Mustangs are physical, fast and confident this season | Redmond High Football Preview

Redmond High’s football players can’t wait to get under the Friday night lights and show fans and opponents what they’re made of.

It all begins at 7 p.m. tonight at Newport High and senior linebacker/tight end Johnathan Kirschner says this season will most likely be an overwhelming and exciting experience from start to finish.

“This year is gonna be tough because it’s probably my last year ever playing football, so I’m just gonna give it my all. Hopefully everyone else will and we’ll see what happens,” he said after a recent practice.

Mustang senior safety/running back Nick Konkle said togetherness will be a major factor in the team notching victories.

“We came up with a motto this year called ‘Count on Me’ and I think what that means is that each player is accountable for themselves and we like to rely on each other,” said Konkle, adding that the players share familial-like ties on and off the field.

Last year, Redmond finished 5-5 overall and 1-4 in the 4A Kingco Conference in head coach Jason Rimkus’ first season at the Mustang helm. With a San Francisco 49ers-like read-option offense on tap, Rimkus feels his squad will be competitive, fun to watch and aims to improve upon last season’s record.

Senior A.J. Rial will lead the way from the quarterback spot and is reminiscent of former 49er Steve Young: he’s a lefty and he’s a scrambler. Junior Nick Swanson will also get in some snaps at quarterback.

“I’m stoked to be the QB,” said Rial, who will also play some outside linebacker on defense. “I’ve got competition behind me every day. Nick Swanson’s making me better every day. I’ve gotta take every rep seriously and am looking forward to the season.”

On the running-back front, junior Aleck Byrnes and sophomore Robert Fleeks will be the Mustangs’ two main guys; seniors Milo Mincin and Jake Talbot and junior Tyler Allen will lead the receiving corps.

Top Mustangs on the offensive and defensive lines will be senior Josh Black (6-foot-3, 230 pounds), junior Logan Little (6-1, 240), junior Kyle Burgmeier (6-0, 245), senior Steven Misner (5-11, 210), senior Jorge Portillo (5-9, 220) and senior Cristobal Pulido (5-7, 230).

Talbot said the Mustangs are going to be hard working, physical and fast and will outhit and outhustle their opponents.

Added Pulido, who will play center and nose guard: “On the line, it really comes down to the person with the bigger heart and who wants it more.”

Rimkus said the team’s commitment and leadership levels have been off the charts heading into the big first snap of tonight’s matchup against Newport.

“They’ve already done one big part: our numbers and work ethic in the weight room is showing. The size of our kids, their confidence in themselves has grown quite a bit,” Rimkus said. “We’re getting them to just focus on Redmond and the way that we want to do things, and not get caught up in how great our league is. (They need to) understand that they’re part of that greatness, and once they get that going, I think we’ll be pretty good.”