News File Photo Rogers City’s 2021 team includes: front row: Ciara Bellmore, Jaymison Fleming, Spencer Whitford and Hayden Hentkowski; second row: head coach Jesse Fenstermaker, Caden Fenstermaker, Dillon Cook, Anthony Paull and assistant coach Corey Brege; back row: Mason Bowden, Gus Bellmore, Dylan Lafleche, Patrick Mulka, Joe Brado and Caden Brege.

ROGERS CITY — A new era has begun in Rogers City.

The 2021 campaign marks the beginning of the Hurons foray into 8-Player football and Rogers City is eager to get going and show what it can do.

“I think it’s going to be kind of the same, the day-to-day stuff. Personnel-wise, it’s just three less players,” Rogers City coach Jesse Fenstermaker said. “I took our playbook from last year, stripped it down and built it back up to an 8-man level. So you’ll see some familiar plays, just a few less players on the field.”

While players and coaches have been excited to get back on the field, Fenstermaker has leaned on the knowledge of 8-Player veterans such as Posen coach Greg Pietsch to learn the ins-and-outs of the game.

“Greg and I talk quite a bit. I know the first phone call we had. The first conversation we had was a little over two hours,” Fenstermaker said. “I leaned on him pretty hard and he’s gracious enough (and) he helped me as much as possible.”

Eight-player football lends itself to a lot of creativity on both sides of the ball and Fenstermaker hopes to put his new-found knowledge to good use as Rogers City looks to improve from last season’s 2-5 record.

On offense, junior Spencer Whitford will be tasked with leading the Hurons’ offense and spent the offseason attending camps and in the weight room to get stronger. In the backfield, Dillon Cook returns and Jaymison Fleming and Hayden Hentkowski will be among Whiford’s handoff options.

At receiver, Caden Fenstermaker, Caden Brege, Mason Bowden, and Patrick Mulka are all in the mix. On the line, Gus Bellmore is slated to start at center with Anthony Paull and Dylan LaFleche flanking him on either side at guard. Mulka, Ciara Bellmore, and Joe McFadden could also see time on either side of the line.

Paull, an all-North Star League first team selection last season, should be a playmaker on both sides of the ball. He led the area in tackles last season, but also has the size and speed to pick up yardage at running back.

Rogers City’s schedule will see several new opponents along with some familiar foes. The Hurons will travel to play Brethren, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian and Bessemer as part of their road schedule, but will also play traditional opponents like Alcona and Newberry.

The schedule also features the return of Presque Isle County rivals Onaway and Posen, as well as Mio. Rogers City hasn’t played Onaway since 2013 and hasn’t played Posen since 2009.

After a tumultuous 2020 season, the Hurons hope to turn over a new leaf this fall. After COVID-19 concerns delayed the start of the season, Rogers City was bitten by the injury bug and saw its season come to an abrupt end after it opted not to travel for a playoff game, due to a rise in COVID-19 cases around Iron Mountain, who was scheduled to play the Hurons.

With the clean slate of a new year, a new style of football and without the health concerns of last season, the Hurons are raring to go.

“To come out here without the confusion, without the ‘What’s going to happen next?’ mentality (is good). The kids are just out here, they’re having fun, getting better and you don’t have the added stress of who’s wearing a mask, who needs to be or any of that kind of stuff,” Jesse Fenstermaker said. “It’s just come out and play football and have some fun.”