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Willmar Cardinals begin fall football practice as summer ends

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 17, 2026, 10:31 PM

Last updated Aug 17, 2026

Tennis

Summary

The Willmar Cardinals kicked off their fall football practices on August 17 at the Willmar Civic Center. Coach Jon Konold reported a strong turnout of 75 players. The team aims to improve on last year's 6-4 finish, with senior Alex Hoppe stepping in as the new starting quarterback. A scrimmage is scheduled for August 29 against Buffalo, Hutchinson, and Sartell before the season opener against Fergus Falls on September 4. Captains Travis Venenga and four others emphasized a gritty approach for the season.

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Status Watch

•Fall practices began on August 17 for the Cardinals.
•Seventy-five players reported for the first session.
•Alex Hoppe is the new starting quarterback.
•The team scrimmages on August 29 at home.
•Fergus Falls is the season opener on September 4.

Latest Updates

10:31 PMYahoo Sports — Football: These gritty Willmar Cardinals get going

What they're saying

"
Aug. 17—WILLMAR — Travis Venenga was asked what the identity of the 2026 football team was going to be. His answer: Gritty. "We're going to play through the whistle," said Venenga, the Cardinals' starting left tackle. "We're going to play hard and ... drive (other teams) to the ground. And we're going to be one percent better every day." But before Willmar can showcase its grit on the football ...
— Yahoo Sports

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