Randolph shops for new QB, tabs Mosel

RANDOLPH — The Randolph Cardinals always play with the expectation of being a major player in the race for playoff excellence.

That’s why 2020 is no different and a COVID-19 pandemic be darned.

The Cardinals expect to do some great things once the season kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday when Hartington-Newcastle comes to town for the season-opener for both teams.

Leading the way for Randolph behind center will be first-year quarterback Tristan Mosel who has played for head coach Mark Lech all four years since entering as a freshman.

“Tristan is a player that has played about every position and knows the game well,” Lech said. “It is that knowledge that pushed him to the front of the line for starting quarterback. He is a steady, level-headed kid that is willing to play his role to make the team better.”

Mosel took the reins after biding his time as an all-around player who gave his pound of flesh for the Cardinals.

“The first day of practice, I kind of did some stuff and coach had people going and running around throwing deep passes to see how everyone was,” Mosel said. “He had me try and I guess he wanted to stick with me.”

Mosel said he worked in the offseason to stay in shape, but didn’t really concentrate much on football.

“I didn’t do much before besides lifting. I wasn’t doing much football since I was focusing on basketball this summer. I have always had a good arm since I played baseball for a while, so I have been able to throw pretty well most of the time,” he said.

Mosel also is prepared to do plenty of running where needed and feels he can get the job done, even if he has some nerves heading into the opener.

“It definitely adds some responsibility since I am a leader on the team now,” Mosel said. “I have had a job at (Jim’s Food Center) and a lot of the new people, I have to train them and they always come to me and ask me questions, so it gives me a bigger role there. Hopefully, I bring it over to the field and it works.”

He will need to work on catching the snaps from center and just the general nuances of the quarterback position after toiling at guard and fullback in the past.

Mosel wasn’t expecting to be tabbed for the position.

“I was surprised, and most people were too,” Mosel said. “One of the guys, he’s a year younger than me, he decided to come out for football (last Tuesday) and I made a comment to him about it and he was surprised. He was with one of his friends and he confirmed it with him. It was something.”

Randolph will try to get a leg up on the Wildcats while Lech tries to incorporate a bevy of new faces into the lineup.

“Our main objective at Randolph is to establish new players,” Lech said. “We will be starting a lot of different players in different spots. We will simplify our schemes to try and see if the players can step into their new roles. Most importantly, we need to find a new starting quarterback to go forward with this season.

“I feel that because we have so many open spots that the guys are excited for their chance to get some playing time. They seem eager and willing to learn a new system and to prove they belong on the field.”

Randolph and Hartington-Newcastle have a long history, and according to Lech, the two have had some great tussles. This edition should be no different.

This edition should be no different.

“They also will have to replace some key players, so both defenses will have to wait for game time to see what the new offenses will bring,” Lech said. “The Hartington-Newcastle coaches did a great job of exploiting our weaknesses last year, so I feel they will once again try and find our vulnerable spots.”

Last year, the Cardinals dropped a 38- 32 decision to the Wildcats.

Randolph then, like now, had RB/LB Justin Haselhorst to count on.

“Justin (Haselhorst) will have to have a big game,” Lech said. “He is our workhorse and will need to help settle down the rest of the team by being dependable until they get their feet under them. We have a young line that also has some nice size that need to make their presence known. They could be difference makers, but they need to show it on the field.”

With Mosel starting at quarterback for the first time and a lot of talented new faces around the field, Randolph is excited to step up and play their rival despite the looming presence of COVID-19.

“The coaches and players are very excited to get on the field for an actual game,” Lech said. “Besides the normal beginning of the year practices, they also have not competed since last winter. The first game helps to establish a routine and gives everyone a barometer of what works and what doesn’t and that is especially true this year after a long layoff.”

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