Healthy, with healthy numbers, North Star football came right back

Comeback stories are some of the most impactful in sports. Whether it is a player coming off of a major injury and having a big game or a team pulling off a miracle to get the win, comebacks are legendary.

But, comebacks are not limited to single players or teams. Entire seasons can be encompassed in them. There could be a season full of painful losses and unachieved ambitions, then turn into an exciting team the very next season. Seasons like those speak volumes. To go from a team that was being beaten around in the basement to playing in the postseason the next year is something special. Moments like that give teams motivation to go out and stay hungry. After all, what is a better feeling than to comeback against all odds and make some noise.

And for the North Star football team, the 2019 season has been a story of overcoming past difficulties and putting forth a great season.

The Knights' 2018 season was a tough one. Unfortunate injuries gave way to a couple of forfeits and a season that did not go as planned. North Star did not have the numbers to put a fulL team on the field at one point during last fall, and for a perrennail Six-Man powerhouse, that was tough.

But, this past season has been different.

The Knights started this year a bit staggered due to some injuries still present on the team. North Star started 0-3 and were hoping to change that sooner than later. From there, the Knights pushed to a 5-0 win streak, beating teams like Sunburst, Heart Butte, J.C. Charyk, Tri-City and Geraldine-Highwood to achieve a 5-3 record.

North Star would lose to Denton-Geyser-Stanford in the next game, but after the year before, earning the No. 4 seed in the Six-Man North made all the difference. For North Star head coach Shawn Rettig, the accomplishment his team made can be put into simple terms.

"We got healthy," said Rettig. "I knew we could be a pretty good team all the time, but we just had to stay healthy. The kids got and healthy and they believed we could be pretty good."

The drastic climb to the postseason is something the team worked hard for. Five straight wins this year proves the peak of North Star's potential and prowess. All it took was the right pieces to get back out on the field and play.

The Knights have given it their all so far in the season and have a lot of things to be proud of. The team has come a long way to make some noise in the North. North Star's success this year is something to sit in awe about. When a team comes from the bottom due to unfortunate circumstances, then comes back to claim a spot in the playoffs, it is something to pay attention to.

Rettig and his team are in great spirits heading into the postseason. For them, this year is very special and means so much.

"It's huge," Rettig said. "We love football here. All the kids and everybody out here (Rudyard, MT) loves the team. The longer we play, the better. We've had success in the past and it's been a while. We just feel like we should be there very year, so to get back there, it's a great feeling for the kids. They've done a lot of great things."

The Knights have made a big change in just a year. From a team struck down by injuries and a hindrance in numbers, to a program ready to step back into the playoff scene, North Star has made the most incredible progress seen on the Hi-Line.

On top of that, Rettig sees another big difference between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

"The biggest difference obviously was injuries," said Rettig. "But, it was also just getting numbers out. Being able to practice with full squads is a big thing and making the playoffs, it's just a great feeling because it gives the kids a chance to see what they're capable of doing, if they put their minds to it and work hard."

Rettig also credits his team's success in other ways.

"The success this year is largely due the leadership and a great camaraderie between the kids," continued Rettig.

It has been a big year for the North Star Knights, but it is not over yet. The Knights have their first opponent in the Six-Man playoffs, the Jordan Mustangs. Jordan is the East's No. 1 seed and will look to continue its postseason ambitions with a win over North Star. But, the Knights will look to hone their skills and continue their amazing season with an upset over the Mustangs.

North Star will travel on the road to play Jordan at the Jordan High football field Saturday at 1 p.m..