Being a leader means being able to teach others what you have learned and even being able to learn from those whom you are teaching. In order for the team to be successful this season, UW-Platteville’s football team will need to rely on 17 seniors and a re-tooled coaching staff to find success in the WIAC.

The team will rely on leaders such as senior defensive lineman David Akey, senior center Ben Hermus and senior quarterback John Akim if they hope to dominate on the field this season.

“I learn something new everyday and teach others as much as I can, whether it be technique or scheme oriented,” Hermus said.

On Sept. 6, the Pioneer football team won their tenth-straight season opener, defeating the Buena Vista University Beavers 21-14 at J. Leslie Rollins Stadium in Storm Lake, Iowa.

All of the Pioneers points came during the fourth quarter with touchdown passes to wide receiver Aunton Terry from Akim.

The Pioneer offense totaled 458 yards during Saturday’s game with 344 of those yards coming from completed passes.

The Pioneer’s high-powered offensive will need to rely on an offensive line that returns only one starter, Hermus, with a lot of game experience.

Hermus says he takes pride in being a leader. “I like to be able to lead by example and try and make myself approachable for the younger guys who have questions.”

Hermus won’t be the only leader on the line this year as UW-P looks to new offensive line coach Jason Wagner for leadership and coaching advice. Wagner is originally from Lancaster and says this is like ‘coming home’ for him.

Wagner has vast knowledge of how things are run at UW-P because he has played and coached against the Pioneers. He coached at his alma mater UW-Stevens Point for two years, went on to coach at Coe College for one season and then at Aurora University last season.

“Coach Wagner brings a new outlook to our style of play and has us ready to go mentally and physically,” Hermus said.

Wagner said the offensive line is improving week-by-week and is pleased and impressed with how they work together as a team. Even though he is a new coach at UW-P, he has high hopes for the Pioneers and is looking forward to a winning season.

The Pioneers look to take on the Fighting Bees of St. Ambrose at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 in Davenport, Iowa at Brady Street Stadium. The Fighting Bees are coming off a 52-0 loss against the University of South Dakota.

Despite the loss, St. Ambrose is ranked tenth in the NAIA Coaches poll. UW-P defeated St. Ambrose 16-6 last season at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

“Even though we have a tough upcoming schedule we feel like we are prepared for a good season,” senior tackle Ryan Grant said. “We have a younger team and a fairly new coaching staff but we expect to win this season.”