HASTINGS, Neb. – The Hastings College Football squad has several new offensive pieces that aim to turn the offense in the right direction in 2025. 

The Broncos averaged just 15.4 points per game in 2024, ranked 80th out of 97 teams in total offense, and finished with a 2-9 record. 

"We needed to change our offensive approach. Every game it felt like we were scrapping for first downs, let alone points.” Said Head Coach Matt Franzen.

The team responded by bringing in new offensive coordinator James Bauer from Kansas Wesleyan. 

Franzen said that even though Bauer played quarterback in college, he wants the offense to be a 'run-first' team. 

Hastings College also had one of their own return home. Hastings native Jarrett Synek transferred to Hastings College after spending previous seasons with South Dakota and Nebraska at the D1 level. 

Synek is getting the week one start at quarterback after earning it during fall camp. 

"He's a good football player, he throws the ball well. The thing that Jarrett does that is one of those intangibles that some guys do and some guys can't is the leadership aspect of standing in front of the offense saying 'follow me, get on my back," said Franzen. "He's a guy that the offense has really rallied behind."

During Small College Media Days in July, senior defensive back Sam Ahl and senior tight end Jake Bargen told NCN that this year's team is going to be more player-led. 

 "We’ve changed what we’ve been doing this year in the offseason, being a little more player-led accountability, and that helped people buy in more, as we’ve seen throughout this last offseason and into the summer," said Ahl. "Everyone’s been working out and trying to keep in shape and get ready for that first game."

"I feel like it’s a lot easier for somebody to hear advice or what they’re doing wrong from a player than a coach. When you hear it from your coach it kind of gets repetitive, but I feel like they respect us a little more because they see the work that we put in." said Bargen."

"The moral of that, is if I’m at 100 percent one workout and Sam’s at 50, my job as his teammate is to pick him up and get him through that workout, whereas if I were at 50 percent the next day and he was at 100, I would want him to pick me up. And playing a team sport like football where there’s 11 men out on the field, that’s kind of what you’ve gotta do: if someone’s slacking on an assignment, you’ve got to pick up for them, and you’ve got to be able to rely on your teammates." said Bargen.

The Broncos start off the season on Saturday in Crete against in-state rival Doane. You can watch the game Saturday on NCN TV with kickoff at 6 p.m.