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The Avon Pirates enter the 2025 football season with confidence, experience, and high expectations. With returning seniors and a solid core of other returning players, the team is primed for another strong season. The team will be led by veterans Al'Shamon Gunter, Randall Powers, Weston Bierema, and Trenton Soukup, and guided by second-year quarterback Easton Sees. “We have a lot of experience and great size,” commented head coach Justin Lukkes. “The kids want to work hard to win.” Newcomers Cale and Charlie Cooper, along with Mason Jolley, have also made an impact in preseason practices. Al'Shamon Gunter and Randall Powers have been an anchor for the line since they were sophomores and the coach is hopeful for a backfield that will be good again this year. Avon’s offseason was busy, with the team attending the Great Plains Conference Camp, the SDSU 9-Man Team Camp, and some players also went to other camps on their own. Avon also had open field over the summer. Coach Lukkes felt the players did pretty well in both of the team camps and learned what they need to work on, which is always good to do early in the season. "We are always looking to improve on both offense and defense," said Coach Lukkes. "Holding opponenets to less points, controlling the ball better, and we always want do all the little things right to be a good, wellrounded team." Coach Lukkes is aiming to keep everyone healthy and to teach the love of the game and life lessons. "We are focused on checking all our boxes, making sure we do the fundamentals right," added Lukkes. "The rest will come as we go." The Pirates’ game plan won’t change much — expect plenty of hard-nosed running and physical play on both sides of the ball. Tough early matchups against Corsica and Colman-Egan will test them, but the team’s sights are set on making a deep playoff run and returning to the Dakota Dome. This team knows their potential and Coach Lukkes is excited every season to see them give their best. "They're a big fun physical bunch of players." “They’re excited and ready,” the coach said. “The seniors really want to go back to the Dome. We want them to have fun, play the game they love, and take away lessons and memories that last a lifetime.”