FALLS CITY – For Will Kirchhoff, returning to Falls City High School to take over the Beavers' football program isn’t just a career move – it’s a full-circle homecoming.

Kirchhoff replaced his father, Mark Kirchhoff, in February, returning home to his alma mater and taking the reins of a South Texas Class 2A powerhouse. But if there is pressure in succeeding the man who forged the program's modern standard, the younger Kirchhoff sees it through a very different lens.

"I wouldn't phrase it as pressure – it's more of a privilege," Kirchhoff said. "The standard is the standard, no matter where we are. Every single year, we're trying to maximize what our kids are able to do and make sure that we get every drop of potential out of the group."

Returning to his roots

Kirchhoff returned to Falls City after spending seven years coaching at Lovelady, a place he calls a "home away from home." While he and his wife cherished their time building relationships and leading student-athletes in East Texas, the pull to return home proved impossible to resist.

When the opportunity arose to step into the head role while continuing to collaborate with his father – who remains on the coaching staff to assist – the decision was instant.

"It's a really unique opportunity to get to work with my father and come back to the community that gave so much to me,” Kirchhoff said. “There are a lot of things in life that have expiration dates, and we just felt like this was an opportunity we couldn't miss out on."

Adapting schemes to fit roster

While the Beavers’ foundational identity remains the same, Kirchhoff is implementing tactical adjustments tailored to his players' specific strengths.

Moving away from the strictly under-center flexbone triple-option attack historically run at Falls City, the Beavers will feature more shotgun formations. However, Kirchhoff emphasized that core principles will stay intact.

"In small-school football, especially at the 2A level, you have to be able to fit your scheme to the kids you have. You can't necessarily fit your kids to your scheme," Kirchhoff said. "The presentation might look a little different being in the gun set a little bit more, but our core values are not going to change."

Defensively, Kirchhoff said he is capitalizing on his squad's high football IQ and deep chemistry by installing multiple defensive fronts and coverage packages.

"Our kids grow up together here and have such a unique bond," Kirchhoff said. "Being able to put in multiple fronts and coverages is pretty advanced for a 2A school, but it takes a special group of kids to trust their teammates, do their job, and execute at a high level."

Sophomore stepping up under center

Taking the reins of Kirchhoff’s updated offense is sophomore quarterback Tanner Haws. According to Kirchhoff, Haws brings a mix of athleticism and mental acuity that belies his age, making him an ideal fit for the new system.

"Tanner is highly intelligent, a very athletic kid who runs the ball well and gets better as a thrower on a daily basis," Kirchhoff said. "He processes a ton of information, especially for his age. You would never know he’s a sophomore just because of how he handles himself in the huddle."

Kirchhoff noted that the team’s veteran core has rallied around Haws.

"He’s surrounded by a great group," Kirchhoff added. "Our seniors up front and at the skill positions understand the responsibility of the unit to make sure everyone helps out so we look mature across the board."

Tests coming early

The Beavers, ranked No. 15 in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine’s preseason Class 2A Division II poll, aren't easing into the new era. Falls City opens the season against Johnson City, Poth and Stockdale, who all made the playoffs in 2025.

Rather than viewing the tough non-district slate as a risk, Kirchhoff views it as an essential trial by fire for a team with championship aspirations.

"Our goal every single time we come into the season is to play all the way to Christmas," Kirchhoff said. "If you want to do that, you've got to put your kids in hard situations. When you get to November and December football, you have to be battle-tested and recall those hard moments to pull out wins."

For Kirchhoff, the mission comes down to embracing the everyday process alongside a community he loves.

"When you have great kids and a great community like we do here, it doesn't feel like pressure," Kirchhoff said. "It just feels like you're doing what you love with the people you love to do it with."