Braves Prepare for New Season

The Southern Cloud Braves are gearing up for another exciting football season.  The Braves are coming off a very successful 7 - 0 season last year.    The Braves are looking to have another good campaign this year. 

The Braves return 7 letter winners and 2 full time starters from last season.  The Braves have 9, 8th graders and 10, 7th graders on this years team.

Leading the way will be Joel Jamison and Justin Pelkey who both started last year.  Joel played Fullback and Nose last year.  This year he will see action at Tailback and Fullback and may move around some on the defense.  Justin Pelkey, the closest thing Southern Cloud has to a heat seeking missile, will play Fullback, Tailback and Linebacker on the defensive side of the ball. 

 The Braves have several other 8ther graders that will play major roles this season, including letter winners Logan Fowler, (Tailback and Safety), Trey Bellows, (End, Cornerback and Linebacker), Matt Snively (Center), and Shawn Denio, who is new to the team this year, will play as a Lineman and/or Linebacker.  Letterwinners Jacob Clements (Guard and Defensive End), and Jared Knox, (End, Tackle, & Defensive End) will see a lot of action and their experience is greatly needed.  Jeffery DeMars, who is also new to the team this year, will play as a Linebacker, Corner, or safety.

  There will be several 7th graders that will play important roles and add depth to the Braves roster this season.  Austin Pelkey will play QB and Linebacker this season, Dakota Mason will play Saftey and Tailback, Levi Richardson has been impressive at Corner and will also play End and Quarterback, Hunter DeMars has also been improving rapidly and will see action at End, QB, and Tailback on the offensive side of the ball and Linebacker or Cornerback on the defensive side of the ball.  Connor Graham will see action as an End on offense and a Defensive End or Nose on defense.  Eli Heller has already had a few snaps with the varsity at Center and he plays nose on defense, Raeman Flores will also play some nose and play Guard on offense, and Kyle Fowler has taken a lot of snaps with the 1st team at both End and Guard on offense, he will play defensive end on the other side of the ball.

Two other new players to the team this year are 7th graders Kyle Burch and Tyler Dennis.  Kyle will play some Guard on offense and End, Nose, or Linebacker on defense.  Tyler has been logging time at Fullback on offense and Linebacker and Corner on defense.

"It has been really neat to have so many guys out for the team.  Our practices have been really good, but we want to improve every day and get better.  We have quite a few kids that are learning football for the first time, but they are catching on quickly.  We do have some experience in several positions and that really helps.  The team and I are really excited about the upcoming season.

We are lucky to have Coaches Mike Stein and Marcus Pierson back for another season of Braves football.  It really helps to have consistency in the coaching ranks.  I think the players are really glad to have them both back and I know I am.

We're looking to have a very successful season and learn a lot about football and a lot about working as a team and caring about the team concept.  I'm really proud of our guys, they are working really hard and really want to be successful."  Quoted Braves Head Coach Rick Hatfield.

Braves Notes:  The Braves first game of the season will be at Rock Hills (Mankato) on September 9th.  The Braves are currently on a 9 game winning streak over the last two seasons.