Thunder hope to build on last season!

Dwight Cadwell – NSO

Thunder Looking to Improve this Season

The Fond du Lac Thunder Football team is looking to improve on last season’s most successful season for the Thunder football team. The Thunder finished with a regular season record of 5-3 and they were the top seed in the Northern Division of the MCAC Conference.

The Thunder qualified for the MCAC playoffs and the Thunder won their opening game with a 60-0 shutout victory over Vermillion Community College in the quarterfinals, then Thunders run last season ended in the semifinals where they lost to Rochester by a score of 31-24.

The Thunder in their 7^th year of existence is hoping to continue with the building of a strong and stable program. Head Coach Keith Turner told Northland Sports Online “practice has been going well and the kids we have are so eager they are working hard and they are well ahead of any team I have coached in the past at this point.”

Turner mentioned “we have had some minor injuries, some sprains and strains and a few bruises here and there but we will be ready for our first game of the season and also a scrimmage we are having Friday afternoon.” Turner added “this group realizes you need to work hard to achieve their success and that hard work makes them better people and better teammates.”

Coach Turner

The Thunder will have a good core of returning sophomores returning this year and they will be led by several players who are leaders both on and off the field. Key players returning on offense include Cardan Perkins and David Cooper from the offensive line, running back James Griffin is back, Griffin led the Thunder in rushing a season ago and TE Cam Stanley is also back on the offensive side of the ball.

Defensively the Thunder returns linebackers Wyatt Finifrock from Barnum, and DeAngelo Dolphis of Brooklyn Park, as well as Hoka Janis on the defensive line from Red Wing, and defensive backs Josh Watson and Kahri Howard. Anthony Makela will also return as the teams kicker and punter this season.

The Thunder will open the season on Saturday August 31^st when the Thunder will travel to Brainerd to take on Central Lakes Community College. The Thunder will open their home season on Saturday September 7^th at Barnum High School against Minnesota West Community College at 1:30 pm. The Thunder will also be playing two home games at Ole Haugsrud field in Superior and will lose out the regular season in Barnum on Friday October 18^th. Coach Turner is hoping to have a home playoff game in Cloquet once the MCAC playoffs begin.

Dwight Cadwell can be reached at Dwight@northlandsportsonline.com