The 2023 season was one of firsts for the MMCRU 11-man football program. It was their first winning season, their first postseason appearance, and their first postseason win as a consolidated program.
Now, the year is 2024, and the Royals are set out to prove that they were not just a flash in the pan. One good way of doing that is utilizing returning talent to the best of their abilities and getting more out of them. Head coach Kyle Oswald says that large amount of returning talent is a breath of fresh air for a program that is not used to that.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Royals will not be short-handed. MMCRU brings back the fourth-best rusher in the district last year in Brayson Mulder, and they return the fourth-best receiver in terms of yards in Jace Colling. Coach Oswald says all those returning pieces allows him to stay confident in the offense no matter who ends up as the new quarterback.
The MMCRU defense really came alive later in the season. The Royals recorded two shutouts and held an opponent to one score during the final four games of the regular season. Coach Oswald says that success on defense last year has made guys excited to succeed on defense this season.
The name of the game for the Royals this year is their strength in numbers. MMCRU has a cool 50 players out for football showing the growth of the football program. Another sign of that growth is the fact that there is competition for starting spots and really tough choices as to who to put where. Coach Oswald says that was not a problem in years past for the program, and he is enjoying where things are at now.
MMCRU’s taste of the postseason has made them hungry for much more. That hunger only grows when you consider that MMCRU took the state runner-up down to the wire and nearly tied the game had it not been for a questionable call in the end zone. Coach Oswald says that hunger is a great thing, but it means the guys need to put in the work to satisfy it.
Last year’s awesome season stumbled out of the gate with a loss to Cherokee in week one. After beating them in 2022, the Royals thought they could waltz in and take the game just by showing up. Coach Oswald says that mentality needs to be gone if the Royals are to continue to achieve some high marks.
MMCRU’s week one matchup with Cherokee is set for Friday, August 30 at 7:00 PM and is scheduled to be played in Marcus.
Click below to listen to our full interview with MMCRU head coach Kyle Oswald:
