n his first season, Coach Shane Shockey led the Petersburg Vikings to a historic year, securing the school's first-ever playoff victory after being hired just weeks before official practice. Now entering his second season with a full offseason of preparation, Shockey feels the team is "miles ahead" and is working to change the football culture at the school. The Vikings' optimism is fueled by the return of key skill players, including sophomore quarterback Payton Metheny, who threw for nearly 2,000 yards as a freshman, and senior Kaleb Kuhn, a versatile threat at receiver, defensive back, and on special teams. While the main area of concern is replacing three starters on the offensive line, the team's goal is to build on last season's success by making back-to-back playoff appearances and advancing to at least the state semifinals.