless squad and will send a roster of 14 to the sidelines this fall. Head coach Andre Roberts likes the group he’s got around him, and he’d like them even more if they would keep their focus on what’s in front of them.

“I try to keep them focused on this game, the game that we’re going to play,” he said, “that’s what we need to stay focused on. They say ‘I’m worried about Gladbrook-Reinbeck or this team or that team’ and we’re going to play them all, but we can’t worry about that. Let’s worry about who’s in front of us right now.”

It’s going to take Meskwaki’s full focus to finish with its first since since Oct. 2, 2020, but that’s the roadrunner for the coyote to chase. The Warriors can’t worry about winning until they focus on the day-to-day drills, Roberts said, if they want to find success on the field.

The Warriors went 0-8 last season, 0-7 in 2023, didn’t field a team in 2022, and were 0-8 in 2021. Meskwaki finished 3-5 in 2020, going back-to-back seasons with three wins.

The losing streak stands at 25 games, but that can’t be the Warriors’ focus.

“A win would be nice, that would be a major plus, but right now the main thing is getting everybody here to practice and have them stay focused,” Roberts said. “These guys are teenagers. We’re explaining something and they’re over there dancing and messing around and we try to keep that to a minimum.

“The main thing right now, our main focus is to learn the plays, stay focused, get out there and know your assignment, do your assignment.”

Meskwaki returns six letterwinners from last year’s squad, starting with seniors Devin Hoag, Jayce Thompson, Cadell Buffalo and Dorian Velazquez. Junior Layne Steen returns as the Warriors’ quarterback, leaning on his speed and overall athleticism to get the ball down the field.

“He’s fast, he’s been in the weight room, he’s got speed and he’s got smarts,” Roberts said of his quarterback.

Sophomore Kenley Ryan is the team’s top performer in the weight room and will be called upon to lead the Warriors up front.

“He’s one of them that was going to weights all summer and it shows,” Roberts said. “He’s the strongest one on the team.”

Senior lineman Maheengunse Bear has some experience at center, and junior Nathan Bear has the size to make an impact on the line as well.

Freshman Draven Davenport will be looked upon as a potential playmaker, Roberts said, along with sophomore Jarvis Bear Jr.

“Some of our key players from last year didn’t come out this year, and they were tight ends and linemen,” Roberts said. “We were relying on them and they didn’t come out, so like last year and the year before and the year before, we’ve got to make do with what we have.

“But in all my years, I’ve never seen a greater bunch of kids. They’re small, some of them aren’t even in the weight room, but they have that determination. I’ve seen that in them.”

Meskwaki opens the season against another Warriors squad, hosting HLV/Tri-County on Aug. 29. Defending 8-Man state runner-up Gladbrook-Reinbeck hosts Meskwaki in Week 2 to open District 6 play.