Lions Eye State | Video

Jacob Kaucher | 8/8/2012

The Bishop Ryan Lions have their sites set high and they don`t care who knows it.

With nine starters back on both sides of the ball for Ryan, it`s the AA state title game or bust.

The Lions say the returning experience has them light years ahead on this year`s day one compared to where they were to start last season.

And they`ve put in more off-season strength and conditioning work to avoid the late season lag they suffered a year ago.

"We feel we have a nucleus that we`ve worked really hard and we`ve had a lot of development from last year that put us on a platform that we feel gives us a shot to take a shot at the state championship," head coach Brad Borkhuis says. "It`s really, though, going to be dependent on us doing the little things - getting better day by day to get to that pinnacle where we want that state championship."

"That`s a big part of it," senior lineman Matt Niess says. "You gotta stay strong all year and then even stronger at the end when we`re shooting for the state title."

"We lifted almost every morning we could," junior wide receiver and defensive back Brody Bosch says. "We conditioned, so we`re a lot more conditioned and stronger."

The Lions open the year on Friday, August 24th against Velva.

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