The Staples Motley Cardinal football season begins on Thursday night with the Cards headed down the highway to East Grand Forks, taking on the Green Wave.

Coach Ryan Beachy's squad competed in a fourway scrimmage last Saturday at Mel- rose, coming home without any injuries and a coach who was pleased with what he saw.

" W e played very physical, we more than held our own against some good squads," Beachy said. "We see where we need to do some work at a few positions, just some details that we need to work on, doing a few more reps' in practices with a few of the guys."

The Cards (and the other schools) each had the chance to run 15 offensive plays against each of the three other teams, Melrose, Holdingford and Mound-West Tonka. "We quit early a few times," Beachy said, feeling they had accomplished what they wanted to and didn't need to risk an injury.

"Even though it was a scrimmage, we played with a lot of emotion, which was very nice to see," the coach said. He added that also a little shy in total numbers, he feels this year's team has good depth at all positions.

"We may be playing a few sophomores, but we almost always have. We will have enough depth so every starter will have to work to keep his spot, there will be kids pushing him."

He expects a contest at East Grand Forks. "They have eight starters back on offense and nine on defense. They return as much or more than we do. They have not been as tough the past few years as their state champion team from 2004," Beachy said.

Beachy's starting offensive lineup looks like senior Jason Johnson at tight end; junior Brad Huber at one tackle and senior Ryan Detloff back for his third varsity season at the other tackle. Guards are senior Dylan Shequen and junior Derek DeYonge, with Eric Nelson, a junior, at the center spot.

In the backfield, junior Alex Jansson will handle the quarterback duties; with three seniors behind him. Cody Hoemberg is the fullback, with Dylan Hales and Brandon Wing at running back.

On defense, Beachy plans to start Jason Johnson and junior Seth Haaland at Dends; with Detloff and Dylan Shequen at the tackle spots. Outside linebackers will be seniors Brandon Wing and Ryan Carter, with Cody Hoemberg and Lance Flickinger as inside linebackers. Corners are Robby Warner, a senior and junior Jared Cleveland. Jansson will be playing safety on defense.

Jason Johnson will handle the punting duties and Haaland is the team's kicker.

"We will be substituting quite often with many different kids," Beachy added. The Cards are back in the northwest corner of the state, playing in the Heart O' Lakes Conference's smaller school division. "We will be the biggest of the smaller schools. The Cards have six games against their own division, with two games (EGF and Thief river Falls) against the larger schools.

The teams' full roster is as follows:

Seniors: Chad Beebe, Brandon Wing, Lance Flickinger, Dylan Shequen, Ryan Detloff, Jason Johnson.

Juniors: Jordan Miles, Jacob Seely Gavin Kadlec, Brad Huber, Derek DeYonge, Logan Swendsrud, Erik Nelson, Ryan Jares, Seth Haaland, Rob Warner, Devin Redemske, Dylan Hales, Jared Cleveland, Ryan Carter, Alex Jansson, Tanner Roberts, and Cody Hoemberg.

Sophomores Blake Petrich, Austin Redemske, Grant Longbella, Zach Borders, Dylan Kylander, Brandon Flickinger, Taylor Bendson, Cody Wing, Cody Shaffer, Cody Drone, David DeYonge, Jordan Jenkins, Levi Anderson, Jacob Vetsch, Tyler O'Brien, Brady Killian