Gus Petersen learned about the tradition of Cambridge football from his father, Tim, an all-stater for Cambridge in 1979 who went on to play at Nebraska.

Josh Graves discovered the Trojans' successful football history when he first walked into the Cambridge gym seven years ago for a job interview: all those banners hanging from the rafters.

Both expect this year's Trojans to live up to the strong reputation Cambridge has developed with 19 playoff appearances in the past 20 years, including six state championships and two runner-up finishes.

“I'm just ecstatic I ended up coaching at a place like Cambridge, where tradition is so important,” said Graves, in his fifth year as Cambridge's head coach after serving as an assistant. “I love coaching where there's expectations.”

But what about all the pressure associated with high expectations?

“There's always the pressure to win, but it's not life or death,” said Gus Petersen, a Class C-2 all-state linebacker last year who rushed for 1,200 yards as a junior fullback. “We'll try as hard as we can. If we lose, we'll be mad, but nobody will be too mad at us.”

The Trojans return six starters on both offense and defense from an 8-4 team that came close to playing in the 2009 Class C-2 title game. Cambridge led Hartington Cedar Catholic 12-0 at halftime in the semifinals, and later 20-7, before allowing two touchdowns in the final two minutes to lose 26-20.

Petersen will be joined in the backfield by speedster Ethan Long, while the line will feature guards Alec McCurdy and Anthony Rodriguez, tackles Trevor Fleischer and Logan Baker and tight ends Cole Taylor and Cody Vandegrift.

“We'll still be playing power football. We have a bunch of kids physical in nature,” Graves said. “We're going to take a lot of pride in running the football and stopping opponents from running.”

The Trojans will rely on a new quarterback to direct their wishbone offense. Rayce Dauwen, a junior who transferred last year from a school in Rapid City, S.D., never before had taken a snap from under center. He'd always been a shotgun quarterback.

“He's coachable, willing to learn,” Graves said. “With Rayce, we're going to throw the ball a little bit more, hopefully. He's a gifted athlete.”

The linebacker position should be the strength of the defense, featuring Petersen, Vandegrift and McCurdy. Baker, Fleischer and Taylor will anchor the defensive line, while Long and Rodriguez return as defensive backs.

Junior transfer Mike Shoff, a major college prospect at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, is rehabbing from knee injuries, and his impact is hard to predict.

Graves said his linebackers are especially athletic, and Petersen is his best one. He made four interceptions during the playoff run last fall, returning three for touchdowns.

“He has amazing football instincts,” Graves said. “He comes from a good football background.”

Hastings St. Cecilia drops to Class C-2 after a C-1 championship season, and Graves expects the Bluehawks to be a team to beat in C-2. The Cambridge coach identified North Platte St. Patrick's and Chase County as the top C-2 teams in the west, and Crofton a contender from the northeast.

“C-2 could have its best class of football since I've been coach,” Graves said.

And Cambridge should be among the state title contenders. At least that's what tradition tells you.

“We love to play for all the old guys who come out and watch us,” Petersen said. “We play for the families who come watch us, and just the tradition we know we have motivates us even more.

“I think we should be able to go deep into the playoffs. We're not going to be satisfied with mediocrity.”

Contact the writer:

444-1201, sports@owh.com

« High Schools

Share