Click the thumbnails to hear comments from Negaunee's Hank Tincknell, Ty Jacobson, and Weston Yesney.

NEGAUNEE---The Negaunee High School football team is back on the practice field, and the Miners have a chip on their shoulders after being knocked out of the playoffs last year by the Gladstone Braves.

The Miners, who advanced to the state championship game in 2022, lost in the regional final to Gladstone in 2023, 28-14, after also losing to the Braves in the regular season matchup, 42-14. Negaunee senior Hank Tincknell says he hasn't forgotten that night, and he's been working non-stop since then.

“I've got really high hopes for this team,” Tincknell told RRN Sports. “If we keep working, and stay healthy, get lucky a little bit, I think we've got a really high ceiling and we can make some damage in the playoffs. The goal is Ford Field. But we've got to take it week by week. If we do that, we will have great success.”

But Tincknell says there were lessons learned in being humbled twice by the Braves last year, as well as in a loss to Iron Mountain when the roof caved in in the second half.

“This season, I think I've really had to take a step up,” Tincknell said. “I think I've done well with that. I've been really working hard toward my goals. I've been working out like crazy with AdvantEdge (physical training company) and I've been eating right. I'm just focusing on everything I can possibly do to be better this year. We didn't go far enough last year. I wasn't happy with how I did last year. I want to be better.”

Fellow Miners senior Weston Yesney agreed that it's time to step up.

“A key thing for my personal preparation this year has just been working out with AdvantEdge,” Yesney told RRN Sports. “It's my time to really be a leader. It's time for me to fit that role. I was on that (2022 runner-up) championship team as a sophomore, watching those guys at Ford Field. Now, it's kind of my time to step up and be a leader.”

Yesney says that losing All-UP guys like Kai Lacar, James Thomson, Drake Spickerman, and Mitch Paltzer won't be easy, but there will be many others who will step up. And he says, the Miners will be ready.

“I've got Gladstone and Iron Mountain marked on my calendar this year,” Yesney said. “Two really solid teams. The only two that beat us last year. I really just can't wait to go face these teams again. Gladstone ended our playoff run. Iron Mountain is always a solid opponent. I'd really love to beat them. We've just got to work hard, put our nose to the grindstone, Negaunee Miners style, and I can't wait.”

Miners quarterback Ty Jacobson, another senior, says he knows a lot rides on his shoulders heading into this season.

“What I have to bring to the table this year is just that leadership role,” Jacobson told RRN Sports. “I think with me being a three-year starter, I have the experience, and so I think I've got to lead these younger guys and really show them how it's done on the varsity level. Just lift guys up and be a positive leader, and just give it everything I've got. I think I know how to work things on the varsity level and really just, compete.

Jacobson says there's nothing to hold back for now: it's all or nothing.

“I think we've got a lot of hungry guys on our team that want to compete and bring everything they've got to the table,” Jacobson said.

Negaunee will have to wait until Week Nine to get its shot at revenge against Iron Mountain, but the Miners will get their chance against Gladstone in Week Two, and this time, it will be at Miners Field. Before that, though, Negaunee will have a tune-up game against Kewaunee (Wis.) in the season-opener next week.