Everything the Warrenton football team has achieved in the past is in the rearview mirror – and their eyes are on the road ahead. 

The Warriors are coming off of two back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and a state semi-final appearance in 2024. 

“There’s no comparison to last year – we’re a new team. When you’ve had the success that we’ve had the last two years, you’re on everybody’s radar and everybody wants to knock you off,” Warrenton coach Jason Koper said. “We’re ready for week one and they’re eager to go out and prove that they’re a good football team.” 

Warrenton lost 20 players of last year’s team to graduation, but the team isn’t viewing it as a setback. Instead, it is seen as an opportunity for emerging players. 

“We’re going in with an underdog mindset of we’ve got to overcome and prove these young guys that didn’t get to play a whole lot last year – now’s your chance. Now’s your time. You want to prove you’re varsity players and be good enough and better than what we were last year,” Koper said. 

Despite the roster changes, there is one thing that remains consistent and that is strength in the trenches. Warrenton returns a strong core on both sides of the ball, which Koper and center Jack Morris say will be crucial. 

“We knew coming into the offseason, that we’re big and strong up front,” Koper said. 

“We’re very deep in the offensive and defensive lines – I feel like that’s what wins games,” Morris said. 

Leading the charge on offense are Christian Blondin, Bradley Tucker, Isias Hernandez and Javon Jones. Blondin is the quarterback, while Tucker, Hernandez and Jones will split the bulk of the rushing workload.

“We kind of got one dimensional with Austin (Haas) last year, but having many different guys that can carry the football has been a really positive sign for us,” Koper said. 

Morris, Logan Nichols, Jake Mincher and Jamarion Fulton are the Warriors’ captains for the 2025 season. 

“I chose (Nichols) and (Mincher) as captains right away and (Fulton) and (Morris) were voted by the team. (Fulton’s) been one of the hardest workers we’ve had and he’s been a vocal leader. (Morris) is someone the guys look up to and he’s a guy that we can expect to be a playmaker for us and a driving force for our football team,” Koper said. 

Fulton praised his team’s work ethic. 

“They get in there. This game is physical and they learn it and they learn how to play as a team together,” he said. 

Morris, a four-year program veteran, took pride in leading the team. 

“I’ve put four years into this program working towards not only being a better player, but a better teammate, so being a part of why this team and program is getting better means a lot to me,” Morris said. 

Morris emphasized the team’s ambitions to be successful this year. 

“There’s a lot of motivation because we have a lot of younger kids and a lot of unproven people, so a lot of people feel like they have stuff to prove,” Morris said. “A lot of teams are already writing us off because being good three years in a row, it’s hard to keep that going and that’s definitely a motivator.” 

The Warriors have rallied around a mantra that has become a program hallmark – one week at a time. 

“We have a lot of guys that haven’t played Friday nights and we want to get better every week,” Koper said. “That was one of the things we tried to focus on last year and we started to play really good football. This year, no matter what happens, we want to be the best version of ourselves.” 

Koper said execution has been the biggest focus as his team gets ready for the start of its season.

“We have to play all three facets (offense, defense and special teams),” Koper said. “We have a lot of guys that are starting to move in the right direction, so we just got to finish cleaning it up.” 

Warrenton is slated to begin its season at 7 p.m. on Aug. 29 against the Wright City Wildcats on the road. 

Koper put it simply: “It’s the 2025 Warriors, and that’s the only driving force.”