It’s football season yet again for the Wayne State College Wildcats.

The 2015 season was one of tribulations for the Wildcats as injuries plagued the team throughout the course of the year. Hopes are high for the team as they look to get back on the right track in 2016.

The Wildcats finished the 2015 season with a record of 4-7 overall. The team started off at a promising 3-1 but then lost six of their last seven games to close the year. There were some key injuries that took place throughout the season.

For instance, Quarterback Zach Osborn suffered a season-ending hand injury the second game of the year against Minnesota Duluth. The team looks to avoid the same sort of issues this year and hopes to bounce back stronger than ever.

“Healthiest we’ve ever been going into a season,” head Coach Dan McLaughlin said. “With so many players back, we’re really excited for them to play, so we’re feeling pretty good about the year and feeling pretty confident.”

McLaughlin has been coaching at Wayne State for the past twelve years and has the most wins in school history with a total of 63. He has been coaching football since 1975 after landing a job coaching a junior high team in Greece.

“I enjoy coaching a ton. It doesn’t even feel like I’m 61 years old.” McLaughlin said.

Leadership roles are incredibly important to a football team. McLaughlin has named four team captains for the year. The first is senior offensive lineman Shane Finley from Omaha, junior linebacker DeWayne Scott from Renton, Wash., offensive lineman Jarrod Leake from Lakeville, Minn., and junior quarterback Zach Osborn from Harlan, Iowa.

With every season comes goals the team wants to accomplish. McLaughlin not only wants to earn a playoff berth at season’s end, he wants to win it all. He has had the same mentality since his days as a high school coach.

“Goals? Win the state championship.” McLaughlin said.

It is certainly a tall task to ask from the players and coaching staff, but with all of the right pieces being put together, this could be a special year for Wayne State Football.

McLaughlin and the team are especially looking forward to the home opener Sept. 10 against Minot State. The home field advantage should definitely give an extra shot of adrenaline for the hometown Wildcats. Kickoff to the new season begins on the road against MSU Moorhead on Thursday, in Moorhead, Minn.