Any time a Class 3A team has 15 of 22 starters and 25 lettermen returning from a 9-3 football team it can count itself as one of the fortunate.

The 2018 Jim Ned Indians qualify and the timing could be viewed as an exclamation point at a program where a dramatic turnaround has taken place.

Jim Ned, which posted seven straight losing campaigns from 2010-16, has developed a winning attitude while cultivating its talent. And an influx of new varsity players from an unbeaten JV team serve as an added bonus.