DE SOTO — Bryce Schultz will be happier than ever to get a glance of De Soto High School football teammate Finn Wrobel on the field with him during games this season.
The same goes for Griffin Hanson, Austin DeFlorian and Jackson Trussoni.
Those five seniors have bonded over taking the Pirates into the world of 8-man football after finding themselves with on-field roles as freshmen.
There is a clear excitement over that group at the thought of making all of their experiences the first three years pay off in the final go around.
“As freshmen, three of us started and all of us played,” said Schultz, who led the team in both rushing yards (377) and tackles (79) as a junior. “We had a really good year as freshmen with some really good upperclassmen and were a very young team as sophomores.
“I think since, then, we’ve shown a lot of improvement.”
The Pirates won 5 games and lost 3 last season and just missed out on the WIAA playoffs. They last played in the postseason in 2021 despite an 19-7 record over the past three seasons, but qualified the previous 26.
De Soto is ready to break through led by the leadership and talent of that senior class.
“They were thrown in there (as freshmen) because we needed them, and the next year we only had 13 guys,” De Soto coach Ev Wick said. “These guys have played a lot of football.
“That group of five has also been awesome for us coaches because they take a lot on themselves.”
Wrobel returns at quarterback for his second full season after a partial sophomore campaign was cut sort due to injury.
He has played 16 games at the position and completed 99 of 180 passes for 1,848 yards an 30 touchdowns against 7 interceptions. Wrobel’s dad, Brian, was also a starting quarterback at De Soto before moving in to Winona State and eventually signing contracts with the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
“I threw a lot with my dad (in the offseason) and attended some football camps,” Wrobel said. “I’ve also been getting in the weight room.
“I felt like I settled in (as a quarterback) my junior year. I feel like was reading defenses better than before, and my throwing was better overall, too.”
Wrobel is one of the biggest Pirates at 6 feet, 205 pounds and doubles as a defensive end — a rare position combination. He had 29 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries and forced a fumble as a junior.
DeFlorian and Trussoni are skill players aimed at taking pressure off of Wrobel. DeFlorian rushed for 334 yards — he averaged 6.5 yards per carry — and Trussoni was the Pirates’ top receiver with 20 receptions for 395 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Hanson played both ways and finished with 57 tackles (5 for loss) to go with a 76-yard touchdown catch.
The Pirates held 6 of their 8 opponents to 14 points or fewer, and Schultz, Hanson and Wrobel.
2025 SCHEDULE
(7 p.m. unless noted)
August 21: at Kickapoo/La Farge, 6 p.m.
x-August 29: vs. Princeton/Green Lake
September 5: at Wonewoc-Center/Weston
September 12: vs. North Crawford
September 19: at Wisconsin Heights
September 26: vs. Monticello, 3 p.m.
October 3: at Belmont
October 9: vs. Highland
x-nonconference
