Van-Far’s football team this year has grown up together.

The Indians have a core of 11 seniors for this season to go for the program’s third straight winning season. They led the program to 14 combined wins in the past two seasons to amount to more victories than the previous seven seasons.

Head coach Lucas Gibson has coached them throughout their high school careers after seeing them rise through the ranks of youth and junior high football. He expects them to have a big impact this year on the roster, whose numbers are in the mid-20s. 

“They all have been together the whole time,” Gibson said. “In junior high and even youth all the way up. It’s a pretty special group you don’t get a lot in small schools like this that I’ve seen.”

Jackson Fischer, Evan Utterback, Easton Sharp and Pacey Reading all made up an offensive and defensive line last season that earned all-conference and all-district awards all around. Gibson said they give Van-Far big production up front starting with their big size.

“They’re all big kids,” Gibson said. “I think we’ll average on the offensive line 210-215 pounds.”

Gibson said he expects the running game to be strong this season with Cayden Douglas hoping to be available all season after a hip injury last season, Ronnie Stanich providing another option in the backfield and Utterback being a battering ram on carries along with his blocking duties. He said they have a group of experienced blockers to run behind.

The pass that will be set up by the run starts with quarterback Kasen Christian, who takes over as a senior following past experience under center in junior high. Gibson said he should be a good leader and will have a fast and athletic Gaven Gaston as a target following the senior wideout’s all-conference and all-district season.

“Hopefully we get the run game going to get the pass game going,” Gibson said. “It’s the same old game.”

Behind the defensive line, Gibson said Van-Far graduated kids out of their linebacking corps but will have Gibson Condie, Ty Evans, Bryce Reading, Douglas and Stanich to fill that void. The defense allowed less than 24 points each of the past two seasons.

Gibson said he doesn’t have a win total in mind, but his players sure do. Van-Far was knocked out of districts after winning in the first game but wants to go further than last year’s 8-3 squad.

“I had a meeting with the seniors this summer and almost every one of them wrote down, ‘Win 10 games,’” Gibson said. “I think it’s doable with this team.”