Plainsmen lean on unity, experience entering new-look season

By Samantha Goff

GRANT TRIBUNE SENTINEL

The Perkins County football team will rely on familiarity, work ethic and a unified roster as it prepares to navigate a significantly different schedule this fall.

Head coach Brendan Geier said the Plainsmen benefit from having played within the same system throughout their high school careers, allowing the team to move efficiently through its preseason preparations.

“This group has a great work ethic and team unity,” Geier said. “They have also been in the same system for all years of high school, which will allow us to progress through preseason at a good pace.”

Geier identified senior Alex Cole, juniors Porter Tjaden, Luke Minster and Jared Mireles and sophomore Mason Minster among the players returning with starting experience. Some gained that experience after injuries forced changes to the lineup last season.

The Plainsmen will also look for contributions from several potential newcomers, including sophomores Spencer Williams, Grant Gloy and Tyson Schwanebeck.

Perkins County enters the season with 17 players on its roster. With limited numbers, developing depth and keeping players healthy will be important throughout the fall.

“We are a little low on numbers this season,” Geier said. “Building depth and staying healthy will be important for us.”

The roster includes Cole as the team’s lone senior. Juniors Tjaden, Luke Minster, Mireles, Wyatt Adams and Trigg Petersen will help provide experience and leadership.

The sophomore class includes Mason Minster, Williams, Schwanebeck and Gloy. Freshmen Kipton Sauder, Jace Noyes, Kolbe Bullock, Landon Nodlinski, Rhett Miller, Victor Dunn and Miles Reisig round out the roster.

Geier said the team’s summer camp and conditioning sessions provided an encouraging start to the preseason.

“Our team camp and conditioning went well,” he said. “The kids showed up and worked hard.”

The Plainsmen will need that effort as they prepare for a schedule featuring several unfamiliar opponents. Geier said only Kimball and Hemingford return from last season’s slate.

The schedule change coincides with a restructuring of Nebraska’s eight-man football classifications. The format expanded from two classes, D-1 and D-2, to three classes with the addition of D-3. Perkins County will compete in Class D-2 this season.

According to the Perkins County Schools calendar, the Plainsmen will open the season at home against Shelton on Friday, Aug. 28. They will travel to Kimball on Sept. 4 before returning to Ed Henfler Field to face Loomis on Sept. 11.

Perkins County will then play three consecutive road games against Bertrand, Maywood-Hayes Center and Kimball before returning home for October contests against Hemingford and Hitchcock County. The regular season is scheduled to conclude Oct. 16 against Hi-Line at Eustis-Farnam.

With a small roster facing a largely unfamiliar schedule, Geier said the team must remain connected and play with toughness.

“The keys to success will be team unity, work ethic and playing physical football,” he said.

Geier is assisted by Ryan Boldt, Steve Snyder and Eric McCormick.

2026 Perkins County football schedule

Aug. 28, 6 p.m. — Shelton

Sept. 4, 6 p.m. — at Kimball

Sept. 11, 6 p.m. — Loomis

Sept. 18, 6 p.m.  — at Bertrand

Sept. 25, 6 p.m.  — at Maywood-Hayes Center

Oct. 2, 7 p.m. — Hemingford

Oct. 9, 1:30 p.m. — Hitchcock County

Oct. 16, 1:30 p.m.  — at Eustis Farnam

Oct. 30 — Class D-2 playoffs, first round

Dates and times are subject to change.