FARMER CITY — A forfeit win against Schlarman was all that kept the Blue Ridge football team from a winless campaign last fall.
But the Knights haven’t spent too much time thinking about the results of 2025. They’ve turned a new leaf and are studying a new playbook thanks to first-year coach Dave Kramer. It’s still to be seen whether the new life breathed into the program will result in its revitalization.
Blue Ridge juniors Chase Ellis and AJ Bernard represented the Knights at The News-Gazette’s fifth annual high school football media days event this week to discuss the changes to the program and what can be expected of the Knights this fall when they kick off 8-man competition. Here are three items we learned about the Knights before their season opener at West Prairie on Aug. 21:
1. Changes at the top
Despite his official title being defensive coordinator the past six seasons at Blue Ridge, Kramer was once believed to be the program’s coach by one of his players.
While that player was wrong at the time, he ended up speaking it into existence. Kramer takes control of the Knights after Matt Schubert left to become the Unity Christian coach this offseason.
“He has the experience and he’s great at it actually,” Bernard said after admitting the aforementioned rookie year-blunder. “I’m glad he got the position because he is implementing stuff that he couldn’t implement without being the head coach.”
Kramer, also the boys’ track and field coach at Blue Ridge, has been awaiting his moment to take the reins. Now that he’s there, he’s steering the program in a refreshed light.
“I think the number one thing that the boys are probably most focused on is the change in culture,” he said. “Number one, above everything, I truly believe culture sets the tone for not just the team, but the season. Our culture is very intentional and built from the ground up to not just make the kids successful on the field, but in life. When everything grows out of that culture, I think it makes it very easy and very natural to put in a system to make us be as successful as we can be.”
Bernard, while appreciative of the professionalism from Kramer, was especially delighted to see a new offensive system put into place.
“It’s great having him here,” Bernard said. “We’ve got a full new scheme, and it’s our first time having a real scheme. It’s going great. It’s not just run it down the middle like it always is.”
Kramer said he’s a systems guy and will rely on his own setting the Knights apart, but cautioned it’ll take some time to get it right.
2. They’ve got options
What is that new system?
Bernard and Ellis said the Knights will run an option offense this year
Ellis, who will serve as the team’s main running back and will also play defensive back, said he’s had to key in on making a big change in his ground game.
“For me, I’d say I have ball-carrier vision,” Ellis said. “Last year, I wasn’t so good because I’d get tunnel-vision. Now, I have to actually be paying more attention to my blockers.”
Ellis also said that he’s being taught when to grab the ball and when not to. The option brings about a complex system of cogs to work efficiently. If one is off, the rest won’t move according to plan. Having patience will pay off for Kramer and the rest of the Knights.
“(Kramer’s) very understanding, which is nice,” Bernard said. “He gets that people aren’t going to know this immediately. People are going to have to learn it. He’ll give all the effort that he can give to make sure that you are good at what you do and that even if you’re not going to play and are the third-string backup, if you want to get better and you give him the ability to make you better, he will make you better.”
3. Young team, new standards
Despite the inexperience with the new cultural and systemic standards, Kramer’s roster of 22 players entering the first day of official practice starting next Wednesday has not been given an easy path to clearing the bar. Blue Ridge last posted a winning record in 2022 when the Knights went 6-4.
“Most of these kids have been playing since they were JFL age and this is kind of their time to shine,” Kramer said. “They’ve had a tough go these last few seasons, but we’re in a much better position to have success.”
Because a large junior class was able to add eight freshmen, the Knights will have some backups to play with, too. A quarterback battle between Anshaun White and Preston Giles is still underway, as well.
“If someone gets hurt,” Bernard said, “the entire season isn’t ruined now.
Matt Lucas is the preps coordinator at The News-Gazette. His email is mlucas@news-gazette.com.
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