For the seniors at Alleman High School in Rock Island, Illinois, 2025 will mark a special time. And that's not just because it means they are months away from becoming the graduating Class of 2026.
Alleman will field a varsity football team for the first time in three years. The last one took place freshman season for the current group of 12th-graders.
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"It means the world," senior Adam Vanmeighen told KWQC. "Like my freshman year, we had a taste of varsity. We had our ups and downs that year, and then the past two years, working really hard just to get it back.
"It means the world to be able to get out here our senior year and our last ride, go out and play some varsity football on Friday nights. It means a lot."
Tom Barber enters his first season as head coach of the team. The Pioneers will take on Walther Christian at home on Friday, August 29 in the first game of the Illinois high school football season.
"What we're gonna do is we're gonna compete as hard as we can, and they're gonna know we're every team we face," Barber said. "They're gonna know that 100 percent effort came from Alleman. We're gonna give everything you can. We're gonna throw some punches, just like we're gonna take some punches, but that's what we're going to do."
Barber is a graduate of Davenport Assumption High School in Iowa and previously served as an assistant coach at Riverdale. He replaces Jeff Schmulbach as head coach.
The season opener will be an alumni night with a tailgate, Alleman also hosts Dwight in Week 2. They will head to Quincy to follow before returning home to close out September vs. Galesburg and Rock Island.
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In October, the Pioneers take on Sterling, Moline, Geneseo on the road, and close at home on October 24 vs. United Township.
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