Leader Special: East Buchanan State Champs

East Buchanan dominates Adrian in title game For second-straight year, Bulldogs are the Kings of Missouri

olic,” said East Buchanan head coach Dan Ritter.

Deadlocked in a scoreless tie with three minutes left in the first quarter of the Missouri Class 1 State Championship, the East Buchanan offensive line drew a line in the sand.

After opening the contest with back-to-back drives that ended in an interception and a punt, Nick Klein, Barrett Veatch, Tucker Musser, Corbin Allen, and Ethan Bailey asserted their dominance and opened a huge running lane for Trevor Klein.

The junior running back burst through the gap and raced to the end-zone for a 42-yard touchdown run.

“With returning three starters from last year and Ethan Bailey stepping up to play both sides of the ball, we knew that we could have a really great line this year and they proved that every week,” said Klein. “They just kept getting better and better, making it really easy for me to get the yards we needed to get.”

The score opened the floodgates for East Buchanan’s dominant 42-0 victory against Adrian on Saturday, December 3, in Columbia, Mo. The win gave the Bulldogs their second-consecutive state championship, something that hadn’t been done in Missouri Class 1 since Valle Catholic’s threepeat from 2013 to 2015.

“We are now in the conversation when talking about great teams like 2007-2008 Orrick, 2009-2010 Penney, and 2013-2015 Valle Cath-

On Adrian’s ensuing possession, Trevor Klein picked off their long pass attempt for the first of East Buchanan’s three interceptions.

A few plays later, the Bulldogs’ offensive line once again imposed their will, opening up a hole for Klein to score on a fourthand-goal conversion from the Adrian one-yard line.

Senior lineman Ethan Bailey, who lined up at fullback, cleared the initial path for Klein to follow.

The Bulldogs’ defense held Adrian’s offense in check once again, a common theme in this contest.

The East Buchanan passing game got involved in the scoring when sophomore Gage Busby connected with junior wide receiver Aidan Hensely for a 35-yard touchdown pass.

Klein scored his third touchdown of the first half on a two-yard run, giving East Buchanan a comfortable 28-0 lead at the break.

Leading by four scores before halftime proved to Coach Ritter that his team had every right to be as confident as they were heading into the biggest game of the year.

“We were able to handle ourselves (and) have confidence going in knowing we’d done it before,” Ritter said during the postgame press conference. “It did feel a whole lot different. There was a whole lot less nerves, at least for me, and you

could see it in the players. They had confidence going into this game.”

In the second half, the barrage continued when Busby struck again, this time completing a short pass to Klein, who juggled the ball before crossing it between his legs and racing 41 yards for the touchdown.

Busby wasn’t done with his big day. With just under three minutes left in the third quarter, he completed another short pass, this time to senior AdamStephen Engnes, who broke a tackle attempt and raced down the sidelines 86 yards for the touchdown.

It was the sixth drive in a row East Buchanan reached the end-zone, and was the game’s final score.

This was one of Busby’s finest performances of the season, and it came on the biggest stage, something he attributed to his teammates being the dynamic players they are.

“I got to step up and be a leader for my team and I just got to go out there and continue to allow my guys to make plays,” Busby said during the postgame press conference.

For the game, Busby completed 14 of 19 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. His leading receiver was Engnes, who finished with four catches for 143 yards and one touchdown. Aidan Hensley had four catches for 51 yards with one touchdown, while senior Carson White hauled in two catches for 35 yards.

(Above) East Buchanan junior quarterback Gage Busby fires off a pass despite pressure from the Adrian defense.

(Left) Senior kicker Alec Hesson kicks off in the Missouri Class 1 State Championship game earlier this month in Columbia, Mo. clint dye | the leader

Bulldogs talented all over the gridiron

The 2022 East Buchanan Bulldogs will be remembered as perhaps one of the greatest collections of talents in the history of Missouri small-school football –and with good reason. From the first spot on the field to the eleventh, the Bulldogs were as complete as a high school program could hope to be.

That was especially evident on defense, where East Buchanan continually broke the spirits of each opponent who lined up against them. In the postseason alone, the Bulldogs’ defense allowed just two touchdowns in six games while crafting four shutouts.

On the defensive line, East Buchanan was led by senior tackle Ethan Bailey, whose elite combination of strength, speed and size caused massive problems for opponents. Bailey was often in the backfield before the play could develop, racking up 133 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss and seven sacks. That performance earned him the Missouri Class 1 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

“(He’s) possibly the most dominant at his position in East Buchanan history,” said East Buchanan head coach Dan Ritter. “And that is really saying something. He had a motor. He was unblockable! He almost got to Robert Lafolotte’s single-season tackle mark as a nose tackle. Sheer dominance.”

Even when teams found a way to avoid Bailey, they had little recourse. Fellow

defensive linemen Chase Meers and Wyatt Parker were just as dangerous and capable, giving East Buchanan a stone wall along the defensive front.

“Chase Meers would be a First Team All-Stater and best D-lineman by far on any other team, Ritter said.

“He just got overshadowed by (Bailey). And then you have Wyatt Parker – the perfect combination of strength and athleticism. When teams tried to run away from Ethan and Chase, they were run down by Wyatt’s unblockable self.”

Right behind them was a stacked linebacker crew that was both athletic and hardnosed. On the outside edges, the senior duo of Jack Archdekin and Carson White kept runners from getting to the corner and turning up field, while also putting pressure on the quarterback in throwing situations. In the middle, Nick Klein and Rylee Parker stuffed up the running game and swarmed to the ball.

“The most dominant unit on the field was our defensive front seven, in particular, our four linebackers,” said Ritter. “Carson and Jack will be irreplaceable. How many small schools have two outside linebackers who run legit 4.6 (second 40-yard dashes) and are 6’3” and 6’6”? Answer: one, us. They made every single play in the alley for us. They were phenomenal.

“Then two more unsung heroes, Rylee Parker and Nick Klein. Every run play I asked them to simply do this – (On the) play side, blow up the point of attack.

Backside, scrap and make a play. And they did that consistently all year. They were outstanding.”

Parker was especially key this season, helping replace the defensive production and tone-setting abilities of former Bulldog Cru Conaway.

“He didn’t get any accolades last year,” Ritter said, “and for him to swallow his pride, care more about others and the good of the team, was awesome to see. And that, I believe, is why he was voted First Team All-State this year. He’s a success story. I loved his attitude his senior year.”

When opponents went to the passing game, East Buchanan was ready, as defensive backs AdamStephen Engnes, Aidan Hensley and Mason Brown provided exceptional pass coverage, giving equal attention to ballhawking the pass and tackling in the open field.

“AdamStephen Engnes was dynamite,” Ritter said of the senior. “Seven interceptions in big moments... unanimous First Team defensive back. Aidan Hensley was so important to us on offense and defense. On defense, he was able to come up with two huge picks in the state championship game, but I think his attribute that helped lead us to the state title was his tackling ability. He always made the play. If it got outside, he made that tackle. Every time. Lastly, Mason Brown – big plays against Gallatin, Mr. Consistency throughout the season, our best safety. He played

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by brett adkison leader editor

East Buchanan junior Trevor Klein leaps for the interception. clint dye | the leader

Trevor Klein secured his second-consecutive Missouri Class 1 Offensive Player of the Year Award with an exceptional performance. He carried the ball 18 times for 132 yards and caught two passes for 61 yards, scoring four times.

While this title win was a showcase for a prolific East Buchanan offense that put up 476 yards, it was also the final emphatic stamp for a defense that had been nothing short of dominant

throughout the postseason. The Bulldogs allowed just 136 yards of total offense, causing three turnovers and holding an Adrian team averaging nearly 40 points per game scoreless – something that impressed Coach Ritter.

“I was really proud of our defense,” Ritter said after the game. “We started off a little slow but our defense realized quite early that we were going to have confidence and we were going to

be able to do this thing.”

Much like he had done all season, Ethan Bailey set the tone for East Buchanan along the defensive line. In his final game in a Bulldogs uniform, Bailey finished with five total tackles and a sack for an eight-yard loss. The highlight of his performance came in the second quarter when, on back-toback plays, he had a sack and a tackle for loss, all but killing Adrian’s short-lived momentum.

Fellow senior Rylee Parker also went out with a bang, finishing the game with a team-high seven total tackles, while Trevor and Nick Klein ended the game with six and five tackles, each. In the turnover department, Aidan Hensley hauled in two interceptions and Trevor Klein had one.

During the postgame trophy presentation, much like last season with legendary coach Ron Musser, Coach Ritter passed the hon-

or on to his coaching staff, specifically assistant coach Adam Lewis.

“Adam deserves the most credit for what he did with the defense,” Ritter said. “He called every play this season, did almost all substitutions, made changes on the fly and still had time to take in a foreign exchange student. He’s the longest-tenured coach on our staff. He does things right, and deserves back-to-back (titles) after all he’s gone

through over 15 years here at East Buchanan”

Finishing the season 14-1, the East Buchanan Bulldogs are undefeated KCI Conference Champions for the first time since 2015, and back-to-back Missouri Class 1 Champions. Perhaps the scariest thing about all of that is, with all of the talent they have returning in 2023, an East Buchanan three-peat could very well be on the horizon.

his role well.”

Just as daunting, East Buchanan’s offense scored fast and often, both through the air and on the ground. The Bulldogs scored 40 points or more in 11 of their 15 games this season, including the state semifinals and the Class 1 championship game.

Once again, running back Trevor Klein was the tip of the sword. The junior scored 40 offensive touchdowns in 2022, racking up more than 2,000 yards rushing and 300 yards receiving. On top of All-State honors, Klein was named the Missouri Class 1 Offensive Player of the Year and

was a finalist for the Fontana Award (honoring the Kansas City metro’s best “small school” player).

Klein is a once-in-a-generation athlete, but both he and Coach Ritter will be the first to tell you that the success doesn’t happen without the young men around him.

“To have him be Class

1 Offensive Player of the Year means so much to our linemen and offense,” Ritter said. “That’s a reflection on them, as well, because Trevor certainly can’t block for himself.”

The interior of the offensive line was stellar in 2022, led by junior center Tucker Musser and his guards on either side, Barrett Veatch and Corbin Allen.

“On offense, Barrett Veatch and Corbin Allen absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage as guards,” Ritter said. “They were staples on an offense that produced over 5,500 yards, not to mention First Team AllState center Tucker Musser.”

One of the biggest keys to the offensive was junior quarterback Gage Busby, who quickly acclimated to the varsity job and shined throughout the year, filling the shoes of former EBHS quarterback Conner Musser.

“Conner Musser was a

huge leader for us,” Ritter said. “He was a Second Team All-Stater who led us to our first state championship. Then comes rookie starter Gage Busby – just as many yards, one more touchdown, and a stellar performance in the state championship! Busby is a deserving First Team All-Stater.”

Busby’s job was made easier by having an experienced, talented receiving group that included AdamStephen Engnes, Aidan Hensley and Carson White.

“I think we had the best receiving corps in Class 1,” Ritter said. “Most of the time, no one got to see it because Trevor had already scored four times and they were out of the game. But those three may have been the key to our success this year. Carson, Adam and Aidan played almost every snap on both sides of the ball. They were staples of consistency the whole year.

Again, each would be another team’s best player.”

As if it weren’t enough to have Class 1’s most complete team on either side of the ball, East Buchanan also possessed an All-State kicker in Alec Hesson.

“Alec Hesson tying our school touchback record, setting our extra point percentage record, and also setting the longest field goal record – what more can you say? He came up big for us, as well!”

Just as vital as the players but never seeking attention, the coaching staff each season sacrifices countless hours with their families and friends to help guide and teach these young men in their pursuit of history.

Coach Ritter was named the Missouri Class 1 Coach of the Year, and was backed by a stellar staff that included Kyle Knox, Adam Lewis, Colby Rapp and others who made the season possible.

First Team: QB Gage Busby; HB Trevor Klein; TE Carson White; OL Tucker Musser; DL Ethan Bailey; DE Jack Archdekin; LB Rylee Parker; LB Nick Klein;DB AdamStephen Engnes.

Second Team: DB Aidan Hensley; K Alec Hesson.

(Above) The East Buchanan defensive front prepares to attack at the line of scrimmage on December 3 against Adrian.

(Left) Kade Jones tries to make a leaping tackle with the help of senior Rylee Parker (9). clint dye | the leader

(Left to Right) East Buchanan head coach Dan Ritter with captains Gage Busby, Jack Archdekin, Carson White and Trevor Klein. (Right) Aidan Hensley (14) and AdamStephen Engnes (12) celebrate a score at Faurot Field at the University of Missouri. clint dye | the leader

Jack Archdekin chases down the Adrian quarterback. clint dye | the leader Trevor Klein celebrates a score with lineman Corbin Allen. clint dye | the leader

(Left) AdamStephen Engnes lays a massive hit on an Adrian ball-carrier in the state title game, with Mason Brown in pursuit. (Right) The East Buchanan cheerleaders - with the EBHS crowd behind them - celebrate the final moments of the Bulldogs’ championship. clint dye | the leader

(Left) The pregame coin-flip of the state title game. (Right) Senior Ethan Bailey wraps up the Adrian quarterback for a big loss. clint dye | the leader

CHAMPS

The East Buchanan Bulldogs football team celebrates with the state championship trophy on Saturday, December 3, in Columbia. clint dye | the leader

Junior Aidan Hensley breaks loose with Jacob King blocking. clint dye | the leader

Senior Ethan Bailey celebrates with a custom championship belt. clint dye | the leader

Mason Brown makes his way past an Adrian defender. clint dye | the leader

The East Buchanan faithful were out in full force for the title game. clint dye | the leader

Asst. Coach Adam Lewis and the seniors are presented with the title. clint dye | the leader

Looking back at East Buch’s 2022 campaign

Bulldogs storm the KCI Conf., shut down District opponents

In the decorated history of East Buchanan football, no team started a season in the same manner as the 2022 squad – as the defending Missouri Class 1 State Champions. Though the title added excitement to the Bulldogs’ return to the gridiron last August, it also meant East Buchanan would have a bounty out on them – each and every opponent would bring their best effort in hopes of derailing the state champs.

With a target on their back and their eyes set on a second-straight Class 1 championship, East Buchanan embarked on a special 2022 that would find them once again hoisting the trophy in Columbia.

East Buchanan 48

South Harrison 14 August 26 Gower, Mo.

East Buchanan welcomed South Harrison to Gower for the season opener, and they were greeted by a raucous Blue and Gold crowd and a Bulldogs team that picked up right where they had left off in 2021.

East Buchanan stormed out to a 28-point lead in the first quarter and put the game away by the half, scoring all 48 points in the opening 24 minutes. Junior Trevor Klein scored three touchdowns in the game, and Gage Busby dominated his first outing as the full-time quarterback, going 10-for-10 for 263 yards and four touchdowns.

Aidan Hensley caught two of those touchdowns. Senior Jack Archdekin had 10 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery.

Savannah 24

East Buchanan 19 September 2 Savannah, Mo.

The Bulldogs traveled to Andrew County in Week 2 and suffered the lone defeat of the season.

Class 3 Savannah –which would finish the season 10-2 while competing for both a district and an MEC title – scored 24 points in the first half and staved off East Buchanan in the second half, holding on for a five-point win.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs were impressive against their larger counterparts, outgaining Savannah 358 yards to 182 yards in the comeback effort.

Coach Dan Ritter lamented a missed opportunity to match the program record for consecutive wins (19 games), but said the Savannah game helped them to realize they’re beatable.

“A Hall of Fame coach was giving a speech at the Missouri State Convention and he said, ‘The best thing that can happen to a team is to get your nose bloodied, and learn how to fix your mistakes, then to have everything go well,” Ritter said. “That’s what happened. We learned from our mistakes and it made us better.”

East Buchanan 55

North Platte 12 September 9 Gower, Mo.

Though North Platte would turn the corner in 2022 and go from doormat to competitor, the Panthers couldn’t hang with East Buchanan.

Busby threw for six touchdowns to five different guys (Mason Brown pulled in two of the scores), and East Buchanan breezed past the Panthers for the win. Trevor Klein returned a kick 98 yards for a touchdown. Archdekin had 11 tackles with a sack.

East Buchanan 33 Lathrop 7 September 16 Lathrop, Mo.

The Mules’ defense kept East Buchanan from lighting up the scoreboard in bunches, but didn’t have an answer for Trevor Klein, who ran the ball 26 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns. The defense racked up five sacks and nine tackles for a loss. Mason Brown had 13 tackles.

East Buchanan 45 Hamilton 16 September 23 Hamilton, Mo.

A year earlier, the Penney Hornets gave East Buchanan stiff competition in both the regular season and the state playoffs. But this season, the Bulldogs were overwhelming. They scored 38 points in the first quarter alone. Busby threw

(Above) East Buchanan junior Trevor Klein stiff arms an Adrian defender on Saturday, December 3, at Mizzou.

(Left) East Buchanan senior tight end Carson White leaps for the catch in the state championship game against the Adrian Blackhawks. clint dye | the leader

Special senior class helps win second title

by clint dye leader reporter

For most high school football seniors, the final game in their school uniform ends in heartbreak – a final loss that concludes their four-year journey on the gridiron, alongside teammates with whom they likely grew up.

A lucky few end their high school careers with one final win, going out as champions, hoisting a state championship trophy.

East Buchanan’s seniors – Zakary Andrews, Jack Archdekin, Ethan Bailey, AdamStephen Engnes, Alec Hesson, Rylee Parker, Brazon Pryor, and Carson White – fall under the latter. Almost two weeks ago, these seniors helped lead their squad to a state championship when East Buchanan dominated Adrian 42-0.

“It’s the best way to go out,” said AdamStephen Engnes. “I love football and I’m gonna miss it. But playing the very last game of the year and winning by 42. I just feel like I had nothing left to prove. I didn’t leave anything on the field.”

This victory marked East Buchanan’s second-consecutive state championship.

“My favorite moment in my last season of football for East Buchanan was after the trophy was handed to us and seeing fellow players so excited and the community,” said Carson White.

As freshmen, they were part of the final team coached by the late, great Kevin Bryan. Having come up through the East Buchan-

an program with Bryan at the helm, they were instilled with a sense of pride, community and brotherhood –something they helped carry on after Bryan’s passing in 2021.

“It has been an amazing experience,” said Ethan Bailey. “It’s not just about a logo on the side of your helmet. It’s a family. We all have each others’ backs. The community supports us like no other. Being a Bulldog is about pride in what you do and who you do it with. Blue and Gold will always be a part of me.”

Brazon Pryor shares that sentiment.

“It means the world to me because I felt I was part of more than just a team. It was a whole family behind you. And we were working together in pursuit of something more.”

Their sophomore year, Dan Ritter - this year’s Missouri Class 1 Coach of the Year - became head coach and immediately embraced the football culture and traditions established by his predecessors, Kevin Bryan and Ron Musser.

Speaking of Coach Musser, he joined Ritter’s staff as offensive coordinator that season and the Bulldogs showed glimpses of what was to come, finishing with an 8-3 record.

During their junior season, it all came together, and for the very first time the East Buchanan Bulldogs were state champions in football.

“My favorite moment will always be us coming back from winning state,”

Engnes said. “Just how the community came and supported us. It was a great feeling.”

Heading into this season, East Buchanan was looked at as one of the favorites to win the Missouri Class 1 Championship. Having that kind of expectation and pressure hanging over their heads motivated the Bulldog seniors, and they delivered in spades.

Ethan Bailey, Jack Archdekin, Rylee Parker and AdamStephen Engnes each brought home First Team All-State honors for leading a dominant Bulldog defense.

Rylee Parker led the team in tackles with 142. Right behind him was Ethan Bailey with 137 to go along with his seven sacks. The anchor of the Bulldog defensive line was also named Missouri Class 1 Defensive Player of the Year.

From the linebacker position, Jack Archdekin finished with 121 tackles and a team-high eight sacks. In the secondary, AdamStephen Engnes hauled in an impressive seven interceptions to go along with his 38 tackles.

On the offensive side of the ball, Carson White earned All-State honors at tight end for his 21-catch, 501-yard, five-touchdown performance this season. Alex Hesson has been arguably the best kicker in East Buchanan history.

During their four years as East Buchanan Bulldogs, these seniors leave with an overall record of 40-12. They helped bring an undefeated KCI Conference

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East Buchanan senior receiver AdamStephen Engnes. clint dye | the leader

three scores and Klein scored twice. Rylee Parker and Nick Klein both had 12 tackles and Aidan Hensley and AdamStephen Engnes picked off a pair of passes.

East Buchanan 49 West Platte 14 September 30

Gower, Mo.

East Buchanan became just the 19th team in Missouri history to score 42 points or more in a single quarter, scoring six touchdowns on West Platte in the opening frame and running away with the victory. Trevor Klein scored three touchdowns. With the big lead, the Bulldogs had everyone in on the action, as 28 different players recorded a tackle and more than a dozen touched the ball on offense.

East Buchanan 62 Plattsburg 6 October 7

Plattsburg, Mo

Five different Bulldogs ran for a touchdown and East Buchanan racked up 295 rushing yards against the winless Tigers despite running just 29 plays on offense.

East Buchanan 49 Mid-Buchanan 12 October 14

Gower, Mo.

For the first time in almost two months, East Buchanan found themselves in a bind, as arch rival Mid-Buchanan used a pair of big touchdown passes to take a 12-7 lead over the Bulldogs in the second quarter.

But the Bulldogs would score before the half to go up 14-12, followed by an astonishing five touchdown runs by Trevor Klein in the third quarter alone, as East Buchanan ran away with the victory. He finished the game with 220 rushing

yards. On defense, Ethan Bailey had 16 tackles with a sack and two tackles for a loss, Parker had 17 tackles and Nick Klein had 14 tackles, four for a loss.

The win moved East Buchanan to 7-1 on the year, 6-0 in the conference, with a share of the KCI title in hand.

East Buchanan 41 Lawson 0 October 21 Lawson, Mo.

The Bulldogs put the hammer down on the Class 2 Cardinals, earning the shutout and winning the 2022 KCI Conference championship outright with an undefeated, 7-0 record. Klein rushed for four touchdowns while the defense scored two touchdowns of its own, a 50yard interception return for Hensley and a 47-yard fumble return for Carson White.

The KCI Conference

championship was a measure of redemption for East Buchanan, as it was the lone banner the Bulldogs didn’t fly in 2021.

“Apparently it’s harder to win the KCI Conference than state,” Ritter joked. “We were pumped about it. Taking state against teams you never play is one thing, but doing it against the guys you’ve been playing since youth is another.”

East Buchanan 68 Plattsburg 0 October 28 Gower, Mo.

The top-seeded Bulldogs earned their second-straight shutout, downing the Tigers for the second time in 2022 and advancing to the district semifinals. The Bulldogs’ defense protected the skies with four interceptions (Engnes (2), Parker Archdekin), as they blew past former rival Plattsburg. Klein ran for 186 yards and a pair of scores and Nathanial Fortney added an 80-yard run.

East Buchanan 40 Hamilton 0 November 4 Gower, Mo.

East Buchanan once again proved to be too much for Hamilton, scoring 28 points in the opening frame to run away with the win and move on to district championship game. Klein ran for two touchdowns, White returned a punt for a score, and Bailey wrapped up 13 tackles to command the trenches.

East Buchanan 21 Mid-Buchanan 0 November 11 Gower, Mo.

Rival Mid-Buchanan

found success on the defensive side of the ball on a frigid night in Gower, but it wouldn’t be enough, as East Buchanan recorded their fourth-straight shutout to win the district championship and return to the Missouri Class 1 State Playoffs. Bailey had 17 tackles, three of which were for a loss.

“During that run of not allowing a score, I saw 11 young men playing as a unit,” Coach Ritter said of the defense. “It was impressive. They did everything we preached all year to them and more – line up correctly, communicate, tackle well, and cause turnovers!”

East Buchanan 14 Gallatin 6 November 19 Gallatin, Mo.

In the Missouri Class 1 State Quarterfinals, East Buchanan had to hit the road to face the stiffest test of the postseason – a date with undefeated Gallatin of the Grand River Conference.

East Buchanan led just 7-6 at the half, with the deciding score coming in the fourth quarter when Trevor Klein scored from 57 yards out. He finished the game with 227 rushing yards on 33 carries and two touchdowns. AdamStephen Engnes added 60 yards receiving on four catches.

“Gallatin had their goal of beating us from the very beginning of the season,” Ritter said. “They studied us, knew what we do well, and countered it or stopped it. To come out of there with a win on the road against a team just as athletic as us was a confidence builder the rest of the way.”

East Buchanan 41 Duchesne 14 November 26

Gower, Mo.

Perhaps the biggest unknown of the season, East Buchanan welcomed private school Duchesne to Gower for the state semifinals. The St. Louis team was just 8-4 but had proven themselves against some of the toughest squads in the entire state, including a win over Class 4 state runner-up St. Dominic.

They were unprepared for the Bulldogs, however.

Klein ran for 186 yards and five touchdowns, Busby added 99 yards and a touchdown through the air, and the defense didn’t allow a single score in the second half, as they punched their ticket for a return trip to the 2022 Missouri Class 1 Show-Me Bowl.

East Buchanan 42 Adrian 0 December 3 Columbia, Mo.

For the second-straight year, the East Buchanan Bulldogs are the kings of small-school football in Missouri, knocking off Adrian 42-0 in the Class 1 championship game at Faurot Field at the University of Missouri.

Trevor Klein racked up nearly 200 yards of offense with four touchdowns, while Gage Busby fired off three touchdown passes with 288 yards through the air. Engnes had 143 receiving yards with a touchdown on four catches, while Aidan Hensley added a scoring catch. Bailey had nine tackles, two for a loss, and a sack. Hensley ended two Adrian drives with interceptions.

Congrats coaches & team on the

Theresa & David Ruoff Farms Gower, MO

championship back to Gower for the first time since 2015 and were centerpieces in back-to-back state championships.

“This was a fantastic group of athletes, but an even better group of young men,” Ritter said. “They put in the time, they have exuberant character, and are all so much fun to be around. We are blessed as coaches and what a privilege.”

They leave behind a championship legacy second to none when it comes to the annals of East Bu-

chanan football – something they hope inspires the next group of seniors ready to lead East Buchanan in 2023.

“We rewrote our school’s history books together. It’s your time to go write the next chapter,” Bailey said. “I want nothing more than to have you guys have the same experience we seniors were able to have and to see you walk out of Faurot Field next year, heads held high with no more games to play, no regrets, and hoisting another trophy over your head.”

(Left) East Buchanan center Tucker Musser snaps the ball and prepares for blocking duties. (Right) Ethan Bailey and Wyatt Parker swallow up an Adrian runner. clint dye | the leader

Senior Rylee Parker during warm-ups. clint dye |

leader

Junior Trevor Klein breaks