SENECA (KSNT) - It's a new year with new faces, but the expectation remains the same for Nemaha Central football.
The Thunder are back-to-back 2A state champions, and though their group in 2024 is young, they're looking to make it three-in-a-row. Nemaha Central head coach Michael Glatczak is well aware his team has a target on its back heading into 2024, but his message has been all about mindset.
"I told the kids during the summer, just worry about the next day, the next practice," Glatczak said. "Don't worry about the past two years because those seniors are long gone."
Because the Thunder have just four seniors this fall, Glatczak is calling on his junior class to step into leadership roles a year early. Nemaha Central's juniors and seniors say they're making a point to help underclassmen learn plays and feel comfortable at practice.
"Our junior class is really going to have to step up," junior quarterback Carter Hajek said.
Nemaha Central is also part of the new Big East league in 2024, a combination of teams from the Thunder's previous league - the Big 7 - and the Mid-East league. The merger brings new opponents into the mix, with the Thunder gearing up to face the likes of Silver Lake, Rossville and Chanute this fall.
Coach Glatczak says the team's first goal is winning the league championship, especially in the Big East's inagural year. After that, the Thunder's ultimate goal is the same as its always been.
"Everybody knows the end goal, another state championship," senior linebacker Abram Keim said.
Nemaha Central opens its 2024 campaign at home against Marysville on Sept. 6.
