Jimmy Lafakis/MDN Surrey football players participate in a partner push-up drill during a practice. The Mustangs will face Lewis & Clark-Berthold at 7 p.m. on Friday.

SURREY — As Mark Kennedy encourages the Surrey football team to persist through challenging conditioning drills, he smiles to himself. Those grueling sessions of sprints and partner push-ups begin with the end in mind — ultimately, Kennedy aims to make the Mustangs’ practices tougher than their games.

Last season, Kennedy guided Surrey to a 6-4 record and a 9-man playoff appearance. The head coach employed a run-heavy attack and reaped the benefits of an offense that scored 321 points.

In the early stages of Surrey’s 2020 campaign, the self-assured Mustangs have hit the ground running. When Kennedy orders the defense to get to the ball after the play is over, the entire unit hustles with a little extra pep in its step.

“That’s what we’ve built this program on,” he said. “We don’t care what the other team has or what they try to do. We’re going to say that we can play with the best of them because we’re one of the best of them. That’s the attitude that we have. We’re not saying that we’re going to go and dominate every team. We’re going to take our lumps at times, but we’ve got to have that attitude that we can run and play with anybody out there.”

Indeed, the Mustangs leapt at the opportunity to play football this fall. The COVID-19 pandemic initially shrouded their season in mystery, but Surrey players and coaches rejoiced after receiving the green light.

“When they gave us the go, it was smiles across the board,” Kennedy said with a bellow of laughter. “Every kid was excited to be able to come out here. Then, I got anxious. I said, ‘Oh, man. Now, we’ve got to go.'”

Several key seniors from the 2019 squad have departed. Quarterback/strong safety Ryder Holien, running back/linebacker Kolby Nelsen and wide receiver/free safety Cody Fuchs left their imprints as Mustangs.

Still, the Mustangs remain undeterred. Branden Alvarez, one of 12 juniors listed on Surrey’s roster, highlighted the importance of optimism in this unprecedented season.

“A positive attitude is the way to go,” said Alvarez, an offensive lineman and linebacker. “If you have a negative attitude, you’re not going to run. You’re not going to play football correctly. Your mind is going to be a different place.”

Because a litany of multi-sport athletes add depth, Kennedy made note of the group’s speed.

“A lot of our kids run track or play baseball in the spring,” he said. “Those kids, they learn how to steal bases. Those kids can run. You’ve got to step on second base with one of your feet and try not to fall.”

According to Kennedy, all current sophomores, juniors and seniors have participated in varsity games. Under Kennedy’s guidance, sophomore Ayden Admundson played a critical role on Surrey’s offensive line last season.

“He’s being there for us, coaching us and making us better human beings,” Amundson said about the head coach. “It means a lot to us.”

When the Mustangs take the reins underneath the Friday night lights, the community rallies in support. Passion permeates throughout every nook and cranny of the Surrey football program.

“Football is a fun game,” Kennedy said. “In this state, a lot of kids play because their friends are out or their dads played football. Whatever the case is, I just tell them, ‘Whatever your reason is, love that reason.’ As we’re building from Day 1, that camaraderie is coming back. That brotherhood is coming back. Now, we’re high-fiving each other. We’re telling each other, ‘Good job.’ Guys are correcting each other. We’re not yelling back. We’re just saying, ‘OK.’ That’s a beautiful thing, when your teammate can say, ‘Hey, man, you’ve got to do it this way,’ and he just says, ‘OK, I got you.'”

Season Schedule

Aug. 21, 7 p.m. at Lewis & Clark-Berthold.

Aug. 28, 7 p.m. at Benson County.

Sept. 4, 7 p.m. at Turtle Lake/Mercer.

Sept. 11, 6 p.m. vs. TGU.

Sept. 18, 7 p.m. at Parshall.

Sept. 25, 7 p.m. vs. Ray.

Oct. 2, 7 p.m. at Divide County.

Oct. 9, 7 p.m. vs. MLS.

Oct. 16, 7 p.m. vs. Trenton.

Jimmy Lafakis covers Minot High School sports and Class B high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @JJLII30.