New season new goals for your North Iowa Knights Semi Pro Football team out of Early, Iowa.
With a disappointing 2018 season that saw the Knights go 3-7 and miss the playoffs a rebound year looks to be on the horizon. Some faces stayed the same and some have moved on as Sam Spencer looks to take over starting QB from Retired Knight Zack Ranck-Berns. Cody Goff (Lake City) looks to back up Spencer at QB. A familiar face is back with the team All Star WR DJ Hocken (Manning) returns to the Knights after a year spent with the Capital City Command.
Knights Voted Captains for the 2019 season are DB Camryn Lupkes (Estherville), DB Aston Gellert (Estherville), C/LB Jordan Shoesmith (Carroll), LB Bobby Kephart (Estherville) QB Sam Spencer (Rockwell City), and OL Andrew Christophel (Estherville).
The Knights will again be in the Midwest Football League and have 5 home games 1st being May 18th VS Nebraska Lawdawgs 7pm Kick-Off Early, Iowa.
A couple new Knights to keep a look out for in 2019 are WR/TE Austin Newquist (Ida Grove) and WR Justin Dick (Lake City) they will look to add to last year’s already good WR’S lead by Isaac Riesselman (Carroll).
Starting RB Chandler Scott (Glidden) looks to lead the Knights on the ground with the help of returning Knights Tavian Pritchard (Sioux Rapids) and Jeromie Wanser (Carroll).
Some new Defenders to keep an eye on in 2019 Dan Ertz DL (Glidden), Jason Grossman DL (Glidden), Juan Travino III OLB (Coon Rapids) and AJ Rodriguez DB (Glidden) will add some speed and power to the defense. Defense looks to again be solid lead by Gellert, Kephart, C Lupkes, Devin Tripp LB (Sioux Rapids) and the Veteran Kamden Kramer DE (Rockwell City).
Knights Head Coach Waylan Shoesmith said
“The brotherhood on this team is like nothing I’ve ever seen”.
Coach also said
“The offense is the best it’s looked in the 4 years I’ve been with the program”.
The Knights also promoted player Justin Witzke (Schaller) to Defensive Coordinator and player Eddie Shufford (Eagle Grove) to Lineman Coach.
It looks to be a great 2019 for the Knights who open there season May 11th @ East Iowa Storm 6pm kick-off. Season tickets are on sale now by contacting Jennifer Witzke 712-229-3086, James Casey 515-571-5916, or Bobby Kephart 712-309-4101.
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Thanks to the fans and sponsors that have supported the Knights since 2013!
Let’s Go Knights!
By Ryan Schmidt Voice Of The North Iowa Knights
