VAN METER, Iowa — They may have moved up to Class 2A last season, but Van Meter's dominance continued. The Bulldogs went undefeated and won their third consecutive state title.
This season's quest for a four-peat won't be easy however, as the Bulldogs lost two of their top playmakers on offense.
"Well, we got some new guys on offense, myself included," said senior quarterback Jayson Haley. "There's not a whole lot of changes, you know, we just kind of reload and try again. Younger players coming up have a little pressure, but you get used to it after a while."
Having to replace key players is nothing new for Van Meter. They've proven that their winning culture becomes engrained in players early on and when it's their turn to step up, they're ready to meet the moment.
"The last couple seasons, we've had to reload and refill a bunch of positions," said senior linebacker Nathan Becker. "We lost a bunch of good guys, but we've always been able to just reload and go right back at it. "
"Everyone already kind of knows what the vibe is like and how competitive it is on the field varsity wise," said senior wide receiver Caleb Moore. "It's just kind of that experience helps to keep everyone composed."
The Bulldogs will open the season on Aug. 30 at home against Underwood.