KIMBALL, Neb. — After forfeiting all football games last season, a team of 24 players, six seniors, and a new coach has never been more excited to play Longhorn football.

Senior players Trey Schindler and Justin Klosterman said their competitive spirit has never been higher.

“I honestly think having no football team last year really brought us closer together and made us realize what this sport means to all of us,” Klosterman said. “I think having this sport here brings us together as a town and a school.”

New Athletic Director and Football Coach Darrell Howitt said he is ready for the season.

“Two years ago they played a full schedule, and then last year through numbers they ended up forfeiting their games,” Howitt said. “I got a good-looking group of kids, if we stay healthy, I think we can play some ball.”

Both senior boys said it was very difficult to miss out on the previous season.

“What I’m looking forward to is just being under the Friday night lights again,” Klosterman said. “Honestly, it took a big toll on us when we were watching other people and other towns play ball and we were forced to sit out because we didn’t have the numbers.”

The Kimball Longhorns have four home games and play eight-man football.

Both senior boys said they prefer eight-man ball because it's unpredictable and you get to learn more positions than just one.

“There’s not really a set position we just are there for whatever coach needs us to be there for,” Schindler said.

“Tackling, running the ball, blocking; we do a little bit of everything,” Klosterman said.

The boys have their first home game in over a year on August 26th.

“Here in Kimball at our home stadium we play Hyannis, and we’ve played Hyannis before and we know we can beat them,” Klosterman said.

Howitt hopes Kimball can keep the football program going in the future.

“I grew up here, I graduated from Kimball, and Friday nights were huge back then,” Howitt said. “I think the community really wants that, they want to have that again, I know I’ve talked to a lot of people that I grew up with and they’re excited about turning the lights back on.”

Howitt said he is very proud of the team.

“I came in and I set the bar fairly high, but I’ve also told them for us to change what has happened in the past here, it’s more on them than it ever is on me,” Howitt said. “They’ve really stepped up to it, my leadership kids are bought in and want to see Longhorn football be what it’s supposed to be.”