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PAGE A1  Wednesday, August 16, 2017

P O T O S I

R E B E L S

F A R M I N G T O N

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C E N T R A L

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate

Preview

2017

Pigskin

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate

MATT KING 573-518-3637

BONNE TERRE – Although the immediate future appears bright, North County is banking on a change in leadership to sustain an upward trend for its football program beyond this season.

The Raiders improved from a 1-9 record in 2014 to 6-4 last season, but veteran head coach Dave Dallas was not retained following three straight first-round exits from the district playoffs. Brian Jones has been selected to take over the

reins, and has extensive history with North County after serving as an assistant under three previous coaches. One of his paramount responsibilities upon taking the new job was assessing players and devising a plan to maximize their attributes with-

Wednesday, August 16, 2017



PAGE A2

Raiders look to maximize weapons

Matt King, Daily Journal

Tucker Smith returns for his season at linebacker after making 95 tackles and four interceptions last fall for North County.

Matt King, Daily Journal

Briley Smith rushed for 1,265 yards and 22 touchdowns during a big junior season for North County.

in a new system. “The current seniors were eighth graders the last year that I coached You just have to look at your talent and design the offense from there,” Jones said. “Our system is very flexible, so we believe that we’ll be able to handle a lot of different formations and do different things based on our personnel.” Jones inherits a varsity roster stocked with seniors –

many of whom are three-year starters with proven success in multiple sports – but numbers are relatively low in the junior and sophomore classes. That reality only magnifies the importance of staying healthy and durable amid a taxing schedule, as most spots on the depth chart are relatively thin. “We have some really fast

See RAIDERS / Page 3

NORTH COUNTY RAIDERS

2016 Record: 6-4 (2-2) HC: Brian Jones (1st season) Key Returning Players: Tucker Smith, sr., OLB/RB; Briley Smith, sr., RB; Brenden McClure, sr., OT/DE; Cole Ziegler, jr., WR/DB; Pacen DeClue, jr., OG/DT; Kolten Poorman, jr., QB TEAM SCHEDULE

8/18 – Seckman 8/25 – at Farmington 9/1 – Festus* 9/8 – at De Soto* 9/15 – at St. Charles

9/22 – Hillsboro* 9/29 – at Windsor* 10/6 – at Potosi 10/13 – Fredericktown * Conference Game

PAGE A3  Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Matt King, Daily Journal

All-state left tackle Brenden McClure is back to anchor an offensive line that helped North County average nearly 300 rushing yards per game last season.

ence up front, and fellow senior Jamie Sigman is vying for a starting spot along the interior. Karson Kekec is shifting outside to provide another option at receiver, and will anchor a defensive end position for the third straight year. “This is a really unselfish group. Nobody has asked about playing time. They just come and work,” Jones said. “We just want to get better each week, fix our mistakes and build on our improvements.” Senior all-region linebacker Tucker Smith should draw more attention from opposing blockers after pacing North County with 95 tackles, four sacks and four interceptions. Kenny Smith saw his playing time gradually increase last year as a cover corner. Pruneau can migrate between the secondary and an outside linebacker spot. Tucker Smith and previously injured Jaelen Reed will address the Raiders’ need for depth at running back after being sparingly used in that capacity. North County finished 2-2 last season within the MAFC Red conference, including its first triumph over Festus in 10 years. Teams will be gunning to unseat Hillsboro as the league favorite. North County opens the season by hosting Seckman, and will try to snap a threegame slump against county rival Farmington in week 2. “Every coach has their own personality and vision of what they want from their football teams,” Jones said. “We’re trying to establish our identity and the direction that we want to head.” Breaking in a new punter and place kicker are initial concerns for the special teams.



guys, but our overall strength and speed is probably not where we want it to be,” he said. “I think we have 28 kids [grades] 10 through 12, so we don’t have a lot of position battles.” The list of prominent returners include all-state left tackle Brenden McClure, who has attracted multiple Division I offers after helping the Raiders rush for nearly 300 yards per game last fall. Briley Smith ran for 1.265 yards and 22 touchdowns as a breakout all-region junior despite missing significant action with injuries. North County will attempt to relieve some of the workload and punishment on its standout tailback by distributing more touches among other playmakers. “Briley is a leader on and off the field,” Jones said. “To say that we want him carrying the ball 30 times a game for 10 weeks, we don’t. Because in Class 4 football, I don’t know if there’s a back in our area who can do it based on the physical play and rigors of the game.” Junior Cole Ziegler begins his third varsity season, and figures to be the featured receiver along with Sean Pruneau and emerging targets Kenneth Smith and Tyler Johnston. Kolten Poorman returns as the starting quarterback with a powerful arm. The Raiders will call upon the junior to increase his completion percentage while staying calm in the pocket. McClure will certainly headline the blocking effort, but center Pacen DeClue also expects to build on a strong sophomore campaign. They are among many two-way lineman for North County. Devon Mason and Eli Claywell also have experi-

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate

Raiders Continued From Page 2

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate PAGE A4 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Knights shuffle lineup while developing depth ADAM BREWER 573-518-3638 FARMINGTON – Head coach Erik Kruppe has confidence in a young, yet experienced Farmington football team for the 2017 season. Tycen Gray and Cody Wright will be running the “A-back” position as receiver/running back hybrids in a unique offense. Grey led the Knights in receiving as a sophomore. Nathaniel Link has earned the quarterback job after gaining some varsity experience last season when starter Cody Friedmeyer was injured.

“He actually won the game against Perryville for us. We are expecting a lot from him.” Kruppe said. Colby Barnes brings back experience at middle linebacker, and Gray is being shuffled to linebacker after playing safety last season. Wright also returns to the secondary. Gavin Duncan, Brayden Moon, Tappan Westbrook and Chase Fischbeck were two-way starters for multiple years, and have since progressed to the collegiate level while leaving big shoes to fill.

See KNIGHTS / Page 11

Matt King, Daily Journal

Cody Wright returns an interception during a game last season. The senior is among several two-way Tycen Gray will line up in various spots on the field as Farmington looks to maximize the skill of its starters in the 2017 Farmington lineup. standout junior receiver.

MATT KING 573-518-3637



PAGE A5  Wednesday, August 16, 2017

STE. GENEVIEVE – Enormous hype and added pressure cast an even brighter spotlight than usual on the Valle Catholic football program before it ever executed a snap last season. In addition to being the reigning three-time state champions, the Warriors were approaching the longest active win streak in the nation – an honor they eventually attained and held for two weeks. Valle Catholic ultimately finished 11-2 overall with its only setbacks coming to Class 2 champion Lamar in week 7 and Penney in the Class 1 semifinals. While those results would leave most high school teams feeling elated, the disappointment of failing to reach an eighth consecutive MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl was justifiably visible. The new season represents a reset button from a mental perspective as the Warriors pursue their 10th straight district crown with at least five starters back on each side of the ball. “I think our kids are a little more laid back,” 14th-year head coach Judd Naeger said. “We always felt like we had something looming over us last year, and that forced us to think a little too much about winning as opposed to just getting better and having fun.” Several two-way players highlight the senior leadership with all-state left tackle and middle linebacker Brendan Meyer being perhaps the most noticeable. Meyer has packed on about 30 pounds after notching a team-high 112 tackles as a junior, and continues a family tradition of standout

linebackers to don the storied blue and white. Right guard Garrett MacMillan is likewise a three-year starter, and right tackle Dalton Kertz returns for a stout offensive line that helped the Warriors average 45 points per game. Valle managed to overcome modest production from the backfield over the past two years – mostly due to serious injuries – by utilizing a highly potent passing attack. Returning senior quarterback Mason Skaggs compiled 2,969 passing yards and 37 touchdowns last fall. But three leading receivers, including two all-state performers, have since graduated. Junior Carter Roth is being groomed for the starting tailback spot, and his emergence could be crucial in taking some carries and physical punishment away from Skaggs. Three-year starting senior Chris Loida has also spent considerable time in the backfield, but provides needed versatility as a tight end or slot man. “We took a really hard look at our running game to see what needed to be done better,” Naeger said. “We don’t necessarily have to score every time we run the ball, but we need to get a few yards to keep the defense honest. I think our offensive line is going to be up to the challenge.” Tyler Blum at 6-foot-3 and Ryan Grein at 6-foot-4 are ready to shine as available targets after sharing time at the third and fourth receiver spots on the 2016 depth chart. Sophomore Kyle Gielow racked up more than

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate

Warriors on hunt after title string broken

Matt King, Daily Journal

See WARRIORS / Page 10 All-state performer Brendan Meyer stars at offensive tackle and middle linebacker as Valle Catholic seeks another deep Class 1 playoff run.

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate PAGE A6 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Rebels still striving to take next step MATT KING 573-518-3637

PARK HILLS – Kory Schweiss was tasked with finding the correct arrangement for a surplus of promising – but mostly untested – varsity talent entering last season. Perhaps the Central football team even meshed ahead of expectations, reeling off eight consecutive wins and eventually claiming a fifth consecutive district championship before finishing 11-2. “I thought we were going to be good, because I was high on our junior class,” the 14th-year head coach said. “But I didn’t know that we would have that kind of start.” While the Rebels have certainly established themselves as a top-10 program in Class 3, that success has yet to translate into playoff progression past the state quarterfinal round. Central carried a 14-6 advantage into the intermission of a playoff battle with Miller Career Academy last November in St. Louis, only to surrender four straight scoring drives in the second half. “I know the coaching staff feels like we let one slip away,” Schweiss said. “That was a game that we should have had more control of at halftime, maybe leading by three scores instead of one. I think our players also feel that way.” The urgency to take the next step has escalated as the Rebels return seven starters on each side of scrimmage, and arguably, their most gifted roster from top to bottom. A number of recent Central football alumni have joined the armed forces, and one current standout is preparing to follow a similar path despite having his season dashed by a serious knee injury. Running back and defensive end Triston Campbell, a three-year starter, recently declared his intention to compete at the Division I level while attending the Air Force Academy. Campbell suffered a torn ACL and LCL during a scrimmage last week, but is determined to make a quick recovery, perhaps by winter. His offer from the Falcons of the Mountain West remains firm. “More than wins and losses, we try to instill good habits in these guys so

Matt King, Daily Journal

Ethan Weiss (66) and Tanner Friend (58) are among four returners on the starting offensive line for Central.

when they become men off the field, they can be good citizens, fathers and husbands,” Schweiss said. “Nothing exemplifies that more than the ones who go into the military. Triston is going to be one of our captains and team leaders.” The Rebels must find a replacement for Campbell and his 1,035 rushing yards from last season, but are fortunate to bring back speedy senior Tyreece Welch, whose carries are now likely to increase. The steady and unselfish demeanor of quarterback Jace Bland shows another example of leadership

and discipline that have been integral within the Rebels’ overall rise. “I thought Jace played well last year, obviously, but he’s made a lot of progress.” Schweiss said. “We put a lot on his plate last year by switching offenses like we did. He should hit the ground running.” Central bid farewell to a pair of starting receivers who also occupied key roles in the secondary, but the void has been partly filled following an offseason move at a rival school. Mark Casey joins the coaching staff after guiding Potosi for nine years, including a perfect 10-0 regular sea-

son in 2009. His son, junior Jake Casey, transfers in after shining as the Trojans’ top target. The array of playmakers should have time and room to operate behind a skilled offensive line that brings back four starters plus another converted blocker. Senior tackles Holden Mayberry and Ethan Weiss picked up all-state honors last fall. Junior guard Tanner Friend has arguably been the most impressive lineman in preseason practice.

See REBELS / Page 7

CENTRAL REBELS

2016 Record: 11-2 (4-0) HC: Kory Schweiss (14th season) Key Returning Players: Jake Glenn, sr., MLB/FB; Ethan Weiss, sr., OT/DL; Jace Bland, sr., QB/LB; Tyreece Welch, sr., RB; Holden Mayberry, sr., OT/DE; Evan Sidebottom, jr., LB/RB

Dylan Wells returns at center, and Aaron Dooley shifts from tight end to right guard. Potential depth up front should only enhance the Rebels’ chances to methodically wear down the opposition. Second-half mistakes in losses to Sikeston and Miller Career were glaring blemishes on an otherwise thriving defense that limited seven

other foes to 10 points or less Jake Glenn made 88 solo tackles last year, and fellow linebacker Evan Sidebottom enters his third varsity season. Mayberry and Campbell were poised to bookend the front four with a prolific pass rush. Will Hopkins has breakout potential as a returning safety with increased opportunities on the offensive side as a tight

9/22 – Perryville* 9/29 – Fredericktown* 10/6 – Dexter 10/13 – at Sikeston * Conference Game

8/18 – at Sullivan 8/25 – MICDS 9/1 – at Potosi* 9/8 – Confluence Prep 9/15 – at Ste. Genevieve* end. Casey will also be a pivotal part of the secondary. The Rebels have the enviable challenge of maximizing their many weapons. Tanner Smith, Tyler Murray and Dawson Day are all projected to see increased action this season. “When you have six or seven guys, it’s hard to get everyone the football,” Schweiss said. “We could also put Glenn or Sidebottom

in there at any time, and they would be awesome offensive players.” Central must focus on finishing drives with sharper execution. Hard-fought triumphs in 2016 over Ste. Genevieve and MICDS only materialized after the offense was blanked through halftime. A kicking game that struggled mightily at times last season is poised for improvement with multiple players vying for

that role. The path to another district title could be bumpy with outlying schools Salem and Kennett expected to show considerable strides, but the Rebels will have already been tested. Three of the toughest obstacles on their schedule – Sullivan (week 1), Ste. Genevieve (week 5) and Sikeston (week 9) – are road games.

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Matt King, Daily Journal

Junior Will Hopkins is projected to have a larger offensive presence while also keeping his starting role in the secondary for Central.

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Warriors Continued From Page 5 1,000 yards last year for an unbeaten junior varsity squad. “The learning curve is always the main thing, because we do a lot of postsnap stuff where routes have to change based on the coverage,” Naeger said. “That only comes through getting more reps.” Valle Catholic would like to improve on last year’s solid plus-9 turnover margin, and features plenty of proven experience along the defensive front. Loida totaled 98 tackles at outside linebacker, and defensive end Jacob Bieser figures to be a force after recording five sacks as a junior. MacMillan occupies the interior line after earning all-state honorable mention, and Skaggs anchors an athletic secondary at free safety. Senior Owen Schweigert will be the other starting end, and three sophomores could create a stronger rotation along the defensive line as the season progresses. An effort will also be made to establish a long-term kicker as freshman Kolten Naeger appears ready to handle extra points and field goals. Jack Staab will start at left guard alongside center

Warfield Jackson while serving as two-way linemen. Collin Grass and Kellen Blum will figure into the flexible defensive alignment. Should the Warriors again be among the last four teams standing in November, Naeger believes that his crew can be both motivated and edified by last season’s harsh conclusion. “We felt like we got beat by a team that did the little things better than we did,” he said. “(Penney) played harder and was more fundamentally sound. For years, that is how we’ve won games. “When you lose that way, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. We have to dedicate ourselves to those things that we didn’t quite get done that are inside of our own control.” Valle Catholic has ruled the I-55 Conference since its inception after breaking away from the MAFC. The league will feature one less team after Grandview halted its varsity program for this season. Sumner has replaced Grandview as the Warriors’ opponent in week 5. The rematch with Lamar arrives two weeks later in southwest Missouri.

VALLE CATHOLIC WARRIORS

2016 Record: 11-2 (6-0) HC: Judd Naeger (14th season) Key Returning Players: Brendan Meyer, sr., OT/MLB; Mason Skaggs, sr., QB/FS; Chris Loida, sr., LB/RB/WR; Garrett MacMillan, sr., G/DT; Jacob Bieser, sr., DE TEAM SCHEDULE

8/18 – at St. Vincent* 8/25 – at Ste. Genevieve 9/1 – Caruthersville 9/8 – Crystal City* 9/15 – Sumner

9/22 – Jefferson* 9/30 – at Lamar 10/6 – at Herculaneum* 10/13 – St. Pius* * Conference Game

Matt King, Daily Journal

Valle Catholic senior quarterback Mason Skaggs will break in a new group of receivers after throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 37 touchdowns last year.

“Whether it’s 2007, 2017, or 2027, this whole community gets amped up for the North County game,” Kruppe stated. “We face a stretch where we play Cape, Sikeston, Bluff, and Jackson all in a row, but the kids like the tough competition.” Farmington hosts Fox in the season opener and rematch of a 26-20 overtime victory. The Knights defeated North County 36-16 before ending last year with a 7-4 record.

FARMINGTON KNIGHTS

2016 Record: 7-4 (1-3) HC: Erik Kruppe (5th season) Key Returning Players: Tycen Gray, jr., WR/FS; Cody Wright, sr., WR/CB; Nathaniel Link, QB/FS; Dalton Berg, jr., OL/DL; Colby Barnes, sr., OL/LB; Teddy Bankhead, sr., WR/CB

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The offseason has treated the Knights well and provided some surprises. “I have been very pleased with the kids so far, they have worked hard and done everything asked of them,” Kruppe said. “Some kids who have never contributed before are really starting to step up.” Farmington faces some hardnosed and powerful SEMO North conference teams each season. But first, a spirited local rivalry will generate excitement in week 2.



Kruppe still carries high hopes for his lineman, despite significant losses at other positions. “I think from a depth standpoint, we are deeper on the offensive and defensive lines than we have been for quite some time,” he said. “Every year, we are getting quicker and more athletic. “We need to develop depth at other positions. That was our main strength in 2016 and that has been our main objective in practices.”

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Knights Continued From Page 4

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate PAGE A12 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Blackcats hope changes bring more wins ALAN KOPITSKY 573-783-3366 FREDERICKTOWN – Most students headed back to class in mid-August, but for the members of the 2017 Fredericktown Blackcats, “football school” began not long after the 2016 season concluded. “We changed everything,” new Fredericktown head coach Chuck Ford said. “We don’t even do our warmups before practice the same. We did a complete overhaul of everything. The four coaches who were left from last year that’s all we talked about. We talked constantly about what we wanted to do.” Ford enters his 34th year coaching high school football and his 23rd season at FHS. He retired following the 2011 season, only to return as an offensive line and secondary coach in 2016. This season will be his first as the Cats’ head coach. Jason Mills returns as offensive coordinator, and Kurtis Davis will be the defensive coordinator. Jon Clauser is the special teams coordinator. Gavin Krueger is a new assistant, and will oversee the linemen. Riley Bumgardaner also joins the staff, and will coach the receivers and defensive backs. “As far as taking care of the X’s and O’s, my job’s easy,” Ford said. “I just turn it over to these five guys. I’ve told everybody I’ve ever spoken to, I’m in over my head as head coach, but I’m lucky. I’ve got five great assistants and I’ve got 45 great kids that work their butts off and have bought into everything we’ve tried to teach them. So we’re pretty fortunate. I told them I think, by the time this year’s over, you’re going to realize you’re a team of destiny.

Alan Kopitsky, Democrat News

Colton Rehkop leads a revamped Fredericktown offense after earning the starting quarterback role last year as a sophomore.

Something good is going to come out of this. There are so many things that have clicked.” The Cats have more players on their roster compared to just 33 in 2016. There are

only five seniors, but the junior, sophomore, and freshman classes are larger. Fredericktown graduated seven seniors from last year’s 2-8 squad. When the 2016 season ended, the transfor-

mation of the team began. Ford outlined four areas where the coaching staff saw changes were needed. “I think, number one, we came in wanting our team to be more disciplined than what we were last year,” he said. “Discipline was a big thing we knew they needed.” This included not just the players’ actions, but also their positions and where they fit on the team. “Right along with that, the next thing I could see we were physically very weak, and so we changed our weight program to accommodate that,” Ford said. “We started immediately after the last game changing everything. We just changed the whole philosophy. Our kids worked so hard and got so much stronger. Right now, we’re a more physical team than we were last year.” “I think, maybe the third thing we looked at was how do we build leadership on this team,” Ford said. “You want to go into a season and you’re going to kind of ride your seniors as your leaders, but when you know you’ve only got (five) of them that makes it tough, so we tried to talk about leadership, what it takes to be a leader, the sacrifices you have to make to be a leader, how good you have to be to be a leader. Those kinds of things were a daily talk.” “The fourth thing that we saw was that our kids didn’t understand the game of football,” Ford said. “They could watch it on TV and not get why they do what they do. They just didn’t understand, not just the X’s and O’s, but the positions and what they were responsible for and those kinds of things.” To that end, in December, the coaches began a class

every Friday before school. They met at the field house. As many as 15 attended, and sometimes as few as six or seven. “Those guys came every Friday,” Ford said. “We would pick a topic to talk about. We were already planning there was going to be a new head coach, we just didn’t know who it was going to be. We knew Jason was going to be the offensive coordinator, so spent most of our time discussing what we were going to do offensively, and it was all based on what we did against Ste. Genevieve the last game of the year.” In that district contest against the Dragons, Fredericktown used a spread offense. “We made them decide if they wanted to play man or zone, and who they had to defend,” Ford said. Ste. Genevieve ended up winning 28-23, but six weeks earlier, the Dragons had shut out the Cats 39-0. Junior Colton Rehkop will return at quarterback. Ford said the coaching staff emphasized learning the offense the team ran in the final game. “He worked all season long on becoming a scrambler,” Ford said. Ford said the spread offense allows the team to read the defense and react to the defensive formation. It also allows the Cats to take advantage of their personnel. “In the skill positions, we have athletes,” he said. The team has been working in the weight room and participated in an off-season program. “Those kids, we taught (them) how to catch the football, how to run a route, we

See BLACKCATS / Page 15

Matt King, Daily Journal

Sophomore running back Demond Guthrie will be a focal point of the Potosi offense after gaining valuable varsity experience last year.

moved on along with college baseball players Zach Price and Tristan Brown. Jake Casey emerged as a standout performer, but has transferred to join his father at Central. Starting quarterback Noah Jacobsen decided to sacrifice his junior season of football, and underwent shoulder surgery earlier this spring to benefit his baseball career. Casey led the team in receiving yards, while Jacobsen paced the offense with seven passing touchdowns and 721 yards through as sophomores. Haar stated that the Trojans will rely on a young core for success this season. “We have a lot in the sophomore class who will be contributing on Friday nights We are looking to fill several spots on the offensive and defensive lines.” “A strength we have is that we have a lot of kids rotating in and out, which should keep us fresh over the opponent in the game,” he added. Demond Guthrie returns as a sophomore with promising features at tailback. He finished third in varsity rushing yards last season behind Kyle Allison and Price. Senior Colin Govero brings experience and talent on defense after notching a team-high 91 total tackles plus three interceptions at linebacker last season. Fellow senior Brendan Hovis is back after pacing the Trojans with four interceptions. Senior Kobe Boyer has the only substantial varsity experience along either line. According to Haar, the one thing the team needs to improve on most is ball control. “We definitely need to manage the clock better and limit turnovers,” he said. “Those were both issues last season

PAGE A13  Wednesday, August 16, 2017

including a 21-7 semifinal defeat to Central in the district playoffs. The six-man coaching staff brings back all familiar faces for the 2017 season with Aaron Urich, David Leeds, Harry Thurmond, Jordan Pannett and Dylan Wyrick serving as assistants. However, the roster contains few returning pieces on either side of the ball. Multiple key contributors graduated with several continuing their athletic careers. All-State lineman Ethan Roland progressed to the collegiate level at Missouri Valley after posting 72 tackles with five sacks in the 2016 season. Fellow linemen Gabe Smith and Dylan Wright have also

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ADAM BREWER 573-518-3638 POTOSI – Ed Haar claimed the position as head coach of the Potosi football team last offseason, and has a bright outlook for his first year leading the program. “I am really excited for this opportunity, and want to see what this team can do in the future,” he said. Haar was promoted following the departure of Mark Casey, who took an assistant role at Central. Casey finished his nine-year stint as head coach at Potosi with a 54-43 record, which is the second most wins in school history just behind the 55 by Mike Thebeau. The Trojans went 5-6 last year while plagued by injuries,

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate

Trojans regroup with many vacancies to fill

Matt King, Daily Journal

Senior linebacker Colin Govero (34) headlines an otherwise young Potosi defense after leading the teams in tackles last season.

and have been major points in practice so far.” Potosi has also been turning its focus to game-time situations during practice. They move to the game field late in evenings to run through drills under the big lights. “Everyone has been work-

ing hard. The attendance has been great,” stated Haar about the encouraging preseason. Potosi opens the season at Owensville for the first time since 2011. MAFC White Division play begins in week 3 as Central visits.

POTOSI TROJANS

2016 Record: 5-6 (2-2) HC: Ed Haar (1st season) Key Returning Players: Colin Govero, sr., MLB/RB; Brendan Hovis, sr., CR/WR; Kobe Boyer, sr., OT/DE; Demond Guthrie, soph., RB/CB; Ryan Coleman, sr., OLB/TE TEAM SCHEDULE

8/18 – at Owensville 8/25 – St. Clair 9/1 – Central* 9/8 – at Perryville* 9/15 – at Fredericktown*

9/22 – Ste. Genevieve* 9/29 – at Farmington 10/6 – North County 10/13 – at De Soto * Conference Game

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate PAGE A14 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Tested defense should be strength for Dragons last year, but we made it through and almost all of them are coming back.” However, the Dragons lost some crucial pieces on the defensive side. Levi Gonz graduated after leading all of Class 3 with 146 tackles last season, while linebacker Dalton Giesler added 121 stops. Weik does not seem deterred by the loss of his defensive standouts. “We are happy with the progress the juniors at the position have shown,” he said. “With the surrounding experience on defense, they should be fine.” The Dragons must also replace the production of quarterback Brandon Hinson with 1,583 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. Giesler provided 506 receiving yards plus five scores. Ste. Genevieve finished

ADAM BREWER 573-518-3638

STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve football team hopes to build around a strong returning group of upperclassmen for the 2017 season. All-state receiver Luke Brewster headlines the senior class after recording 816 receiving yards with eight touchdowns on 48 receptions. Other returning starters include Gabe Greminger, Derek Morganthaler and Camden Roe. Greminger plays as a hybrid on each side of the ball, showing versatility at receiver and quarterback while lining up anywhere in the secondary on defense. Drew Toombs will also be a weapon at multiple spots on offense. He will start at tight end, but spread out to the slot or wide-out positions. He paced the Ste. Genevieve defense last year with four sacks. Wade Hahn and Isaac Boyd will play the role of power backs for the Dragons, while Roe will rotate in as a shifty threat out of the backfield. Head coach Kenny Weik has guided Ste. Genevieve to a 17-7 record over the past two years. His team is looking to earn a third straight district final appearance. “We are just focused on week one,” said Weik, who took over in 2015 after Bob Stolzer retired with a 206-94

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Senior Luke Brewster provides a dangerous offensive weapon for Ste. Genevieve after earning all-state accolades last season as a receiver.

mark through 26 years. “The kids are excited and so am I. We will go from there.” Boyd, Hahn, and Toombs will each be returning to make up an experienced defensive

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last year at 7-5 after winning its opener against Dexter 35-6 and falling the next week to cross-town rival Valle Catholic 49-22. Its season ended with a 42-14 loss to Central. The Dragons, who went 50 at home, will travel south for its 2017 debut. “Besides our big game against Valle, the kids have been talking a lot about week one against Dexter,” Weik said. Several eager sophomores have locked down spots on special teams and may get an eventual chance to start. Consistency remains a major point of emphasis for Ste. Genevieve. “We would always get on a roll and then just stop,” Weik said. “We are hoping that was just the young immaturity, and plan to continue working on it.”

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front, and a full year of experience should reap benefits for an improved offensive line. “We have come a long way,” Weik said. “This group was basically all brand new

2016 Record: 7-5 (3-1) HC: Kenny Weik (3rd season) Key Returning Players: Luke Brewster, sr., RB/S; Gabe Greminger, sr., QB/DB; Wade Hahn, sr., RB/DL; Camden Roe, sr., RB/LB; Isaac Boyd, sr., RB/DL; Drew Toombs, sr., TE/DE TEAM SCHEDULE

8/18 – at Dexter 8/25 – Valle Catholic 9/1 – Hillsboro 9/8 – at Fredericktown* 9/15 – Central*

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9/22 – at Potosi* 9/29 – Perryville* 10/6 – at De Soto 10/13 – Brentwood * Conference Game

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what they like to call a “multiple defense.” He added that the defensive line is “a work in progress.” “Kenny Couch and Jose will be two of the linemen,” Ford said. “Michael Cowling and Brayden Lee will be in the mix. We’ve got about six or seven guys that will rotate on the defensive line.” Clark Penuel is an outside linebacker who will also play some defensive end. Other

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FREDERICKTOWN BLACKCATS

2016 Record: 2-8 (1-3) HC: Chuck Ford (1st season) Key Returning Players: Colton Rehkop, jr., QB/LB; Noah Korokis, jr., WR/DB; Isaak Starkey, sr., LB/OL; Kenny Couch, sr., OT/DE; Clark Penuel, jr., TE/DL TEAM SCHEDULE

8/18 – Kennett 8/25 – at Herculaneum 9/1 – at Perryville* 9/8 – Ste. Genevieve* 9/15 – Potosi* the punter. The Cats will face the same nine teams as last season. They open Aug. 18 at home with Kennett, one of four scheduled opponents with a new head coach this season. Next, the Cats play Herculaneum and Perryville – their two victories from 2016 – on the road. The schedule includes traditional conference and district favorites Ste. Genevieve and

9/22 – De Soto 9/29 – at Central* 10/6 – at St. Mary’s (STL) 10/13 – at North County * Conference Game Central, plus Potosi, De Soto, St. Mary’s and North County. “We are going to have our hands full,” Ford said. Coming off a 2016 campaign where they gave up 37.4 points per game, Ford said the Cats are going to be in games more defensively this year. “We may not win a bunch of games, but we are going to be in every game with a chance to win.”

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PAGE A15  Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Alan Kopitsky, Democrat News

Colten Jordan returns for Fredericktown as one of the strongest kickers in the region.

linebackers include Bowling and Starkey. Rehkop will also play linebacker. Rehkop was told by coaches that he would need to play some defense as well as quarterback this season, and will fill a role at linebacker. “He said, ‘Whatever you need, Coach.’ Those are the kinds of guys we’re looking for,” Ford said. “They don’t have a set position. We have a whole team full of those guys, and it just makes our job so much easier.” According to the coach, Korokis, Parrish, Shankle, Ethington, Seth Laut, Flanagan, and Reese Francis are the top defensive backs now. With the lack of depth at the line positions, Ford said the Cats will field 11 “skill position” players on kickoffs, punts, and all kick returns. That strategy gives linemen a rest and makes the special teams a lot quicker. Colten Jordan will be the kicker on extra points, field goals and kickoffs. Rehkop is

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taught them a lot of things,” Ford said. “Now, we have eight guys that will never drop a pass, hardly ever. We’ve caught more balls than all of last year and we’re not even to the first game.” Ford said the team’s top two running backs will be Logan Bowling and Mike Parrish. Receivers include Grant Shankle, Noah Korokis, Clark Penuel, Cade Ethington, and Ethan Flanagan. Ford said they can catch and run. “We have a slew of those guys that can do that,” he said. “We haven’t had that kind of depth in a long time.” There is less depth and experience at the offensive and defensive line positions. The offensive linemen include Brayden Lee, Kenny Couch, Isaak Starkey, Seth McDowell, Parker Brown, Jose Fraire and Michael Cowling. “We’ve got some possibilities, but they are going to be really young.” Ford said. Ford said the team runs

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate

Blackcats Continued From Page 12

Daily Journal Weekly Real Estate PAGE A16 

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

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