By Reagan Hoverman

The River Falls and Prescott High School football teams were two of six western Wis – consin schools that sent teams to Osceola for a scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 12, one week before the ovcial season gets underway.

Both River Falls and Prescott have been practicing for two weeks and the Friday morning practice at Osceola was the first time that each program got to experience valuable live reps against other teams ahead of the 2022 season.

One of the most anticipated aspects of the Wildcats' season is the replacement for last year's starting quarterback Vito Massa. On Friday, both potential replacement starters in – cluding junior Jacob Range and senior Dylan Brathol split reps throughout the scrimmage.

Neither Range nor Brathol played any substantial repetitions during the 2021 sea – son and both shared reps throughout the first two weeks of practice. Both players ran the oense eectively on Friday and produced fruitful drives against Prescott and Osceola. River Falls head coach Ryan Scherz spoke about their play.

"They both played really well," Scherz said. "I was very happy with that and there weren't any stupid plays. They executed the oense the way they needed to do it and I guess we'll have decisions to make (ahead of Friday)." Positional versatility has been an import – ant staple in the River Falls program since Scherz got on the Wildcats sta and especial – ly since he took over as the head coach last season. The oensive line has been particu – larly mobile based on ever-changing needs on the front line.

One example of position mobility has been senior Bennett Klecker, who began his football career as a running back during his freshman year, was transitioned to tight end for a couple of years and has now been turned into an oensive lineman based on the needs of the team.

“We moved a kid like Bennett Klecker who started as a running back, moved him to tight end and now he's a guard," Scherz said. "We've had to do that since 2018 because we don't have a ton of giants all the time. We take athletic smart kids that like football and turn them into oensive lineman and he's do –

ing a great job." No scores or stats were kept from the Os – ceola scrimmage and each team got a chance to run a set number of plays before switch – ing from oense to defense. For Scherz, the scrimmage was about getting student-ath – letes experience while he observed the first live reps against competition for the year.

"We played a ton of guys and I saw some good things and some stu we need to work on, no dierent from any other scrimmage," Scherz said. "We saw what we needed to see. Most of the guys that we've expected to own spots have owned those spots." With standout play from a couple of play – ers on the roster, Scherz and the rest of the River Falls coaching sta has begun solidi – fying a starting lineup ahead of the Wildcats' first game on Friday, Aug. 19, a non-confer –

ence season opener on the road against Wis – consin Rapids.

Last season, Wisconsin Rapids finished the year with a 7-4 record and in a three-way tie for first place in the Valley Football Asso – ciation Conference standings. Coach Scherz spoke about starting the year with a tough non-conference opponent on the road.

"We're playing a really, really good oppo – nent, which is what we've wanted to do here in this program, which is to challenge our – selves and Wisconsin Rapids will be a sti test right o the bat," Scherz said. "Then we find out what we need to do and where our guys are at. We'd rather do that going into the Big Rivers knowing where you need to make changes or get better, rather than not knowing that." The game against Wisconsin Rapids on Friday, Aug. 19, is slated to begin at 7 p.m.

Prescott Cardinals

The Prescott Cardinals High School foot – ball team also competed in the scrimmage at the Osceola High School on Friday, Aug. 12.

For Prescott head coach Jordan Hansen, the most important part of the scrimmage was getting valuable live reps against other teams while maintaining team health ahead of the first legitimate game on Friday, Aug. 19, and by all accounts, his program achieved both goals.

"I think we competed at all three levels and showed some good things, as well as some things we need to improve on as well," Hansen said. "The biggest thing for us was coming out healthy, and I think we did that." Last year's Prescott Cardinals team was a run-heavy oense that had then-senior run – ning back Aiden Russell do most of the heavy lifting. During the 2021 season, Russell ac –

counted for 1,487 rushing yards on 230 car – ries.

However, during the first scrimmage of the year, Prescott regularly came out in shot –

gun formation and had sophomore quarter – back Theodore Bernick slinging the rock all around the field. Hansen spoke about that passing attack after the scrimmage.

“We have to be able to take what the de- fense gives us," Hansen said. "Last year with Aiden Russell, even if they didn't give us the run, we were still pretty good with the run. This year we want to be able to take the pass if it's there but still be able to run the ball too. We've got to be able to do both to take our oense to the next level." One dynamic player that could find him – self on the varsity roster at some point this year is freshman Kobe Russell. He took most of the reps at QB for the JV squad throughout the scrimmage and had no issues finding the end zone on the ground and through the air.

While he won't see time at the varsity lev – el as a quarterback, he also plays defensive back and could see time on the field in a spe – cial teams role as well. His athleticism stood out at the scrimmage. Hansen spoke about what Kobe Russell brings to the roster.

"He's a kid that can turn nothing into something," Hansen said. "He's a special ath – lete that throws the ball well and we're just going to slowly bring him along and get him going. He's a good player (already)." Prescott enters game week with a varsity roster that is mostly solidified. The Cardinals' week one game is on Saturday, Aug. 20, on the road against Regis in a non-conference matchup. That game is slated to begin at 11 a.m.

River Falls senior quarterback Dylan Brathol rolls out of the pocket during the Wildcats’ scrimmage at Osceola High School on Friday, Aug. 12. Brathol is one of two RF quarterbacks competing for the starting job for the 2022 season. Photo by Reagan Hoverman

Prescott freshman quarterback Kobe Russell delivers a pass downfield in the pouring rain during the Cardinals’ Friday morning, Aug. 12, scrimmage against River Falls at Osceola High School. Photo by Reagan Hoverman