The loss of many starters due to graduation, modifications in the coaching line up and new starters taking on leadership roles are all changes that the Homestead football team has had to adjust to over the summer, and on Thursday, Aug. 20, the team took on the number-one ranked Arrowhead Warhawks in its debut as a new team. Although the Highlanders lost the game 28-14, there was promise for a successful season amidst all the changes the team has had to face.

The offseason for the Highlanders provided little rest for the boys with year-round workouts to prepare them for the start of the season. Starting in early August, the team took to the practice field for two-a-day practices. In these, the team watched film, learned new plays and worked drills to incorporate the new players.

Veteran starting seniors, including Jack Popp, Matt Winters, Josh Mueller, Patrick Minkin and Chris Malicky, will help lead the team through the season. With Popp, Winters and Mueller all receiving attention from college football programs across the country, the team is left in the hands of very experienced and skilled players.

A big adjustment that the team is working with is Eric Zoeller, junior, taking over the starting quarterback position after losing last year’s starter, Nick Allen, to graduation. Zoeller has been working hard in practice to adjust to his new role on the team and got to showcase his hard work against a talented Arrowhead defense.

The first score of the game came from Arrowhead’s quarterback taking it in 23 yards on a quarterback sneak that left the defense running after Johnny Duranso. The Highlanders soon responded with a two-yard touchdown ran in by Zoeller. But before the first half came to an end, the Warhawks added another seven points with the help of senior running back Nick Bastien.

“We had a slow start to begin the game, but we had some momentum going into the second half. We just weren’t able to capitalize when we had the opportunity to, making it hard to turn the game around in our favor,” Minkin said.

The start of the second half came with an Arrowhead 71-yard rushing touchdown by Bastien, putting the Warhawks up 21-7 just minutes into the third quarter. Going into the fourth quarter, the Highlanders were down 28-7, but just 30 seconds before the final whistle blew, Zoeller hit Popp for a seven-yard touchdown pass.

Although the game ended with a 28-14 loss for the Highlanders, the game provided the team with a stepping-stone for the rest of the season. This first game was an opportunity for Homestead to see how the coaching changes would affect the team. Coach Fritz Rauch, last year’s defensive coordinator, took the head coach position at Grafton, putting Coach Matt Wolf at the defensive coordinator position.

Another change in coaching is Head Coach Dave Keel’s decision to step back from his play-calling role on offense this season. Former Messmer/Shorewood Head Coach Drake Zortman has joined the Highlander coaching staff to take over the role of offensive coordinator.

The team appeared to adjust to the changes well in Thursday’s game, but there are still areas that will need improvement throughout the season. “Coach Zortman is very experienced with the game of football and has already brought a lot of knowledge to the locker room. He’s a great asset to the team and will help our offense get on the track we want to be,” Winters said.

With all the changes that have come Homestead’s way, the Highlanders are still focused on winning and are on the right path to do so. “Our goals for the season include improving every week, competing for the conference championship and having a long, successful run in the playoffs,” Coach Keel said.