PigSkinPreview-2019

Pigskin Preview

2019

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PAGE A2

Knights poised to thrive if defense responds MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

FARMINGTON – Staying healthy has been one of the most perplexing hurdles the Farmington football team has encountered over the last two seasons.

The Knights managed to achieve a 7-4 record during its most recent campaign, persevering through a quarterback change and the loss of a future Division II signee.

With better luck going forward, a rejuvenated roster could reap the rewards for the bumps and bruises sustained by players who were pressed into the varsity spotlight earlier than expected.

“I was really proud of the way they responded, because they didn’t panic.

The kids just went back to work and understood the ‘next man up’ philosophy,” said Head Coach Erik Kruppe, who begins his seventh year leading the program.

“A lot of them didn’t have much experience and needed to step up and do important things for us,” he added.

“They filled in admirably. The great thing is that now they come back with that experience.”

Farmington is returning a large majority of defensive starters, a top all-purpose performer in the region and increased depth in the offensive backfield.

The Knights limited Poplar Bluff and Sikeston to one score apiece in conference games, but yielded an average of 47 points during regular-season losses to Hillsboro, Jackson and Lutheran North.

While bright spots exist in all three levels of the defense, the point of attack will be emphasized with three members of a skilled front four ready to shine.

Rothman Harris specializes as a top pass rusher with fellow senior Alex Smith bringing pressure as the other defensive end. Interior presence Judd Cunningham had a promising sophomore season within a crew that often faces a weight disadvantage.

“We may be undersized, but if we have kids who can move and are quick, then we’ll utilize that to our advantage,” Kruppe said. “We’ll try to create issues for opponents that way,

Rothman Harris (left), Eli Lamb (15), and Alex Smith (52)

then have our linebackers and secondary play off of that.”

Outside linebacker Carson Sutton represents a three-year starter, and will work alongside Tyler Barber and Braden Botkin within the second level of the front seven.

Cornerbacks Eli Lamb and Sam Nickelson join returning safety Wyatt Westbrook in a veteran secondary that can deliver a pop over the middle or limit space near the sidelines.

Last season marked the Knights’ best showing in SEMO North conference play (3-1) since 2011. Closing the gap as runner-up to Class 5 power Jackson remains a daunting task.

See KNIGHTS page 15

Farmington KNIGHTS Head Coach: Erik Kruppe – 7th year 2018 Record: 7-4 (3-1 SEMO North) Key Returners – Royce Harris, sr., RB/SE; Eli Lamb, sr., WR/S;

Rothman Harris, sr., DE; Alex Smith, sr., OT/DE; Carson Sutton, sr., OLB; Kaden Files, jr., QB/FS; Tyler Barber, sr., OG/LB; Judd Cunningham, jr., OL/DL

8/30 9/6 9/13 9/20 9/27

10/4 10/11 10/18 10/25

2019 Schedule

at Union North County Hillsboro at Cape Central Poplar Bluff

Jackson at Sikeston at Lutheran North Central

MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

The Raiders will admittedly operate with a simplified playbook while hoping to expand it as the season transpires. Only four starters who played all four downs are returning to the of-

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Among them are three members of a nascent 2018 line forced to learn under the bright lights – tackles Briley Dickerson and Ben Dunlap along with

See RAIDERS page 17

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PAGE A3

Karter Kekec



BONNE TERRE – The North County football offense tallied at least 20 points against every opponent last season, and eclipsed 50 three separate times.

While the steady production may have exceeded initial expectations – based mainly on the uncertainty of incorporating several new starters – an overall 5-5 record proved less lustrous.

The Raiders closed the regular season with a mistake-plagued setback at John Burroughs, then endured a disappointing 32-30 loss to Sikeston in the first round of district play.

“Last year, we knew our schedule was tough, and our depth would initially be a concern,” said third-year Head Coach Brian Jones. “We also felt like we were really inconsistent and kind of fizzled at the end.”

North County would be well-served to overachieve in any possible manner this fall. A glaring reduction in varsity experience has created a significant unknown factor.

Jones anticipated the current decline in numbers since taking control of the program. But the situation appears to be temporary, thanks to a resurgence of interest at the middle school level.

“Our varsity group right now is around 46 or 47, and we have a solid group of ninth graders,” Jones said.

“Some people were critical of our numbers in 2017 and especially last year.

“There was some talk and legitimate concern. But now that the numbers are up again, it’s refreshing to have some competition at positions and guys who understand what the scout team is all about and want to help our team get better overall.”

center Grant Eaton.

Their cohesion and ability to execute blocks is crucial in helping a mostly new collection of playmakers settle into their respective roles.

Three-year starting quarterback Kolten Poorman is now playing collegiate baseball, and three receivers also graduated with reliable all-state guard Pacen DeClue.

“We were able to go to the contact camp this summer, but not as a full squad,” Jones said. “Some guys had other commitments, and others had not fulfilled their heat acclimation requirements. We still have some unanswered questions, especially with our youthfulness.”

Junior three-sport standout Karter Kekec has been a reliable target from the slot, but now emerges as the Raiders’ primary receiving threat and coverage man on defense.

Tyler Murphy is the other North County wide out with varsity time on his resume, and likewise inherits added initiative to break open for a new quarterback.

Nolan Reed will take the reins behind center when the Raiders face Cape Central in week 1. While his arm strength remains a work in progress, Reed brings increased height and agility to the position.

The ability to dispense the football quickly and accurately will be integral in limiting the number of hits Reed could potentially sustain out of the spread formation.

Layton Mallow may become a workhorse running back with help from fellow returner Blake Head. Devin Seastrand and Gabriel Breeden bear added responsibilities with emphasis on blocking.

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Raiders stress basics within retooled lineup

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 

PAGE A4

Potosi adds deceptive element to rushing attack MATT KING

run, but you’ll see more motion, misdirection and counters with play-action off of that. We feel like our passing game needs improvement, and can benefit from the change.”

The transfers of Demond Guthrie to Farmington and graduation of Ethan Brown leave Potosi without its top two rushing leaders from last fall.

The revamped attack will comprise a committee of two-way starters.

Some players have been shifted to the backfield out of necessity in order to present several capable options.

Senior Tristan Murdick and junior Brayden Isgriggs pose a powerful threat between the tackles, and Kyle Miller offers sprinter speed around the edges after previously netting 5.7 yards per attempt.

Junior Wade Mercille assumes a larger role after leading the junior varsity, and defensive standout Isaac Gaghen will also become more involved on the other side of scrimmage.

Andrew Coleman is fully healthy entering his third year as starting quarterback. His production is poised to increase after a conservative approach resulted in just 17 completed passes for the season.

“Our quarterback was playing in-

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

POTOSI – Few varsity football teams in the area could test the overall stamina and resolve of opposing defenses like Potosi last year.

The Trojans utilized a somewhat basic philosophy that often proved effective, running hard and grinding out yardage behind their massive offensive line.

A single possession routinely spanned double-digit snaps and consumed more than six or seven minutes for a squad that ultimately bumped its victory count from three to five.

Despite the patient and deliberate approach exhibited by Potosi, one negative play or costly penalty still derailed a number of promising drives before reaching the end zone.

The Trojans are hoping that a new scheme in 2019 will deliver more explosive results, mainly due to its less predictable nature.

“We struggled to score points, so going into the offseason, we wanted to make some changes that we thought would fit our kids a little better,” said third-year Head Coach Ed Haar, whose club was limited to single digits on six occasions.

“We also want to keep the opposing defense from blitzing as much as last year. We’re still focusing on the

See TROJANS page 12

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mking@dailyjournalonline.com

Valle Catholic WARRIORS Head Coach: Judd Naeger – 16th year 2018 Record: 9-3 (6-0, I-55 Conference) Key Returners – Kyle Roth, sr.,

C/DT; Chase Dunlap, sr., QB; Collin Grass, sr., MLB/RB; Owen Viox, sr., WR/CB; Zach Wolk, sr., OL/DT; Cory Stoll, jr., RB/DB 2019 Schedule:

2019 Schedule 8/30 9/6 9/13 9/20 9/27

at St. Vincent at Ste. Genevieve Caruthersville Crystal City at Grandview

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PAGE A5

Chase Dunlap



STE. GENEVIEVE – Last season contained a slightly higher degree of adversity than the Valle Catholic football team has become accustomed in recent history.

Consecutive losses to Ste. Genevieve and Caruthersville tested a somewhat green crew of starting linemen early, and exposed the need to develop a more diverse rushing attack.

But the Warriors responded in typical fashion with eight straight victories, and overcame an injury to starting quarterback Chase Dunlap on the way to another I-55 conference title.

“I thought our seniors did a good job last year of never getting too high or too low,” 16th-year Head Coach Judd Naeger said. “We knew that we were in those week 2 and week 3 games, but some things didn’t go our way. We continued to improve after getting through them.”

Although a string of 10 district crowns in a row ended, a valid claim could be made that Valle Catholic finished the year as the second-best squad in MSHSAA Class 1.

Hayti rolled to the state championship without further threat after eliminating the Warriors 28-7, but averaged more than 60 points per outing against other opponents.

Valle Catholic is preparing for a fresh pursuit toward the state playoffs after going 9-3 overall, and will require several new starters to shoulder a much greater workload.

“Our best years have been when we were able to develop depth late in a season from guys who weren’t necessarily being counted on at the beginning, but found ways to improve every

day,” Naeger said. “We may be asking some freshmen who are on the cusp of become varsity players to step in.”

Dunlap returns to direct an offense that heavily relied on his arm and legs last fall as no other member of the backfield produced more than 400 yards on the ground.

Despite absorbing an inordinate amount of contact and playing just 10 games due to injury, Dunlap still threw for 2,622 yards and 31 touchdowns while running for 551 yards and seven more scores.

The talent pool around him will change significantly. The Warriors saw their five top receivers move on, including 6-foot-3 all-state targets Tyler Blum and Ryan Grein.

“We were able to do some things in our formations to get those guys the ball,” Naeger said. “This year, we expect to be more balanced.”

Owen Viox and Jayden Gegg give Valle an overall increase in receiving speed, while Aidan Heberlie and Austin Burnett help to spell the height that was lost.

All-state guard/center Kyle Roth is fully healed from an ankle injury sustained during Legion baseball, and anchors a group of two-way linemen where improvement is evident.

Peyton Tucker, Zach Wolk and Cody Basler bolster the protection, and are joined by newcomer Joe Williams. Roth matched a team high with five sacks last fall.

“We have four starting offensive linemen back, and our fifth is a transfer,” Naeger said. “As opposed to averaging 175 pounds up front, we are now closer to about 205. That should make a difference.

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Warriors face key changes at skill positions

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 

PAGE A6

WARRIORS Continued from page 5 “We are stronger with another year of maturity, but also smarter. Just a week into practice, I felt that we probably surpassed where we were last year in understanding and executing the run game.”

Valle has addressed the need for backfield balance in part by utilizing Collin Grass, who saw time at running back two years ago as a sophomore.

Tucker may also move back if the line can prosper without him. Cory Stoll has picked up multiple starts, and a couple of freshmen could vie for occasional carries.

“The games we have lost over the last 10-12 years have resulted from an inability to run the football,” Naeger said. “So hopefully, we are able to remedy that a little bit.”

Three of the four most prolific tacklers are back from a defense that allowed just under 16 points per game

and shut out Jefferson, Herculaneum and Crystal City in league action.

Grass remains alongside Tucker after registering a stellar 27 of his 73 stops for negative yardage, while Burnett and Gegg occupy the outside linebacker spots.

Heberlie and Stoll take over at the corners, and Viox provides a threeyear starter at free safety. Drew Bauman serves as a versatile back-up either in the secondary or at receiver.

For the Warriors to approach or perhaps exceed their previous scoring average of 39.6 points, they must clean up the miscues that created a minus-8 turnover margin.

“Having Chase back with a year of experience will certainly help. Hopefully, we can cut the interception total in half,” Naeger said. “Our defense was

Good Luck North County Raiders!

See WARRIORS page 18

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PAGE A7

PARK HILLS – Even as a streak of six consecutive district titles ended on a frigid night in Kennett last November, the Central football program still had reasons to feel optimistic.

A season that began with several unknown variables and encountered its share of obstacles finished with a solid flourish – albeit marred by five turnovers during the closing act.

Despite getting all-state efforts from seniors Will Hopkins and Tanner Friend, the eventual 6-6 record represented a noticeable slip from recent campaigns with double-digit victories.

“I feel like we probably should have won three more games than we did.

We lost games to Potosi and Farmington where we never punted,” said Head Coach Kory Schweiss, whose 16th season at the helm begins Friday at home against St. Clair.

“Turnovers were easily our biggest issue last year. We have to correct that and sustain more drives. It will also help our defense to where they don’t have to be on the field as much.”

One positive that Schweiss and his staff had tucked away was the reassurance of an imminent youth movement and the resulting reinforcements



it would entail.

The budding newcomers will be amalgamated with established seniors in virtually every facet of the team and situation on the field.

Patience may be required for the Rebels to find their initial bearings, but better focus and execution could make their absence from the state playoffs a brief one.

“We’re pretty high on our freshman and sophomore classes. The upside for them is high, so we’ll want to get them some reps,” Schweiss said.

“You’re going to see us get a lot of young guys into the mix. That’s one of the reasons why I think we’ll be a lot better at the end of the year than at the beginning.”

The Central offense is designed to wear down the opposition and control time of possession, but depth and variety in the backfield could spawn an explosive quality as well.

Senior leader Gage Manion emerged with Offensive MVP honors in the MAFC White Division, and will create a versatile threat when shifting wide as a receiver.

Trevor Johnson brings a more punishing approach to compliment

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Rebels bolstered by strong youth movement

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 

PAGE A8

Blackcats hope athleticism leads to success

ALAN KOPITSKY

Ford said those three along with Dunnahoo, Reese, Hennen, and Couch give the Cats a strong receiver crew and three good tight ends.

“They can block really well which is an advantage,” Ford said.

“Now we feel we can run the ball a little bit better, but also with those guys, we can spread the game horizontally so people can’t just pack the box and stop our run game.”

The run game will be led by junior tailback Malachi Kyle and senior fullback Tristan Casby. The backup fullback will be Joseph Price.

Kyle and Casby were two of the team’s top runners last season.

Kyle was a first team all-district running back and first team allconference kick returner in 2018.

The offense will operate behind an experienced line. Junior Mason Adams is at center, the guards are senior Trevin West and junior Emmanuel Hunt, and the tackles are juniors Brayden Lee and Seth McDowell.

“We’re big, but we’re pretty athletic up front,” Ford said.

Ford, who spent several years as a defensive coach, said he would like to run the ball as much as possible, because it is safer. He also likes the way the offensive line has looked this preseason.

“Their whole attitude in how they’ve run blocked, right now, against Salem and East Prairie at full contact camp, (they were able to) blow them off the ball,” Ford said. “I think our run game is better.

akopitsky@democratnewsonline.com

FREDERICKTOWN – The Fredericktown High School football team lost 14 seniors from its 2018 squad.

“We lost some skill kids that make it tough to replace, but this senior class is loaded with skill kids,” Head Coach Chuck Ford said. “It is basically what this offense is built around that we’re using this year.

Ford said the Blackcats will operate out of a “pro-style” offense this year to utilize the speed the team has in the senior class.

The team has 41 players on the roster, including eight seniors and nine juniors.

“Our junior class are the lineman and our senior class are the skill kids,” Ford said. “They are a fantastic bunch of athletes.”

Junior Evan Burrows returns to play quarterback after playing some there last year.

“Evan has really stepped up this year,” Ford said. “I can see the big difference in him from just the drill work that we’ve done and knowing who to read and who to throw to.”

Among the wide receivers and tight ends Burrows will be throwing to are seniors Seth Laut, Skylar Holland, Ethan Flanagan, Reese Francis, and Jeffrey Couch, junior Hunter Hennen and sophomore Cohlbe Dunnahoo.

“Seth has the best hands on the team,” Ford said. “There’s no doubt. He’s so physical and has such strong hands he’ll catch the ball even with someone draped over him. Flanagan and Skylar are very fast.”

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PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

BLACKCATS Continued from page 8

Fredericktown BLACKCATS Head Coach: Chuck Ford – 3rd year 2018 Record: 2-8 (0-4 MAFC White) Key Returners – Ethan Flana-

gan, sr., WR/DB; Tristan Casby, sr., RB/LB; Trevin West, sr., OL/ DL; Malachi Kyle, jr., RB/DB; Seth Laut, sr., TE/DE; Reese Francis, sr., WR/DB

2019 Schedule 8/30 9/6 9/13 9/20 9/27

Kennett at Herculaneum at Central at Perryville Potosi

10/4 10/11 10/18 10/25

at De Soto Ste. Genevieve at Doniphan East Prairie

outside linebacker, called the “panther” position for the FHS defense, will be manned by Kyle, backed up by Couch and freshman Caleb Walker.

Starting cornerbacks are Flanagan and Holland. The strong safety is Hennen, and the free safety is Francis.

Laut will be kicking off and placekicking. Hennon is the punter and Kyle will be returning kicks along with Flanagan and Holland.

Ford will be calling the offense and defense this season. The assistant coaches include two FHS veterans and three newcomers. Jon Clauser and Brenden Jones return. New to the FHS staff are Chad Dunnahoo, Kody Tipton, and Nathan Geile. Clauser and Dunnahoo both played football at FHS. Jones played at Central, Tipton played at Lebanon, and Geile played at Valle.

Ford said he likes having coaches from different schools and with different backgrounds. He said they have been able to incorporate the things they’ve learned at other programs and teach those things to the Fredericktown players.

Fredericktown will be playing the same schedule as 2018. The Cats open the season at home, hosting Kennett, Aug. 30. They play the next three weeks on the road, at Hercu-

PAGE A9

and the tackles are getting upfield and pushing the pocket and the middle of the offensive line backwards.

“These guys are physical and strong enough to do that,” he said.

“The next key has always been the middle linebackers. If they read the offensive lineman, they’re going to get to the ball a lot quicker. Once we get those two things working together, the line and the middle linebackers, we’re going to be tough to beat.”

The starting two linebackers are Price and Casby. Backing them up are Hunt and freshman TJ Bowling. The



“To make it even better is utilizing those speed guys we’ve got and those good hands people. If we can spread the field and make a defense play horizontally as well as vertically, that will be an improvement in our offense.”

On the defensive side, Ford said he felt the team’s biggest problem in 2018 was along the line.

This year, the defensive ends will be Laut and sophomore Jon Barlow with Adams backing them up. The tackles are West, Lee, and McDowell.

Ford said the defense works best when the defensive ends make plays

Ethan Flanagan

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TROJANS Continued from page 4 jured last year, so we lowered our passing attempts in part to keep him healthy,” Haar recalled. “Maybe we relied a little too much on our run game. When it wasn’t working, we got into throwing a little more, something we weren’t very comfortable with.”

The new offense enables Coleman to throw more easily on the move. The Trojans will seek to develop a downfield receiver while running crisp routes when defenses swarm the line of scrimmage.

Protection will depend on an offensive line that brings back four starters, averages somewhere between 275-280 pounds and remains an influential force.

Jed Weir and Keke Ortiz man the tackle spots, while Amondre Hill and Blake Buckley once again line up as guards around promoted center Lonnie Clapp.

“Our O-line was definitely one of our strengths last year, and we’re looking for that to be true again,” Haar said. “They are actually bigger, stronger and faster.”

Senior interior lineman Hunter Moon anchors the front four on a

See TROJANS page 19

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2019 Schedule:

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PAGE A13

STE. GENEVIEVE – Winning seven games in the regular season, sharing a conference title and topping a cross-town rival would constitute a quality season for most football programs.

But for Ste. Genevieve Head Coach Ken Weik, a crushing, tripleovertime home loss to Dexter in the first round of district play removed part of the shine from last fall.

“I’d say we kind of stayed where we were as a program. Not winning a district game was maybe a step back, but I think injuries led to that at the end of the year,” he said. “We were decimated in a couple of places, but I still think we are headed in the right direction.”

The Dragons were carried by a bevy of multi-sport seniors who brought production and experience to each facet of an eighth consecutive winning season.

All-state linemen Clayton Vaughn and Isaac Boyd have since moved on, along with quarterback Chad Donze, key receiver Brady Boyer and leading tackler Ty Brown.

Ste. Genevieve held five opponents to seven points or less in 2018,

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and strives to fill its resulting lineup vacancies effectively without seeing much of a drop off.

That success for the Dragons will depend heavily on work in the trenches, whether blocking for their own rushing attack or trying to contain the opposing one.

“Losing Isaac and Clayton with the way they went about their business and took care of the middle leaves a hole for us,” Weik said. “We have some kids who can fill it. The difference is they won’t be the size of those two. We don’t have any 6-foot-6, 280-pound kids in the program this year.”

The current strength of the defense may be found at the inside linebacker spots as Koby Hatfield and Austin Bullock return as starters from last year’s stingy unit.

Ste. Genevieve has 20 seniors in the mix for playing time, and that depth shows along the line where Coy Flieg, Clayton Kreitler, Evan Walker and Kaleb Roth can rotate at the end spots.

Luke Goodwin, Dakota Arnold and Luke Terry also enter their respective senior years, and draw the assignment of stuffing the middle as interior linemen.

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Dragons move on from postseason setback

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 

PAGE A14

REBELS Continued from page 7 Central REBELS Head Coach: Kory Schweiss – 16th year 2018 Record: 6-6 (3-1 MAFC White) Key Returners – Gage Manion, sr., RB/LB; Dylan Corcoran, sr., QB/FS; Darantae Martin, sr., TE/DL; Jake Murray, jr., OL/DL; Braydon Scherffius, sr., WR/DB; Hunter Francis, sr., OL/DL

2019 Schedule: 8/30 9/6 9/13 9/20 9/27 10/4 10/11 10/18 10/25

St. Clair MICDS Fredericktown Confluence Prep at Ste. Genevieve at Potosi Perryville Dexter at Farmington

Shawn Welch, who delivered long touchdown runs against both Dexter and Kennett in district action as a freshman.

With four repeat starters stationed along the offensive line – including all-MAFC selection Jake Murray at left tackle – Central may have no need to complicate its plan of attack.

“We may have some running plays where we don’t gain anything, but I just feel like every time we hand the ball off, it can become a touchdown,” Schweiss said. “Our running backs have the ability not only to break tackles, but also run away from people.”

Guards Hunter Francis and Nate Gremminger also return along with right tackle Clayton Stanfill. Junior Colton Ketcherside has earned the starting nod at center.

Senior Dylan Corcoran faced stern competition from sophomore Jett Bridges, but remained on course to retain the starting quarterback spot through one week of official practice.

Corcoran brings familiarity with operating the mid-line veer package where the Central offense is most comfortable at this point. He could

also benefit from the clean slate of a fresh season.

“Dylan had a lot of problems with the upperclassmen, and it was hard on him last year,” Schweiss said. “It wasn’t an easy group to play quarterback with.

“So hopefully, playing with his age group and younger kids who look up to him, he’ll do a better job.

Jett may get some reps or a series, even in close games, because he’s the kind of player who can make some things happen.”

The Rebels face the task of developing receivers with only Braydon Scherffius having been in a regular role last season. This is where an influx of youth may be most visible.

Grant Manion, Korbyn Pratt, Isaiah Welch, Slade Schweiss, Ruger Sutton and Brett Richardson could all be integrated into the passing game. Blake Bolin, Xander Burke, Dylan Holifield and standout defensive lineman Darantae Martin may form a rotation of blocking tight ends.

More serious questions linger for Central on the defensive side, where graduation has plucked up

See REBELS page 18

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KNIGHTS Continued from page 2

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PAGE A15

But the greater objective is a deeper postseason run. Farmington avenged its road loss to Hillsboro in the first round of Class 4, District 1 action last fall, but fell short next against Festus.

“I hope that we can stay healthy.

Now with the schedule we play, every year I call it a meat grinder,” Kruppe said. “When you play a physical team like Hillsboro or enter a rivalry game that you know will be knock-down, drag-out, that takes a toll on the body.”

Rematches abound throughout the state in the back half of a two-year scheduling cycle. Farmington will host North County and Central in local attractions this time around.

First on the docket is a trip to Union, which eventually claimed the Four Rivers Conference crown after dropping a 23-12 decision to the Knights.

Kruppe entered last season with two capable varsity quarterbacks, and Kaden Files stepped forward to lock down the job after a collarbone injury sidelined Sutton for several weeks.

There is a third candidate to start under center this fall with the emergence of sophomore Drew Felker.

The week 1 plan could include a definite starter, but one has yet to be announced.

“The ultimate goal for our quarterback is being able to read the option and distribute the football to the right places while being tough enough to take shots from the defense,” Kruppe said. “We’re not throwing 20 times a game. But when we do throw, we want those plays to be explosive. Carson and Kaden did not throw a single interception last year.”

Returning targets Lamb and Nickelson offer the most likely threats to break past the secondary from opposite sides of the formation.

The Knights boast a plethora of talented running backs, and the most dangerous is undoubtedly senior and SEMO North First Team standout Royce Harris.

Harris rushed for better than 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns with opponents stacking the box, and averaged a stellar 38.8 yards per kickoff return while also returning a punt to the end zone.

“Royce Harris is the most explo-

Royce Harris

sive athlete in this area. No one could ever convince me otherwise,” Kruppe said. “But we do have other pieces who allow him to become even more effective where you won’t be able to just key on him.”

Westbrook adds to the rushing attack along with senior transfer Demond Guthrie, who surged into the starting lineup at Potosi before his freshman season concluded.

Carter Barnes, Roshawn Gavin, Brady Cook and Botkin offer a straight-

ahead alternative. The backfield depth has enabled Barber to secure his new role as an offensive guard.

Attrition may become an issue along a line where Cunningham returns at center. Rothman Harris and Logan Tabor are new starting tackles with guards Logan Maxson and Smith protecting adjacent gaps.

“Coach [Josh] Hoehn and our offensive staff did a really great job of studying what other flexbone teams do, and we’ve changed some things

up front,” Kruppe said. “We can already see, just in summer contact camp, how positive those changes have been for us. We’re more aggressive in terms of how we come off the football, and also with pad level and how we block both the front and back sides of a play.”

Junior Kael Krause enters his third year as the varsity kicker, and gives Farmington an extra avenue to salvage points on drives from anywhere inside of 50 yards.

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 

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DRAGONS Continued from page 13

Ste. Genevieve DRAGONS

Bryce Trollinger brings closing speed as the leader of the secondary, and Weik regards corner Seth Siebert as a “pleasant surprise” heading into the season.

Kyle Kiefer, Charles Finley and Jacob Boyer are also expected to contribute within the third level, and have a shot to grab the last starting role.

“We have to tackle better than we have been,” Weik said. “We’ll be fast to the ball. We expect the kids to play good defense. If you can keep yourself in games, then you have a chance to win.”

The Dragons hope for greater output after averaging exactly 24 points per game, a figure skewed by winning margins of 54-17 over Fredericktown and 49-20 against Brentwood.

The offensive scheme last year included a package featuring Logan Gegg as a nimble alternative to the deep threat of Donze. Gegg now becomes the full-time signal caller behind center.

Quick receivers Bryce Trollinger, Brett Bieser and Jesse Kemper bolster a short passing game that relies on sharp timing while forcing the coverage to span the width of the field from a spread look.

“Logan worked his way into getting those

See DRAGONS page 18

Head Coach: Ken Weik – 5th year 2018 Record: 7-3 (3-1, MAFC White) Key Returners – Logan Gegg, sr., QB/FS; Logan Trollinger, jr., RB/DB; Coy Flieg, sr., OT/DE; Koby Hatfield, sr., RB/LB; Austin Bullock, sr., RB/LB

2019 Schedule: 8/30 9/6 9/13 9/20 9/27 10/4 10/11 10/18 10/25 Koby Hatfield (21) and Logan Trollinger (8)

at Dexter Valle Catholic Kennett at Potosi Central Perryville at Fredericktown at De Soto Brentwood

North County RAIDERS

2019 Schedule: 8/30 9/6 9/13 9/20 9/27 10/4 10/11 10/18 10/25

Layton Mallow

North County may duplicate its routine of going for two points after every score, but is still exploring a kicking

prospect with the goal of pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line.

A wider array of capable back-up

Cape Central at Farmington Festus at De Soto at Kennett Hillsboro at Windsor at Potosi John Burroughs

performers should benefit the Raiders in the short term while laying the foundation for a much brighter future than some may have forecast.

With a positive attitude seemingly established, the keys to a successful campaign according to Jones include trying to finish strong and improving each week through consistency.

“A lot of guys are excited to be out there and not just going through the motions,” he said. “They ask a lot of questions. We’re obviously not perfect on every play, but when there is a mistake, the guys usually understand what they did before a coach can get there to talk to them about it.”

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PAGE A17

Head Coach: Brian Jones – 3rd year 2018 Record: 5-5 (3-1 MAFC Red) Key Returners – Layton Mallow, sr., RB/LB; Karter Kekec, jr., WR/ DB; Blake Head, jr., RB/OLB; Briley Dickerson, sr., OL/DL; Ben Dunlap, sr., OL/DL; Devin Seastrand, jr., TE/LB; Tyler Murphy, sr., WR/DB

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“I think Kolten had somewhere around 125-130 carries last year,” Jones said. “I really don’t want to make a 15-year-old sophomore carry the ball 13 times per game.”

Mallow, Head and Seastrand provide a solid stable of linebackers for the Raiders, while sophomore Eric Ruess and junior Kaelen Lee-Bell supply a measure of depth behind them.

Josh Wolo saw his playing time gradually increase, and will again specialize along the defensive line with fellow senior Jaydan Coale jumping into a two-way role.

Sophomore Clayton Chandler joins Kekec and Murphy in a secondary that can generate interceptions if the front seven or eight can deliver enough pressure.

“Last year, we were not very good at times,” Jones recalled. “We just showed some fundamental weaknesses, and I think those will improve overall with some changes that we’ve made – not huge changes to our scheme or what we’ve done in the past, but instead how we approach and teach it.”

Even though all opponents on the North County schedule remain the same as last season, the dynamics of each rivalry are altered as most rosters faced significantly less overhaul.

Opening foe Cape Central hired veteran coach Kent Gibbs away from Sikeston for a rebuilding project, and rival Farmington expects to have possibly nine returning starters on defense for week 2.

Any difficulty from preparing for each contest should be alleviated by the knowledge and game film that were obtained while previously squaring off.

“The good thing is our opponents didn’t have any head coaching or coordinator changes, so I think that what we have on film will be similar to what they do again this year,” Jones said.

Most position battles have been settled in practice, and an elevated level of intensity on special teams has been encouraging to see.

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

RAIDERS Continued from page 3

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 

PAGE A18

REBELS Continued from page 14 to seven starters and some growing pains are anticipated.

Two-way linemen will likely shoulder the burden at the outset. Gage Manion is moving forward from safety to inside linebacker alongside Johnson.

Ethan Lee is a leading candidate to start at outside linebacker while Corcoran and Scherffius will likely anchor a secondary that seeks smoother coverage along the sidelines.

Justin Bridges and his powerful kicking leg are back and healthy to highlight the special teams. Schweiss hinted that his range could exceed 50 yards in ideal conditions.

A home showdown with reigning Class 4 state runner-up MICDS awaits in week 2.

Back-to-back MAFC White Division rivals Ste. Genevieve and Potosi usher in the month of

DRAGONS Continued from page 16

October.

Potosi stunned the Rebels 7-6 in the most recent outing to snap their modest three-game win streak. That result delivered a reality check after multiple scoring chances were botched in enemy territory.

“There was a time when we used to control the ball to stay in games and give ourselves a chance at the end to beat teams who we thought were better than us,” Schweiss said. “That’s how we started building this program.

“I feel like Potosi gave us a taste of our own medicine last year, and I give them a lot of credit for that. We hoped to see them again in a district game, but that matchup didn’t happen. We’ll have our chance this year, so we’re looking forward to that one.”

WARRIORS Continued from page 6 solid all of last year, but we weren’t able to force enough turnovers, so that needs to improve for us to be on the right side of that margin.”

Kolten Naeger is ready to kick extra points for a third straight year. An increase in range and leg strength could merit more field-goal attempts, and should pad his touchback total.

There are no new opponents in the second year of the current scheduling cycle. Follow-

ing the opener at St. Vincent, the Warriors will seek to avenge a grueling 7-6 setback to the rival Dragons.

“St. Vincent, Ste. Genevieve and Caruthersville – our first three opponents – can force us to defend the whole field out of the spread,” Naeger said. “We have to do the right things at the right times.”

The Valle Catholic program has won 14 state football championships, the last coming in 2015.

chances, and played the whole district game last year when Chad got hurt,” Weik said. “Logan has improved his arm, and he’s still a good runner and rollout passer.”

Returning standout Logan Trollinger becomes even more of a wild card in the slightly retooled system. He may share reps between the backfield and slot to utilize his speed.

Ste. Genevieve could benefit greatly from a boost on the ground, especially between the tackles, and will turn to a committee of candidates for carries.

Hatfield and Bullock bring the most experience at running back, and sophomore Zach Boyer figures to strengthen the cause of replacing the leading rusher from last year.

A veteran line will attempt to clear the running lanes with Flieg at center and Walker at guard. Kreitler and Goodwin are fellow two-way starters while Hunter Lorrance looks to complete that crew.

Gegg will factor heavily into special teams with the punting and kickoff responsibilities. He may also handle extra points should two younger challengers not settle in.

Although the highest aspirations for Ste. Genevieve lurk in late October, there should be no shortage of emotion and motivation from the outset of the season.

An immediate chance for revenge against Dexter occurs in the opener, and the annual clash with Valle remains locked into week 2. A home battle with Central may again decide the MAFC White title.

“You look forward to those fun rivalry games in high school football. We have a great one every year in week 2, and you can’t ask for more than that,” Weik said.

“Last year was the first time we’ve been competitive with Valle over the last few times we played them, much less getting a victory. They will be looking to come here and get back at us, but at least our kids now know that they can compete.”

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a 7-6 road upset at reigning conference and district champion Central.

“It was a huge win for us,” Haar said. “We took three straight losses in games where we thought the defense played really great, but the offense struggled to take advantage. The confidence in our kids grew after that night, and it brought them closer together.”

Opportunities to avenge setbacks also await on the schedule as the Trojans travel to Perryville in week 3 and host North County and De Soto to finish the regular season.

The ability to avoid lingering injuries and expedite the learning curve with its adjusted offensive tempo could propel Potosi to its first winning campaign since 2014.

“As a coaching staff, this is probably the most fun we’ve had working with the kids during the summer,” Haar said. “It was a great atmosphere, and we never had a problem with work ethic or having everyone on the same page.

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defense that shows promise after factoring heavily in the Trojans’ improvement from three victories to five.

A crucial key to success will require the first two levels to generate more stops after allowing too many running plays to reach the secondary last year.

Zach Haynes graduated as the leading receiver and tackler from his safety position for Potosi, adding another allstate accolade while staying among the elite punters in any classification.

Gaghen will replace him at safety while other lineup tweaks include sending Isgriggs and Josh Allen forward to respective defensive end spots.

“Most of our front seven are returning, so they all have that varsity experience,” Haar said. “We’re excited again to see that they can do.”

Murdick ranked second in total tackles as a junior, and will be stationed at middle linebacker as the weak side is patrolled by Devan Marler.

Efforts to fill the special teams void left by Haynes are ongoing. No firm decision has been made on a full-time punter, and multiple players are competing to handle place kicking duties.

Potosi showed signs of turning a corner at a pivotal juncture in week 6, using stout red-zone defense to spring

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Barry Odom never seems stressed about the future, whether the Missouri coach is pondering tough sanctions handed down by the NCAA over a recruiting scandal or the fact that one of the most prolific passers in school history is now in the NFL. When it comes to the punishments, Odom knew that outside of an appeal there was little he could do.

When it came to the quarterback situation, he knew Kelly Bryant was in the fold.

The graduate transfer from Clemson is expected to seamlessly take over for Drew Lock under center this season. Bryant backed up Deshaun Watson for two seasons with the Tigers, then led them to the 2017 national championship game before losing his job to Trevor Lawrence after four games last season.

His saving grace was a change to NCAA guidelines that allowed Bryant, who started four games as a senior, to retain a full year of eligibility. And he decided that year would be spent in

Columbia.

“The ceiling is high for this group,” Bryant insisted. “We just have to take it one day at a time. Don’t try to look forward to the season and focus on the right now and what’s going on right now.”

Still, the responsibility Bryant inherited is a massive one.

Lock started 46 games over the course of four seasons, throwing for 12,193 yards and 99 touchdowns while leading the Tigers to bowl games each of the past two years. The only quarterback to throw for more yards and touchdowns at Missouri is Chase Daniel, who has gone on to a long NFL career.

Odom is confident Bryant has the same ability. The only question was whether Missouri could land his commitment when Auburn, Arkansas, Miami and other schools entered the mix.

“When Kelly stepped on campus for his official visit, I saw interaction between him and our team in the locker room. It was a natural fit,” Odom said. “He’s a very selfless person, low, low ego. And one of the best competitors that I have ever been around.”

TROJANS Continued from page 12

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Ex-Clemson star Bryant takes over as Mizzou QB

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 яБо

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& Wish all the teams and players a successful season!