The WACO football team brings back a good handful of experienced players, including senior running and defensive back 1st team all district selection Dylan Carlson.

On the offense the Warriors bring in a new quarterback in Brandon Blake, a junior who will take all of the snaps under center. Running wise the 6’5” 206 pound Carlson will help out Tucker Janecek and Cey Saeugling who combined bring back 18 combined touchdowns from all three guys. Carlson is also the top returning receiver with seven catches.

On the defensive side of the ball, WACO will need to replace their top two tacklers, but Saeugling and Isaac Black will both come back to lead the team in that area. The secondary is lead by Carlson who had three interceptions last year for 86 yards and a touchdown, but he is the only one of the top three from last year to return.

On special teams, Janecek comes back to take the kicking duties, going 9-15 for PATs, and averaging 28.3 yards in 18 punts.

Head coach Chad Edeker said his team looked good after their scrimmage, and that they are right on the edge of being ready to really compete.

“We’re close,” Edeker said. “We just have to fine tune things, like I said it just takes one kid to do the wrong thing or not go hard for the full play and then it breaks down, so we just have to fine tune.”

WACO kicks things off with an area battle against Columbus Junction this Friday, and then will host North Mahaska on September 6.

WACO plays Lone Tree on September 13 and Van Buren on September 20, both away, before coming back home for homecoming against Danville on September 27. The second half of the season kicks off the next week against Lisbon on October 4, WMU on October 11, New London on October 18 and Highland will wrap up the regular season for WACO on October 25 for senior night. In the secondary Derek Berg had a team leading four interceptions last year, while three others had one.