Bulldog Football Team Kicks Off Season

The Milbank High School Bulldogs open their 2017 season at Madison on Friday, August 25. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Dawgs will be under the direction of Jeremy Tostenson. Coach ‘T’ is in his 16th year as head coach and holds a 80-65 career record. He will be assisted by Ryan Scoular, Carl Larson, Brian Pauli, Adolph Shepardson, Travis Lester, and Jeff Trapp.

The Bulldogs were runners-up in 2005 and captured their only State 11A championship title in 2009. Milbank Area finished 6-4 in 2016 and fell to Madison in the opening round of the playoffs.

The Bulldogs have seven starters returning on defense and six on offense. Senior Jonny Ash returns to the quarterback position. Ash racked up 1,207 yards passing with 15 touchdowns last season. Senior Cole Dockter and junior Jake Karges return as running backs. Dockter collected 506 yards rushing with seven TDs. Karges had 462 rushing yards and four scores. Also returning for the offense are seniors Preston Morton and Mitch Quade and junior Jake Fox.

Defensive returning starters include: Dockter, Karges, James Weber, Ethan Paysen, Derrick Aho, Tanner Kettwig, and Koben Huber – all seniors. Newcomers and players expected to see significant action for the Bulldogs are senior Austin Schuelke and juniors Jake Sandvig and Jordan Riley.

“Commitment to the team and a strong work ethic are going to lead to any success we have on the football field,” stated Tostenson. “We also have to have solid blocking and tackling.” Coach ‘T’ feels the challenge for the team will be remaining disciplined and the depth of the players.

Seniors are: (Back l. to r.) Chandler Peery, Mitch Quade, Jonny Ash and James Weber. (Middle) Austin Schuelke, Derrick Aho, Cole Dockter, Isaiah Wollschlager, and Derrick Weinkauf. (Front) Preston Morton, Tanner Kettwig and Nate Hanson. (Not present) Ethan Paysen.