Berne Union football using ‘TNT’ mindset for upcoming season
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
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SUGAR GROVE, Ohio (WOUB) – After two years of struggles, the Berne Union Rockets are hoping to get back to the top of the MSL-Cardinal with a younger, hungrier team.
“We a bunch of chihuahuas,” said left tackle and defensive end Colton Moore. “We small, but we gon’ bark.”
After finishing with a winning record five of six years between 2017-2022, Tony Hurps had two losing seasons for the first time in his tenure. Berne Union is building this year around TNT.
“TNT is for our guys to understand that the little things matter, and it takes no time to do those,” said Berne Union Head Coach Tony Hurps. Across the board, the Rockets will say they are smaller, but they are quick to say that this team works harder and hits harder.
“Everyone pushes each other more, pushes themselves more and they want it more,” said running back Dylan Finefrock.
Coming off an excellent junior campaign, Finefrock is one of four seniors on the Rockets roster and Berne Union is changing the guard across the roster. Most notably, Berne Union will have a fresh face under center.
Sophomore quarterback Carson Kieger will take over for Jarrett Thompson. Coach Hurps said he is optimistic about his play, but that he still has work to do. The Rockets have a lot of new leadership to lean on too.
“He has a cannon, but he doesn’t have touch yet,” said Hurps. “And he runs like a bowling ball. With him back there, we’ve got Finefrock that runs kind of similar. Mason Mullins back there as well.”
Mason Walton, a running back and defensive back, should feature heavily for Berne Union. Kenny Boetcher, one of their few seniors, will anchor the offensive and defensive lines. They hope to get contributions from Bryce Blair, a senior coming off an ACL tear, but he will be a vocal leader regardless according to Hurps. Finefrock and Moore will be major parts of the team too.
The Rockets are one of two teams in the MSL-Cardinal that plays in Division Six. With updates to the playoff format reducing the field to 12 teams, their journey to the postseason will be even more difficult under the points system. As a result, Berne Union will have a tough slate of non-conference games throughout the season.
Berne Union travels to Trimble Week Two, a team they have not beaten since 2007. In Week Six, they will go to Worthington Christian, a former MSL-Cardinal member.
“If we want to get where we want to in the playoffs, it’s going to take playing a Trimble, playing a Worthington Christian,” said Hurps.
But both players said there is one game they want on the schedule: Fisher Catholic. The Irish have escaped Berne Union for the past two seasons with both games slipping away from the Rockets in the end.
“Fisher. It’s always the game of the year,” said Finefrock.
“Last year was tough,” said Hurps. “We had some turnovers again, and that really cost us. But, we’re going to get their best every year. That’s the way the rivalry is.”
Coach Hurps was proud of how the team fought through a team previous year and said their effort was a testament to the culture Berne Union has.
“Our guys never quit,” said Hurps. “A lot of times it’s how you win and how you lose and how you carry yourself.”
With those seniors gone, it is time for a new generation of Rockets to make their mark.
“I know we’re a smaller team, and we’re losing a lot of hard hitters,” said Moore. “But, we’re going to have to step up.”