While you never want to be satisfied with moral victories, the Winfield-Mt. Union football team had one last week that suggested the 2019 campaign could be different than recent years.

In the past three seasons, the Wolves have combined for just two wins but last week they gave a solid Springville team all they could handle in a 41-38 opening game. Although they came up short, senior quarterback and this week’s JET Physical Therapy Football Athlete of the Week Daunte Oepping saw something that is encouraging for this season. “We wanted to come out strong in this game to set the expectations for the rest of the year. Last season we got blown out by Springville and they got better. To go out there and compete made me believe that we can do some things this year.” Oepping seems to have made a big jump in his second year under center, as he threw for 207 yards with three touchdowns and added one more on the ground. Jacob Ford could emerge as his top target after 151 yards receiving and one score in the opener.

The Wolves get back on the gridiron Friday night hosting River Ridge, Hanover of Illinois.