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Glendale looking forward, not back

Mirror file photo Glendale has senior quarterback Garret Misiura back for the fall season.

H.S. football

The Mirror will preview a high school football team each day until Aug. 22. For a complete rundown of all of the teams in the region, pick up a copy of “Blitz” at area newstands.

Today: Glendale

Sat-Sun: Bellwood-Antis

From 2015-2018, the Glendale high school football team won five games.

The Vikings matched that number last season and qualified for the District 6 Class 1A playoffs in Dave “Spank” Trexler’s first year as head coach.

Glendale graduated its top three rushers, Cory Johnston, Seth Dudurich and Tristan Rutter, but it is hoping the momentum from last year’s season carries over into 2020.

“We just have to keep working hard and putting all our effort in during practices,” Glendale senior quarterback Garret Misiura said. “Obviously, we all would like to go undefeated and win the ICC, but it’s important to keep moving forward as a program.”

Trexler has been using offseason workouts to figure out the best way forward for the Vikings.

“Every year we approach everything as a new season,” Trexler said. “Each team has its own identity, and there are players on each team that are better suited for different things than the players from the year before.”

One thing is certain, Glendale will try to build off its defensive performance from last season.

“I think that’s a mindset coming in that a lot of our players have,” Trexler said. “Last year, we had a lot of wrestlers who had that mentality from wrestling. We still have some of those guys along with some basketball players who are mentally and physically tough.”

This year’s senior class learned a lot last year and hope to leave a similar legacy.

“The seniors last year did a good job at bringing this program back from 1-9,” Seilhamer said. “We want to do the same thing for this year’s underclassmen and go out on a good note by doing even better than last year.”

The Vikings lost their playoff game, 28-0, to Bishop McCort in a contest that was much closer than the final score. Glendale struggled to move the ball offensively following a first-half injury to Misiura, who did make it back in time to help the Vikings win a District 6 title in wrestling.

“It was really tough to have to sit out,” Misiura said. “I would have done anything to get back in there, but I couldn’t. It definitely makes me hungry to get back to that point and be there for my teammates.”

Seilhamer had 20 catches for 413 yards and three touchdowns last season, but Trexler and his players think those numbers could be even higher with another year of experience together.

“We can throw the ball, and the offense will be different this year,” Seilhamer said. “But with our line, I think we’ll also be able to run the ball and have good balance.”

As always at many of the Class 1A schools in the area, numbers will be a concern.

“At a smaller school like we are, it’s very important to keep everyone healthy,” Trexler said. “We have a lot of kids who have been putting work in to be ready for this season, and I hope they get the opportunity.”

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