High School Football Preview: South Loup Bobcats

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska (KNOP) – The road show continues to Custer County and Arnold, where the South Loup Bobcats are preparing for their season.

Last season, South Loup had a magical season. After going 8-0 in the regular season, the Bobcats made a deep run into the postseason playoffs.

That run took them to the state championship semifinals, where they lost to rival Sandhills Thedford. But that was last year. Now every team starts with a clean slate, and South Louis has the goal of getting back into the playoffs and earning a ticket to Lincoln. Senior free safety Ethan Furne said it hurt not being able to compete, but that the playoff loss helped the team develop and grow together.

“We definitely built some bond on our team and then fell short. It really hurt not to make the state championship, but we built ourselves back up stronger and just came out and really beat them early in the season,” Furne said.

With five seniors on the roster falling in the state semifinals, he helped the returning players develop. Head coach Mat Jageler is in his sixth season, so he knows there are still holes to fill on the team, but he’s excited about the opponent in week one.

“We lost a lot last year, but we also have a good group of guys back, and we haven’t had that many of them in the starting lineup yet. We have to have that depth, too. The eight that come on the field first is a tough eight. You know they’re going to be solid. We just don’t have the depth to substitute them; conditioning and injuries are going to be a big issue this season,” Jageler said.

The Bobcats open the 2024 season at home against Hemingford on Thursday.

South Loup 2024 FB ​​Schedule (Home games in bold)

August 29 against Hemingford

6 September @ Hi-Line

September 13th against Perkins County

September 19th @ Sandhills Valley

27 September @ West Holt

October 4th against Pleasanton

October 11th @ Ravenna

October 18 against Aracadia Loup City

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