Fresh start for the Onaway Cardinals

Onaway — The Cardinals kick off the 2018 football season with a new coach, conference and quarterback. Onaway is led by first time 8-man Head Coach Steve Klinge and the athletes have bought into his new plays and are ready to battle with their 20-man roster.

“From day one they’ve worked their butts off,” said Klinge. “It’s all brand new to them, so that part of it for them, I’m just impressed with their work ethic.”

The red and white will face off against teams in the Midwest Central Football Conference including local teams Posen, Hillman, Au Gres-Sims, Hale and Atlanta. Last year in the Bridge Alliance Conference, the Cardinals finished (3-6).

“Now that we got a new plate of people it’s whole new competition,” said Junior Center Blake Decker. “They’re going to be a whole new ball game for us. Hopefully we can do well in it.”

Klinge is constantly moving athletes around in the system and he prides himself on placing players in the right position. The first-year Onaway head coach named senior Gavin Fenstermaker as the starting quarterback, a position he hasn’t played since middle school. The senior has competed in the running back position for three years on varsity.

“Very good feeling to finally be able to have my shot my senior year, said Fenstermaker. “Come out hopefully and make the crowd happy.”

Onaway’s first challenge of the season is Thursday, August 23rd at Central Lake. Then the red and white start conference play week two of the season.