HASTINGS, Neb. – The Adams Central Football team is no stranger to the playoffs with 26 postseason appearances in the school's history.

But, the Patriots are coming off of a surprising 3-6 season last year where they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.

Diving into this year's roster, senior JJ Foster will take over the starting quarterback role this year, a position he hasn't played in high school yet.

But he says the transition has gone smoothly, as well as installing the team's offense.

“It’s been a challenge. Right away from the summer, it’s been a learning curve. Everyday I’m trying to learn something new, get better,” said Foster. "I think it's going to start with running the ball. I think we're a run-first team, and if we can run the ball really well this year we're going to be a successful team, and kind of catch people off-guard."

The Adams Central Football leadership team is called the Unity Council, a new group created by head coach Josh Lewis last year.

It's a band of 14 players from all grade levels that help teach teammates the team's values, and to become leaders themselves.

"The coaches will talk to the leadership about what we're wanting, what we're expecting, what our pillar of values are, and then they kind of share that with the locker room," said Lewis. "It's a way to build leaders in our program so when guys graduate, hopefully there's not a void of leadership is the idea."

The Adams Central roster only has 11 seniors, but they and the coaching staff have higher expectations and goals of getting back to the postseason once again.

"It's a winning season, 5-4. Coach Lewis says if you have a 5-4 season you can go out as winners even if you don't make the playoffs," said senior wide receiver/defensive back Brodie Luksan. "That's what we've preaching this whole summer especially us senior leaders is that 3-6 last year, especially losing a lot of close games, that really hurt. So we want to focus on the little things, cause coming down in those close games, those little things win and lose you games in the playoffs."

"“Coach (Shawn) Mulligan would talk about going ‘home.’ He always called playoffs home for Adams Central, and so that’s been our message this year, get back home. The kids have really bought in and had a good summer trying to achieve that.” said Lewis. 

The Class C1 Patriots begin the season next Friday, Aug. 29 on the road at Minden at 7 p.m. on KHAS Radio.