After four years as a competitive Division 1 year, the Garden City Fighting Gophers and tenth-year head coach (13th with the program) Beau Wilks are moving back to Division 2. A move that makes sense, based on the team's roster makeup for 2019. 

"We will be quite inexperienced overall with minimal in-game minutes from the vast majority of our players, including numerous first-time starters," says Wilks. 

"Short term we want to gain experience and teach our athletes about what football looks like at the varsity level (many have only played JV-9 man in the past with our program).  Playing at the Division 2 level in 2019 will hopefully allow us to do this well. 

Just three starters are back from 2018 as the school graduated "the most impressive group of seniors in program history," including Jarrett Alcaraz, Eli Rivera, Payton Yakimishyn, Reese Francey, Everrett Findley, Josh Patterson, Skyler Kemash -- the first three of whom are now members of the Manitoba Bisons. 

Shouldering the load this year offensively will be quarterback Ryan Bruneau, who is also a capable running back. He saw extensive minutes for Team Manitoba U16 this summer as a ball-carrier and will use his athleticism to make plays. 

"We will have a very strong athlete at QB in Ryan Bruneau," says Wilks. 

"His running ability is impressive and he has developed as a passer through the spring as well. I think he will be the strength of our offense (as a first year QB) and a lot will be dictated by his development and decision making under center."

Defensively, Zane Draper and Cam Anderson will be critical to the team's success at defensive back and linebacker respectively, while Evan Humniski is a first time player who joined in May at spring camp. He had a strong spring and can be a difference maker this season as a defensive end rushing the passer.