It has been almost 500 days since the Iowa Central football team lined up against an opponent on the gridiron.

Back in December 2019, the Tritons put the finishing touches on a memorable season, winning a second consecutive Graphic Edge Bowl to go along with claiming the ICCAC title under head coach Jesse Montalto.

COVID-19 and the decision to flip the planned 2020 fall season to spring 2021 left Iowa Central in something of a state of limbo.

But that all ends this Saturday when the sixth-ranked Tritons welcome in Southern Shreveport to Dodger Stadium for a noon kickoff in the first of eight games on the schedule.

“It’s been a challenging year with everything for everybody,” said Montalto, who is entering his third season. “Between frustration coming in July 6 and not being able to play, it’s been tough. But the kids have done a really good job through it all.

“They have found a way to stay focused on the task at hand, really bought in and care about each other. They want to be successful and finish what we started last January.”

The shift did force Iowa Central to watch as six players transferred to Div. I schools. Several others, though, opted to return to play this spring before heading to their new homes in the fall.

“We probably pushed more for them to take those offers and go, but the ones coming back, they want to finish what they started,” Montalto said. “They know we have a special group that goes beyond just on the football field.”

The Tritons will play Iowa Western and Ellsworth twice to decide a conference champion along with games against the Grand View JV, Snow and Arkansas Baptist.

Chance Gibbons, Jakob Bradford, Anthony Berry, returning All-American Richard Rodriguez, Jadon Washington and Romello Gray are among a group returning. Bradford and Rodriguez are part of an offensive line that all stands 6-foot-4 or taller and weighs at least 300 pounds.

“We look like a Div. I team,” Montalto said. “We’ve got just an incredible amount of good-looking kids across the board. We’ve got some unknowns at the skill positions, but we have seen what they can do in practice and are excited to see them in a live game.”

Washington ran for almost 300 yards last year and Gibbons saw time at tight end. Gray had 32 tackles and a sack on defense as a freshman.

Madison Ridgeway, Major Williams and Malik Occiur are all Div. I transfers. Ridgeway comes from Air Force and plays wide receiver, Williams is a cornerback from Virginia and Occiur a linebacker from Western Kentucky.