If you follow Iowa 8-man football, you know the name Remsen St. Mary’s. For the last half-decade, they’ve basically been the final boss of the UNI-Dome. You see them on the schedule and you just kind of assume a 40-point blowout is coming your way. But man, the 2025 season was a massive reality check for the Hawks.
Coming off a perfect 13-0 run and a 2024 state title where they absolutely dismantled Gladbrook-Reinbeck 51-12, everyone expected the machine to keep rolling. Instead? They opened the year 0-3. They had to forfeit games. They were playing with 13 healthy kids at one point. Honestly, it looked like the wheels were falling off the most dominant small-school program in the state.
But if you look closer at how Remsen St. Mary’s football operates, this "down" year wasn't a failure. It was the inevitable tax you pay for being a tiny school that just graduated a once-in-a-generation senior class.
The Reality of the 2025 "Roster Crisis"
Last September, things got weird. Most people don't realize how precarious 8-man football is. You aren't dealing with 80-man rosters like the big 4A schools in Des Moines. When Remsen St. Mary’s rolled into their matchup with St. Edmond, they had exactly 13 guys ready to go.
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Then, the injuries hit. By halftime, they were down to 10 healthy players. Head coach Tim Osterman had to make a call that most coaches would hate: he stopped the game. It was a safety decision, plain and simple. When you're a four-time state champ, forfeiting a game at halftime feels like the world is ending, but what else do you do?
- The Youth Movement: 14 of the 17 guys on the 2025 roster were freshmen or sophomores.
- The Experience Gap: They were replacing guys like Landon Waldschmitt, who basically rewrote the record books in the 2024 championship game with seven total touchdowns.
- The Schedule: They didn't get any favors, facing a Graettinger-Terril/Ruthven-Ayrshire (GTRA) team that was clicking on all cylinders early.
Coach Osterman mentioned at the time that the "speed shift" from JV to varsity was just overwhelming for the younger kids. It’s one thing to run drills; it’s another to have a 220-pound senior from GTRA trying to put you in the turf.
Why 2024 Was the Peak of the Mountain
To understand why 2025 felt so jarring, you have to remember just how good the 2024 team was. That squad was special. They weren't just winning; they were suffocating people. They finished that season allowing only 10.2 points per game. That’s insane in 8-man football, where scores usually look like basketball results.
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Take the 2024 championship game. Waldschmitt had 177 yards rushing and 156 yards passing. He tied the record for most rushing scores in a title game. Keaton Harpenau was snagging everything in sight. Collin Homan was a nightmare on defense. When you lose that much talent in one graduation ceremony, there’s going to be a hangover.
The "108-94" Legacy and the 8-Man Identity
People still talk about the 2020 semifinals where Remsen St. Mary's and Montezuma combined for 202 points. 108-94. That game basically defined what Remsen St. Mary’s football is known for: high-octane, fearless play.
But that identity requires a specific type of athlete. In 8-man, you need "hybrids"—guys who are fast enough to cover the whole field but strong enough to block without a full offensive line. In 2025, the Hawks had the heart, but they just didn't have the physical maturity yet.
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Turning the Corner: The Late Season Surge
Here’s the part the headlines missed. After the forfeits and the 0-3 start, the Hawks didn't just quit. They actually started figuring it out. By October, the younger kids started to grow up.
They managed to put together wins against Siouxland Christian (17-0) and a dominant 50-13 victory over North Iowa to close things out. Dalton Klein and Dayton Kneip started finding their rhythm. They finished 3-5 overall, which sounds "bad" for Remsen, but considering they almost didn't have enough players to finish the season in September, it’s actually a pretty impressive coaching job by Osterman and his staff.
What’s Next for the Hawks?
If you're a fan or a betting person, don't count them out for 2026. Those 14 freshmen and sophomores? They just got a year of varsity experience that most kids don't get until they're seniors.
- Strength Training: The biggest hurdle in 2025 was the physical mismatch. A full off-season in the weight room is the primary focus for this young core.
- Roster Depth: Recruiting within the school is huge. Getting those roster numbers back up toward 20+ players is the safety net they need to avoid more forfeit scares.
- District Realignment: Iowa high school football districts shift, and the Hawks are looking to re-establish their dominance in District 1.
The 2025 season wasn't the end of a dynasty; it was just a very loud, very painful growing pain. They’ve been at the top too long to stay down for a second year. Keep an eye on the development of Dalton Klein—he’s got the tools to be the next big name in the UNI-Dome.
Actionable Insights for Following the Hawks:
- Check the Bound (formerly QuikStats) Iowa page regularly for updated roster sizes, as this is the biggest indicator of their weekly viability.
- Follow the KLEM 1410 sports broadcasts for the most direct post-game interviews with Coach Osterman.
- If you're attending a home game in Remsen, get there early; even in "down" years, the community support is some of the most intense in Northwest Iowa.