Coming off a 10-win campaign a year ago, a veteran Kingston Redskin football squad is eyeing even bigger heights in 2024 with soaring expectations.
The Redskins are the District 3 favorite in the new look Class 2A Division I, but third-year head coach Brad Hill knows his experienced club has plenty of challenges ahead to get where they want to be by the end of the season.
Kingston showed its prowess impressively last week in scrimmage action against Idabel and Antlers, yielding one total touchdown on the entire night in varsity action.
The Redskins outscored Idabel, a preseason Top 10 ranked 3A squad, by a 7-0 margin in their one live quarter of action that included a spectacular 70-yard touchdown pass from junior Reid Patterson to Parks Ratzlaff. They also came up with a big fourth down defensive stop to keep the Warriors from cracking the scoreboard.
“We faced two really good opponents and got some good quality reps, but most importantly managed to stay healthy,” Hill stated. “We got in a lot of reps and saw some things we need to fix but overall it went well. Our defense really flew around and was able to tackle in space against Idabel’s speed and Antlers’ physicality. It was a good test for us.”
Kingston returns eight offensive starters to lead the way this season, including the bulk of last year’s production from the skill positions. Patterson will be the ringleader of the offensive unit once again as a dual threat from the signal-calling position. Ratzlaff returns in the backfield as well along with versatile Logan Stephens.
They’ll have plenty of weapons on the outside in the passing game as well with seniors receivers Sam Walker, Cash Walker and Eli Oliger all back.
Offensive line might be the only question mark for the Redskins but they’ve got a four-year starter in Brady Greene anchoring things up front at the center position. Senior Isaac Hahn will be starting for the third straight season and Blane Henry also has some experience as a regular in the lineup a year ago as well.
On the defensive side, the Redskins must replace a couple of talented All-District performers but have a formidable returning nucleus that includes nine guys that all started at various points last season.
The linebacking unit of Ratzlaff, Patterson, Ty Jones and Sam Walker will be pivotal on that side of the ball. Brayden Ellisor and Hudson Everhart are expected to be two of the main guys in the secondary as well.
“We are a little young on the lines but we feel like the ones we have are really coming along,” Coach Hill said. “We have most of our skill kids back so we feel good about where we are in that area. We didn’t start the fall too far off of where we were at the end of last. They are really comfortable with each other and had a really good summer.
“All those returning guys have a lot invested into this season and know we have to keep getting better each week. We are challenging ourselves with a very tough non-district schedule and the district schedule is going to be tougher as well in the new classification. We know that we must improve each day to finish better than a year ago.”
Kingston’s quest for adding to last season’s 10 victories begins on the road Friday with the Marshall County Super Bowl and a test they know won’t come easy.
Last year the Redskins needed double overtime to prevail 35-34 over their county neighbors in one of the most exciting matchups in recent years.
“Madill is really talented and going to be a big challenge,” Hill said. “They are a very physical team. They’ve got big guys up front and explosive skill players that are dynamic when they get the football in space. They are always well coached and fly around defensively.
“I think the game will be determined by who protects football the best and commits the least penalties. They have a lot of excitement going over there right now in Coach Heavner’s first year. You always like to open the season against a good opponent and that’s what we have this week. It could very well come down to the final play just like last year.”