Every year, on every football field in America, hope springs eternal as the year’s group of helmeted high school hopefuls take to the gridiron.

Every year, some holes caused by graduation need to be filled by underclassmen brimming with enthusiasm and hope.

Often, a few games into the year, talk begins to center on the “wait until next year” argument.

Such could be the expected case with the Superior Bobcat football team as they open drills for the 2021 season. But Bobcats fans may not have to wait until next year.

No longer are they to be known as the Clark Fork Mountain Cats, a result of a co-op arrangement with the Alberton Panthers from 27 miles east on Interstate 90.

And no longer do standout players like quarterback Bryan Mask and two-way line standout Aaron Waddle tread on the Superior turf, both gone to graduation along with a handful of other players who were part of a state runner-up and a pair of playoff appearances.

Ah, but this is fall, all teams are tied at 0-0 and in Superior optimism rules the day.

There appears to be good reason for the positive vibes surrounding this year’s Bobcat 8-man football team.

For starters, the seemingly daunting task of replacing quarterback Mask, who led the co-op Mountain Cats to a second-place finish at state two years ago and a playoff game last year, appears to be solved.

Coach Jeff Schultz and staff have handed the reins to junior Orion Plakke, a quick-footed 6-1 basketball standout with a very strong and lively arm will be the Bobcats starter when the open the season Friday, Aug. 27 during a road game against Plains.

“He’s got the potential to be pretty good,” said assistant coach Matt Doughty. “He’s quicker than Mask was and has a better ability to throw it downfield”.

Plakke is also a standout defensive back when the other team has the ball.

Schultz, who welcomed 20 student athletes to the opening days of practice and is waiting on the return of at least three Covid related absences from players who will be counted on during the year, said line play on both sides of the ball should also be a strength of this year’s team.

“We have some size and strength up front and should be pretty good on both the offensive and defensive lines,” he said.

Sophomore wrestling standout Chandon Vulles will be among those battling for the right to protect Plakke and open holes for running back Chase Woodson and several others vying for ball carrying time.

Also competing for line time will be junior guard William Buchanan, along with senior Charles Anderson.

Plakke will not have the benefit of throwing to departed senior standouts Hunter Haskins and Thomas Anderson, but he will have several good targets to throw to, led by junior speedster Decker Milender, another of assistant coach Charlie Crabb’s wrestlers.

“Milender has some quick moves and good overall quickness,” Doughty said.

Following their game against Plains, the Bobcats stay on the road for a contest with Victor on Sept. 3, then return home for their Superior opener in a Sept. 10 game versus Troy.