Photo submitted by Nick Kockelman. The 2025 Canby football team includes Ryan Lacek, Landen Behrens, Maddox Kockelman, Owen Peterson, Cody Stoll, Cash Antony, Jace Sigler, Matthew Zitzmann, Isaac Bollerud, Levi Fairchild, Taten Hoffman, Ayden Christianson, Brennan Giese, Landon Meyer-Thovson, Daven VanEngen, Parker Balvin, Peyton Cornell, Matthew Pecka, Dyllon Christianson, Aaden VanDerostyne, Jake Midtaune, Rex Hernandez, Wesley Verhelst, Jacob Sterzinger, Chase Anderson, Wyatt Varpness, Eugenio Ruiz, Sage Bordewyk and Jordan DePestel. The Lancers are led by head coach Nick Kockelman, and assistants Anthony Kockelman, AJ Wieneke and Jacob Evans.

CANBY — The Canby football team made a deep playoff run into the Section 5A semifinals last season, and will look to repeat and build off the success with a group of eight seniors in the 2025 season. 

“As a team, we just want to work hard every day and prepare for each game that we have at the end of the week,” Canby head coach Nick Kockelman said. “We have a good group of seniors and juniors that work hard, and there’s going to be a handful of sophomores that will probably get some playing time on varsity.” 

The Lancers went 4-6 overall last year, picking up wins sporadically. Yet, Canby was red-hot to start postseason play as it picked up a dominating 36-6 win in the section quarterfinals over Lakeview. 

Canby ultimately fell to the eventual three-peat state champions in Minneota 62-0 in the semifinals. 

Last season was the first time Canby reached the semifinals in recent years, and has goals to get back there again with its returning starting quarterback and eight seniors. But, the Lancers will look to adjust roles and step up after graduating a large group of 14 seniors. 

“Ultimately, [there’s] only seven teams in the section,” Kockelman said. “If we can get a home playoff game and try to win that first [game] of the playoffs, and then see what happens after that, that would be great.” 

Amongst those that graduated were Issac Guzman, Eli Greenman, Nathan Cole, Cayden Anderson, Sam Drietz and Sawyer Verhelst. 

Greenman and Guzman were a large part of Canby’s offensive identity last season. 

Guzman had a team-high 374 rushing yards on 103 carries, along with five touchdowns to also lead Canby. He had a second-best 285 receiving yards on 23 catches for another two touchdowns. Along with his 11 tackles and two interceptions on the defensive end, he also had a pair of forced fumbles. 

Greenman was the team’s leading receiver with 297 yards on 18 catches and one touchdown. He also had 18 tackles with one interception. 

Cole followed just behind Guzman with 166 rushing yards on the season on 47 carries and a touchdown, along with 42 receiving yards. 

The Lancers will look to replace Anderson on the defensive line, who had a team-high 21 tackles and 10.5 sacks. Drietz and Verhelst also contributed heavily on defense, with 18 and 17 tackles, respectively. Verhelst also had a pair of sacks, and Drietz had 1.5. 

But, Canby still has a handful of returning talent to lead the team this year including quarterback Cody Stoll, along with Cash Antony, Jace Sigler and Isaac Bollerud. All four are seniors. 

“We have two captains that are seniors. Isaac Bollerud, who plays tight end, he can block, he can catch, he’s physical, he’s pretty strong. Can play a number of roles on defense as well,” Kockelman said. “Dyllon Christianson is our other captain, he’s a senior, and he can play anywhere in the offensive line and defensive line. He’s very versatile.” 

Last season, Stoll had 75 complete passes on 158 attempts for 921 yards and four touchdowns, along with six interceptions. He also had 30 rushing yards on 11 carries. 

Kockelman noted that Stoll has been looking good in the preseason and taking on a bigger leadership role. 

Antony returns after logging 78 receiving yards on four catches, as does Sigler with 87 rushing yards on 37 attempts. Sigler also had 10 tackles. 

Bollerud will be another returning body on the defensive line, who had 11 tackles and one interception last year. 

“Cash Antony will be one of our top receivers, I think. A little bit smaller, but he runs crisp routes and [has] good hands,” Kockelman added. “Jordan DePestel, he’s a heavyweight in wrestling, so he’s our big, strong guy on both sides of the ball. Then running backs Levi Fairchild and Jace Sigler, and even Parker Balvin will work in at some running back and run the ball.”  

The group of seniors will look to lead a large young core with 14 combined juniors and sophomores on this season’s roster. 

“I think the chemistry has been great, and that’s been one of our focuses, just working together,” Kockelman said. “When you have smaller numbers like we do, these younger guys … We have to make sure that they feel supported, and we [that] got confidence in them to play well when they’re asked to play. It’s been a good first three weeks here.” 

Canby opened the season at home yesterday against Springfield, and will next hit the road to take on MACCRAY next Friday at 7 p.m. 

“That’s the first game every year that you want to [set the tone]. It’s always interesting because you are never really sure what you have, or what other teams have,” Kockleman said. “There might be a feeling out process, but we want to compete and play hard, and just let the score take care of itself.”