To say the 2010 Fairview football team is young would be an understatement. In fact, of the 26 players on the Warrior roster only five are juniors or seniors. Youth, however, isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

“We’re really young, but I feel like we’re going to be in the hunt this season,” fifth-year head coach Kevin Clausen said. “So far, practice has been going really well. The kids have been working really hard.”

Fairview, who went 3-5 last season, returns a number of key contributors off of last year’s team. “I thought kids did really well last season,” Clausen said.”Almost all of our games were close.”

Depth appears to be a major strength on this year’s squad, Clausen said. “We have three players at nearly every position. As a coach, you always feel good about having a number of options at any given moment.”

With such a youthful team, Fairview’s four seniors Brady Kortes, Anthony Lebsock, Blake Reynolds and Austin Mann will provide experience and leadership. The squad’s lone junior will be Kristian Shaide.

“Those guys are going to be really important with so many new faces this season,” Clausen said.

Offensively, the Warriors will look to pound the ball at their opponents behind a strong, physical rushing attack. Giving Fairview depth at running back will be Kortes and sophomores Cody Vitt and Scott Andreasen. Kortes saw most of his action defensively last year while Vitt suffered an early season injury, and Andreasen saw some varsity playing time.

“Running back is where we will probably have the most depth,” Clausen said. “This year, we are hoping to play smash-mouth football so it’s going to be important to establish a running game.”

At quarterback, Lebsock returns as the starter. Vitt will also see some playing time at the position. The quarterback’s main targets will be sophomores Jonathan Shaide and Seth Flynn.

On the line, Reynolds is a senior returning with two years of starting experience while Jace Taylor saw limited action a season ago. Shaide and Logan Kjos will be looked to step up and fill a spot on the line.

On the defensive side of the football, Fairview returns a solid core at linebacker. Kortes, Vitt, Reynolds and Andreasen all saw playing time at the position last season. Looking to put pressure on opposing offenses will be Mann and Taylor.

“We return some good experience on defense,” Clausen said. “I think our linebackers will be a strength this season.”

So far practice, that began Aug. 13, has went very well. The Warriors, however, are anxious to get the season under way.

“I am happy with how practice has been going, but you never know until you get into that first game,” he said. “That first game is the true test of where you’re at.”

Fairview won’t have to wait too long for its first test as the squad travels across state lines to face Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood (M-L-S), N.D., Saturday at 2 p.m. (C.S.T). The Warriors will play North Dakota nine-man football rules.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I enjoy the nine-man game,” he said. “M-L-S looks to be really tough. It should be a great measuring stick of where we’re at.”

One of the Warriors’ strengths will be an experienced coaching staff as Clausen and assistants Louis Kimbrell and Marty Shaide return for their fifth year together. Derek Gackle joins the staff and will help run the offense.

“We have a lot of kids that have worked really hard to get bigger and stronger and I’m looking forward to see their hard work pay off,” Clausen said.