Much has been discussed about the state of Class A football.
A new postseason format this fall opens a window for the top 16 teams to find their way into an extra game and a revamped scheduling method in an attempt to limit lopsided games.
Whether it works will be proven as the season rolls out.
Fremont just wants to play, spawning this year's "Fear none" motto.
"Hey, we'll play anybody," said Fremont coach Lee Jennings. "It doesn't matter who you are. That kind of classic mentality. All the different opinions of how Class A football is going, right now, our kids say it doesn't matter. It's a game and we want to play the game no matter what. We're not really going to fear anybody. We just want to play. So let's put the ball down and play."
The Tigers will be mixing some experience with familiar but new to the role faces in key spots.
People are also reading…
"We have a good group of seniors that have been really good leaders," Jennings said.
The biggest replacement for Fremont will be at the quarterback position as the Tigers attempt to replace their two-QB system with senior Garrett Schinning.
"He's done a good job of stepping in and we're going to do some things to benefit him," Jennings said.
The senior completed five of his 11 passes last year for 88 yards last year while spending most of his time on the defensive side of the ball where he led Fremont with three interceptions.
Fremont spent the summer incubating him at the quarterback spot with 7-on-7 reps and a fully padded jamboree against Norfolk and Bellevue East.
He'll have top target Hudson Jennings at his side in the passing game. The senior, who recently announced his commitment to Morningside, led Fremont with 37 receptions for 569 yards last year.
Junior Tyson King and senior Colton Piercy will handle the running back duties again. King was the Tigers second leading rusher last fall with 277 yards on 70 carries.
Senior Brandon Hunnell, who is also in the mix offensively as the Tigers fullback, is the top returning tackler for Fremont after posting 64 stops as a junior.
The Tigers defense were ballhawks last year, hauling in 11 interceptions and recovering three fumbles. Schinning, Brycen Lackey, Hudson Jennings and Creighton Kallhoff all got their hands on a turnover last fall and return to their posts this year.
"They're used to calling coverages and know what they're doing and getting themselves in the right spot," Lee Jennings said.
Fremont will open the season at home at 7 p.m. against Columbus.
"It's become a little bit more of a rivalry game now that we've played them a little bit more consistently," Lee Jennings said. "Now that we play them a bit more often, it feels like that rivalry is more alive."
Columbus kept the F&C Cup last year after a 28-13 defeat for the Tigers, who have not beaten the Discoverers since 2016 and are on an 0-6 skid in the rivalry.
