Photo by Mark Wilmes The 2023 Russell-Tyler-Ruthton Knights football team includes, front row (from left to right): Hugo Cruz, Anthony Lovre, Drew Werkman, Isaac Dagel, Colton Appel, Kyle Thooft, Kai Drake, Blake Christianson. Second row (L to R): Ayden Mason, Riley Van Eck, Garrett Elton, Xavier Heath, Dylan Baguley, Donovan Appel, Brayden Reber, Gavin Appel, Braden Nibbe, Brayden Chandler, Ramsey Carr, Caleb Gilmore. Third row (L to R): Noah Buehler, Braxton Hess, Jens Drake, Colten Thomsen, Kolby Louwagie, Isaac Janish, Levi Tommeraasen, Jackson Kerkaert, Tyler Dagel, Tyson Burns, Gavin Schreurs, Jesse Wieme, Aiden McChesney. Back row (L to R): Xander Glynn, Andrew Larsen, Luke Schreurs, Gabriel Elton, Gavin DeJesus, Kason Dybdahl, Seth Cowell, Sean Griesse, Brooks Hess, Drew Chandler, Tyler Wichmann. The team is coached by Darren Baartman, Ted Kern, Carter Hansen, Payton Hess, Trent Griesse, Jonah Johnson, Curtis Gosser.

TYLER — The Russell-Tyler-Ruthton football team comes into this season after an up-and-down 2022. The Knights went 3-6 on the season but showed potential in their victories, which they won by an average of 35 points. Now they’ll look to return to that form more consistently.

The Knights’ sub-.500 record last season can be attributed in part to the depth of their section. Three of the Knights’ four larget margins of defeat came against Lakeview, Minneota and Dawson-Boyd, three of the final four teams remaining in last year’s Section 3A playoffs. With another year to develop talent, though, the Knights could find a way to rise up the ranks.

RTR does lose its leading rushers from last year, Aiden and Cody Wichmann, as well as two of its three leading receivers in Tucker Haroldson and Hayden Gravley. Still, quarterback Blake Christianson and tight end Drew Werkman returning for their senior year could be a connection worth following.

As a junior, Werkman was the team’s second-leading receiver with 327 yards and four touchdowns. With each of the other top five Knights in receiving yardage gone, Werkman could be in for a large increase in targets this year. 

Christianson threw for 1495 yards last season, adding in 11 touchdowns in the air and another two on the ground. While turnovers were an issue at times with 12 interceptions, increased experience should help him limit those mistakes. Additionally, four returners on the offensive line should result in improved cohesion in the trenches and give Christianson more time to throw.

RTR head coach Darren Baartman noted that the loss of the skill position players does leave some holes, but a new stable of running backs gives the team hope and that the team will continue to learn over the course of the season. 

“We’ve got three or four running backs we’re kind of rotating around right now,” Baartman said. “Right now, we’re just trying to find some rotation guys and build some depth.”

The Wichmanns were also among the team’s leading tacklers last season but the RTR defense still has plenty to be excited about. Drew Chandler finished last season with 63 tackles as a sophomore. Colton Appel and Kai Drake had 45 and 34 respectively as juniors last season while Drake picked off a pass and Appel forced a fumble. With other pieces stepping up around them, the Knights defense could take a step forward in 2023.

The Knights will kick off their season at home Thursday night against the reigning state champion Minneota Vikings.

“We put a lot of work in these last two weeks and now we have a few days to get ready for, obviously, a very good team in Minneota, defending state champs, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity,” Baartman said. “We’re going to approach this week just like any other week. We’re going to prepare them for the game and at its 7 o’clock kickoff we’re going to go out there and play.”