15 Days to Blitz: McFarland Spartans have new attitude heading into new conference

McFARLAND, Wis. (WMTV) — Day 3 of high school football camps is officially underway across the state, and our “15 Days to Blitz” series continues to roll on. As we preview 15 area teams leading up to kickoff, we turn our attention to the McFarland Spartans—a squad roarin’ to go for the upcoming season.

This fall brings a massive change for head coach Paul Ackley and his program, as the Spartans transition into a brand-new conference: the Badger Small.

Last year, McFarland won four games in the Rock Valley Conference, finishing with a 4-3 overall record. As they look to build on that foundation and take the next step in their new league, Coach Ackley is keeping his team’s focus simple yet comprehensive.

“We just have to focus on what we have to do,” Ackley said. “And my focus this year as the head coach is, I just... I’m really wanting the kids to focus on the little things, right? We call those the necessary things that we have to do. They’re not little, they’re pretty big, but we got to do them to be successful. So just the little things, the necessary things, the fundamentals, and just be ready for what’s going to come our way, week one, week two, and so on, and just worry about us and do the things that we have to do better.”

A key piece of taking care of those “necessary things” will be mastering a completely revamped playbook. The Spartans are installing a new system on the offensive side of the ball, which has been the primary theme of their early practices.

“We have a new offense this year, so we’re really trying to hammer that down and just locking on offense because it’s all new,” said McFarland tight end and outside linebacker Parker Roh. “So that’s been probably our biggest focus.”

Refining the offense should help McFarland finish games. Last autumn, the Spartans found themselves in several tight battles that could have swung either way with just a play or two.

“Not giving up and staying the course,” Spartans quarterback Garrett Crull said. “Like, we had a lot of tight games last year that we could have easily won, but some plays... that’s just football. So we’re looking to maintain those mistakes.”

If early camp indications are any sign, the Spartans have the right mindset to handle the transition. The squad boasts a highly competitive culture where players are constantly pushing one another to improve.

“I say competitiveness,” running back Jayden Bloodsaw said of the team’s identity. “No matter the skill level, no matter the person, I feel like everyone on this team is competitive. We have teamwork, and we push each other to our best each day.”

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