Prep football preview 2017
The Hays Daily News • Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017
B9
Sun shining brightly on TMP this season By NICK SCHWIEN nschwien@dailynews.net
The bright summer sun shone down on the players assembled on the practice field at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in Hays. Jason Cauley ran his players through drill after drill, providing plenty of water breaks as needed under the hot sun. Looking back on the Monarchs’ last few seasons, it might be a stretch to think the only thing shining on the team is the sun. During the last three years, the Monarchs have won only three combined games. But there’s a different feeling this year for TMP, and one that shows the sky is the limit. “I think we all notice that,” Cauley said. “There’s a different attitude. There’s 14 seniors this year, and they all want to win. They’ve won every single year growing up since they were 4 years old until they got here as a freshman. They have a chip on their shoulders. The kids can play, and they know they can play. I think this year they’re out to prove something and just show the world they can do it.” The difference this year is in part to that strong senior class that includes several players returning at key positions on both sides of the ball. “We’re pretty excited to have this many seniors out this year,” said senior Gavin Schumacher. “It helps us to get ready for the season and to get ready for what we want to do during the season.” The Monarchs return Schumacher and Chase Werth at running back, as well as Luke Ruder at wideout and backup quarterback. Dave McFarland will take over the reins at QB after missing most of last year after suffering an early injury. Add to that solid wideouts in
they’re going to reload. (Plainville’s) Grant Stephenson is a great coach, an amazing coach. I know that whatever they lost, he’s going to have people ready to fill in. Same thing with Smith Center. They lost their really stud running back, but they have a JV running back that can probably run faster than anybody else. So they’re going to reload. We didn’t have to go through that reload session.” Cauley has high praise for last year’s Plainville squad that finished as state runner-up in Class 2-1A. That team benefitted from a bevy of talented seniors who stepped into their roles and put the Cardinals back on the football map. The TMP coach would love to see something similar with his team this year. “If we are the Plainville of last year, I’ll take that,” Cauley said. NICK SCHWIEN, nschwien@dailynews.net “But we have some good core TMP head coach Jason Cauley talks with quarterback Dave McFarland, left, and running back Gavin Schum- receivers, a senior at quarterback that’s coming on. We have one of acher during a preseason practice at TMP. the best running backs in the MCL, in my opinion. And we have one of Creighton Renz, Trent Mayo and used to seeing them win until they four games in Cauley’s first year as the best receiving cores in the MCL. Tate Garcia — along with a solid got to the high school level. There’s coach. We have a young line, but it’s bigger offensive line — and TMP has high no reason that we aren’t as good as “We’ve just gotten continually than we’ve had and they move hopes for 2017. the other teams. The water is the better each year,” said Ruder, who really well. I’m excited about what “The expectations for all of us same here as it is in Phillipsburg. had to take over as quarterback are high,” said senior lineman Alex We drink the same water. I believe most of last year after McFarland’s we’ve got. We’re coming in with a new defense this year. … They guys Patel. “We’re really hoping for a we can go and match up with anyinjury. “Hopefully this year will be are flying around, and that’s what winning record this year, something body. I know Phillipsburg is a beast. good.” we like to see with the pursuit drills that hasn’t happened in a long They lost two people on offense TMP lost two games by two going great. They are going to learn time.” and a few on defense, and they have touchdowns or less last year. And one of the Monarchs’ top people coming up from the JV and “We even felt there was a couple their spots. The more reps we get in, the more they’ll get out of it.” players on both sides of the ball is junior high that are just as good. games that we could have put One of the things the Monarchs only a junior — Kaleb Hagans. But like I said, you don’t have to be another little notch in the victory will have to overcome this year is Cauley knows the expectations better than them every single day as column,” Cauley said. “That put another loaded schedule featuring are high with such a talented senior long as you’re better than them the another little chip on their shoulsome of the best teams in the state class. day you play them.” ders. They’re ready to get after “There is,” Cauley said about Winning has been difficult for the those guys who embarrassed us last — including a high-caliber district featuring Phillipsburg, Norton and optimism in the program. “And Monarchs since this year’s seniors year as well because there were a with the parents as well. The partook the field three years ago. lot of lop-sided victories, and some Russell. Phillipsburg and Norton outents are excited about it, especially In 2014, TMP went 0-9, then games we scored late in. We showed scored the Monarchs by a comwith this big senior class. They’re followed that up with a 1-8 outing them that we can move the ball. A bined 69 points in 2016 in a pair of ready to see something come in 2015. lot of the teams we play lost a lot through with these kids. They want A year ago, the Monarchs went of players. We know that. But those losses. TMP beat Russell, 33-14. to see them win, because they’re 2-7 and won two of their final teams are going to reload. I know See TMP, B10
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All the Best to TMP Monarchs
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