The 2017 Waterloo High School football team.

The Waterloo High School football team experienced a roller coaster of emotions last season, dealing with the loss of a teammate and battling rival Highland in the playoffs before ultimately falling in the final minute.

For head coach Dan Rose, the goals for 2017 are the same as in past seasons.

“We hope to compete for the Mississippi Valley Conference title, make the playoffs, and get somewhere in the playoffs,” he said. “We just want to keep moving forward. We have some good starters coming back.”

Running back Dalton Viglasky, a junior who qualified for state in wrestling earlier this year, is among the key returning players. He should receive a lot of carries and will also return punts and kick-offs, Rose said.

Also returning is 6-foot-3 senior Ross Schrader, who was the starting quarterback last season but will play at tight end or split end on offense and also see time at outside linebacker in 2017.

The starting quarterback of the Bulldogs in 2017 will be 6-foot-1 junior Graham Baker.

“He’s been throwing the ball well and making good decisions in practice,” Rose said. “He has good feet.”

Rose points to his offensive backfield as being a bright spot of the 2017 squad. In addition to Viglasky, seniors Arren Wayland and Clayton Watters, who returned to Waterloo following a few years away, should receive carries.

“Wayland has good speed, and Clayton can run and catch,” Rose said. “Our backfield is quick and solid.”

Anchoring the offensive line will be 6-foot, 230-pound senior Spencer Woodall. Other key returning players for WHS include inside linebacker Jesse Matthews, senior tight end/cornerback Jackson Ivers, senior safety Bryce Kirk, senior linebacker Dallas Morrow, and senior fullback/cornerback Jake O’Daniell.

In all, the Bulldogs have 17 seniors on the 2017 squad.

Rose said that when it comes to his offensive and defensive lines, the Bulldogs hope to make up in strength what they lack in size.

“We’re not going to be the biggest line on the field every game,” Rose said. “We’ve focused on getting the guys stronger by working in the weight room.”

As always, the Bulldogs face a tough schedule in 2017, starting with playoff qualifiers Herrin and Columbia before running through the brutal MVC gauntlet and ending with Mater Dei.

This is Rose’s 18th year as head coach at WHS and 29th season of coaching overall.