Starmont football has ‘completely flushed out most of the losing attitudes’ after breakout 2023 season

ARLINGTON — Starmont football won’t sneak up on anybody this year.

After an 8-2 season that included a Class A District 4 title — one year removed from a one-win 2022 campaign — the Stars will certainly have their name circled on every opponent’s 2024 schedule.

“Like we told them, ‘It’s a learning thing,’” sixth-year Starmont Coach Mike Augustine said. “We have been working so hard for so long to get back to where we belong. And now it’s this year, it’s another learning curve because we’re not going to come up on anybody this year.

“We’re going to be starting out with the bullseyes on our back. The guys have really taken that, embraced it and are really working hard for us.”

Last year’s winning campaign — the first for Starmont since an 8-3 mark in 2012 — was the culmination of a rebuild that began after a winless 2018 season in which the Stars forfeited their final five contests.

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“We’ve completely flushed out most of the losing attitudes,” junior Keaton Moeller said. “We're at a point now where they have to come to our house to beat us. We are the hunted now. Everybody has got to come after us and I think that's exactly what we're looking for.”

Starmont has plenty of returning experience to meet its newfound challenge. On offense, senior quarterback Nick Willfong is back after throwing for 830 yards, running for 160 and accounting for 10 total touchdowns in eight games.

“He brings a lot,” Augustine said. “He has really grown in the leadership aspect. He can just make plays. He is very dynamic with the football in his hands. He does a good job. Doesn’t get shook and takes it one play at a time.”

Willfong brings improved speed, strength and passing accuracy to a 2024 offense that will return to a three-tailback offensive formation complemented by senior Avery Vaske, plus Moeller and fellow junior Vincen McManigle. This quartet will be counted on to make Starmont’s deceptive and versatile option running attack hum.

“Bring the same energy we had last year,” Willfong said. “Sharp, quick, just make things happen.”

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A stout offensive line should give the Starmont offense the protection it needs to flourish. The unit has offset the graduation loss of Sawyer Beatty with a senior-led group that includes Kelly Barajas, Carter Henke, Tristen Kruger and Owen Recker.

“I think we will be bigger and better than we were last year,” Recker said. “We just have some bigger sophomores coming up, bigger juniors coming up … we should be pretty tight up top.”

When Willfong elects to pass, receivers Jase Tommasin and Jack Thole, plus tight end Ryan Kleinlein, will be primary targets.

The Starmont defense possesses a wealth of returners at key positions through all three levels with the ability to make adjustments on the fly. In its four regular season games at home last season, the Starmont defense allowed a total of six points.

What about this season?

“To stop that from happening, our defense just has to show up every game and every play,” said Vaske, who recorded 77 tackles and five sacks from his linebacker position last season.

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Starmont’s quest to post nothing but shutouts at home will be put to an immediate test when the season opens Aug. 30 against South Winneshiek at Starmont High School.

“It’s very doable,” Tommasin said. “Obviously that's a tough goal to accomplish, but with the studs we have I think we can very well do it.”

Tommasin (32 tackles, two fumble recoveries last season) will be one of the leaders in the defensive secondary, while Recker (50 tackles, one sack) will help provide a push up front on the defensive line.

Moeller (56.5 tackles, two sacks) and Vaske headline an aggressive linebacker group.

“From last year, our bonds have only gotten stronger,” said Moeller, who will likely return kickoffs and punts. “I mean, the amount of time us boys spend with each other, even outside of football, I'd say it's unmatched compared to any other school or any other, just brothers.

“We’re closer than friends, so just having that bond, just knowing each other on the field, knowing where each other are going to be, knowing what each other thinks, we’ve got every spot covered.”

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