A-P football looks for next step

PARKERSBURG – After a setback season in 2016, Aplington-Parkersburg football put together a district-title winning team last summer with an 8-2 overall record.

"Coming into last season a year ago, we were unsure of what we had," A-P head coach Alex Pollock said. "We had just made several changes in our offseason program, and we weren't sure how that was going to translate on the field."

There's a bit more experience back in key areas for A-P football this season, which opens the door for the Falcons to perhaps attempt a run to a UNI-Dome berth.

"We bounced back pretty well after [2016]," A-P's Alec Maske said. "I'm impressed with how the guys came back and got after things. We have quite a few guys returning and I'm also looking forward to seeing what the guys coming up can do that did really well playing JV last year."

The process for 2018 has its roots in looking at how 2017 came to a close. A week after winning the district title and securing a first-round home playoff game, Union swept past the Falcons in a 42-0 romp. The Knights went on to be a state semifinalist in Class 2A.

A-P drops down to 1A this year with some new district foes in North Butler, Denver, Lake Mills, Sumner-Fredericksburg and Osage.

"What we found out in the playoff game last year was that we were not a UNI-Dome capable team," Pollock said. "So what do we have to do in order to be that team? Step number one is practicing every day and working hard. It's the 2018 squad's turn to improve on what we did last year."

Read more in the Aug. 15 Eclipse.