Thunder Football Set For 2011 Season

Wes Vork-NSO

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Aug 24

Kerry Rodd-NSO

CLOQUET – The Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College football team is set to open the season this Saturday on the road in St. Cloud as they participate in the annual Kick-Off Classic which will feature teams from the Minnesota College Athletic Conference.

Last season the Thunder went 5-4 in the first year for head coach Keith Turner. This season the Thunder have record numbers with 57 players in camp and Turner is excited about the team this season.

“Our returning players will be one of the keys to our success this season,” said Turner in a press release. “We don’t have a lot of time to get everyone together, to get to know each other, to learn our strategies before we start playing games. Having a solid group of second year players really helps to get a jump on putting things together because they know our expectations and can help the new recruits along.”

Wednesday was media day at the Hilltop Field complex, which is located across the street from the college. While the team practiced and went through drills Turner speculated on the season ahead.

“We start right off with nationally ranked and the second place team in our conference last year, Central Lakes College,” mentioned Turner. “Like all first games of a season, it will be a good test and measurement as to where we stand at this very early point in this season.”

Leading the offense for the Thunder will be First Team All-Conference Selection Mike Davis who piled up 1,744 passing yards as the quarterback for FDLTCC. Davis also tossed for 20 touchdown passes. Both his passing yardage and touchdown passes were tops in the conference.

On special teams Anthony Wood, of Cloquet, returns after converting all of his extra point kicks a year ago. Wood also did not miss a field goal last season and is the only community college kicker among 50 collegiate-level kickers to earn a spot on the official Watch List for the Fred Mitchell Award.

Defensively the Thunder will look to another local stand out, David Hjelle of Saginaw, to have another strong season at linebacker as well as defensive linemen Justin Robinson of Florida and defensive back John Green also of Florida.

Among the newcomers that Turner expects to step in are; defensive end Andrew Youngren of Barnum, linebacker Josh Hogan also of Barnum, defensive lineman Ronald Johnson of Detroit and linebacker Chris Mixson of Jacksonville, Florida.

The Thunder will play at 8pm on Saturday night in St. Cloud against Central Lakes.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com