Pigskin Preview High School 2012

Pigskin Preview 2012 |

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section

| FRIDAY | AUGUST 24, 2012

Reflection of talent

Paul Woolard continues to tailor his offense to personnel

more

see page A3

Take a look at the offense for each of St. Joseph’s 5 high schools

see Pages A3-7

Missouri’s new playoff system brings about radical change to district format

see Page A8

Hamilton alters the landscape of the KCI Conference, adds intrigue

see Page A12

A2

Pigskin Preview 2012

Friday, August 24, 2012

2011 ALL NEWS-PRESS FOOTBALL TEAMS Here’s a look at the 2011 All News-Press football teams roster as selected by members of the St. Joseph News-Press sports staff.

Table of contents

A1

Cover photo featuring Lafayette coach Paul Woolard during a recent practice | photo by Matt Reid

A2

Table of contents; 2011 All News-Press 8-man, 11-man football teams

A3

Lafayette preview story; city football records; city football playoff appearances

A4

Benton preview story; Midland Empire Conference capsules

A5

Central preview story

A6

Bishop LeBlond preview story

A7

St. Joseph Christian preview story; City Football Jamboree champions

A8

Feature story on new Missouri district format; list of Missouri districts

A9

Mid-Buchanan preview story

A10

East Buchanan preview story File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

A11

Plattsburg preview story; Missouri playoff history

A12

Hamilton preview story; KCI Conference capsules

B1

Cover photos featuring new coaches, from top to bottom, Chad Smith (Savannah), Matt Webb (Maryville) and Jeff White (Cameron) | photos by Matt Reid

B2

Maryville preview story

B3

Savannah preview story

B4

Cameron preview story; Chillicothe preview story

B5

Prep football composite schedule

B6

Polo preview story; Grand River Conference capsules

B7

Atchison preview story; Independent/ Other capsules

B8

Riverside preview story

B9

Troy preview story; News-Press Power 10/Power 5 polls

B10

Kansas capsules

C1

Cover photo featuring Rock Port coach Ross Hastert during a recent practice | photo by Matt Reid

C2

Feature story on Rock Port

C3

Worth County preview story; Stanberry preview story

C4

Mound City preview story; Highway 275 Conference capsules

C5

DeKalb preview story; North Andrew preview story

C6

Platte Valley Conference capsules

Central running back Corey Jackson, a 2011 All News-Press first-team selection, carries the ball last year against Platte County.

ALL NEWS-PRESS 11-MAN FOOTBALL TEAMS ❯ All News-Press COACH OF THE YEAR — Mark Cole, Savannah

OFFENSE ❯ SECOND TEAM

❯ FIRST TEAM QB RB RB RB WR WR WR OL OL OL OL OL U K

Cory Bower* Corey Jackson Derrick Hughes D’Andre Talton Lucas Powers Marc Ellis Blake Deal Wes Salmon Derek Gibson Ryan Johnson Taylor Bryant Mike Meinert Blake McFadden Tyler Lamb

Sr. East Buchanan Sr. Central Jr. Hamilton Sr. Lafayette Sr. Benton Sr. D. West Sr. Savannah Sr. Savannah Jr. D. West Sr. Riverside Sr. Lafayette Sr. Central Sr. Savannah Sr. Smithville

Caleb Mather Cecil Bratton Todd Brown Peyton Newell Timmy Miller Blake Burson T.J. Schieber* Jordan Zech Tyler Wilt Dre Irvin Brendan Gabbart Brandon McNeely Kip Smith Austin Eckert

Dylan Heitz Austin Dawkins Dylan Guthrie Cole Forney Andrew Duncan Cole Osborne Adam Roe Jack Viestenz Matt Cowles Mick Edmondson Harley Martin Jackson Morrison Andy Meyers

So. South Harrison Jr. Bishop LeBlond Jr. West Platte Jr. Maryville Sr. Smithville Sr. South Harrison So. West Platte Sr. Central Sr. Benton Sr. Lafayette Sr. Polo So. Maryville Sr. Savannah

Jr. Maryville Jr. Central Sr. West Platte So. Hiawatha Sr. Riverside Sr. Savannah Sr. Hamilton Jr. Marvyille Jr. Savannah Sr. Central Sr. Cameron Sr. East Buchanan Sr. Savannah Sr. ACCHS

QB RB RB RB WR WR WR OL OL OL OL OL K

Tristan Speer Zach Freeman Carl Brunner Derek Stiens Nate Roberts Seth Rulon Chad Ness Jacob Meservey Sam Fullmer Dakota Gray Jace Zeit Ben Chalfant Sal Ingargiola

Fr. Doniphan West Jr. Polo Sr. Lathrop Jr. Maryville Sr. Princeton Sr. West Platte Jr. Gallatin Sr. Trenton Sr. Smithville Sr. Hamilton Sr. East Buchanan Jr. ACCHS Sr. Central *Denotes player of the year

DEFENSE ❯ SECOND TEAM

❯ FIRST TEAM DL DL DL DL LB LB LB LB DB DB DB DB U P

QB RB RB RB WR WR TE OL OL OL OL OL K

❯ THIRD TEAM

DL DL DL DL LB LB LB LB DB DB DB DB P

Austin Veach Austin Adamson Tyrese Huskey Jake Letner Elijah Lee Joe Dominiak Justin Hicks Austin Vandivert Tyler Walter Kellen Overstreet D’Treal Stone Dylan Bullimore Derek Nold

❯ THIRD TEAM

Sr. Doniphan West Sr. Smithville Sr. Central Sr. Princeton So. Central Jr. Smithville Jr. Polo Jr. South Harrison Sr. Maryville Fr. Hamilton Jr. Lafayette Sr. Mid-Buchanan Sr. Riverside

DL DL DL DL LB LB LB LB DB DB DB DB P

John Wiese Dillon Simpson Dakota Reeder Drew Garrett Fred Pannell Tayler Shuetz Zach Emmendorfer Patrick Boos Chantez Butler Levi Hill Brock Hanf Jacob Lewis Gunnar Huss

Sr. Savannah Sr. Troy Sr. Hamilton Sr. Bishop LeBlond Sr. Trenton Jr. ACCHS Sr. North Platte Jr. Atchison Sr. Atchison Jr. North Platte Jr. Maur Hill-Mount Academy Sr. Chillicothe Sr. Troy *Denotes player of the year

ALL NEWS-PRESS 8-MAN FOOTBALL TEAM OFFENSE QB RB RB RB WR WR OL OL OL U

Lucas Schawang Jordan Morrison Eli Mullock* Aaron Moser Matt Dahlgren Cody Edwards Trevor Johnson Gavin Hall Kevin Stoll Kylynn Sisk

Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr. Jr. Sr.

DEFENSE Mound City Christian Worth County West Nodaway Christian North Andrew Stanberry Christian Worth County South Holt

DL DL DL LB LB LB DB DB DB U

Nick Smith Jessie Oldham Zach Hilsabeck Ethan Crowe James Walker Dallas Greenland Brett Johnson Justin Lewis Kolby Reagan Jordan Harding

Sr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Stanberry Stanberry South Nodaway Southwest Livingston Mound City Worth County Mound City Southwest Livingston DeKalb Worth County *Denotes player of the year

A3

Friday, August 24, 2012

Lafayette | Fighting Irish

Options abound in Lafayette option attack Backfield depth, experience on offensive line drive Irish ground game rejuvenated under Woolard

By Phil Ervin St. Joseph News-Press

Lafayette’s poor, unsuspecting scout team cornerback never sees E’lon White coming.

The senior guard barrels around the right side of the line, as a Fighting Irish back trails.

With the corner keyed on the ball, White crashes into him at full speed, obliterating his victim and opening up a U-Haulsized gap.

The play’s called 26 Buck, one of a slew of outside runs out of Lafayette’s Wing-T offense designed to take advantage of its stable of running backs.

The call is one of White’s favorites.

“Getting those kill shots,” smiles White, also a middle linebacker, “those are awesome.”

As with any ground-based attack, the Irish’s offensive success begins up front.

Coach Paul Woolard, entering his sixth year at the helm, lost three starters off last year’s line, including Benedictine signee Mick Edmondson and second-team all-state selection Taylor Bryant.

The emergence of White at left guard alongside transfer Foster Brown, center Austin Drennen and right tackle Bryce Denton — all three-year starters — will be critical if Lafayette is to improve on its 6-4 record and fourth-place Midland Empire Conference finish in 2011.

Brown comes from Texas powerhouse Copperas Cove and has

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Lafayette running back Kenny Grant carries the ball down field during a Class 4 District 16 game last year against Platte County at Alumni Stadium. Grant heads up an experienced backfield that fuels a multi-pronged rushing attack. been in contact with Missouri and other Division I schools.

“With Foster coming in, really the heart and the soul has been Austin Drennen and Bryce Denton,” said Woolard, whose squad opens up the season tonight at Mexico. “We’ve really looked at them for leadership. You add Foster to that mix, that’s a solid bunch.”

Behind Lafayette’s line, a traditional but effective offensive formation gives Woolard a variety of options. Two wingbacks flank each side of the

quarterback, with another running back directly behind.

Play action and misdirection are aimed at keeping the defense off balance. When executed correctly, running plays either up the gut or toward the edge disguise who has the ball until he’s 3 or 4 yards upfield.

Woolard didn’t always run things this way; he’s a firm believer in tailoring his scheme to match his talent, and Lafayette’s had a bunch of that in the backfield the past couple seasons.

“We try and fit the personnel

that you have,” the coach said.

“I don’t think that you can stay with something all the time every year. I can’t recruit the guys to just run one thing.”

At wingback, Jurell Green, Kenny Grant, Shawn Ashford and Kylan Kuritz represent a load of returning speed. Power backs Travis Webster, Curtis Hughes and Cody Pettijohn will line up in the middle of the backfield with Webster and Hughes expected to receive a lot of reps.

Together, they and graduated D’Andre Talton — another

City Football records

Mat t Reid | St. Joseph News-Press

Lafayette coach Paul Woolard addresses his team following a recent practice. Woolard enters his sixth season as the Fighting Irish’s coach, coming off back-to-back winning seasons.

Benton Cardinals

Lafayette Fighting Irish

Central Indians

Bishop LeBlond Golden Eagles

Christian Lions

2011........4-6 2010........6-4 2009........3-7 2008........2-8 2007........ 2-7 2006........7-4 2005........8-3 2004........8-4 2003........ 2-7 2002........1-8 2001........ 2-7 2000........4-5 1999........4-6 1998........6-3 1997........3-5 1996........4-5 1995........6-3 1994........3-5 1993........9-3

2011........6-4 2010........7-3 2009........5-6 2008........4-7 2007........ 2-7 2006........0-9 2005........1-8 2004........0-9 2003........1-8 2002........4-5 2001........3-6 2000........0-9 1999........1-8 1998........4-6 1997........1-8 1996........1-8 1995........5-5 1994........5-5 1993........4-6

2011........6-5 2010........5-5 2009........3-7 2008........2-8 2007........6-4 2006........4-6 2005........5-5 2004........4-6 2003........5-4 2002........6-3 2001........3-6 2000........3-6 1999........5-4 1998........3-6 1997........1-8 1996........5-4 1995........8-3 1994........ 2-7 1993........6-3

2011........1-9 2010........1-9 2009......0-10 2008........2-8 2007........3-6 2006........3-6 2005........4-5 2004........4-5 2003........4-6 2002........5-5 2001........7-3 2000........7-3 1999........6-4 1998........7-3 1997........7-3 1996........6-4 1995........3-6 1994......0-10 1993........3-7

2011...... 11-1 2010......10-2 2009........8-4 2008......11-2 2007........8-3 2006......10-2 2005........7-3 2004........6-4 2003........6-3 2002........5-4 2001........8-2 2000........ 7-2 1999....... 4-4

Benedictine signee — churned out 355 rushing yards a game and 9.68 yards per carry last season.

“We have a lot of good skillposition guys,” Denton said. “It feels pretty good to be able to block and have the guys behind us able to run and to have that many yards in a season.”

Drew Cortez begins the year at quarterback in the wake of 2011 starter D’Treal Stone’s foot injury at a Tulsa camp in early June. Stone’s a bit more fleet of foot than Cortez, but the sophomore’s sharp arm might allow Lafayette to achieve a little more balance.

Stone, also a 2011 All News Press second-team defensive back, received a fair amount of Division I interest this summer before his injury. Woolard hoped to have him back for tonight’s season opener and said Stone could be used at any number of offensive positions upon his return, not just quarterback.

But none of Lafayette’s backfield members will be rewarded without effective play from its big men.

Denton plans on helping make that the norm this fall.

“You have to be fast, and you’ve got to know where you’re going, otherwise you screw up a whole play,” Denton said.

“We feel pretty good as an offense that we can do a lot of good things.”

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

CITY FOOTBALL PLAYOFF APPEARANCES ❯ CENTRAL (3) – 1985 (district); 1995 (quarterfinals); 2011 (regionals) ❯ BENTON (10) – 1987 (district); 1990 (quarterfinals); 1991 (second); 1992 (sectional); 1993 (semifinals); 1996 (sectionals); 1999 (sectionals); 2004 (semifinals); 2005 (quarterfinals); 2006 (quarterfinals) ❯ LAFAYETTE (15) – 1977 (semifinals); 1978 (quarterfinals); 1982 (districts); 1984 (quarterfinals); 1985 (quarterfinals); 1988 (sectionals); 1989 (semifinals); 1991 (sectionals); 1992 (quarterfinals); 1993 (sectionals); 1994 (sectionals) 1995 (sectionals); 1998 (sectionals); 2008 (regionals); 2009 (regionals) ❯ BISHOP LEBLOND (4) – 1982 (semifinals); 1983 (district); 1984 (quarterfinals); 1993 (sectionals) ❯ ST. JOSEPH CHRISTIAN (9) – 2001 (8-man semifinals); 2004 (8-man finals); 2005 (8-man semifinals); 2006 (8-man state champions); 2007 (8-man semifinals); 2008 (8-man finals); 2009 (8-man finals); 2010 (8-man finals); 2011 (semifinals)

VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE 2012 DATE 8/24 8/31 9/07 9/14 9/21

OPPONENT Mexico Marshall Benton Savannah Smithville

LOCATION Away Home Home Away Home

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DATE 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19

OPPONENT Chillicothe Cameron Bishop LeBlond Maryville

LOCATION Home Away Away Home

TIME 7 p.m.

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luck Goodletes & Athoaches!

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“Where Pride of Workmanship Comes First”

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915 Jonathan Lane 232-9200

1611 Frederick Ave.

SINCE 1889

www.ebankcbt.com

(816) 279-6406

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A4

Friday, August 24, 2012

Benton | Cardinals

New attack carries Benton into new era

By Sam Robinson St. Joseph News-Press

Matt Tabor’s not resurrecting an old idea in his most daring experiment since assuming command at Benton five years ago.

There are no old playbooks of his that contained the framework of the offense he’ll have the Cardinals operating this season, but he knew coming in that the 40-pass-attempt games are no longer going to appear in Benton box scores — at least for now.

“I’ll be hard-pressed to think we’ll throw it more than eight, 10 times a game this year,” Tabor said.

Instead, the Cardinals (4-6, 2-5 Midland Empire Conference in 2011) plan to deploy the triple-option offense, nearly the polar opposite of the spread attack Benton’s used since Tabor’s arrival. The switch means Benton’s veterans, junior varsity promotees and coaching staff entered summer’s developmental period on about the same experience wavelength.

Even during his head coaching tenure across town at Bishop LeBlond, Tabor became known for a high-flying, innovative offense.

“We’ve had to do a lot of studying; I’ve had to learn a ton,” Tabor said. “Whatever you run offensively and defensively, it must match your personnel. We’re gonna have to coach this year. We’re definitely gonna get our money’s worth; this is why we do what we do.

“I tell people all the time — and this is kind of a weird cliche — but we have all the construction going on up (near Sparks Field). I like to tell people, ‘We’re under construction right now.’”

Cliches may provide some of the only familiarity at Benton this year.

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Benton running back Dontae White indicates his belief he scored a touchdown during a Class 4 District 16 game against Lafayette last year at Sparks Field. White, a junior, takes the featured spot in Benton’s new option-based offense after carrying for more than 600 yards as a sophomore.

Three athletes — two-way players Dontae White and Eric Davidson and linebacker Emilio Whytus — represent the entirety of the Cardinals’ returning starters this season. Seventeen spots will be occupied by varsity newbies, a total that dwarfs any prior lack of experience present in Tabor’s four previous years on the South Side.

Like his coach, White has no extensive history of taking handoffs and pitches in an option-based offense, but it’s the junior running back’s presence that made Tabor comfortable ditching his passslinging system. White scooted for 657

yards as a shotgun-situated sophomore and should eclipse that total with increased touches.

White’s touches decreased last year as the season progressed, but don’t expect that to be the case with him as the featured back.

“Dontae White will be a 1,000-yard rusher this season,” Tabor said. “He’s probably one of the more versatile backs in this region.”

Whytus will morph into a two-way player, lining up at fullback in front of White. In front of them is senior quarterback Alex Summerow, whose scrambling

ability also keyed Tabor’s offensive 180, and in front of them are five new offensive line starters, including three sophomores and a freshman.

At the line’s edge, however, Davidson is set to provide some veteran knowhow for his third year at tight end. The senior’s fully on board with burying the spread, even though it means a statistical sacrifice.

“It might not be as fun,” Davidson said, laughing. “It’s fun touching the ball, but I’m a better blocker. ... I feel like this offense is better than the one last year because it fits our team better. We threw it a bunch last year; we need to run the ball more.”

The names will be foreign to fans, but the terminology is no longer uncomfortable for the personnel. Benton’s coaching staff began instilling the new era into its next nucleus as soon as school let out in May, and the rookies are ready to unveil it.

“It was a struggle at first, just knowing what to do in our assignments,” White said of the early triple-option work. “We went out this summer in half pads, and even when we weren’t in pads, we put in new things when we were out on the field.

“We’re prepared; we’re ready to make plays in it.”

Expectations for the Cardinals probably won’t be high considering the mass upheaval and loaded schedule — upperclass competition Ozark (Class 5) and Grain Valley (Class 4) mark Benton’s MEC prelude — but the new look’s trial run will surely be eventful.

Sam Robinson can be reached at sam.robinson@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Midland empire conference Preseason capsules BENTON ❯❯ Coach — Matt Tabor, 5th year, 17-23 (33-44 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 4-6 (2-5 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Dontae White (657 yards rushing, 11 TDs); Trevor Peters (1,180 yards passing, 12 TDs); Lucas Powers (877 yards receiving, 8 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — OL/DL Matt Cowles, OL/DL Trevor Grinstead, WR Lucas Powers ❯❯ Returning starters — 2 on offense, 3 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — TE/DE Eric Davidson, sr.; RB/LB Emilio Whytus, jr.; RB/LB Dontae White, jr.; QB/DB Alex Summerow, sr.; RB/DB Quinn Hayes, sr.; OL/ DL Gaige Reynolds, so.; OL/DL Kyle Woodruff, sr.; WR Bryson Waitkoss, so. ❯❯ Schedule — A25 at Ozark; A31 vs. Grain Valley; S7 at Lafayette; S14 vs. Smithville; S21 vs.

Savannah; S28 at Maryville; O5 at Bishop LeBlond; O12 vs.

Cameron; O19 vs. Chillicothe

BISHOP LEBLOND ❯❯ Coach — Tony Dudik, 3rd year, 2-18 (103-132 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 1-9 (0-7 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Austin Dawkins (1,301 yards rushing, 16 TDs); Matthew McCullough (1,177 yards passing, 5 TDs); Chuckie Kempf (351 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — TE/DE Joe Voltmer,

OL/DL Drew Garrett, WR/DB Chuckie Kempf ❯❯ Returning starters — 7 on offense, 11 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/DL Austin Dawkins, sr.; WR/DB Tyler Thrasher, jr.; OL/DL Grant Thrasher, jr.; WR/DB Patrick Dillon, jr.; QB/LB Matthew McCullough, jr.; OL/DL Connor Haynes, so. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. St. Mary’s (Independence); A31 vs. KC East; S7 at Cameron; S14 vs. Maryville; S21 vs. Chillicothe; S28 at Smithville; O5 vs. Benton; O12 vs. Lafayette; O19 at Savannah

vs. Maryville

MARYVILLE

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Smithville running back Zach Parmenter breaks a tackle during a game last year against Lafayette at Alumni Stadium.

CAMERON

CHILLICOTHE

LAFAYETTE

❯❯ Coach — Jeff White, 1st year (921 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 2-8 (2-5 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Joseph Pratt (394 yards rushing, 4 TDs); Zach Way (789 yards passing, 7 TDs); Brendan Gabbart (428 yards receiving, 6 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — WR/DB Brendan Gabbart, QB Zach Way ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB Joseph Pratt, jr.; LB/TE Jared Hamilton, jr.; LB/RB Nathan Fagerstone, sr.; OL/DL Jeremiah Barnes, sr.; OL/DL Brady Gunn, jr.; RB/DB Michael Richardson, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Pembroke Hill; A31 vs. Excelsior Springs; S7 vs. LeBlond; S14 at Chillicothe; S21 vs. Maryville; S28 at Savannah; O5 vs. Lafayette; O12 at Benton; O19 at Smithville

❯❯ Coach — Phil Willard, 15th year, 106-49 (143-107 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 5-6 (2-5 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-1 in district play; lost Class 3 regional vs. Richmond ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Guy Vinson (861 yards rushing, 4 TDs); Tyler Clampitt (430 yards passing, 3 TDs); Guy Vinson (284 yards receiving, 4 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/DB Guy Vinson, QB/DB Jacob Lewis, RB/DE Austin Hatfield, RB/DB Nic Voorhies, WR/DE Spencer Hart, OL Kyle Wilkinson, OL Gabe Jeffries ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 2 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/DB Tyler Clampitt, jr.; RB/DB DJ Gannan, sr.; OL/DL Alec Whiteside, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Marshall; A31 at Kirksville; S7 at Maryville; S14 vs. Cameron; S21 at LeBLond; S28 at Lafayette; O5 vs. Savannah; O12 vs. Smithville; O19 at Benton

❯❯ Coach — Paul Woolard, 6th year, 24-27 ❯❯ 2011 record — 6-4 (4-3 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — D’Andre Talton (1,201 yards rushing, 17 TDs); D’Treal Stone (501 yards passing, 6 TDs); Derrick Babineaux (267 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — OL/DL Taylor Bryant, OL/DL Mick Edmondson, RB D’Andre Talton, WR/DB Derrick Babineaux ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 7 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/DL Bryce Denton, sr.; OL/DL Austin Drennen, sr.; QB D’Treal Stone, sr.; RB Jurell Green, sr.; RB Kenny Grant, sr.; WR/LB Austin Day, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Mexico; A31 vs. Marshall; S7 vs. Benton; S14 at Savannah; S21 vs. Smithville; S28 vs. Chillicothe; O5 at Cameron; O12 at LeBlond; O19

❯❯ Coach — Matt Webb, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 10-2 (6-1 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 3 sectional vs. Richmond ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Derek Stiens (986 yards rushing, 15 TDs); Jonathan Baker (1,092 yards passing, 14 TDs); Tyler Walter (409 yards receiving, 5 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — WR/DB Tyler Walter, RB/LB Cole Forney, LB Jordan Zech ❯❯ Returning starters — 9 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB Jonathan Baker, sr.; RB/DB Derek Stiens, sr.; OL/DL Caleb Mather, sr.; TE/ DE Tyler Tripp, sr.; OL/DL Jackson Morrison, jr.; RB/DB Trent Nally, jr.; TE/LB Ridge Yount, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Lawson; A31 vs. St. Pius X (Kansas City); S7 vs. Chillicothe; S14 at LeBlond; S28 vs. Benton; O5 vs. Smithville; O12 at Savannah; O19 at Lafayette

SAVANNAH ❯❯ Coach — Chad Smith, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 12-2 (6-1 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 4 semifinal vs. Webb City ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Andy Meyers (871 yards rushing, 7 TDs); Zane Wilt (1,423 yards passing, 19 TDs); Blake Deal (985 yards receiving, 12 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — TE/LB Blake Bur-

son, QB/DB Blake McFadden, WR/DB Blake Deal, RB/K Andy Meyers ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 4 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB Zane Wilt, sr.; WR/DB Tyler Wilt, sr.; OL/DL Logan Holland, sr.; FB/LB Logan Garrett, sr.; LB Caelan Campbell, sr.; OL/DL Tucker McDonald, sr.; RB/LB Corey Coburn, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Grain Valley; A31 vs. Harrisonville; S7 at Smithville; S14 vs. Lafayette; S21 at Benton; S28 vs. Cameron; O5 at Chillicothe; O12 vs. Maryville; O19 vs. LeBlond

SMITHVILLE ❯❯ Coach — Greg Smith, 9th year, 44-38 (88-69 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 7-3 (6-1 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Zach Parmenter (1,033 yards rushing, 8 TDs); Eric Gromacki (1,803 yards passing, 17 TDs); Tyler Lamb (810 yards receiving, 8 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Eric Gromacki, WR/DB Tyler Lamb, OL/DL Sam Fuller ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB Zach Parmenter, sr.; LB Joe Dominiak, sr.; QB Cory Marmet, sr.; LB, Scott Olson, jr.; Nolan Gromacki, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Pleasant Hill; A31 vs. Center; S7 vs. Savannah; S14 at Benton; S21 at Lafayette; S28 vs. LeBlond; O5 at Maryville; O12 at Chillicothe; O19 vs.

Cameron

BentonCardinals 2012 VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE DATE 8/24 8/31 9/07 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19

OPPONENT Ozark Grain Valley Lafayette Smithville Savannah Maryville Bishop LeBlond Cameron Chillicothe

LOCATION Away Home Away Home Home Away Away Home Home

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A5

Friday, August 24, 2012

CENTRAL | Indians

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Central running back Derek Gray peers through the rain during the Indians’ Class 5 regional loss to Raytown South last season.

clear vision spreads out

Wallace’s offense at Central created through combining philosophies, stems from Division I roots

By Phil Ervin St. Joseph News-Press

Florida’s offensive coordinator saw the young, hungry high school coach ambling down the hallway.

His patience worn a bit thin from so much brain-picking, Dan Mullen quickly ducked into a nearby classroom on the Gainesville campus in attempt to evade Jeff Wallace’s latest advance.

Seven years later, Wallace enters his third season as Central’s leader with an abundance of resources on the infamous spread offense. The Indians’ complex scheme is a hybrid first inspired by Mullen’s work under Urban Meyer at Florida during the Gators’ 2006 national championship run.

“I realized back then I really had no idea what I was doing,” Wallace said. “I learned a ton about what the spread is, all the adjustments and that type of stuff.

“I’ve kind of got the ear of the best spread guys, and a lot of what they do is what we implement around here.”

After tinkering with the spread offense as early as 1990 as a Bantam coach while playing for Missouri Western, Wallace and his Boonville staff traveled to Florida shortly after Meyer’s 2005 arrival there to learn the spread’s intricacies.

Soon after, Wallace developed a relationship with Missouri offensive coordinator David Yost.

The two spent nights studying film and taking notes, helping Wallace develop the multi-faceted attack the Indians will once again employ, starting tonight at 7 p.m. at Noyes Field against Class 6 power Blue Springs.

“It’s a Division I-style offense,” said junior quarterback Jacob Kaiser, who assumes the starting role in the wake of Darrin Dudley’s graduation. “You’ve got to be real smart and know the offense, be able to read defenders. It’s real complex.”

Wallace’s brainchild is designed to, naturally, spread out the field and isolate a particular defender on any given play. That makes Kaiser and his fellow skill players’ ability to recognize defensive alignments and tendencies, both in the running and passing games, critical.

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File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Central quarterback Jacob Kaiser rolls out in a game against Park Hill last season. A junior, Kaiser will take over the starting quarterback position for Central this season.

Central’s two-inch playbook contains 40 to 50 different formations and requires thorough study once it’s issued in early summer.

“It definitely means a lot of practice, a lot of studying,” said Kaiser, who led Central to victory last year in its regular-season finale against Park Hill that locked up a long-sought-after playoff berth. “It’s a real mental offense, that’s for sure.”

But the Indians won’t use every single play in their arsenal. Every year, the coaching staff narrows down its options to match its current personnel.

The past couple seasons, quarterbacks Ryan Wallace (2010) and Dudley’s running abilities made Central a more ground-oriented team.

Kaiser’s main strength is his arm, meaning more passing plays and carries spread around the backfield will be prevalent this fall.

“He’s probably in the top two strongest-armed kids

OPPOSING TEAM Blue Springs Platte County Lee’s Summit West Raytown South Truman Raymore-Peculiar Park Hill South Park Hill Ruskin

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

CENTRAL

HIGH SCHOOL

2012 CENTRAL FOOTBALL SCHEDULE DATE 8/24 8/31 9/07 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19

I’ve ever coached,” Wallace said of Kaiser. “We’re just going to have to continue to work on his reads. It doesn’t happen overnight with all that we do.

“It’s going to take a little bit of time, but we’re gonna be as good offensively as Jacob Kaiser allows us to be, and God knows he has a ton of potential.”

The next important facet is conditioning.

The Indians’ goal is to run a play every 10 to 12 seconds, a task that requires speed to the line of scrimmage and the wherewithal to execute the right play once it’s signaled in.

That keeps strength and conditioning coach Brad Durham plenty busy during the summer.

“We run the plays as fast as we can,” said center Trevor Holcomb, one of seven returning starters on offense. “(Durham) is pretty crazy. We go through a lot in the summer to get us ready for the season.”

Central’s offense favors multiplicity over simplicity.

It requires a greater amount of preparation time, but Wallace steadfastly stands by his philosophy.

Especially with the results it’s begun to produce.

The Indians scored 28.5 points per game last season and reached the state playoffs for the first time in 15 years. In a three-game stretch during the middle of the year that helped boost its playoff chances, Central scored at least 42 points every time out.

The trick now becomes executing for an entire season in hopes of a return to the Class 5 postseason.

It won’t be easy with the departures of Dudley, allstate running back Corey Jackson and South Dakota signee Mike Meinert, but Wallace’s confidence in the packages he’s put together spills over into his outlook for the season.

“This group seems to be on a mission a little bit,” said Wallace, who spent three years as offensive coordinator under Tony Dudik after coming to St. Joseph from Boonville. “I don’t have a problem saying we are on the cutting of edge of offensive football.

“I believe we are.”

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A6

Friday, August 24, 2012

bishop leblond | Golden Eagles

Coming out, pistol blazing

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Bishop LeBlond coach Tony Dudik congratulates Hamilton’s T.J. Schieber in a game last season. Dudik is set to begin his third year at LeBlond.

Veteran coach Dudik adapting to new short-shotgun offense implemented early last season

By Ross Martin St. Joseph News-Press

With Austin Dakwins out injured, Tony Dudik didn’t have a single player ready to fill the role of a running back.

That presented the veteran coach with an issue going into Bishop LeBlond’s 2011 season opener vs. Savannah. So Dudik scrapped the offense all together and went to a pistol-shotgun look that put more emphasis on quarterback play, motion and spreading the field.

Turns out, LeBlond’s current offense became a product born out of necessity.

“We got back in that pistol, and the more I ran it, the more I liked it,” Dudik said.

Dawkins hurt his knee in last year’s City Football Jamboree and then missed the first two weeks of the regular season.

Even with the bruising running back in the lineup, Dudik

simply adjusted the pistol philosophies. LeBlond now employs packages with a fullback lined up next to the quarterback spot, 2-3 yards behind the center, and a tailback behind them.

Dudik and LeBlond bank on the offensive system to finally produce some tangible results to a massive rebuilding effort.

Coming to LeBlond in 2010, Dudik inherited a team at the low point of program history.

The Golden Eagles went winless in 2009 and still haven’t recorded a .500 season since 2002, no winning mark since 2001.

Dudik had to worry about basic weight training, football acumen and even participation numbers before spending too much effort in developing a system.

LeBlond enters this season with only four seniors (Dawkins, Jeremiah Wigton, Ishmel Evans and Mitch Sanders). That quartet along with juniors Matthew McCullough, Tyler Thrasher,

Grant Thrasher and Patrick Dillon have started all three seasons under Dudik.

After back-to-back 1-9 seasons, the time to stop excuses for losing has come to pass.

“I expect that to happen, and there’s a reason for that,” Dudik said. “Those first two years, I respect every kid that I’ve coached out at LeBlond because they were a part of that transition.

Two years ago, we started several freshmen. Last year, they were sophomores. This year, they’re finally upperclassmen.”

McCullough enters his second full season as the starting quarterback after taking over the position late his freshman year.

Dudik likes having a cerebral leader in his decision-making spot and plans to use multiple option looks with Tyler Thrasher and Dawkins often paired together in the backfield. McCullough (1,177 passing yards) and Dawkins (1,301 rushing in

eight games) have become the featured part of the offense.

Dawkins spent much of last season still feeling the effects of the knee injury, and he’s aching for the chance to play a full season at full health.

“There was definitely some times there where it bugged me,” Dawkins said. “I wore that brace but it still hurt. I could tell when I got hit in the leg it definitely hurt.”

Tyler Thrasher could provide the change-up.

A runner on jet sweeps as a wide receiver last year, Thrasher continues to adjust to the new backfield spot. His ability to catch passes makes him a versatile weapon who can line up at many spots in an attempt to create a mismatch.

“I’m definitely more comfortable in what we’re doing,” Tyler Thrasher said. “(Running out of the backfield) is a new thing to me. I’ve got to get used to that.

“It’s a little different, but I’ll get used to that.”

LeBlond’s lone win each of the past two years came against Plattsburg in districts, but the Eagles have missed chances at more victories, losing five games the past two seasons by two possessions or fewer. Much of the blame falls on a defense which surrendered 40 points per game last year, actually up slightly from 2010.

But the pistol offense might need to take some responsibility too and find a way to lengthen possessions and increase its production.

“I think it’s time for the offense to step up a little bit,” McCullough said. “There’s times where we get a big run against us on defense. We need to turn around and answer.”

VARSITY FOOTBALL 2012 DATE 8/24 8/31 9/07 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19

OPPOSING TEAM St. Mary’s (KC) East High School (KC) Cameron Maryville Chillicothe Smithville Benton Lafayette Savannah

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Ross Martin can be reached at ross.martin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

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A7

Friday, August 24, 2012

City Jamboree Champions

St. Joseph Christian | Lions

Right faces in right places

2012 Central 2011 Benton 2010 cancelled 2009 Lafayette*** 2008 Central 2007 Benton 2006 Benton 2005 Benton 2004 Benton** 2003 Central 2002 Lafayette 2001 Central 2000 Central 1999 Central 1998 Central 1997 Central 1996 Central 1995 Central 1994 Lafayette 1993 Benton 1992 Central 1991 Central 1990 Central 1989 Benton 1988 Lafayette 1987 Central* 1986 Central 1985 Bishop LeBlond 1984 Central 1983 Bishop LeBlond 1982 Bishop LeBlond 1981 Central 1980 Benton 1979 Lafayette 1970 Bishop LeBlond 1969 Christian Brothers 1968 Central 1967 Central 1966 Benton 1965 Central 1964 Central 1963 Central 1962 Central 1961 Benton 1960 Lafayette 1959 Central 1958 Central 1957 Central 1956 Central 1955 Central 1954 Lafayette 1953 Central 1952 Benton 1951 Central 1950 Central 1949 Christian Brothers 1948 Christian Brothers

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

St. Joseph Christian quarterback David Beard runs the ball during an 8-man quarterfinal last year against Mound City. Beard takes the full-time quarterbacking duties this year after splitting time under center with Alex Maudlin the past two seasons.

Juhl looks to rebuild Christian offense despite limited returners

By Matt Gleaves St. Joseph News-Press

St. Joseph Christian may look like a vulnerable, former powerhouse ready to make a slight regression.

To coach Mark Juhl, the Lions remain in capable hands despite losing the bulk of offensive contributors from a year ago — a season that ended with an 11-1 record, one game shy of reaching a fourth straight 8-man Show-Me Bowl.

The strength of this year’s offense should come from familiar faces in more prominent roles.

And Juhl’s ability to tailor his attack to ever-changing personnel. “(The team) has a great attitude this year and are eager to learn and do things right,” Juhl said. “If they learn the fundamentals, we’ll make some great improvements.”

The two biggest returning factors on Christian’s offense played prominent roles last year.

Senior quarterback David Beard assumes full-time status

under center after a rotation with Alex Maudlin the past two seasons. Senior running back Justin Mays shifts from a contributing piece of the backfield to likely the main focus if all goes to plan.

Ultimately, Beard controls the destiny of maintaining the Lions’ lengthy run of dominance.

Beard often served as the change of pace to Maudlin’s hard-nosed running style. The lanky right-hander thrived in passing situations the past two years, leading the Lions through the air with 904 yards and 15 touchdowns last year. The run often came secondary with Beard in the game, but Juhl remains confident in his ability to juggle both sought after skillsets in Juhl’s diverse game plans.

Contributing on the other side of the ball might help Beard adjust to playing more physical.

“I expect good leadership and great effort (from Beard),” Juhl said. “I might expect for him to play some defense as well.

He’s never had to play defense,

and being one of three seniors, he’s going to have to play some defense.”

The other issue for Beard could be a different cast of receivers.

Matt Dahlgren’s 42 catches, 742 yards and 12 touchdowns left via graduation. Overall, players responsible for 90 percent of the receiving production are gone, which returns the narrative to Mays.

The shifty junior caught 19 passes last year out of the backfield, next best behind Dahlgren.

Coupled with his running ability, that makes Mays a dynamic threat for Juhl to utilize. Mays started last year but received significantly fewer carries than leading rusher Jordan Morrison and Maudlin.

Mays brings a more speed-oriented approach but one needed to help Christian’s dynamic offense average 71 points per game last year.

“Its a little bit more pressure not having the other playmakers we had last season, but I feel

confident in the players that we’re putting in,” said Mays, who had 751 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

The only potential downfall to the Lions’ success could be youth.

Juhl’s son Brian Juhl returns on the offensive line, but that’s where most of the varsity experience ends up front. The other two spots could be filled with young, inexperienced players — a scary proposition for many teams.

“We’re going to have to play some freshmen at some positions and I haven’t had to do that for a long time,” Juhl said.

Even with Juhl’s hesitance, don’t expect his opponents to believe in too much of a dropoff.

Christian has never lost more than four games in its 13-year history, much of that a credit to Juhl’s coaching and ability to squeeze the most of the players on his roster.

* Denotes the first year Bishop LeBlond was not included in City Jamboree. ** Denotes first year Central was not included in the City Jamboree, while LeBlond rejoined the same year. *** Denotes first year the Jamboree was moved to preseason and no official winner was announced

Matt Gleaves can be reached at matt.gleaves@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Total championships: Central 31, Benton 11, Bishop LeBlond/Christian Brothers 7, Lafayette 7

St. Joseph Christian School 2012 VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE DATE 8/24 8/31 9/07 9/14 9/21 10/5 10/12

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OPPOSING TEAM North Andrew South Nodaway Sacred Heart Chilhowee Hardin-Central Cair Paravel DeKalb

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A8

Friday, August 24, 2012

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

Dawn of a new era for Missouri football New district format takes effect this year, adds playoff intrigue

By PHIL ERVIN St. Joseph News-Press

High school football fans, ready your calculators.

Starting this evening, the days of simply working toward lateseason district play and comparing records at that point are over.

A complicated, four-tiered points system begins its reign in determining which Missouri High School Activities Associationsanctioned football teams qualify for the state playoffs.

Overall record. Playing up or down a class. Strength of schedule. Point differential.

The mathematical combinations and accompanying nomenclature are enough to make Tony Dudik’s head spin.

“Let’s put it this way: I’m glad Tony Dudik is not involved in calculating that point system,” said the Bishop LeBlond coach of three years.

The new format uses this method to seed every member of each district — most consisting of eight teams — in a

single-elimination tournament to reach Missouri’s big football dance. After increasing from four- and five-team districts, the number of state playoff participants will technically decrease by nearly 3/4 from 32 in Classes 1 through 4 to eight.

All nine regular-season games carry more weight now — not just the fi nal three or four of the season.

Opinions differ on the revamped setup. But for all its complications, fall camps around northwest Missouri haven’t been a whole lot different.

“We haven’t really studied up on it, but we’re not worried about it,” Savannah receiver/safety Tyler Wilt said. “We’re still gonna try to win every game so that doesn’t matter to us.”

A refresher: the state’s districts have expanded from an average of four teams to strictly eight, save for some cases in Class 5 and 8-man. Every team qualifies for its district tournament and is awarded

points throughout the season for wins and losses, playing up or down in classification, opponents’ ratings and scoring margin.

The better your season, the better your seed. District playoff sites are also up for grabs with the higher seeds earning the home dates.

“I like it,” Lafayette coach Paul Woolard said after a recent practice, pointing toward Alumni Stadium. “I’d love to be able to get three games here all through districts.”

Under the old system, teams could — hypothetically — lose all of their games before district play, fi nish fi rst or second in their district and qualify for the postseason. That was during the past four years. Prior to that, only the district winner advanced to the state playoffs.

By doubling the size of the districts and only one winner making the playoffs, the chances to claim a postseason berth become tougher.

The difficulty for squads below

.500 now to make the state playoffs becomes daunting, but the points system could also work against unblemished records.

Conference affi liations, particularly in northwest Missouri, dictate teams’ schedules; a squad in a weak conference but tough district could see an undefeated season defi led with a lower seed and difficult fi rstround district matchup due to strength of schedule and playing smaller teams.

“I don’t know how I feel about that,” said Hamilton coach Dave Fairchild, whose Hornets have reached the past four state playoffs and won back-to-back titles in 2009 (Class 1) and 2010 (Class 2). “I liked the old system. In my personal opinion, we would’ve stayed with what we were doing and just take one team from each district.”

Like it or not, there’s a different dynamic to the high school football season in this state now.

Rather than keep an eye on district opponents during the fall’s earlier stages, players,

coaches and fans can spend every Saturday morning checking out where they stand to be seeded, provided they can withstand the math. MSHSAA will post the district seedings each week on its website.

It’s a new era with new intricacies to be discovered. Some coaches have yet to even form their view on the system, for that reason.

“All I know is it’s a lot better to be a No. 1 seed than it is to be a No. 8 seed, in any type of bracket,” said Maryville coach Matt Webb, who has experience working under a playoff system after 15 years coaching at the Division I-FCS and Division II levels. “So our focus all year is gonna be if we win this next ballgame, how does that get us in a better situation at the end of the year? Well, all I know is to win one game at a time and let that thing play out at the end.”

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

2012-13 MSHSAA DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS 8-MAN FOOTBALL District 1 North Nodaway Rock Port Tarkio West Nodaway Worth County District 2 Craig Mound City Nodaway-Holt South Nodaway Stanberry District 3 DeKalb North Andrew South Holt St. Joseph Christian Stewartsville Union Star District 4 Chilhowee Hardin-Central Norborne Northwest (Hughesville) Southwest Livingston

11-MAN FOOTBALL CLASS 1 District 1 Cabool Chaffee Crystal City Hayti Portageville St. Vincent Thayer Valle Catholic District 2 Greenfield Jasper Liberal Lockwood Marionville McAuley Catholic Miller Pierce City District 3 Adrian Appleton City Archie Drexel Midway Osceola Rich Hill Skyline

Transportation and Law District 4 Cole Camp Concordia Crest Ridge Sacred Heart Santa Fe Sweet Springs Tipton Windsor District 5 Knox County Louisiana North Shelby Paris Schuyler County Scotland County South Shelby Westran District 6 Braymer Fayette Marceline Milan Princeton Putnam County Salisbury Slater District 7 Lone Jack Mid-Buchanan North Platte Orrick St. Mary’s (Independence) Wellington-Napoleon Wentworth Military Academy West Platte District 8 Albany East Buchanan Gallatin King City Maysville Hamilton Polo South Harrison CLASS 2 District 1 Caruthersville Charleston East Prairie Grandview (Hillsboro) Jefferson (Festus) Malden Scott City St. Pius X (Festus) District 2 Brentwood Carnahan Cleveland NJROTC Herculaneum Lutheran North Maplewood-Richmond Hts. Principia

District 3 Cuba Fair Grove Houston Liberty (Mountain View) Mountain Grove Pleasant Hope Strafford Willow Springs District 4 Ash Grove Butler Diamond El Dorado Springs Lamar Sarcoxie Stockton Warsaw District 5 Bowling Green Clark County Clopton Highland Mark Twain Monroe City Palmyra Van-Far District 6 Blair Oaks Father Tolton Regional Catholic Hallsville Hermann Lutheran (St. Peters) Montgomery County North Callaway South Callaway District 7 ACE At Southeast Derrick Thomas Academy Holden Knob Noster Lafayette County Sherwood St. Paul Lutheran University Academy District 8 Bishop LeBlond Brookfield Carrollton Lathrop Lawson Lexington Plattsburg Trenton CLASS 3 District 1 Central (New Madrid County) Central (Park Hills)

Dexter Fredericktown Kennett Lift for Life Academy Potosi Ste. Genevieve District 2 Bishop DuBourg Cardinal Ritter Confluence Prep John Burroughs John F. Kennedy Owensville Soldan International Studies St. James District 3 Ava Buffalo Eldon Logan-Rogersville Osage Salem Springfield Catholic Versailles District 4 Aurora Cassville East Newton Hollister Monett Mt. Vernon Reeds Spring Seneca District 5 Christian Duchesne McCluer South-Berkeley Orchard Farm Sumner Trinity Catholic Winfield Wright City District 6 Boonville California Centralia Chillicothe Fulton Macon Missouri Military Academy Southern Boone County District 7 Center Clinton Hogan Prep O’Hara Oak Grove Odessa Pembroke Hill Southwest Early College Campus

District 8 Cameron Central (Kansas City) East (Kansas City) Lincoln Prep Maryville KC Northeast Richmond St. Pius X (Kansas City) CLASS 4 District 1 Central (Cape Girardeau) DeSoto Farmington Festus Hillsboro North County Perryville Sikeston District 2 Affton Imagine Prep Lutheran South Miller Career Academy Roosevelt St. Mary’s (St. Louis) Vashon Windsor (Imperial) District 3 Ladue Horton Watkins Pacific Priory St. Clair St. Francis Borgia Sullivan Union Westminster Christian District 4 Carl Junction Carthage Hillcrest Marshfield McDonald County Republic Webb City West Plains District 5 Clayton Gateway Jennings MICDS Normandy St. Charles St. Charles West University City District 6 Hannibal Helias Catholic Kirksville Marshall

Mexico Moberly St. Dominic Warrenton District 7 Bolivar Grain Valley Grandview Harrisonville Nevada Pleasant Hill Raytown South Warrensburg District 8 Benton Excelsior Springs Lafayette (St. Joseph) Liberty North Platte County Savannah Smithville Van Horn CLASS 5 District 1 Fox Jackson Poplar Bluff Rockwood Summit Seckman Vianney District 2 Chaminade Hazelwood East Kirkwood McCluer McCluer North Riverview Gardens Webster Groves District 3 Fort Zumwalt East Fort Zumwalt North Fort Zumwalt South Holt Parkway Central Parkway North Parkway West District 4 Camdenton Lebanon Rolla Smith-Cotton Washington Waynesville District 5 Branson Glendale Kickapoo Neosho

Nixa Ozark District 6 Belton Central (Springfield) Lee’s Summit West Parkview Ruskin Willard District 7 Fort Osage North Kansas City Raytown Truman William Chrisman Winnetonka District 8 Central (St. Joseph) Kearney Oak Park Park Hill Park Hill South Staley CLASS 6 District 1 Eureka Lafayette (Wildwood) Lindbergh Marquette Mehlville Northwest (Cedar Hill) Oakville Parkway South District 2 CBC DeSmet Francis Howell North Hazelwood Central Hazelwood West Pattonville Ritenour St. Louis University District 3 Francis Howell Francis Howell Central Ft. Zumwalt West Hickman Jefferson City Rock Bridge Timberland Troy Buchanan District 4 Blue Springs Blue Springs South Joplin Lee’s Summit Lee’s Summit North Liberty Raymore-Peculiar Rockhurst

A9

Friday, August 24, 2012

MID-BUCHANAN | Dragons

now-and-later quarterback Mid-Buchanan coach turning to youth under center in effort to stabilize for 2012, beyond

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson St. Joseph News-Press

FAUCETT, Mo. — Playing quarterback at Mid-Buchanan has been anything but settled the past few years.

Not because the signal-caller has been inconsistent or unreliable but because the Dragons have graduated three starters the past three seasons. In order to gain success, the Dragons are trying to find a guy who will be on the roster for more than just the 2012 season to take the snaps this year.

So this summer, Mid-Buchanan coach Randy Williams staged a three-man quarterback race to see who would take the first crack at leading the Dragons down the field this year.

None are seniors.

“I think we’ve got a couple guys that can throw the ball and some better receivers that are faster this year,” said Williams, who enters his second season as the Dragons head coach after a 3-7 inaugural campaign. “One of my good friends in the coaching world told me that I’d be smarter in November than I was in August, and he was exactly right.

I learned a lot in that first year.

“We’re a lot more prepared as a staff, as a team and myself. We are miles ahead this year now than we were last year this time.”

Junior Colton Hoffman, sophomore Dalton Robinson and freshman Jake Meikel fought for the quarterback postion this summer.

Robinson took a slight edge early and won the top spot. Williams believed he couldn’t lose, knowing he would get at least two years out of any of the candidates. Robinson gives him the potential of three.

Mid-Buchanan has to go back to 2009 when it last played a returning starter. That season, Drew Gray controlled the offense, taking his team to the Class 1 quarterfinals. After Gray graduated, Nick Andriano led Mid-Buchanan to a 6-4 record.

That’s where the continuity broke down.

“Here’s the deal,” Williams

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Mid-Buchanan’s Alex Burkhart takes a snap in a game last season. Burkhart will shift to a full-time wide receiver spot this year. said, “Drew was in his third full year as a starter. That correlates straight to why they were so good in ’09. Of course then you got a good kid like Nick (Andriano) that follows it up, and Nick learned from Drew, and Nick was real good.”

But Andriano and the 2011 class left and took a lot of championship experience with it.

Williams took over and put senior Dylan Bullimore under center after he spent the first part of his high school career as a running back. Those traits

showed in Bullimore’s 1,500yard rushing season, but the Dragons struggled to move the ball through the air.

Starting Bullimore came with its complications, coupling a one-year quarterback with a new playbook and inexperienced players in key spots.

With the playbook ingrained in the returning players who gained valuable experience, the Dragons hope to find success in the new recipe. Grant Schottel gives Mid-Buchanan a solid running option behind the

inexperienced quarterbacks that could help create lanes running and passing for the signal-caller.

“I’d say optimistic, but intertwined with positives,” said senior lineman Jake Lawhon, the Dragons’ vocal leader. “Last year, Dylan Bullimore was a running back; let’s be honest.

But we like to throw the ball, and we really couldn’t do that.”

The losses beat some players down last year, and Schottel believes a renewed focus on playing the right way could help.

Williams said last year’s conscious decision to play younger kids and struggle in an effort to gain experience will help his team out this season, along with having a more legitimate passing threat.

“If they don’t care, you’re not going to win,” said Schottel, who also plays linebacker. “If everyone performs the way they can, we’ll be alright.”

Thomas Huitt-Johnson can be reached at thomas.hj@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Mid-Buchanan DRAGONS

Mid-Buchanan Varsity Football 2012 DATE 8/24 8/31 9/07 9/14 9/21

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A10

Friday, August 24, 2012

EAST BUCHANAN | Bulldogs

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

East Buchanan’s Eddie Kilgore looks for running room against Lawson last season. Kilgore will take over for graduated Cory Bower at quarterback this year.

kilgore ready to lead new era Junior shifts from running back to quarterback, takes on task of following up Bower’s run in Gower

By Matt Gleaves St. Joseph News-Press

GOWER, Mo. — Arguably the best player in East Buchanan history won’t be on the field this season — at least not physically.

Cory Bower, who accounted for 4,339 yards of total offense last season, passed the torch onto what some might call an unlikely successor. Junior Eddie Kilgore, who started out as a quarterback his freshman year before lining up next to Bower in the backfield last season, made the switch back under center for the upcoming campaign.

Kilgore chose to ask Bower for some help in how to run the Bulldogs’ spread offense “I’ve worked with Cory a lot in the offseason, and I feel like I have a pretty good view of (the offense),” said Kilgore, who accounted for 289 rushing yards last season as the best running back. “I just have to work on some timing and get back into the rhythm (of playing quarterback).”

Kilgore observed the spread offense from his running back spot, often watching Bower cut up the field

for big rushing yardage. When Bower didn’t tuck and run, the East Buchanan pass offense blistered opponents for big gains.

Bower’s exploits led the Bulldogs to a Class 1 semifinal berth — their first since 2004.

The quarterback successes have become common under current coach Kevin Bryan, but to make a return playoff push, East Buchanan likely needs a host of players to help fill Bower’s production. The 2004 team relied on a bevy of skill players and a more pass-oriented attack, but Bower took the brunt of the offense on his shoulders last year.

“We’ll probably spread out the ball more in key situations this year instead of relying on just one player like we did with Cory,” Bryan said. “Hopefully, we can spread the ball out and maybe spread defenses out a little bit more, too.”

Kilgore can help fill the rushing void, but the pass game will endure larger questions.

Dyson Reno, the only returning receiver, will likely be a primary target after compiling 19 catches for 289 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2011. With leading receiver Brandon McNeely gone as well,

Reno leads a cast of inexperienced receivers in the spread offense.

However, Bryan couldn’t be more excited and with good reason. He has a chance to rebuild.

McNeely became a primary focus for Bower late in last year’s 12-2 season, accruing 89 catches for 1,350 yards and 14 touchdowns in a breakout campaign. The Bulldogs’ explosive offense at times found trouble in the final two playoff games of the 12-2 season, struggling to find secondary options.

Admittedly, East Buchanan’s lack of experience on the perimeter is somewhat of a concern for Bryan, but it also gives some players that have improved a chance to make an impact.

That starts with adjusting to a new quarterback with a different skillset from Bower. Different and maybe not better, but hopefully just as effective. “(Kilgore’s) throws are a little bit slower but the accuracy is there and the ball is good so it will definitely get the job done,” Reno said.

Matt Gleaves can be reached at matt.gleaves@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

EAST BUCHANAN BULLDOGS 2012 Football Schedule East Buchanan C-I School District DATE 8/24 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19

OPPONENT Crest Ridge South Harrison West Platte Plattsburg Mid-Buchanan Lawson North Platte Lathrop Hamilton

HOME/AWAY Home Away Home Away Home Away Home Away Home

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A11

Friday, August 24, 2012

Plattsburg | Tigers

Built in Wilson’s preferred image After hiatus from high school jobs, coach returns in attempt to resurrect Plattsburg’s fading tradition

By Ross Martin St. Joseph News-Press

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Derek Wilson, seen here coaching Benton in 2007, takes over at Plattsburg, his first job since leaving Benton after the 2007 season.

PLATTSBURG, Mo. — When Derek Wilson arrived at Plattsburg, a few key pieces stood out.

The St. Joseph native started sorting them out as soon as he took his first coaching job since leaving Benton following the 2007 season. That tenure fell apart in his final season with a 2-8 campaign and the Cardinals running a spread offense — not the typical look for Wilson’s teams.

Wilson wants to run the ball, and Plattsburg possesses the perfect quarterback-fullbackleft guard combo to revive Wilson’s flexbone offense.

“Toward the tail end there at Benton, we got away from what we really knew best,” Wilson said. “We just thought, based upon the personnel we had, that that was a good idea. But yes, we’ve gone right back to not small-time or less intricate, certainly, because the triple option is a very detailed offense, but it’s what I believe in.

“It allows us to be physical and control the football.”

In Plattsburg, sophomore LeAaron Hicks takes the quarterback role. The 6-foot, 235-pound physical phenom will often hand off to 6-1, 220-pound senior fullback Andrew Dickerson.

Both will often slot in behind 6-4, 280-pound senior left guard Jordon Filbeck.

Wilson couldn’t ask for a better base to start his Plattsburg era. He inherits a team with only three wins in Andy McNeely’s final two seasons, including a 1-9 2011 that concluded with seven straight losses. The Tigers went 14-28 under McNeely, who resigned to take on athletic director duties, and went to the playoffs twice. Plattsburg has not won a district title since 2003.

The first step in Wilson’s plan must be to instill a sense of belief in starting fresh.

“Plattsburg has a storied football tradition,” Wilson said.

“This really has always been, until very recently, a football mecca. And this town loves football. They have been down here a little bit, but these kids know what good football is.”

Wilson accrued a 27-25 record in five years at Benton, leading the Cardinals to the playoffs three straight times (2004-2006).

The span included a Class 4 semifinal berth.

After inheriting a strong sophomore class, Wilson quickly built a powerful team and maintained it.

The situation at Plattsburg couldn’t be more similar, if only a bit smaller. The Class 2 Tigers have four sophomore starters

— three on the offensive line — and the pieces in place to make this a starting point, not a oneyear patch job before starting to rebuild again.

“They’re just a bunch of really good kids,” Wilson said, “just like we had in the South End who were, to be quite honest, sick of losing. They’re tough. They’re just inherently pretty tough. (At Benton), they bought in to what we were selling with regards to training and working hard.

“That’s just something they’ve never done here (at Plattsburg).

They’d never done it at Benton when I got there. It’s so similar on so many fronts.”

That starts with Hicks at quarterback.

A starter from the outset as a freshman, he only played the final few games at quarterback last year and ran for 238 yards.

The Tigers as a team managed just more than 1,000 yards, the most coming from Dickerson.

That number needs to go up, and Hicks doesn’t mind the pressure of pulling the strings on Wilson’s system.

“I like the pressure. I like it,” Hicks said. “I wasn’t ready for it last year, but now I’m ready for it. I’ll put the team on my back and lead the way.”

Ross Martin can be reached at ross.martin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

MISSOURI PLAYOFF HISTORY KEY: Team name, No. of playoff appearances (dates), No. of state titles (dates) Midland Empire Conference Benton — 10 (1987-90-91-92-93-96-99-2004-05-06), 0 (none) Bishop LeBlond — 4 (1982-83-84-93), 0 (none) Cameron — 6 (1986-87-89-95-2004-05), 1 (2005) Chillicothe — 25 (1970-72-76-78-83-85-86-87-88-89-91-93-9496-97-98-99-2000-01-02-03-06-08-09-11), 5 (1970, 1972, 1978, 1985, 1991) Lafayette — 15 (1977-78-82-84-85-88-89-91-92-93-94-95-98-0809), 0 (none) Maryville — 11 (1982-83-87-91-92-96-2004-08-09-10-11), 2 (1982, 2009) Savannah — 4 (1997, 2009-10-11), 0 (none) Smithville — 12 (1969-71-78-84-86-94-95-96-97-2001-08-10), 0 (none) KCI Conference East Buchanan — 13 (1975-78-85-88-92-93-99-2000-02-04-0810-11), 0 (none) Hamilton — 10 (1986-87-90-91-93-96-08-09-10-11), 2 (2009, 2010) Lathrop — 6 (1971-81-83-87-98-2007), 0 (none) Lawson — 16 (1970-77-82-83-88-97-99-2003-04-05-06-07-08-0910-11), 1 (2007) Mid-Buchanan — 2 (2003-09), 0 (none) North Platte — 6 (1988-90-94-95-98-2009), 1 (1998)

Plattsburg — 19 (1979-80-84-85-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-972000-01-02-03-08-09), 1 (1979) West Platte — 10 (1968-73-82-2001-05-06-07-08-10-11), 2 (2001, 2005) Grand River Conference Albany — 7 (1988-89-90-91-92-96-11), 0 (none) Braymer — 5 (1992-2000-01-08-09), 0 (none) Gallatin — 11 (1980-81-82-83-88-95-97-98-2004-05-06), 0 (none) King City — 7 (1974-77-2002-08-09-10-11), 0 (none) Maysville — 8 (1984-85-89-92-98-2005-07-08), 0 (none) Polo — 10 (1984-85-86-91-97-98-2002-03-10-11), 0 (none) Princeton — 12 (1968-69-76-78-79-96-2002-03-07-08-09-10), 1 (1968) South Harrison — 6 (1985-99-2000-01-10-11), 0 (none) Tarkio — 12 (1968-71-75-76-85-86-91-93-94-95-2002-10), 1 (1971) Highway 275 Conference Craig — 0 (none), 0 (none) Fairfax — 3 (1972-94-96), 1 (1994) Mound City — 17 (1973-79-80-89-98-99-2000-01-02-03-05-0607-08-09-10-11), 6 (1999, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010) Nodaway-Holt — 8 (1980-81-82-83-90-91-95-2009), 2 (1990, 1991) North Nodaway — 5 (1982-83-89-90-2003), 1 (1989)

Rock Port — 22 (1970-77-78-80-81-84-85-86-87-88-89-90-97-992000-01-03-04-06-08-09-10), 2 (1984, 1985) South Holt — 7 (1987-88-92-93-97-2004-11), 4 (1988, 1992, 1993, 2004) Stanberry — 6 (1992-2004-08-09-10-11), 0 (none) West Nodaway — 6 (1979-88-91-93-94-08), 0 (none) Worth County — 15 (1981-84-95-96-97-98-99-2000-01-05-06-0709-10-11), 6 (1995, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011) Platte Valley Conference DeKalb — 9 (1989-95-96-97-98-99-2002-03-09), 1 (2002) North Andrew — 14 (1988-90-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-2000-0203-08-10) — 3 (1993, 1996, 1997) South Nodaway — 2 (1991-92), 1 (1992) Southwest Livingston — 3 (1990-94-11), 0 (none) Stewartsville — 3 (2004-05-08), 0 (none) Union Star — 1 (1989), 0 (none) Independents/Other Central — 3 (1985-95-2011), 0 (none) Platte County — 17 (1984-86-90-94-95-97-99-2000-01-02-0305-06-07-08-10-11), 3 (2000, 2001, 2002) St. Joseph Christian — 9 (2001-04-05-06-07-08-09-10-11), 1 (2006) Trenton — 6 (1990-98-2007-08-10-11), 0 (none)

Plattsburg Tigers Plattsburg Varsity Football 2012 Date

Opponent

Location

Time

8/24

Northeast Law

Home

7 p.m.

8/31

St. Mary’s (KC)

Away

7 p.m.

9/07

Lawson

Away

7 p.m.

9/14

East Buchanan

Home

7 p.m.

9/21

Hamilton

Home

7 p.m.

9/28

Mid-Buchanan

Away

7 p.m.

10/5

Lathrop

Home

7 p.m.

10/12

West Platte

Away

7 p.m.

10/19

North Platte

Home

7 p.m.

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A12

Friday, August 24, 2012

HaMILTON | Hornets

Successful Hamilton program breeds confidence, poise

By Phil Ervin St. Joseph News-Press

HAMILTON, Mo. — There’s a defining expression that’s become associated with Hamilton football.

Hornets coach Dave Fairchild sports it every time he steps on a field, practice or game. It’s channeled down to his players, who make it plainly visible when talk turns toward this season.

Stoic, humble, head-down resoluteness.

The kind that allows them to look opponents, a change of scenery and a scathingly disappointing finish in the eye undaunted.

“It’s controlled, but very high,” tight/end linebacker Jalen Richman said in reference to his team’s confidence entering the 2012 campaign. “If you go out there with any doubt, you’re already an underdog.”

Born from a staunch recent history, the Hamilton program’s mettle is rarely shaken.

A 51-2 record the past four seasons and a pair of state titles at different classification levels have entrenched the notion that there is no insurmountable opposition.

“Our expectation is that when we step on the field, we expect to win,” said Fairchild, who returns seven offensive starters and six on defense from last year’s Class 2 quarterfinalist.

“That’s what we want to instill

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Hamilton running back Derrick Hughes runs past Lawson defensive back Austin Simmons in a game last season at Lawson High School. in our players. Whether that happens all the time or not doesn’t make any difference.

That’s what we expect to do.”

Joining a new league after 62 years in another and transitioning back to Missouri’s smallest 11-man classification, all under a new playoff format, don’t seem to faze Fairchild or those in his charge, either.

After more than half-century in the Grand River Conference, Hamilton switches to the KCI Conference starting this fall. Former GRC rivals South Harrison (tonight) and Gallatin (next Friday) remain on the schedule, but

it’s a new era for the Hornets in regard to their league affiliation.

And after originally being tabbed the smallest team in Class 2, Hamilton learned in the spring it’d be the largest Class 1 school after the Missouri State High School Activities Association did some shuffling.

As might be expected, there’s not been much talk of change this offseason.

“I don’t think it’s really any different,” said senior running back Derrick Hughes, who rushed for 2,115 yards last season and earned Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association

Class 2 all-state first-team honors. “We’re still playing it gameby-game; that doesn’t make it any easier or any harder.”

The loss of tight end/defensive end and 2011 News-Press defensive player of the year T.J. Schieber hurts, to be sure, but the Hornets possessed so much youth last season — starting with quarterback Drew Finch and running back/defensive back Kellen Overstreet, both sophomores this fall — had even Fairchild a bit surprised at his team’s 12-1 season.

A 42-0 drubbing at the hands of eventual state runner-up

Lafayette County in the playoffs didn’t chip away at the Hornets’ moxie much, either.

It only wounded their pride.

“We look at it as an embarrassment,” Richman said.

So with change swirling around the Hamilton program, don’t expect its workmanlike demeanor to go anywhere.

“Our practices and our preparation is a business-like affair,” Fairchild said. “Emotion will carry you only so far.”

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

KCI conference Preseason capsules EAST BUCHANAN ❯❯ Coach — Kevin Bryan, 6th year, 38-21 (65-38 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 12-2 (5-1 in KCI) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 1 semifinal vs. South Shelby ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Cory Bower (1,455 yards rushing, 26 TDs); Cory Bower (2,884 yards passing, 29 TDs); Brandon McNeely (1,350 yards receiving, 14 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Cory Bower, WR Brandon McNeely ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/LB Jace Zeit, sr.; OL/DE Ben Frazier, sr.; WR/LB Dyson Reno, sr.; QB/ DB Eddie Kilgore, jr.; OL/DL Alex Ray, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Crest Ridge; A31 at South Harrison; S7 vs West Platte; S14 at Plattsburg; S21 vs. Mid-Buchanan; S28 at Lawson; O5 at North Platte; O12 at Lathrop; O19 vs. Hamilton

HAMILTON ❯❯ Coach — Dave Fairchild, 26th year, 194-78 (204-97 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 12-1 (7-0 in GRC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 2 quarterfinal vs. Lafayette County ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Derrick Hughes (2,115 yards rushing, 30 TDs); Drew Finch (325 yards

passing, 6 TDs); Kellen Overstreet (288 yards receiving, 4 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — OL/DL Dakota Gray, TE/DE T.J. Schieber ❯❯ Returning starters — 7 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — TE/LB Jalen Richman, sr.; RB/LB Devan Hughes, sr.; RB/DL Derrick Hughes, sr.; RB/DB Kellen Overstreet, so.; OL/DL Matt Lapiana, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. South Harrison; A31 at Gallatin; S7 vs.

Lathrop; S14 at Mid-Buchanan; S21 at Plattsburg; S28 vs. West Platte; O5 vs. Lawson; O12 at North Platte; O19 at East Buchanan

LATHROP ❯❯ Coach — Mike Thompson, 2nd year, 4-6 ❯❯ 2011 record — 4-6 (2-4 in KCI) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Carl Brunner (1,027 yards rushing, 15 TDs); Collin Haahr (338 yards passing, 3 TDs); Brandon Stimelsky (182 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Carl Brunner, QB/DB Collin Haahr, OL/DL Tyler Berg ❯❯ Returning starters — 5 on offense, 7 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB Robert Askren, jr.; QB/DE Brandon

Maddick, sr.; RB/LB Josh Hartzell, jr.; WR/DB Brandon Stimelsky, sr.; OL Trey Bennett, sr.; DL Carl Sims, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at King City; A31 vs. Polo; S7 at Hamilton; S21 vs.

Lawson; S28 at North Platte; O5 at Plattsburg; O12 vs. East Buchanan; O19 vs. Mid-Buchanan

LAWSON ❯❯ Coach — Todd Dunn, 16th year, 130-40 ❯❯ 2011 record — 9-3 (5-1 in KCI) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 2 sectional vs. Hamilton ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Johnnie Sutphin (568 yards rushing, 6 TDs); Blake Edwards (649 yards passing, 9 TDs); Austin Simmons (386 yards receiving, 3 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB/DB Garrison Green, WR/DB Austin Simmons, OL/DL Jake Short, OL/DL Dylan Morris, WR Alex Shelton, OL/ DL Nick Bozarth, RB/DB Johnnie Sutphin, RB/LB Jacob Gamber ❯❯ Returning starters — 8 on offense, 8 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB Benton Maddux, sr.; QB/DB Blake Edwards, sr.; OL/DL Justin Blevins, jr.; TE/DB Drake Mortimer, sr.; OL/DL Kendall Saunders, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Maryville; A31 at Richmond; S7 vs. Plattsburg; S14 vs. North Platte; S21 at Lathrop; S28 vs. East Buchanan;

O5 at Hamilton; O12 vs. MidBuchanan; O19 at West Platte

Levi Hill (750 yards passing); Brandon Craft (200 yards receiving) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Zach Emmendorfer, OL/DL B.R. Wenzel, OL/DL Nathan Hale ❯❯ Returning starters — 8 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/LB Levi Hill, sr.; RB/DB Brandon Craft, sr.; RB/ DB Kameron Poepping, sr.; OL/ DL Mitch Adams, sr.; OL/LB John White, sr.; TE/DL Ryan Willy, sr.; FB/LB Wyatt Mullendore, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Gallatin; A31 vs. Derrick Thomas Academy; S7 vs. Mid-Buchanan; S14 at Lawson; S21 at West Platte; S28 vs. Lathrop; O5 at East Buchanan; O12 vs. Hamilton; O19 at Plattsburg

MID-BUCHANAN ❯❯ Coach — Randy Williams, 2nd year, 3-7 ❯❯ 2011 record — 3-7 (1-5 in KCI) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Dylan Bullimore (1,442 yards rushing, 9 TDs); Dylan Bullimore (651 yards passing, 5 TDs); Cooper Roberts (306 yards receiving, 3 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB/LB Dylan Bullimore, WR/DB Cooper Roberts, OL/DL Michael Ahrens ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB Grant Schottel, jr.; OL/DL Jacob Lawhon, sr.; WR/DB Jimmy Scott, sr.; WR/DB Alex Burkhart, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Orrick; A31 vs. Maysville; S7 at North Platte; S14 vs. Hamilton; S21 at East Buchanan; S28 vs. Plattsburg; O5 vs. West Platte; O12 at Lawson; O19 at Lathrop

PLATTSBURG ❯❯ Coach — Derek Wilson, 1st year, (27-25 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 1-9 (1-5 in KCI) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Andrew Dickerson (363 yards rushing, 3 TDs); Robert Querrey (256 yards passing, 1 TD); Trevor Jones (186 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — OL Michael Pierson, DB Chad Elder ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 8 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — WR/DB Trevor

NORTH PLATTE ❯❯ Coach — Jim Brockhoff, 8th year, 37-35 ❯❯ 2011 record — 6-4 (2-4 in KCI) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Zach Emmendorfer (1,400 yards rushing);

North Platte

Jones, sr.; OL/DL Jordon Filbeck, sr.; RB/DB Rikki Ramirez, sr.; DL Josh Fernandez, sr.; QB/LB LeAaron Hicks, so.; RB Andrew Dickerson, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. KC Northeast; A31 at St. Mary’s; S7 at Lawson; S14 vs. East Buchanan; S21 vs. Hamilton; S28 at MidBuchanan; O5 vs. Lathrop; O12 at West Platte; O19 vs. North Platte

WEST PLATTE ❯❯ Coach — Chuck Siler, 4th year, 25-9 ❯❯ 2011 record — 8-4 (5-1 in KCI) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-1 in district play; lost Class 1 sectional vs. East Buchanan ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Dylan Guthrie (1,500 yards rushing, 19 TDs); Luke Wetzel (2,800 yards passing, 28 TDs); Adam Roe (750 yards receiving, 7 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Luke Wetzel, OL/DL Todd Brown, WR/DB Seth Rulon, TE Adam Roe ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/DB Dylan Guthrie, sr.; WR/DB Matt Heili, sr.; RB/LB Colton Goodlet, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Lincoln Prep; A31 vs. Wellington-Napoleon; S7 at East Buchanan; S14 at Lathrop; S21 vs. North Platte; S28 at Hamilton; O5 at Mid-Buchanan; O12 vs. Plattsburg; O19 vs.

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b section

Out with the old In with the new MEC coaching fraternity takes on new look with trio of fresh faces more

See page C2-4 Get the full schedule of area high school games, divided by conference

see Pages B5

The GRC moves forward without Hamilton, with Braymer starting this season

see Page B6

Riverside looks to build upon historic 1st season, starts new era as Class 3A school

see Page B8

B2

Friday, August 24, 2012

Maryville | Spoofhounds

Expectations remain high under new coach Webb Spoofhounds retain state-championship aspirations as former player takes over storied program

By Phil Ervin St. Joseph News-Press

MARYVILLE, Mo. — There’s been no shell shock involved in Matt Webb’s return to Maryville.

The Spoofhounds’ practice field looks a bit different 20 years after he last prepared for a season on it; he’s looking through the sky-blue lenses of metal-frame sunglasses rather than a hard, metal facemask.

But the defining characteristic of the former college assistant’s hometown hasn’t changed since his playing days in the early ’90s: the community’s ravenous craving for high school football success.

“It was expected from me,” said Webb, who took over after 15 years as a collegiate assistant at Southwest Baptist, Southeast Missouri State and Southeastern Louisiana. “It wasn’t a surprise. I knew what they were looking for.

“This is a unique place.

You’re kind of up here in the middle of nowhere, and these people are football fanatics.”

The pressure from this town of about 12,000 residents has only increased in the past decade under coach Chris Holt, who left during the offseason for Class 5 Oak Park.

A 59-15 record, four district championships, four state quarterfinal appearances and a Show-Me Bowl trophy in six years will do that.

Tonight’s tilt at Lawson opens up a pivotal year for the Maryville team-fanbase relationship; Webb inherits a host of returning talent, and the players are determined to do well by their supporters, especially in the wake of an alleged offseason incident involving team members.

This is a unique place. You’re kind of up here in the middle of nowhere, and these people are football fanatics. — Matt Webb, head coach for the Maryville Spoofhounds

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Maryville running back Trent Nally tries to break a tackle during the Spoofhounds’ 21-14 overtime loss against Savannah last year at Savage Field. Nally and two other players return in the Spoofhounds’ backfield this year.

“I feel like the bar’s been set pretty high for us,” senior cornerback Joe Schreck said. “I feel like we need to go pretty far to make the town happy.”

Nine starters, including second-team All-Midland Empire Conference quarterback Jonathan Baker, return from an offense that scored 41.4 points per game on the way to a three-way tie for the MEC championship. Division I recruit Jackson Morrison and fellow physical specimen Caleb Mather spearhead a mammoth offensive line.

A new head coach doesn’t mean Maryville’s patented no-huddle, Wing-T

philosophy is going anywhere. There will be some tweaks, but the last thing Webb wants to do is reinvent the wheel when the vehicle in question runs like a Mercedes-Benz.

“There’s three types of programs you can inherit,” Webb said. “One that needs to be turned around and fixed, one that has success that has to be continued — and that’s the one I have — and then you have recent success but now has failed. This is the program that has had a successful run, and there’s some things you don’t change.”

Maryville’s prowess up front dictates a few more

alterations on the defensive side of the ball.

With big guys like Morrison and Mather playing both ways, Webb felt it beneficial to switch from the 3-4 alignment used under Holt and clog things up more in a 4-3 set on the line of scrimmage.

The Spoofhounds’ mindset has been renewed as well, according to Morrison.

“We’re bringing just a new level of intensity,” said the junior, who’s received interest from Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa and Iowa State.

“Last year, we had kind of a bend-but-don’t-break defense, but this year we

want to take it to them and be more aggressive, swarm to the ball really well.”

Seven defensive starters return, but a pair of difference-makers do not.

The school district prohibited all-conference linebackers Cole Forney and Jordan Zech from all athletic activity after their alleged involvement in a January party. Forney, whose father drew attention to the situation by posting signs in his front yard ridiculing the administration and its decision, earned his diploma over the summer and is listed on Northwest Missouri State’s roster, while

Zech is still at Maryville.

Zech was said to have used his cell phone to record senior teammate Matt Barnett have sex with a 14-year-old girl late on Jan. 8 or early Jan. 9.

Criminal charges involving the incident were dropped in March, but the school chose to uphold the suspensions.

Forney was never charged but admitted to being present at the party.

Not enjoyable circumstances for Webb to walk into, especially given the community’s ties to its football team.

“That situation that happened was unfortunate, and what we’re talking about as a team is how can we move forward and make this the very best,” Webb said. “What’s done is done, and we’ve put that behind us and we’re gonna focus on what we can accomplish from this point forward.”

That’s included several community service projects and at-home meetings between Webb and the parents of each Spoofhounds senior.

The get-togethers weren’t only in response to what happened, but a chance to open lines of communication with some of the team’s most important constituents.

“Being able to sit in their homes … you get a different feel for what they’re about as a player and as a family and what they expect,” said Webb, who grew accustomed to such encounters as Southeastern Louisiana’s recruiting coordinator for two years.

After all, expectations are of great importance in Maryville.

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

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Friday, August 24, 2012

SAVANNAH | Savages

Savages confident in spite of question marks

By Phil Ervin St. Joseph News-Press

SAVANNAH, Mo. — On the surface, Savannah’s 2012 football campaign appears full of uncertainty.

Five returning starters. A new head coach with altered schemes. An always-competitive conference and a new playoff system where no sure-fire contender is safe.

Good luck gathering any trepidation from the Savages’ core returners, though.

“It’s not like a big transfer,” offensive tackle/defensive end Logan Holland said. “It’s a little bit different, but the technique stuff, the excitement, it’s all there. It’s not gonna affect us at all.”

Savannah enters autumn with perhaps the highest expectations in program history after a run to the Class 4 semifinals. Only one other Savages squad (1997) made it that far, and the taste of such success has Holland and his teammates aching for more.

Getting there won’t be without some growing pains.

A whopping 23 seniors graduated following the Savages’ heartbreaking, last-second loss to eventual state champion Webb City in the semis. Zane Wilt, brother and receiver Tyler Wilt and Holland return with a revamped, pistol-formation offense to learn and an insurgence of youth to work into the fold.

Defensively, only Tyler Wilt — a first-team all-state safety last season — Holland, linebacker Logan Garrett and lineman Tucker McDonald bring back any starting experience.

“These guys, they’ve been waiting for their opportunity,” first-year coach Chad Smith said. “I really think they’re gonna show up and they’re gonna surprise a lot of people.”

Smith takes the reins from Mark Cole after five years as Savannah’s defensive coordinator.

As familiarity goes, the continuity’s proven beneficial, but there have been changes around Savage Field this offseason. Tougher conditioning. Less horsing around. An increased emphasis on chemistry.

“I feel like we’re gonna be in a lot more shape physically than last year,” said Garrett, who also plays fullback. “I feel like we’re a lot more focused on the field.

We’re not joking around as much as we were last year.

That was a big problem.”

Savannah will stick with the veer option as its base offense, but with more balance and multiplicity with Zane Wilt a few feet behind center. Defensively, the Savages will stay in the 3-4, but nine new players have varsity responsibilities to learn.

Newcomers to keep an eye on include running back Corey Coburn, tight end/defensive end Trevor

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Savannah lineman Logan Garrett tries to signal possession following a fumble during last year’s Class 4 semifinal loss to Webb City.

Tittsworth and linebackers Max Aldrich, Dallas Vulgamott, Brett Ussary and Jake Humphrey.

After splitting the Midland Empire Conference title with Maryville and Smithville last season, the Savages are aware how taxing their road could be.

“One thing we learned last year,” Smith said, “anybody can beat us. We’re gonna focus on taking it one game at a time. Each opponent, understanding and learning them right as the season progresses.”

All Missouri teams qualify for district postseason play under the state’s new playoff format, too, making seeding and late-season focus imperative.

Memories of blowing a sizable halftime lead late against Webb City have provided the motivation this summer, with Savannah players sporting T-shirts with “Unfinished Business” across the chest.

Not what might be expected from a group with so many fresh faces.

“It feels pretty normal, actually,” Tyler Wilt said. “I don’t know that it’s going to be that different. I think we’ve got a lot of guys coming up that are just as good.”

Phil Ervin can be reached at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

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A4

Friday, August 24, 2012

Benton | Cardinals

New attack carries Benton into new era

By Sam Robinson St. Joseph News-Press

Matt Tabor’s not resurrecting an old idea in his most daring experiment since assuming command at Benton five years ago.

There are no old playbooks of his that contained the framework of the offense he’ll have the Cardinals operating this season, but he knew coming in that the 40-pass-attempt games are no longer going to appear in Benton box scores — at least for now.

“I’ll be hard-pressed to think we’ll throw it more than eight, 10 times a game this year,” Tabor said.

Instead, the Cardinals (4-6, 2-5 Midland Empire Conference in 2011) plan to deploy the triple-option offense, nearly the polar opposite of the spread attack Benton’s used since Tabor’s arrival. The switch means Benton’s veterans, junior varsity promotees and coaching staff entered summer’s developmental period on about the same experience wavelength.

Even during his head coaching tenure across town at Bishop LeBlond, Tabor became known for a high-flying, innovative offense.

“We’ve had to do a lot of studying; I’ve had to learn a ton,” Tabor said. “Whatever you run offensively and defensively, it must match your personnel. We’re gonna have to coach this year. We’re definitely gonna get our money’s worth; this is why we do what we do.

“I tell people all the time — and this is kind of a weird cliche — but we have all the construction going on up (near Sparks Field). I like to tell people, ‘We’re under construction right now.’”

Cliches may provide some of the only familiarity at Benton this year.

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Benton running back Dontae White indicates his belief he scored a touchdown during a Class 4 District 16 game against Lafayette last year at Sparks Field. White, a junior, takes the featured spot in Benton’s new option-based offense after carrying for more than 600 yards as a sophomore.

Three athletes — two-way players Dontae White and Eric Davidson and linebacker Emilio Whytus — represent the entirety of the Cardinals’ returning starters this season. Seventeen spots will be occupied by varsity newbies, a total that dwarfs any prior lack of experience present in Tabor’s four previous years on the South Side.

Like his coach, White has no extensive history of taking handoffs and pitches in an option-based offense, but it’s the junior running back’s presence that made Tabor comfortable ditching his passslinging system. White scooted for 657

yards as a shotgun-situated sophomore and should eclipse that total with increased touches.

White’s touches decreased last year as the season progressed, but don’t expect that to be the case with him as the featured back.

“Dontae White will be a 1,000-yard rusher this season,” Tabor said. “He’s probably one of the more versatile backs in this region.”

Whytus will morph into a two-way player, lining up at fullback in front of White. In front of them is senior quarterback Alex Summerow, whose scrambling

ability also keyed Tabor’s offensive 180, and in front of them are five new offensive line starters, including three sophomores and a freshman.

At the line’s edge, however, Davidson is set to provide some veteran knowhow for his third year at tight end. The senior’s fully on board with burying the spread, even though it means a statistical sacrifice.

“It might not be as fun,” Davidson said, laughing. “It’s fun touching the ball, but I’m a better blocker. ... I feel like this offense is better than the one last year because it fits our team better. We threw it a bunch last year; we need to run the ball more.”

The names will be foreign to fans, but the terminology is no longer uncomfortable for the personnel. Benton’s coaching staff began instilling the new era into its next nucleus as soon as school let out in May, and the rookies are ready to unveil it.

“It was a struggle at first, just knowing what to do in our assignments,” White said of the early triple-option work. “We went out this summer in half pads, and even when we weren’t in pads, we put in new things when we were out on the field.

“We’re prepared; we’re ready to make plays in it.”

Expectations for the Cardinals probably won’t be high considering the mass upheaval and loaded schedule — upperclass competition Ozark (Class 5) and Grain Valley (Class 4) mark Benton’s MEC prelude — but the new look’s trial run will surely be eventful.

Sam Robinson can be reached at sam.robinson@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Midland empire conference Preseason capsules BENTON ❯❯ Coach — Matt Tabor, 5th year, 17-23 (33-44 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 4-6 (2-5 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Dontae White (657 yards rushing, 11 TDs); Trevor Peters (1,180 yards passing, 12 TDs); Lucas Powers (877 yards receiving, 8 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — OL/DL Matt Cowles, OL/DL Trevor Grinstead, WR Lucas Powers ❯❯ Returning starters — 2 on offense, 3 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — TE/DE Eric Davidson, sr.; RB/LB Emilio Whytus, jr.; RB/LB Dontae White, jr.; QB/DB Alex Summerow, sr.; RB/DB Quinn Hayes, sr.; OL/ DL Gaige Reynolds, so.; OL/DL Kyle Woodruff, sr.; WR Bryson Waitkoss, so. ❯❯ Schedule — A25 at Ozark; A31 vs. Grain Valley; S7 at Lafayette; S14 vs. Smithville; S21 vs.

Savannah; S28 at Maryville; O5 at Bishop LeBlond; O12 vs.

Cameron; O19 vs. Chillicothe

BISHOP LEBLOND ❯❯ Coach — Tony Dudik, 3rd year, 2-18 (103-132 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 1-9 (0-7 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Austin Dawkins (1,301 yards rushing, 16 TDs); Matthew McCullough (1,177 yards passing, 5 TDs); Chuckie Kempf (351 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — TE/DE Joe Voltmer,

OL/DL Drew Garrett, WR/DB Chuckie Kempf ❯❯ Returning starters — 7 on offense, 11 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/DL Austin Dawkins, sr.; WR/DB Tyler Thrasher, jr.; OL/DL Grant Thrasher, jr.; WR/DB Patrick Dillon, jr.; QB/LB Matthew McCullough, jr.; OL/DL Connor Haynes, so. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. St. Mary’s (Independence); A31 vs. KC East; S7 at Cameron; S14 vs. Maryville; S21 vs. Chillicothe; S28 at Smithville; O5 vs. Benton; O12 vs. Lafayette; O19 at Savannah

vs. Maryville

MARYVILLE

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Smithville running back Zach Parmenter breaks a tackle during a game last year against Lafayette at Alumni Stadium.

CAMERON

CHILLICOTHE

LAFAYETTE

❯❯ Coach — Jeff White, 1st year (921 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 2-8 (2-5 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Joseph Pratt (394 yards rushing, 4 TDs); Zach Way (789 yards passing, 7 TDs); Brendan Gabbart (428 yards receiving, 6 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — WR/DB Brendan Gabbart, QB Zach Way ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB Joseph Pratt, jr.; LB/TE Jared Hamilton, jr.; LB/RB Nathan Fagerstone, sr.; OL/DL Jeremiah Barnes, sr.; OL/DL Brady Gunn, jr.; RB/DB Michael Richardson, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Pembroke Hill; A31 vs. Excelsior Springs; S7 vs. LeBlond; S14 at Chillicothe; S21 vs. Maryville; S28 at Savannah; O5 vs. Lafayette; O12 at Benton; O19 at Smithville

❯❯ Coach — Phil Willard, 15th year, 106-49 (143-107 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 5-6 (2-5 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-1 in district play; lost Class 3 regional vs. Richmond ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Guy Vinson (861 yards rushing, 4 TDs); Tyler Clampitt (430 yards passing, 3 TDs); Guy Vinson (284 yards receiving, 4 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/DB Guy Vinson, QB/DB Jacob Lewis, RB/DE Austin Hatfield, RB/DB Nic Voorhies, WR/DE Spencer Hart, OL Kyle Wilkinson, OL Gabe Jeffries ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 2 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/DB Tyler Clampitt, jr.; RB/DB DJ Gannan, sr.; OL/DL Alec Whiteside, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Marshall; A31 at Kirksville; S7 at Maryville; S14 vs. Cameron; S21 at LeBLond; S28 at Lafayette; O5 vs. Savannah; O12 vs. Smithville; O19 at Benton

❯❯ Coach — Paul Woolard, 6th year, 24-27 ❯❯ 2011 record — 6-4 (4-3 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — D’Andre Talton (1,201 yards rushing, 17 TDs); D’Treal Stone (501 yards passing, 6 TDs); Derrick Babineaux (267 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — OL/DL Taylor Bryant, OL/DL Mick Edmondson, RB D’Andre Talton, WR/DB Derrick Babineaux ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 7 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/DL Bryce Denton, sr.; OL/DL Austin Drennen, sr.; QB D’Treal Stone, sr.; RB Jurell Green, sr.; RB Kenny Grant, sr.; WR/LB Austin Day, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Mexico; A31 vs. Marshall; S7 vs. Benton; S14 at Savannah; S21 vs. Smithville; S28 vs. Chillicothe; O5 at Cameron; O12 at LeBlond; O19

❯❯ Coach — Matt Webb, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 10-2 (6-1 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 3 sectional vs. Richmond ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Derek Stiens (986 yards rushing, 15 TDs); Jonathan Baker (1,092 yards passing, 14 TDs); Tyler Walter (409 yards receiving, 5 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — WR/DB Tyler Walter, RB/LB Cole Forney, LB Jordan Zech ❯❯ Returning starters — 9 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB Jonathan Baker, sr.; RB/DB Derek Stiens, sr.; OL/DL Caleb Mather, sr.; TE/ DE Tyler Tripp, sr.; OL/DL Jackson Morrison, jr.; RB/DB Trent Nally, jr.; TE/LB Ridge Yount, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Lawson; A31 vs. St. Pius X (Kansas City); S7 vs. Chillicothe; S14 at LeBlond; S28 vs. Benton; O5 vs. Smithville; O12 at Savannah; O19 at Lafayette

SAVANNAH ❯❯ Coach — Chad Smith, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 12-2 (6-1 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 4 semifinal vs. Webb City ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Andy Meyers (871 yards rushing, 7 TDs); Zane Wilt (1,423 yards passing, 19 TDs); Blake Deal (985 yards receiving, 12 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — TE/LB Blake Bur-

son, QB/DB Blake McFadden, WR/DB Blake Deal, RB/K Andy Meyers ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 4 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB Zane Wilt, sr.; WR/DB Tyler Wilt, sr.; OL/DL Logan Holland, sr.; FB/LB Logan Garrett, sr.; LB Caelan Campbell, sr.; OL/DL Tucker McDonald, sr.; RB/LB Corey Coburn, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Grain Valley; A31 vs. Harrisonville; S7 at Smithville; S14 vs. Lafayette; S21 at Benton; S28 vs. Cameron; O5 at Chillicothe; O12 vs. Maryville; O19 vs. LeBlond

SMITHVILLE ❯❯ Coach — Greg Smith, 9th year, 44-38 (88-69 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 7-3 (6-1 in MEC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Zach Parmenter (1,033 yards rushing, 8 TDs); Eric Gromacki (1,803 yards passing, 17 TDs); Tyler Lamb (810 yards receiving, 8 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Eric Gromacki, WR/DB Tyler Lamb, OL/DL Sam Fuller ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB Zach Parmenter, sr.; LB Joe Dominiak, sr.; QB Cory Marmet, sr.; LB, Scott Olson, jr.; Nolan Gromacki, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Pleasant Hill; A31 vs. Center; S7 vs. Savannah; S14 at Benton; S21 at Lafayette; S28 vs. LeBlond; O5 at Maryville; O12 at Chillicothe; O19 vs.

Cameron

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B5

Friday, August 24, 2012

2012 PREP FOOTBALL CALENDAR MEC

A u g . 24

Lafayette at Mexico St. Mary’s (Ind.) at LeBlond Cameron at Pembroke Hill Maryville at Lawson Marshall at Chillicothe Smithville at Pleasant Hill Savannah at Grain Valley A u g . 25

Benton at Ozark A u g . 31

Grain Valley at Benton Marshall at Lafayette KC East at LeBlond Excelsior Springs at Cameron St. Pius X at Maryville Chillicothe at Kirksville Center at Smithville Harrisonville at Savannah Sept. 7

Benton at Lafayette LeBlond at Cameron Chillicothe at Maryville Savannah at Smithville S e p t . 14

Smithville at Benton Lafayette at Savannah Maryville at LeBlond Cameron at Chillicothe S e p t . 21

Savannah at Benton Smithville at Lafayette Chillicothe at LeBlond Maryville at Cameron Sept. 28

Benton at Maryville Chillicothe at Lafayette LeBlond at Smithville Cameron at Savannah

File photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Worth County team members celebrate their 50-20 win over Mound City in last year’s 8 Man Show-Me Bowl at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Benton at LeBlond Lafayette at Cameron Smithville at Maryville Savannah at Chillicothe

Mid-Buchanan at Orrick Lathrop at King City KC Northeast at Plattsburg Lincoln Prep at West Platte Gallatin at North Platte Maryville at Lawson South Harrison at Hamilton

Oct. 12

A u g . 31

Oct. 5

Cameron at Benton Lafayette at LeBlond Maryville at Savannah Smithville at Chillicothe O c t . 19

Chillicothe at Benton Maryville at Lafayette LeBlond at Savannah Cameron at Smithville

GRC A u g . 24

Gallatin at North Platte South Harrison at Hamilton Lathrop at King City Van Horn at Polo Putnam County at Albany Milan at Princeton Hogan Prep at Maysville A u g . 31

Hamilton at Gallatin East Buchanan at South Harrison King City at Lone Jack Polo at Lathrop Albany at Milan Princeton at Putnam County Maysville at Mid-Buchanan Braymer at Salisbury S e p. 7

Gallatin at Polo South Harrison at Princeton King City at Albany Maysville at Braymer S e p. 14

Princeton at Gallatin South Harrison at Polo Braymer at King City Albany at Maysville S e p. 21

Gallatin at South Harrison Maysville at King City Polo at Princeton Braymer at Albany S e p. 2 8

King City at Gallatin South Harrison at Braymer Princeton at Albany S e p. 2 9

Maysville at Polo Oct. 5

Gallatin at Maysville Albany at South Harrison Princeton at King City Braymer at Polo Oct. 12

Albany at Gallatin South Harrison at Maysville Polo at King City Braymer at Princeton O c t . 19

Gallatin at Braymer South Harrison at King City Polo at Albany Maysville at Princeton

KCI CONFERENCE

East Buchanan at South Harrison Maysville at Mid-Buchanan Polo at Lathrop Plattsburg at St. Mary’s (Ind.) Wellington-Napoleon at West Platte Derrick Thomas Academy at North Platte Lawson at Richmond Hamilton at Gallatin S e p. 7

West Platte at East Buchanan Mid-Buchanan at North Platte Lathrop at Hamilton Plattsburg at Lawson Mid-Buchanan at North Platte S e p. 14

East Buchanan at Plattsburg Hamilton at Mid-Buchanan West Platte at Lathrop North Platte at Lawson S e p. 21

Mid-Buchanan at East Buchanan Lawson at Lathrop Hamilton at Plattsburg North Platte at West Platte S e p. 28

East Buchanan at Lawson Plattsburg at Mid-Buchanan Lathrop at North Platte West Platte at Hamilton Oct. 5

North Platte at East Buchanan West Platte at Mid-Buchanan Lathrop at Plattsburg Lawson at Hamilton

Northwest (Hughesville) at DeKalb North Andrew at Hardin-Central Southwest Livingston at Norborne S e p. 21

Stewartsville at North Andrew Northwest (Hughesville) at Southwest Livingston Union Star at Norborne S e p. 28

Southwest Livingston at South Nodaway DeKalb at Stewartsville North Andrew at Union Star Oct. 5

DeKalb at North Andrew Stewartsville at Southwest Livingston Hardin-Central at Union Star Oct. 12

South Nodaway at Stewartsville DeKalb at St. Joseph Christian North Andrew at Southwest Livingston Northwest (Hughesville) at Union Star O c t . 19

North Andrew at South Nodaway Southwest Livingston at DeKalb Union Star at Stewartsville North Andrew at South Nodaway

KANSAS A u g . 31

ACCHS at Troy Doniphan West at Riverside Jackson Heights at Horton Hiawatha at Perry-Lecompton Sabetha at Jefferson West Maur Hill-Mount Academy at Oskaloosa Atchison at Pleasant Ridge Sept. 7

East Buchanan at Lathrop Mid-Buchanan at Lawson Plattsburg at West Platte Hamilton at North Platte

Atchison at Tonganoxie Troy at Maur Hill-Mount Academy Horton at ACCHS Sabetha at Perry-Lecompoton Jefferson West at Hiawatha Riverside at Valley Falls McLouth at Doniphan West

O c t . 19

S e p t . 14

Oct. 12

Hamilton at East Buchanan Mid-Buchanan at Lathrop North Platte at Plattsburg Lawson at West Platte

PVC A u g . 24

South Nodaway at Hardin-Central DeKalb at Chilhowee Stewartsville at Norborne Christian at North Andrew Southwest Livingston at Northwest (Hughesville) A u g . 31

Christian at South Nodaway North Andrew at DeKalb Hardin-Central at Stewartsville Union Star at Southwest Livingston S e p. 7

Norborne at South Nodaway Union Star at DeKalb Stewartsville at Chilhowee Hardin-Central at Southwest Livingston

ACCHS at Doniphan West Horton at Troy Riverside at Maur Hill-Mount Academy Hiawatha at Royal Valley Holton at Sabetha KC Washington at Atchison S e p t . 21

Troy at Riverside Doniphan West at Horton Holton at Hiawatha Royal Valley at Sabetha Valley Falls at ACCHS Maur Hill-Mount Academy at Jackson Heights Atchison at Wyandotte S e p t . 28

Jackson Heights at Troy Doniphan West at Maur Hill-Mount Academy Riverside at ACCHS Hiawatha at Nemaha Valley Sabetha at Sante Fe Trail Atchison at Harmon

A u g . 24

S e p. 14

Oct. 5

Crest Ridge at East Buchanan

South Nodaway at Union Star

Valley Heights at Troy

Doniphan West at Jackson Heights Maur Hill-Mount Academy at Horton Onaga at Riverside Sante Fe Trail at Hiawatha Nemaha Valley at Sabetha ACCHS at Centralia Atchison at Schlagle Oct. 12

Troy at Centralia Doniphan West at Valley Heights Horton at Hiawatha Riverside at Sabetha Maur Hill-Mount Academy at ACCHS Atchison at Piper O c t . 19

Troy at Immaculata Centralia at Doniphan West Sabetha at Horton Hiawatha at Riverside ACCHS at Silver Lake Maur Hill-Mount Academy at Pleasant Ridge Bishop Ward at Atchison O c t . 25

Sumner Academy at Atchison Horton at Riverside Hiawatha at Sabetha Pleasant Ridge at ACCHS Silver Lake at Maur Hill-Mount Academy Doniphan West at Troy

HIGHWAY 275 A u g . 24

Nodaway-Holt at South Holt North Nodaway at Stanberry Craig at West Nodaway Mound City at Tarkio Worth County at Rock Port A u g . 31

South Holt at Mound City Rock Port at North Nodaway Stanberry at Nodaway-Holt Tarkio at Craig West Nodaway at Worth County S e p. 7

Stanberry at South Holt North Nodaway at Tarkio Nodaway-Holt at West Nodaway Craig at Rock Port Mound City at Worth County S e p. 14

South Holt at North Nodaway Craig at Worth County West Nodaway at Mound City Tarkio at Nodaway-Holt Rock Port at Stanberry S e p. 21

South Holt at Tarkio North Nodaway at Worth County Nodaway-Holt at Craig Mound City at Rock Port Stanberry at West Nodaway S e p. 2 8

Rock Port at South Holt West Nodaway at North Nodaway Nodaway-Holt at Worth County Craig at Mound City Tarkio at Stanberry

Oct. 12

West Nodaway at South Holt Craig at North Nodaway Mound City at Nodaway-Holt Rock Port at Tarkio Worth County at Stanberry O c t . 19

Craig at South Holt Nodaway-Holt at North Nodaway Mound City at Stanberry Worth County at Tarkio West Nodaway at Rock Port

INDEPENDENT/OTHER A u g . 24

Trenton at Carrollton Christian at North Andrew Blue Springs at Central Platte County at William Chrisman A u g . 31

Lexington at Trenton Christian at South Nodaway Central at Platte County Falls City-Sacred Heart at Pawnee City Ashland-Greenwood at Falls City S e p. 7

Putnam County at Trenton Falls City-Sacred Heart at Christian Central at Lee’s Summit West Ruskin at Platte County Falls City at Raymond Central S e p. 14

Trenton at Lafayette County Chilhowee at Christian Raytown South at Central Platte County at Grandview Axtell at Falls City-Sacred Heart Falls City at Omaha Concordia S e p. 21

Pembroke Hill at Trenton Christian at Hardin-Central Central at Truman Kearney at Platte County Falls City-Sacred Heart at Diller-O’Dell Lincoln Lutheran at Falls City S e p. 2 8

Lincoln Prep at Trenton Raymore-Peculiar at Central Platte County at North Kansas City Meridian at Falls City-Sacred Heart Falls City at Syracuse Oct. 5

Trenton at Illini-West (Ill.) Cair Paravel at Christian Central at Park Hill South Liberty North at Platte County Falls City-Sacred Heart at Sterling Fairbury at Falls City Oct. 12

Kirksville at Trenton DeKalb at Christian Central at Park Hill Platte County at Winnetonka Lewiston at Falls City-Sacred Heart Falls City at Auburn Oct. 18

Oct. 5

Deshler at Falls City-Sacred Heart

South Holt at Worth County North Nodaway at Mound City Nodaway-Holt at Rock Port Stanberry at Craig Tarkio at West Nodaway

Ruskin at Central Raytown South at Platte County Trenton at Concordia Lincoln Christian at Falls City

O c t . 19

B6

Friday, August 24, 2012

Polo | Panthers

Ross brings change to culture, instills winning mindset

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson St. Joseph News-Press

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Polo senior running back Zach Freeman looks for space in a game last season. Freeman rushed for nearly 1,500 yards last year.

POLO, Mo. — Kyle Ross needed to make a change to Polo’s morale when he took the head coaching job in 2010. The previous two seasons had accounted for just three wins.

Ross decided to sit down, talk to his team and let the group know it had a chance to do something big if they practiced hard and played physical.

The players listened, and it worked.

After serving as Polo’s assistant head coach in 2009, the Benton graduate now has two seasons at the helm under his belt with two playoff appearances. However, after bowing out in Class 1 regionals each of the past two years, the Panthers now have the right morale and just need a change in results.

“Expectations are high,” Ross said.

Ross took over a dismal Polo team that won just one game in 2009, his

first as a Polo assistant.

Seeking a change, Polo switched from six-year head coach Chris Johnson to Ross, and the Panthers have benefited.

The Panthers started several freshman and sophomores on defense during the 2008 and 2009 seasons because they were pushing the older guys anyway. So when he was named head coach, Ross inherited an experienced but still fairly youthful squad.

Polo went 14-8 the past two seasons with two of those losses playoff defeats against Wellington-Napoleon.

The Panthers pride themselves on playing physical.

With a handy offensive line and a stacked linebacker corps last season, Polo pushed the football downfield behind running backs Zach Freeman and Jonathan Shelton.

Both return this season.

However, Polo graduated two key players from 2011 that must be replaced.

Harley Martin anchored both the linebackers as well as the offensive

line. Along with Martin, Polo loses four-year starter Ashton Shelton.

“It’s going to be hard to replace them,” Ross said. “We’re going to have people that have to step up and fill gaps. We’ll be all right; we just have to make sure our kids have to function in the system.”

According to Ross, Martin and Shelton learned how to suffer from their first two seasons on the team because they weren’t winning. That gave them an edge in the latter part of their careers.

The current players know mostly success, and the return of three key linemen — Justin Hicks, Houston Stone and Mason Misel — give the Panthers reason to believe they can continue that tradition. The changed road to the playoffs makes the odds of a playoff berth tougher, especially with East Buchanan, South Harrison and Hamilton in the field.

Thomas Huitt-Johnson can be reached at thomas.hj@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Grand river conference Preseason capsules Stone, jr.; TE/DE Wiley Martin, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Van Horn; A31 at Lathrop; S7 vs. Gallatin; S14 vs. South Harrison; S21 at Princeton; S29 vs.

Maysville; O5 vs. Braymer; O12 at King City; O19 at Albany

ALBANY ❯❯ Coach — Alan Gottula, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 2-9 (0-7 in GRC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play; lost Class 1 regional vs.

East Buchanan ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Ben Humphrey (620 yards rushing, 7 TDs); Kevin Paul (735 yards passing, 7 TDs); Aaron Bundy (357 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Ben Humphrey, OL/ DL Brad Williams, WR Aaron Bundy, OL Trevor Rice ❯❯ Returning starters — 8 on offense, 8 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/K Kevin Paul, sr.; WR/DB Drew Bain, jr.; RB/LB Drew Cottrill, so.; WR/DB Rudy Sagun, sr.; OL/DL Kolby Carlock, so.; FB/LB Mark Carroll, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Putnam County; A31 at Milan; S7 vs. King City; S14 at Maysville; S21 vs. Braymer; S28 vs.

Princeton; O5 at South Harrison; O12 at Gallatin; O19 vs. Polo

BRAYMER ❯❯ Coach — Troy Stemberger, 13th year, 74-56 ❯❯ 2011 record — 2-8 (independent) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Austin Blakely (520 yards rushing, 3 TDs); Trace Phillips (950 yards passing, 14 TDs); Jesse Utt (650 yards receiving, 10 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Austin Blakely, OL/ DL Brandon Taylor, TE/DE Dalton Owen ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 4 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/DL Danny Olson, sr.; FB/LB Steven Shoe, sr.; OL/DL Ty Kelly, sr.; OL/LB Kyle Kelly, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at Salisbury; S7 vs.

Maysville; S14 at King City; S21 at Albany, S28 vs. South Harrison; O5 at Polo: O12 at Princeton; O19 vs. Gallatin

GALLATIN ❯❯ Coach — Kevin Meyer, 2nd year, 5-4 (66105 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 5-4 (3-3 in GRC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 3rd at 1-2

PRINCETON

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

South Harrison quarterback Dylan Heitz looks for an open receiver while being pursued by Polo defensive lineman Wiley Martin during the first quarter of a game last year. Heitz amassed more than 3,000 yards from scrimmage last season. in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Jordan Jeffers (739 yards rushing, 6 TDs); Zack Lollar (1,360 yards passing, 14 TDs); Chad Ness (637 yards receiving, 8 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — OL/LB Brandon Hunt, FB/ LB Peter Steele ❯❯ Returning starters — 8 on offense, 7 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/DB Isaac Mattis, sr.; WR/DB Chad Ness, sr.; QB/CB Zack Lollar, sr.; TE/LB Dexter Daniel, sr.; OL/ DL Jim Dale, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at North Platte; A31 vs.

Hamilton; S7 at Polo; S14 vs. Princeton; S21 at South Harrison; S28 vs. King City; O5 at Maysville; O12 vs. Albany; O19 at Braymer

KING CITY

Date

Opponent

Location

Time

Aug. 24

Hogan Prep

Home

7 p.m.

Aug. 31

Mid Buchanan Away

7 p.m.

Sept. 7

Braymer

Away

7 p.m.

Sept. 14 Albany

Home

7 p.m.

Sept. 21 King City

Away

7 p.m.

Sept. 29 Polo

Away

7 p.m.

Oct. 5

Gallatin

Home

7 p.m.

Oct. 12

South Harrison Home

7 p.m.

Princeton

MAYSVILLE

❯❯ Coach — Micah Breckenridge, 2nd year, 3-7 ❯❯ 2011 record — 3-7 (2-5 in GRC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 1 regional vs. West Platte ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Trey Thompson (1,183 yards rushing, 14 TDs); Corey Keller (1,384 yards passing, 10 TDs); John Spiking (482 yards receiving, 6 TDs)

Maysville Football Schedule 2012

Oct. 19

❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Trey Forward, OL/DL Derek Sleeth, QB/DE Corey Keller ❯❯ Returning starters — 8 on offense, 8 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB Trey Thompson, sr.; TE/DE John Spiking, jr.; OL/DL Nathan Olney, sr.; OL/DL Tyler Fore, sr.; QB/DB Caleb Eiberger, sr.; OL/DL Monty Saunders, sr.; WR/DB Ilya Stagner, sr.; WR/DB Connor Eiberger, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Lathrop; A31 at Lone Jack; S7 at Albany; S14 vs Braymer; S21 vs. Maysville; S28 at Gallatin; O5 vs. Princeton; O12 vs. Polo; O19 vs. South Harrison

Away

7 p.m.

❯❯ Coach — Ed Frye, 2nd year, 2-8 ❯❯ 2011 record — 2-8 (1-6 in GRC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Jake Riggs (704 yards rushing, 5 TDs), Garett Wightman (300 yards passing, 4 TDs), Cody Tinder (150 yards receiving, 1 TD) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Garett Wightman, RB Jake Riggs, RB/DL Dakota Steiner ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 7 on defense

❯❯ Key returners — FB/NG Mich Ross, sr.; QB/DB Trent Steiner, sr.; OL/DL Ryan Meeks, sr.; OL/LB Ron Stallbories, jr.

OL/DL Josh Riggs, so.; RB/LB Dakota Peterson, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Hogan Prep; A31 at Mid-Buchanan; S7 at Braymer; S14 vs.

Albany; S21 at King City; S29 at Polo; O5 vs. Gallatin; O12 vs. South Harrison; O19 at Princeton

POLO ❯❯ Coach — Kyle Ross, 3rd year, 14-8 (2317 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 8-3 (5-2 in GRC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2nd at 2-1 in district play; lost Class 1 regional vs.

Wellington-Napoleon ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Zach Freeman (1,480 yards rushing, 19 TDs); Austin Bowley (469 yards passing, 7 TDs); Ashton Shelton (238 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — OL/LB Harley Martin, TE/LB Ashton Shelton, QB/LB Austin Bowley ❯❯ Returning starters — 7 on offense, 8 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/LB Justin Hicks, sr.; RB/DB Zach Freeman, sr.; FB/DL Daniel Boruch, sr.; QB/FS Dalton Mills, sr.; RB/ DB Jonathon Shelton, jr.; OT/DL Houston

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SOUTH HARRISON ❯❯ Coach — Caleb Obert, 5th year, 30-15 ❯❯ 2011 record — 9-3 (7-1 in GRC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 1 sectional vs.

Wellington-Napoleon ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Dylan Heitz (1,229 yards rushing, 18 TDs); Dylan Heitz (1,962 yards passing, 19 TDs); Cole Osborne (516 yards receiving, 7 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — WR/DB Cole Osborne, WR/ LB Alex Foster, OL/DL Brayden Woody ❯❯ Returning starters — 8 on offense, 8 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/DB Dylan Heitz, jr.; OL/LB Austin Vandivert, jr.; OL/LB Coltyn Clark, sr.; WR/DB Cole Wright, sr.; WR/ DB Kaid Hendren, sr.; OL/DL/P Justin Fry, sr.; RB/DB Tyler O’Neal, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Hamilton; A31 vs. East Buchanan; S7 at Princeton; S14 at Polo; S21 vs. Gallatin; S28 at Braymer; O5 vs.

Albany; O12 at Maysville; O19 at King City

Maysville Wolverines

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❯❯ Coach — Jeff Goodin, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 4-5 (3-3 in GRC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Colton Hartley (689 yards rushing, 11 TDs); Colton Hartley (1,082 yards passing, 9 TDs); Nate Roberts (759 yards receiving, 6 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — WR/P Nate Roberts, OL Jake Letner ❯❯ Returning starters — 7 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/DB Colton Hartley, sr.; WR/DB Brant Faulkner, so.; OL/DL Joseph Lovett, jr.; OL/DL Braden Donelson, sr.; WR/LB Taylon Place, sr.; OL/DL Ethan Cast, sr.; RB Floyd Holsted, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Milan; A31 at Putnam County; S7 vs. South Harrison; S14 at Gallatin; S21 vs. Polo; S28 at Albany; O5 at King City; O12 vs. Braymer; O19 vs. Maysville

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B7

Friday, August 24, 2012

Atchison | Redmen

Atchison’s youth ready to mature, produce

By Logan Jackson Atchison Globe

ATCHISON, Kan. — Last year was a learning experience for Atchison.

The Redmen had only 14 seniors on the roster and relied heavily on their sophomore and junior classes. That might be a benefit for this season.

“Last year, we came in and had to throw a lot of younger kids into the fire,” head coach Jim Smith said. “We weren’t expecting that to happen. We went without six starters that we were counting on. The sophomores and juniors had to step in and play, and I thought they did a great job.”

Atchison finished 3-6 last season but lost two games by less than eight points. One of those losses was a 15-14 road defeat to Washington, where the Redmen held a late lead but couldn’t keep it.

“We were in three games that could have gone either way,” Smith said. “I thought we built from that, though.”

Of the 14 graduated seniors, six of them earned all-league honors in the Kansas CityAtchison League. Four of those players — Chris Edwards, Jared Wilburn, Jordan Jolly and Chantez Butler — were firstteam nominations.

Edwards’ impact will be missed the most. He ended last season

Logan Jackson | Atchison Globe

Atchison junior quarterback Tanner Huntington escapes an Abilene defender during a game last year. Huntington will be back to lead the Redmen’s attack this season as a second-year starter. with 1,155 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns with a 6.68 yardsper-carry average. Edwards also led the team with 13 catches and 218 receiving yards and added a receiving touchdown.

Atchison also loses Stacey Gorman to graduation. Gorman was the only other player to rush for more than 100 yards.

“Those are good football players,” Smith said. “Losing out on Chris, you lose a ton of speed right there at the fullback position. I really feel good about

the kids we have coming back, though. I think Patrick Boos is going to step right in and do a good job. He’s good running downhill. We have some good kids that can play.”

The cupboard won’t be bare for returning quarterback Tanner Huntington, however.

Along with Boos, the Redmen return two players — Austin Housh and Bennie Smith — that caught touchdown passes last season. Atchison returns five players that were weapons

offensively last year.

“We’re going to be able to do a lot of different things this year,” Smith said. “I think we’ll be able to keep the defenses off balance. We have a lot of threats.

Hopefully, we can move the ball around.”

Huntington put together a solid season as a sophomore quarterback. While he did throw 14 interceptions to five touchdowns, he showed that he could put together solid drives toward the end of the year.

“He’s a year older, a lot more mature,” Smith said. “I look for big things from Tanner this year.”

The Redmen do lose a little experience on the defensive side, but they return four of their top seven tacklers from a season ago. Boos led the team with 105, and he was the only Atchison player to top 65.

Michael Vaughn and Geoffery Vaughn also return. Michael Vaughn led the team with four sacks, and Geoffery Vaughn was third on the team in total tackles.

The experience already shows with a week to go before a first game.

“It was like an old habit for them,” Smith said. “They were jumping right in there, and I told the coaches that it was a lot of fun. We didn’t have to reteach everything. They knew what was going on.”

Atchison starts the season with back-to-back road games.

The first will be next Friday at Pleasant Ridge, then the following Friday at Tonganoxie.

“We’ve got to eliminate the mental mistakes and take care of the little things,” Smith said.

“I think things will work out well for us if we can do those things.”

Logan Jackson can be reached at logan.jackson@npgco.com

Independent/other Preseason capsules Morrison, WR/DB Matt Dahlgren, OL/DL Gavin Hall, QB Alex Maudlin, OL/DL Alex Carrillo, WR Tyler Davison ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 2 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB David Beard, sr.; RB Justin Mays, sr.; OL Brian Juhl, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at North Andrew; A31 at South Nodaway; S7 vs. Falls City-Sacred Heart; S14 vs. Chilhowee; S21 at HardinCentral; O5 vs. Cair Paravel (Kan.); O12 vs. DeKalb

CENTRAL ❯❯ Coach — Jeff Wallace, 3rd year, 11-10 ❯❯ 2011 record — 6-5 (4-1 in Suburban Red) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-1 in district play; lost Class 5 regional vs. Raytown South ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Corey Jackson (1,581 yards rushing, 22 TDs); Darrin Dudley (853 yards passing, 8 TDs); Cordell Bell (223 yards receiving, 3 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB Corey Jackson, QB Darrin Dudley, OL/DL Michael Meinert, DL Elijah Lee ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — WR Nick Shores, sr.; TE/DE Tyree Mayfield, jr.; LB/ RB Brandon Perkins, sr.; OL/DL Tyler Meinert, jr.; OL Matt Wright, sr.; DB Alex Roberts, sr.; RB Derek Gray, jr.; DL Cecil Bratton, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Blue Springs; A31 at Platte County; S7 at Lee’s Summit West; S14 vs. Raytown South; S21 at Truman; S28 vs. Raymore-Peculiar; O5 at Park Hill South; O12 at Park Hill; O19 vs. Ruskin

FALLS CITY ❯❯ Coach — Darin Fritz, 1st year (5-4 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 0-8 ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-4 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Cord Huettner (559 yards rushings); Mitchell Harling (passing); Josh Stoller (receiving) ❯❯ Key losses — OL/DL Matt McCann, TE/LB Kenny Fredrick, RB/ LB Logan Auffert ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on

DATE 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/25

TRENTON

File photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Platte County defensive back Derek Smith looks on in a game last season. Platte County eyes a third straight trip to the playoffs this season. offense, 8 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/DL Cord Huettner, sr.; RB/DB Mitchell Harling, jr.; RB/LB Ryan Mount, jr.; RB/DB Jordy Stoller, so.; OL/ DL David Fredrick, sr.; OL/DL Wade Witt, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 vs. AshlandGreenwood; S7 at Raymond Central; S14 at Omaha Concordia; S21 vs. Lincoln Lutheran; S28 at Syracuse; O5 vs. Fairbury; O12 at Auburn; O19 vs. Lincoln Christian

FALLS CITY-SACRED HEART ❯❯ Coach — Doug Goltz, 25th year, 234-42 ❯❯ 2011 record — 8-2 ❯❯ Postseason recap — Finished 4-1 in district play; lost Class D2 second round vs. Clarkson

❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Garrett Harring (1,401 yards rushing, 18 TDs); Lane Scheitel (685 yards passing, 15 TDs); Clay Finck (222 yards receiving, 8 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/DB Garrett Harring, WR David Bangert, DE Casey Martineau ❯❯ Returning starters — 8 on offense, 7 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/DB Lane Barnhill, sr.; OL/LB Brody Chandler, sr.; OL/DL Brady Cromer, sr.; WR Clay Finck, sr.; QB/LB Lane Scheitel, sr.; OL/DE Jarod Fiegener, jr.; DB Chaz Dunn, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at Pawnee City; S7 at St. Joseph Christian; S14 vs. Axtell (Kan.); S21 at DillerO’Dell; S28 vs. Meridian; O5 at Sterling; O12 vs. Lewiston; O18 vs. Deshler

PLATTE COUNTY ❯❯ Coach — Bill Utz, 5th year, 24-20 (50-73 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 7-4 (3-2 in Suburban Blue) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-1 in district play; lost Class 4 regional vs. Kearney ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Krae Kelso (1,121 yards rushing, 16 TDs); Krae Kelso (1,639 yards passing, 16 TDs); Sheldon Sparks (462 yards receiving, 4 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Krae Kelso, TE Jordan Mitchell, WR/LB Sheldon Sparks ❯❯ Returning starters — 2 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — WR Scottie Wilson, sr.; OL Jake Eggers, sr.; DL Trent Sluder, sr.

❯❯ Schedule — A24 at William Chrisman; A31 vs. Central; S7 vs. Ruskin; S14 at Grandview; S21 vs. Kearney; S28 at North Kansas City; O5 vs. Liberty North; O12 at Winnetonka; O19 vs. Raytown South

ST. JOSEPH CHRISTIAN ❯❯ Coach — Mark Juhl, 15th year, 102-31 ❯❯ 2011 record — 11-1 (independent) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 4-0 record; lost 8-man semifinal vs. Mound City ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Jordan Morrison (1,399 yards rushing, 27 TDs); David Beard (940 yards passing, 15 TDs); Matt Dahlgren (761 yards receiving, 13 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — FB/LB Jordan

❯❯ Coach — Wes Croy, 9th year, 47-29 (109-86 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 6-5 (independent) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-1 in district play; lost Class 2 regional vs. Lawson ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Clay O’Neal (889 yards rushing, 10 TDs); Jacob Spillman (221 yards passing, 2 TDs); Austin Taul (115 yards receiving, 2 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — LB Freddie Pannell, LB James Fairchild, DL Morgan Schelker ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB Jacob Spillman, sr.; LB Dalton Burkeybile, sr.; DB/LB Colby Larson, sr.; OL Wyatt Coffman, sr.; RB Dillon Triplet, sr.; WR/RB Austin Taul, sr.; DE Dakota Galvin, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Carrollton; A31 vs. Lexington; S7 vs. Putnam County; S14 at Lafayette County; S21 vs. Pembroke Hill; S28 vs. Lincoln Prep; O5 at IlliniWest (Ill.); O12 vs. Kirksville; O19 at Concordia

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DATE 8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/25

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B8

Friday, August 24, 2012

riverside | Cyclones Riverside’s Kyle Studer carries in a game last season.

Riverside finished 9-2 in its debut campaign last year.

Studer shifts from a backfied role to tight end this season.

The Cyclones enter their second season of existence hoping to equal the lofty accomplishments of the 2011 team.

File Photo St. Joseph News-Press

Riverside looks to build on historic 1st year

By Cody Thorn St. Joseph News-Press

WATHENA, Kan. — The merging of Wathena and Elwood on the gridiron last year worked out about as well as anyone could’ve expected.

The newly dubbed Cyclones won a district championship before winning a first-round playoff game to advance to the Class 2-1A quarterfinals. A loss to Centralia — the eventual state champs — ended the season with a 9-2 mark, setting program records in one season that will prove difficult for future teams to match.

Now comes the encore for coach Scot Koranda and his 41 players.

“I think we come back and that (playoff berth) was the first tradition we set,” said Koranda, entering his 13th season as a head coach. “We have to keep it up, or we go backwards. We have been talking in the offseason about how hard it is to go that far in the playoffs. It isn’t easy.

It’s a lot of hard work; it’s a team building; it’s a lot of practice to make sure we are ready to go.”

The task of maintaining last year’s success will heavily depend on completely retooling the backfield on offense and replacing four linemen.

The group exiting had six All-Delaware Valley League selections, including unanimous first-teamers Ryan Johnson (guard/defensive tackle) and Timmy Miller (running back/linebacker/kickoff specialist). Cyclones quarterback Derek Nold, a 6-foot-7 physical presence, earned All-DVL honors at three spots and made Riverside’s decision-making ground attack go with a high efficiency.

“Early on, defense will be the strength until we feel where everyone belongs on offense,” Koranda said.

Riverside does return a pair of honorable-mention DVL selections.

Offensive tackle Zach Halter steps into the leadership role on the line, and

defensive specialist Dakota Pummell — a contributor at running back, linebacker and special teams — will play more frequently on both sides.

The speedy Pummell should pair with junior Drew Hoffman, a bruising runner, to try and offset the loss of Miller (1,312 yards, 21 TDs rushing, two receiving TDs), the Cyclones’ leading rusher and receiver.

The other returning starters are senior Kyle Studer (linebacker/tight end), sophomore Andrae McGaughy (cornerback), senior Regan Butts (nose tackle) and senior Nave Grable (defensive tackle).

Despite the wholesale changes in personnel at most spots, the Cyclones will still operate with a spread offense featuring option runs. McGaughy steps into the quarterback spot for Nold after leading the junior varsity team to 5-2 record last year.

Koranda doesn’t want McGaughy to be Nold, just to make smart reads and decisions and let natural athletic ability

take over.

“I have big shoes to fill,” McGaughy said. “Derek was a good quarterback. He taught me a lot. He taught me how to keep the ball above my shoulder. He taught me techniques with my footwork. He taught me how to lead a team.”

Another task facing the Cyclones is moving up to 3A after last year’s playoff run in a smaller class. To return to the postseason, Riverside has to go through Sabetha, Horton and Hiawatha — a step up from the traditional rivals of Elwood and Wathena in the past.

“It will be tough for these guys to live in the shadow, but again, that is challenge also, to rise above,” Koranda said.

“Instead of being a shadow, be your own person. Make your own stand and do things the best as you can as a team.”

Cody Thorn can be reached at cody.thorn@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

Riverside Varsity Football 2012 Date

Opponent

8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/25

Doniphan West Valley Falls Maur Hill Troy ACCHS Onaga Sabetha Hiawatha Horton

Location

Time

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B9

Friday, August 24, 2012

troy | Trojans

Trojans finally put end to turnover at the top Shelton back for 2nd year at Troy’s helm, hopes to institute consistency to end tumultuous era

By Cody Thorn St. Joseph News-Press

TROY, Kan. — For the first time in a five years, the same coach will be roaming the sidelines for Troy this fall.

The Trojans went through four coaches in four years starting with the end of coach Steve Martin’s successful tenure. Coach Ron Shelton returns for a second season despite losing the final six games of his inaugural campaign.

With underclassmen comprising the majority of his roster, Shelton hopes to return his alma mater to the postseason.

Troy’s last trip into the playoffs came in 2009, but since then, uncertainty and change have ruled for the perennial smallschool power.

“Every year you want to make the playoffs,” Shelton said. “I don’t care if you think you will be bad or not, you want to make the playoffs. We want to be one of the top two teams in our district.

“We want to win every game.

This is Troy. We hate losing.”

Shelton’s tenure started with a 2-7 season.

The Trojans started out 2-1 thanks to an overtime win over Jackson Heights. Then, the spiral to the finish commenced, culminating with a 72-12 loss to eventual Class 2-1A state

Mat t Reid | St. Joseph News-Press

Troy players watch drills during a recent practice in Troy, Kan. champions Centralia.

Of the 32 players on this year’s roster, 15 lettered last year with an equal mix of sophomores, juniors and seniors. All five of the team’s Delaware Valley all-conference selections graduated.

“I think we will do better this year,” senior offensive lineman Daniel Cordonnier said. “We are a lot more united this year. We kind of put ourselves down last year. It wasn’t all the other teams; it was ourselves. We stopped criti-

cizing each other and started encouraging each other.”

The news didn’t get better in the offseason.

Prior to the start of practice, two of the returning contributors were already lost for the season. Senior wide receiver/ defensive end Reece Simpson (the tallest player on the roster at 6-foot-5) tore his ACL playing baseball, while junior offensive lineman Jake Meng will miss the season with an ankle injury.

The injuries likely mean more opportunities for young players to fill key roles.

Last year, five freshmen started, and near the end of the season, linebackers Alex Schmille and Jay Whetstine were in the top five among the Trojans in tackles. Schmille, an inside linebacker, led Troy in tackles going into districts before breaking his collarbone.

“The nucleus of our team (is) sophomores and juniors,”

POWER 10 ❘ Playoff Contenders

1 2 3 4 5

TEAM

REC.

LW

UP NEXT

HAMILTON

12-1

—

vs. S. Harrison

MARYVILLE

10-2

—

at Lawson

SAVANNAH

9-3

—

at Grain Valley

SOUTH HARRISON

9-3

—

at Hamilton

CENTRAL

6-5

— vs. Blue Springs

Hornets are after 3rd state title in past 4 seasons, 2nd at Class 1 level. Enter season ranked No. 1 Matt Webb era begins with high expectations after 2nd-round playoff loss last season

Twin brothers Tyler, Zane Wilt return for senior season after 2nd semifinal appearance in school history Tough opening road test for team that fell in Class 1 sectional last year.

Transferred DE Elijah Lee returns to former school with Class 6 Wildcats in tonight’s season opener

The teams in the St. Joseph News-Press 8-man Power 5 are not selected on who could beat whom, but who we believe has the best chance to play for a state championship.

TEAM

REC.

LW

SMITHVILLE

7-3

— at Pleasant Hill

LAWSON

9-3

—

vs. Maryville

LAFAYETTE

6-4

—

at Mexico

POLO

8-3

—

vs. Van Horn

3-7

—

at Perry-Lec.

6 7 8 9 10

UP NEXT

Loaded backfield returns from team that split MEC title with Savannah, Maryville but stunningly missed playoffs

Eight starters return on each side of ball after Cards’ 7th straight KCI title/share

Deep offensive backfield highlights 2012 version of Fighting Irish which seeks a 3rd straight winning season Panthers bring back 1,000-yard rusher Zach Freeman plus talented 2-way player Justin Hicks

HIAWATHA

Cody Thorn can be reached at cody.thorn@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

8-MAN POWER 5 ❘ Playoff Contenders

The teams in the St. Joseph News-Press Power 10 are not selected on who could beat whom, but who we believe has the best chance to play for a state championship.

Shelton said. “There could be growing pains, but you know they got experience last year. ... I gave them tapes. (Troy) had all-staters up and down the roster. That is why they made the third round of the playoffs (in 2005). They have been watching a lot of of film, so I hope they learned something.”

Some of the continuity extends to position battles.

In the backfield, senior Preston Foley and sophomore Collin Jasper remain locked in a battle for quarterback for a second straight year. Foley started to open last year, but Jasper took snaps late in the season.

Shelton envisions the backup will see significant time at wide receiver.

“The one that isn’t the quarterback can be an all-state receiver catching from the quarterback if they buy into it,” Shelton said. “They are that good of athletes.”

Whether the good athletes can help rediscover Troy’s tradition remains to be seen. Returning experience — coaches and young players — only goes so far.

Shelton can only hope this marks the beginning of what becomes a long successful tenure.

TE/DE Peyton Newell leads host of returners as Redhawks move to Kansas Class 3A

1 2 3 4 5

TEAM

REC.

LW

UP NEXT

WORTH COUNTY

13-0

—

at Rock Port

MOUND CITY

10-3

—

at Tarkio

CHRISTIAN

11-1

—

at N. Andrew

STANBERRY

8-4

— vs. N. Nodaway

FC-SACRED HEART

8-2

— at Pawnee City

2011 News-Press 8-man player of the year Eli Mullock graduated, but defending champs return 6 starters on each side

Panthers look to recommence 8-man championship streak after winning 3 straight from 2008-2010 Only 3 starters return, but senior QB/HB combo David Beard, Justin Mays are 2 of them

Perennial next-best-team in Highway 275 hopes to upend Worth County, Mound City, ascend to title contender Seeking to continue longest current playoff streak in Nebraska with 26th straight appearance

Troy High School Football 2012

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B10

Friday, August 24, 2012

kansas high school football Preseason capsules ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at Oskaloosa; S7 vs. Troy; S14 vs. Riverside; S21 at Jackson Heights; S28 vs.

Doniphan West; O5 at Horton; O12 at ACCHS; O19 at Pleasant Ridge; O25 vs. Silver Lake

ACCHS ❯❯ Coach — Blake Alexander, 2nd year, 8-2 ❯❯ 2011 record —8-2 (7-1 in DVL) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 3-0 record; lost Class 3A bi-district vs. Rock Creek ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Alex Thompson (1,164 yards rushing, 14 TDs); Austin Eckert (1,463 yards passing, 17 TDs); Ramsey Hundley (380 yards receiving, 6 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB Alex Thompson, QB Austin Eckert, OL/LB Eric Banks ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/DL Ben Chalfant, sr.; RB/LB Taylor Schuetz, sr.; WR/DB Ramsey Hundley, sr.; DL Quaid Haase, sr.; OL/DL Jared Hoffman, sr.; K Jake Hansen, sr.; QB Kyle Chew, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at Troy; S7 vs.

Horton; S14 at Doniphan West; S21 vs. Valley Falls; S28 vs.

Riverside; O5 at Centralia; O12 vs. MH-MA; O19 at Silver Lake; O25 vs. Pleasant Ridge

RIVERSIDE ❯❯ Coach — Scot Koranda, 5th year, 23-15 (39-71 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 9-2 (5-1 in DVL) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 4-0 record; lost Class 2A sectional vs. Centralia ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Timmy Miller (1,311 yards rushing, 21 TDs); Derek Nold (994 yards passing, 15 TDs); Brandon Bell (250 yards receiving, 3 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB Timmy Miller, QB Derek Nold, OL/DL Ryan Johnson ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 4 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/LB Zach Halter, jr.; TE/LB Kyle Studer, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 vs. Doniphan West; S7 at Valley Falls; S14 at MH-MA; S21 vs. Troy; S28 at ACCHS; O5 vs. Onaga; O12 at Sabetha; O19 vs. Hiawatha; O25 vs. Horton

ATCHISON

SABETHA

❯❯ Coach — Jim Smith, 15th year, 71-66 ❯❯ 2011 record — 3-6 (3-2 in KCA) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Chris Edwards (1,155 yards rushing, 11 TDs); Tanner Huntington (751 yards passing, 5 TDs); Chris Edwards (218 yards receiving, 1 TD) ❯❯ Key losses — RB Chris Edwards, OL Jordan Jolly ❯❯ Returning starters — 7 on offense, 8 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — FB/LB Patrick Boos, sr.; QB/DB Tanner Huntington, jr.; WR/DB Wade Gassman, jr.; RB/LB Austin Housh, jr.; WR/ LB Michael Vaughn, sr.; TE/DL Geoffrey Vaughn, sr.; RB/DB Bennie Smith, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at Pleasant Ridge; S7 at Tonganoxie; S14 vs. KC Washington; S21 at Wyandotte; S28 at Harmon; O5 at Schlagle; O12 at Piper; O19 vs. Bishop Ward; O25 vs. Sumner Academy

❯❯ Coach — Garrett Michael, 4th year, 11-19 ❯❯ 2011 record — 5-5 (3-3 in Big 7) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-1 in district play; lost Class 3A bi-district vs. Riley County ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — McKenzie McAfee (800 yards rushing); Nolan Keim (300 yards passing); Taylor Bauman (300 yards receiving) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/DB Chad Aberle, WR/DB Dustin Lara, OL/ DL Garrett Renyer ❯❯ Returning starters — 5 on offense, 7 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB McKenzie McAfee, sr.; OL/DL Derrick Duncan, sr.; OL/LB Levi Huneke, sr.; QB/DB Nolan Keim, sr.; WR/ CB Taylor Bauman, sr.; TE/DL Tyler Edelman, sr.; OL/DL Graham Howard, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at Jefferson West; S7 at Perry-Lecompton; S14 vs. Holton; S21 vs. Royal Valley; S28 at Santa Fe Trail; O5 vs. Nemaha Valley; O12 vs.

Riverside; O19 at Horton; O25 vs.

Hiawatha

DONIPHAN WEST ❯❯ Coach — Nick Fuemmeler, 2nd year, 9-2 ❯❯ 2011 record — 9-2 (6-0 in DVL) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 3-1 in district play; lost Class 2-1A sectional vs. St. Mary’s-Colgan ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Jordan Sellars (850 yards rushing, 7 TDs); Tristan Speer (1,600 yards passing, 16 TDs); Marc Ellis (740 yards receiving, 10 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — WR/DB Marc Ellis, OL/DL Austin Veatch, TE Aaron Halling, RB Dusty Saunders ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/DL Derek Gibson, sr.; RB Jordan Sellars, sr.; QB Tristan Speer, so. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at Riverside; S7 vs. McLouth; S14 vs. ACCHS; S21 at Horton; S28 at MH-MA; O5 vs.

Jackson Heights; O12 at Valley Heights; O19 vs. Centralia; O25 at Troy

HIAWATHA ❯❯ Coach — Chris Diller, 5th year, 14-23 ❯❯ 2011 record — 3-7 (1-5 in Big 7) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-1 in district play; lost Class 4A

TROY

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Maur Hill-Mount Academy quarterback Brock Hanf drops back to pass in a game against Riverside last season. bi-district vs. Basehor-Linwood ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Nate Boyer (996 yards rushing, 8 TDs); Brad Chilcoat (567 yards passing, 4 TDs); Madison Campbell (246 yards receiving, 3 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Madison Campbell, RB/LB Nate Boyer, WR/DB Drake Woehlecke ❯❯ Returning starters — 7 on offense, 7 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — TE/DE Peyton Newell, jr.; QB/DB Brad Chilcoat, sr.; WR/DB Denzel Chilcoat, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at PerryLecompton; S7 at Jefferson County West; S14 at Royal Valley;

S21 vs. Holton; S28 at Nemaha Valley; O5 vs. Santa Fe Trail; O12 vs. Horton; O19 at Riverside; O25 at Sabetha

❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/DB Jordan Mathias, jr.; RB/DB Moses Tinio, sr., OL/DL Brent Mathias, sr., WR/DB Dakota Bayles, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 vs. Jackson Heights; S7 at ACCHS; S14 at Troy; S21 vs. Doniphan West; O5 vs. MH-MA; O12 at Hiawatha; O19 vs. Sabetha; O25 at Riverside

HORTON ❯❯ Coach — Nick Dowell, 5th year, 10-27 (23-45 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 2-7 (2-5 in DVL) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Moses Tinio (rushing); Jordan Mathias (passing), Hunter Speer (receiving) ❯❯ Key losses — WR/DB Hunter Speer, RB/LB Trent Bell, OL/DL Riley Pahmahmie

MAUR HILL-MOUNT ACADEMY ❯❯ Coach — Jermaine Monroe, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 4-5 (4-4 in DVL)

❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Brock Hanf (639 yards rushing, 9 TDs); Brock Hanf (1,001 yards passing, 7 TDs); T.J. Kocour (323 yards receiving, 4 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Patrick Murphy, WR/DB/QB T.J. Kocour, WR/DL Austin Lewman, WR/LB/ TE Dustin Gosa ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/DB Brock Hanf, sr.; RB/LB Cody Calhoon, sr.; OL/DL Ben Ervin, jr.; RB/LB Austin Geenens, jr.

❯❯ Coach — Ron Shelton, 2nd year, 2-7 ❯❯ 2011 record — 2-7 (2-4 in DVL) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-4 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Gunnar Huss (770 yards rushing, 6 TDs); Preston Foley (220 yards passing, 3 TD); Dylan Norris (276 yards receiving, 4 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Gunnar Huss, TE/DB Dylan Norris, FB/ DL Jake Stock, RB/DL Dillon Simpson, LB/DL Gabe Martinez, OL/DL Cody Bennett ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 3 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/DL Daniel Cordonnier, sr.; OL/LB Jay Whetstine, so.; WR/DB Jake Ross, so.; QB/WR/LB Preston Foley, sr.; RB/LB Alex Schmille, so.; RB/LB Colton Masters, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 vs. ACCHS; S7 at MH-MA; S14 vs. Horton; S21 at Riverside; S28 vs. Jackson Heights; O5 vs. Valley Heights; O12 at Centralia; O19 at Immaculata; O25 vs. Doniphan West

Doniphan West MUSTANGS

DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

8/31

Riverside

Away

7 p.m.

9/07

McClouth

Home

7 p.m.

9/14

ACCHS

Home

7 p.m.

9/21

Horton

Away

7 p.m.

9/28

Maur Hill

Away

10/5

Jackson Heights

10/12

Varsity Football 2012

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section

| FRIDAY | AUGUST 24, 2012

Pushing into a new era Hastert leads prideful Rock Port in transition from 11-man to 8-man football

more

see page C2

Stanberry, Worth County, Mound City look to once again be the class of Highway 275

see Pages C3-4

DeKalb hopes to continue tradition, take next step.

North Andrew changes leader.

see Page C5

The Platte Valley Conference jumps back to 6 members with Union Star returning for 2012

see Page C6

C2

Friday, August 24, 2012

rock port | Blue Jays

change finally comes to pass

Rock Port greets 8-man world with enthusiasm, hopes to carry storied history into new era

By Phil Ervin St. Joseph News-Press

ROCK PORT, Mo. — Chandler Farmer settled comfortably under center, a position very familiar after years of quarterback experience in the Rock Port system.

But as the junior surveyed his surroundings before barking out the cadence, he realized things looked a lot different.

Farmer’s closest receiver was his tight end. There were three less defenders to account for on the other side. It’s a new era in the last stop on northbound Interstate 29 before the Iowa border.

After establishing a proud repertoire that includes 22 all-time playoff appearances, Rock Port moves to 8-man football for the first time in school history.

It’s been a strange fall camp in some regards for about 30 athletes adjusting to the nuances of a more wide-open brand of football.

But if there’s any angst over it, the Blue Jays players and coaches are keeping it clandestine.

“We had to change our offense quite a bit,” Farmer said. “That’s what happens when you have to take three players off the field ... but otherwise it’s still tackling and blocking and throwing the football and running the football, so we’ll be ready.”

And while Rock Port shifts to the smallest football classification in the state, this isn’t a relegation of any sort.

“I didn’t think it was a step down one bit,” said coach Ross Hastert, entering his second year as head coach of the Blue Jays. “I told the community members our expectations aren’t gonna change whether we’re playing 11 or 8. The expectations are gonna be there that we’re gonna win, we’re gonna compete, we’re gonna do things the right way.

“There’s a lot of good 8-man teams up here in the corner of the state.”

Rock Port shares northwest Missouri with some fierce 8-man competition, including the winners of the past five Show-Me Bowl championships. The schedule provides no ease to their transition. Defending champion Worth County awaits in tonight’s season opener.

The Blue Jays, who haven’t won a state championship since going backto-back in 1984 and 1985, return to their roots with the switch. They rejoin the Highway 275 Conference for football, a league they used to dominate before its member schools began dropping to 8-man.

Mat t Reid | St. Joseph News-Press

Rock Port coach Ross Hastert instructs players during practice earlier this month. Rock Port will make its 8-man debut this season.

Traditional rivals like Tarkio, which made a similar switch from 11-man to 8-man a few years ago, reappear on the slate.

“We’re back in the 275 Conference, and a lot of the parents like to see that,” two-way lineman Clay Oswald said. “There’s been a little bit of pressure because some of our (dads) played in that. They look toward us to do good, and we give them the best we can.”

The Blue Jays will stick with the power-based ground attack Hastert employed late last season despite the 8-man game’s encouragement to air it out a bit more. Hastert returns 10 starters on each side of the ball and didn’t see much need for an overhaul in philosophy, although a few of those guys will have to adjust to a more limited role.

A spread-out field provides more big-play opportunities even within Rock Port’s I-formation system.

“Running back’s probably been the biggest change,” said running back Jayden McMahon, the Blue Jays’ top returning rusher from last season. “A bit more speed, you get to get to the edge.

“I’m not the fastest person, but I like to have my vision.”

With three fewer spots on the field to fill, camp competition’s been ramped up this fall.

It’s how things used to be at Rock Port before a declining enrollment began to cut the Blue Jays football roster to about 25-30 players in recent years. That prompted the school’s board of

education to approve the switch for this two-year classification cycle.

It’s different, and change isn’t always immediately welcome in a tightknit community rooted in

Rock Port Rock Port High School Football Schedule 2012 Date 8/24

Opponent Worth County

Time Home

Home/Away 7 p.m.

8/31 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12

North Nodaway CFX Stanberry Mound City South Holt Nodaway Holt Tarkio

Away Home Away Home Away Home Away

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

10/19

West Nodaway

Home

7 p.m.

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Rock Port’s Jesse Pope, left, blocks Alex Pfeil during practice earlier this month.

and tackling,” Oswald said. football tradition.

But for a group seeking “That’s really all it is. It’s its 11th postseason trip in the game of football.” the past 16 years, the game hasn’t been altered all that Phil Ervin can be reached much. at phil.ervin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @PhilErvin.

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C3

Friday, August 24, 2012

worth county | Tigers

back to being chased down

Worth County must defend title after finally winning another, dominating all opponents in 2011

By Bryce Mereness St. Joseph News-Press

GRANT CITY, Mo. — A big addition sits in the trophy case at Worth County High School, a 2011 8-man state championship trophy now adorns the glass case with the five others won since 1995.

One thing no longer in 16thyear head coach Chuck Borey’s arsenal is perennial all-stater Eli Mullock, who helped the Tigers end a seemingly lengthy title drought dating to 2007.

Averaging more than a dozen yards per carry and four touchdowns per game last season, that kind of production is not easy — make that impossible — to replace.

Senior Dallas Greenland steps into the featured role.

The new tailback made his name last year by providing the lead block to spring Mullock free. Now, he hopes to free himself as the Tigers’ main offensive threat, although recreating the speedy bursts of the diminutive Mullock can’t be his focus.

“Trying to take Eli Mullock’s spot is not easy,” Greenland said. “No one is going to do it as good as he did in 8-man for a long time. It’s different, but it’s a fun position.”

Borey also needs a new quarterback to start the year.

Last year’s starter Bryce Ross has been ruled out of action until at least September after undergoing surgery to repair a pinched nerve. A chance to have an experienced backfield to start now leaves questions.

“We’ll struggle the first few weeks, no doubt about that,” Borey said. “We’re just gonna take each game at a time and get better throughout the year, and

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Worth County quarterback Bryce Ross, left, tries to shake a tackle against Mound City last season. Ross is expected to miss time with an injury to start the year. hopefully, we’re peaking come playoff time.”

The anchor of the team just might be in the trenches.

The offensive and defensive lines return multiple starters and will be key to controlling the running lanes for Greenland. Dylan Kinsella anchors the line, but staying healthy may be a concern for the senior lineman.

The past two seasons, he has had to shut it down early due to ACL injuries.

STANBERRY | Bulldogs

Stanberry hopes to bust into elite

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson St. Joseph News-Press

STANBERRY, Mo. — Stanberry coach Dan Collins laughed trying to figure out why the power of 8-man football has shifted into a very small region in recent years.

“It’s just been that way; I don’t know,” Collins said.

“Good gene pool.”

Just 14 miles north of where the Bulldogs play, state champion Worth County resides in Gentry County. Less than an hour drive east is Mound City, which has been to four straight title games and won three.

In order to overtake those teams, Collins said Stanberry needs to expect to win, but just like every other team, have a little luck along the way.

“Going to have to have your key players in your key games step up and do the right thing,” said Collins, who has led Stanberry to four straight playoff berths but no Show-Me Bowl appearances in that span. “That’s kind of been our downfall the last couple of years. We’ve had some guys we really were counting on in those big games, for a play or two, they kind of locked up on us. That was the difference in the game — a score or two.”

Stanberry lost twice to Worth County last season, including a 22-point state semifinal defeat. The Bulldogs, who finished 8-4, saw all of their losses come against the state’s best — Worth County, Mound City and St. Joseph Christian.

According to Collins, all four teams have one thing in common: the consistency to make them successful year in and year out.

For the most part, they’ve all had the same coaches.

But last season, Stanberry lacked the mental toughness at the beginning of the year. The Bulldogs flourished toward the end of the season, however, and made a push for the state title.

“Last year we had injuries, and then a mono deal, and name it, it all happened,” said Collins, who hasn’t had a losing season since 2002.

Part of the slow start was due to the Bulldogs starting four different quarterbacks the first four games. Kyle Conover eventually took the position and posted a 6-2 record down the stretch.

Conover mastered the more spread out look Collins installed last year.

Now Reid Osborn (quarterback), Jesse Oldham (fullback) and Jake Heddinger and Daniel Hailey (wide receiver) must step into key roles to keep Stanberry pushing for titles. Collins hopes this group can start quicker and carry the momentum throughout.

“Our learning curve, we’re ahead of the curve,” Collins said. “We lost a good group of seniors, but we had a pretty good group behind them too.”

Thomas Huitt-Johnson can be reached at thomas.hj@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

“Last year was really tough on me,” Kinsella said. “I worked my butt off in the summer before and to come out with an injury and not play in the state (championship) game was pretty tough. I haven’t been thinking about the injury, just working my tail off every day. Help me and my teammates get better everyday and hopefully get back where we were last year.”

Greenland isn’t without some big play ability of his own.

The now-starting tailback

averaged more than 7 yards per carry and nearly a touchdown per game last season, serving as the power changeup to Mullock’s dynamic speed. The everydown, big-play threat might be gone, but Worth County’s overall talent and dominant history leave little reason to believe the Tigers won’t be back in the title mix.

Worth County has made 11 trips to the state playoffs under Borey and capped it off with a championship in 1998, 2000,

2001, 2007 and 2011.

“We’ve got a lot of people back from last year’s team,” Borey said. “When you win a state championship, you think of what the seniors were that year.

So last year’s juniors that played on the team want to be seniors this year so they’re remembered as a senior class that won a state championship.”

Bryce Mereness can be reached at bryce.mereness@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports

TARKIO INDIANS Varsity Football 2012

Date

Opponent

Location

Time

8/24

Mound City

Home

7 p.m.

8/31

Craig-Fairfax

Away

7 p.m.

9/07

North Nodaway

Home

7 p.m.

9/14

Nodaway-Holt

Away

7 p.m.

9/21

South Holt

Home

7 p.m.

9/28

Stanberry

Away

7 p.m.

10/5

West Nodaway

Away

7 p.m.

10/12

Rock Port

Home

7 p.m.

10/19

Worth County

Home

7 p.m.

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C4

Friday, August 24, 2012

Mound City | Panthers

Experienced players look to lead Mound City back to playoffs

By Matt Gleaves St. Joseph News-Press

MOUND CITY, Mo. — Brian Messer knows that it is nearly impossible to replace dynamic players.

The Mound City coach hasn’t even thought about trying to replace quarterback Lucas Schawang, who accounted for 2,796 yards of total offense last season. Instead, he plans a return to what he feels is his team’s strength: the running game.

Seniors James Walker and Brett Johnson will be two keys to the ground attack, Walker playing up front and Johnson behind either sophomore Hayden Marrs or junior Luke Sanders, who are vying for the starting quarterback job.

“You’re never going to replace a guy like Lucas,” Messer said.

“I hope that the experience we have returning that the loss of (Schawang) won’t be as dramatic as some people might think.”

To avoid a dropoff, Mound City must find a way to stay in the elite.

The Panthers made a fourth straight 8-man Show-Me Bowl trip this past season, but for the only time in Schawang and his fellow seniors’ career, they didn’t leave with the championship trophy.

With Schawang accounting for such a high percentage of the

rushing in limited playing time last season. “That’s where you’re going to get a lot of scores because the passing game isn’t as big of an advantage in 8-man.”

Despite shuffling the backfield around to fit a new offensive emphasis, Messer is confident in the Panthers’ ability to score points.

The defense is more of a concern.

Mound City struggled to stop key opponents last season, giving up 50 points or more twice to Worth County.

The Panthers were able to shut down some of the weaker opponents on its schedule, but the typical powerhouses like St. Joseph Christian and Worth County gave Mound City more trouble.

“If we don’t see a marked difference in the way we play defense in the first couple games, I’ll feel like I’ve really failed this group,” Messer said. “I think we have the potential to really have an active defense. We’re not real big, but we File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press Worth County’s Jordan Harding takes down Mound City’s Brett Johnson by the jersey during the fourth quarter of the MSHSAA have a lot of team speed.”

Johnson and Walker should 8-man Show-Me Bowl championship last season. Johnson will move from wide receiver to tailback this year. provide plenty of help with Messer’s philosophy of a reoffense, a more diverse group legitimate threat outside of Johnson in the running game. must lead the charge this time. the backfield.

The 5-foot-9 running back vamped defense.

Walker recorded 169 tackles Walker will serve as the priJohnson burst onto the scene was the Panthers’ second leadmary experienced blocker on last year as Schawang’s main ing rusher last season with 770 last season, 100 of those solo, the offensive line with the in- target in the passing game, haul- yards on 131 carries, scoring 10 while fellow senior Johnson pitched in 92 tackles of his own. creased emphasis on the ground ing in team-highs of 25 catches touchdowns. game. Johnson must take on and eight touchdowns and hopes “It’s good to know that we are a different role after serving to be even more of a factor with going to get the ball into the Matt Gleaves can be reached better use as a wide receiver increased touches. hands of the backs more,” said at matt.gleaves@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports. last year, giving the Panthers a Junior Thomas Shifflett joins Johnson, who had 102 yards

Highway 275 conference Preseason capsules CRAIG ❯❯ Coach — Aaron Behrens, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 1-9 (1-7 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Jordan Stoner (625 yards rushing, 5 TDs); Keifer Nemyer (920 yards passing, 9 TDs); Jordan Stoner (612 yards receiving, 4 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/DB Jordan Stoner ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 4 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB Keifer Nemyer, jr.; RB/LB Logan Kephart, jr.; DB/LB Dalton Knowling, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at West Nodaway; A31 vs. Tarkio; S7 at Rock Port; S14 at Worth County; S21 vs. Nodaway-Holt; S28 at Mound City; O5 vs. Stanberry; O12 at North Nodaway; O19 vs.

South Holt

MOUND CITY ❯❯ Coach — Brian Messer, 5th year, 46-5 ❯❯ 2011 record — 10-3 (7-1 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 4-0 record; lost 8-man Show-Me Bowl vs. Worth County ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Lucas Schawang (2,022 yards rushing, 32 TDs); Lucas Schawang (774 yards passing, 13 TDs); Brett Johnson (408 yards receiving, 8 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Lucas Schawang, RB/LB Zach Kahle ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/LB James Walker, sr.; RB/DB Brett Johnson, sr.; OL/DE Kase Newcomb, sr.; RB/DB Thomas Shifflett, jr.; QB/ DB Luke Sanders, jr.; RB/DB

DATE 8/24 8/31 9/7 9/14

Hayden Marrs, so.; OL/DL Nathan Hayes, so. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Tarkio; A31 vs. South Holt; S7 at Worth County; S14 vs. West Nodaway; S21 at Rock Port; S28 vs. Craig: O5 vs. North Nodaway; O12 at Nodaway-Holt; O19 at Stanberry

NODAWAY-HOLT ❯❯ Coach — Josh Petersen, 1st year, (8-12 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 0-9 (0-8 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-4 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Wade Saxton (435 yards rushing, 6 TDs); Nick Patterson (674 yards passing, 15 TDs); Brandon Saxton (468 yards receiving, 6 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Josh Shafer, WR/LB Brandon Saxton ❯❯ Returning starters — numbers not submitted ❯❯ Key returners — QB Nick Patterson, jr.; OL/DL Justin Dearmont, sr.; OL/LB Stephen Schniedermeyer, sr.; WR/DB Derek Lemon, sr.; OL/DL John Poppa, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at South Holt; A31 vs. Stanberry; S7 at West Nodaway; S14 vs. Tarkio; S21 at Craig; S28 vs. Worth County; O5 at Rock Port; O12 vs. Mound City; O19 at North Nodaway

NORTH NODAWAY ❯❯ Coach — Andrew Webster, 2nd year, 3-7 (13-27 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 3-7 (3-5 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-4 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Justyn Carlson (768 yards rushing, 11 TDs); Austin Reynolds (737 yards passing, 9 TDs); Skylar Gray (322 yards receiving, 5 TDs)

❯❯ Key losses — DE/TE Dakota Cowan, TE/LB Skylar Gray, RB/DE Justyn Carlson ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 2 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/DB Austin Reynolds, jr.; RB/LB Fred Rios, jr.; RB/LB Tucker Null, sr.; TE/DE Keegan King, jr.; OL/DL Dustin Stevens, sr.; RB/DB Jared Carlson, so.; RB/DB James Leach, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Stanberry; A31 vs. Rock Port; S7 at Tarkio; S14 vs. South Holt; S21 at Worth County; S28 vs. West Nodaway; O5 at Mound City; O12 vs. Craig; O19 vs. Nodaway-Holt

ROCK PORT ❯❯ Coach — Ross Hastert, 2nd year, 2-7 ❯❯ 2011 record — 2-7 (independent) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Treyton Lewis (582 yards rushing, 10 TDs); Chandler Farmer (543 yards passing, 2 TDs); Jayden McMahon (161 yards receiving, 1 TD) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Treyton Lewis ❯❯ Returning starters — 10 on offense, 10 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — FB/LB Mitchell Minter, sr.; RB/LB Jayden McMahon, jr.; OL/DL Clay Oswald, sr.; QB/LB Chandler Farmer, jr.; OL/ DL Ryan Oswald, jr.; TE/DL Eric Duncan, jr.; OL/LB Tyler Makings, soph. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Worth County; A31 at North Nodaway; S7 vs.

Craig; S14 at Stanberry; S21 vs.

Mound City; S28 at South Holt; O5 vs. Nodaway-Holt; O12 at Tarkio; O19 vs. West Nodaway

SOUTH HOLT ❯❯ Coach — Mark Bolger, 1st year (1-9 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 4-7 (4-4 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 3-1 in district play; lost 8-man quarterfinal vs. St. Joseph Christian ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Kylynn Sisk (1,135 yards rushing, 24 TDs); Kylynn Sisk (820 yards passing, 10 TDs); Mitch Mueller (560 yards receiving, 7 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB/LB Kylynn Sisk, OL/DL Cody Dozier ❯❯ Returning starters — 5 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB/LB Mitch Mueller, sr.; RB/LB Billy Brock, sr.; WR/DL Jeremiah Bragg, sr.; RB/ DL Mac Kelly, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. NodawayHolt; A31 at Mound City; S7 vs.

Stanberry; S14 at North Nodaway; S21 at Tarkio; S28 vs. Rock Port; O5 at Worth County; O12 vs. West Nodaway; O19 vs. Craig

STANBERRY ❯❯ Coach — Dan Collins, 19th year, 130-67 ❯❯ 2011 record — 8-4 (6-2 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 3-1 in district play; lost semifinal vs.

Worth County ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Nate Luke (1,045 yards rushing, 18 TDs); Kyle Conover (580 yards passing, 15 TDs); Kevin Stoll (338 yards receiving, 7 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Kyle Conover, FB/LB Kevin Stoll, TE/DB Gabe Sego ❯❯ Returning starters — 4 on offense, 4 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/LB Trevor Johnson, sr.; OL/DL Mason

Rosier, so.; QB Reid Osborn, sr.; OL Corey Comer, sr.; OL/DL Spensor Osborn, sr.; RB/LB Nate Luke, jr.; RB/DL Jesse Oldham, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. North Nodaway; A31 at Nodaway-Holt; S7 at South Holt; S14 vs. Rock Port; S21 at West Nodaway; S28 vs.

Tarkio; O5 at Craig; O12 vs. Worth County; O19 vs. Mound City

TARKIO ❯❯ Coach — Ty Ratliffe, 2nd year, 3-7 ❯❯ 2011 record — 3-7 (2-6 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Dylan Harber (792 yards rushing, 11 TDs); Michael McMahon (397 yards passing, 2 TDs); Deaven Tunnell (84 yards receiving, 1 TD) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Dylan Harber ❯❯ Returning starters — 5 on offense, 4 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — QB Michael McMahon, jr.; RB/DE Jordan Riley, jr.; OL/LB Nick Schebaum, sr.; TE/LB JD Wilcox, sr.; RB/DL Max Graves, jr.; OL/DL Keaton Shaw, sr.; RB/LB Ben Glenn, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Mound City; A31 at Craig; S7 vs. North Nodaway; S14 at Nodaway-Holt; S21 vs. South Holt; S28 at Stanberry; O5 at West Nodaway; O12 vs.

Rock Port; O19 vs. Worth County

WEST NODAWAY ❯❯ Coach — Matt Shipley, 3rd year, 13-17 (14-26 overall) ❯❯ 2011 record — 6-4 (5-3 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 2-2 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Aaron Moser (1,168 yards rushing, 17 TDs); Brandon Whittington (813 yards passing, 17 TDs); Sage Jones

MOUND CITY PANTHERS FOOTBALL 2012

OPPONENT Tarkio South Holt Worth County West Nodaway

H/A Away Home Away Home

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Go Panthers!

Go Panthers!

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9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19

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(313 yards receiving, 7 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/LB Aaron Moser, OL/DL Wyatt Long, WR/ DB Sage Jones ❯❯ Returning starters — 1 on offense, 3 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — OL/DL Jonathon Madere, jr.; FB/LB Kirby Filley, jr.; WR/DB George Farmer, sr.; RB/LB Trevor Meyer, so.; RB/DB Dustin Winter, sr.; WR/DB Billy Knarr, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Craig; A31 at Worth County; S7 vs. NodawayHolt; S14 at Mound City; S21 vs. Stanberry; S28 at North Nodaway; O5 vs. Tarkio; O12 at South Holt; O19 at Rock Port

WORTH COUNTY ❯❯ Coach — Chuck Borey, 15th year, 146-23 ❯❯ 2011 record — 13-0 (8-0 in 275) ❯❯ Postseason recap — won district with 4-0 record; won 8-man Show-Me Bowl vs. Mound City ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Eli Mullock (2,308 yards rushing, 52 TDs); Bryce Ross (836 yards passing, 15 TDs); Aaron Patton (364 yards receiving, 6 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/DB Eli Mullock, WR/DE Jordan Harding, DE Dalton Welch ❯❯ Returning starters — 6 on offense, 6 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — FB/LB Dallas Greenland, sr.; QB/DB Bryce Ross, sr.; OL/DL Dylan Kinsella, sr.; OL/DE Kevin Stoll, sr.; DL Lane Craven, jr.; WR Aaron Patton, sr.; DL Tyler Schmitz, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Rock Port; A31 vs. West Nodaway; S7 vs.

Mound City; S14 at Craig; S21 vs. North Nodaway; S28 at Nodaway-Holt; O5 vs. South Holt; O12 at Stanberry; O19 at Tarkio

Away Home Home Away Away

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7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

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C5

Friday, August 24, 2012

dekalb | Tigers

tradition to uphold DeKalb fighting number crunch, trying to buck history

By Ross Martin St. Joseph News-Press

DEKALB, Mo. — Practices take place on a small patch of flat land between the fields in DeKalb — football and softball to the north, corn to the south.

The Tigers don’t need much room to operate these days.

Only 16 players came out for football this season, coach Vernon Pike’s 20th as DeKalb’s head coach. The Tigers’ run as perennial playoff qualifier ended a decade ago, and the task of returning to glory doesn’t ease up this season.

“We want to restore the pride,” DeKalb senior lineman Seth Gore said. “Just get people to believe in us because a lot of people don’t think we can do it, and I don’t think that’s the case.”

DeKalb lost six seniors to graduation, and a pair of contributors from last year chose not to return.

Departed quarterback Brent Bush and wide receiver Kolby Reagan took 90-plus percent of the Tigers’ offense from the past four years with them. In addition, the defensive back duo represented the top two tacklers from last year as well.

The proven returners include Gore, who should help anchor an experienced line. The problem shifts to who will catch, carry and throw the ball.

“They don’t really know who to look for anymore,” DeKalb senior Austin Hall said, “cause they were always focusing on the big (names) before.”

Hall will play quarterback in tight running sets and shift to wide receiver in spread looks, which will feature Colton Couch under center. Couch, the team’s second-leading rusher behind Bush last year, will receive the majority of the carries.

Couch missed most of

last year with a broken collarbone suffered Week 2 vs. North Nodaway, an injury that ultimately derailed DeKalb’s season.

After beating the Mustangs, DeKalb went 3-4 the rest of the way, including a disastrous 1-3 district run. The Tigers gave up 72 or more points in each of those losses.

DeKalb still finished with a winning record and has done so each of the past six seasons.

Yet, the wins have translated into only one playoff trip in that span. The Tigers have not won a playoff game since capturing the 8-man Show-Me Bowl in 2002, even with the current era of expanded playoffs.

“Always want to set your goals high,” Gore said. “I’m not saying we’ll do bad this year. I’m saying I think we can do a good job.”

How many of those goals DeKalb reaches could depend on the efficiency of the offense.

Execution becomes paramount without the big-name playmakers able to occasionally turn mistakes into long gains. The Tigers haven’t been able to pair effective line play and playmakers together in recent years, always seemingly having one without the other.

Easy to pick out one big reason DeKalb hasn’t vaulted back into the elite.

“Either a little cursed now or completely, totally blessed before,” Pike said.

“Before I had big linemen and big quick backs. That was the way it was back in the early 2000s when we were doing well, and then over the last few years, it has changed.

“It gets difficult to figure out just how you’re going to put things together.”

Ross Martin can be reached at ross.martin@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

North andrew | Cardinals

Schoonover looking to promote culture change at North Andrew

By Matt Gleaves St. Joseph News-Press

ROSENDALE, Mo. — In recent years, North Andrew didn’t experience the success that the Cardinals’ earlier history boasted.

Newly hired coach Jonathan Schoonover hopes to change that culture or rather restore it for the once-proud 8-man power.

The Cardinals perennially contended for titles during the 1990s, but while maintaining a power spot in the Platte Valley Conference, those successes didn’t translate to playoff appearances and postseason victories.

Schoonover, a veteran of 8-man success from his playing days at Mound City, has caught his players’ attention with a focus to win and win now.

“Everything is definitely more intense,” senior linebacker/running back Quayde Bauman said.

“Practices have been a lot more fast paced in the summer, and everyone is just more excited.”

Schoonover wants to make the Cardinals a competitive, dangerous team again after replacing Mike Seufert.

That starts with a powerful running game.

Schoonover eventually went on to collegiate and professional arena football success as a wide receiver but still believes in the running game’s role in a successful 8-man team. North Andrew played with a running emphasis under Seufert as well but hopes the renewed focus on execution and repetition bears out the championship results the Cardinals yearn to rediscover.

Senior running back Zach Officer (983 yards, 13 touchdowns) and

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

North Andrew senior linebacker Quayde Bauman, top, makes a tackle against DeKalb last season. North Andrew finished 5-5 last season.

Bauman were both instrumental ground weapons during the Cardinals’ 5-5 2011 campaign.

“When you put in the hours (working on the running game), you’d hope to think that you get good results out of it,” said Bauman, who racked up 448 yards on the ground last season.

North Andrew has won six of the past 10 PVC titles, most recently sharing the crown in 2010 with DeKalb and Southwest Livingston.

The Cardinals finished second in the conference last season to Southwest, ending a four-year conference title streak.

The last playoff appearance for North Andrew came in 2008.

Those all sound like proud accomplishments, but the PVC has taken a backseat to independent St. Joseph Christian and Highway 275 Conference powers, which have combined to win the past nine 8-man titles. Simply competing in the PVC can no longer be the goal or expectation for North Andrew.

“We need to execute in all aspects of the game. It’s all about execution and raising the bar, and our kids have really raised the bar for themselves and the team so far this season,” Schoonover said.

Matt Gleaves can be reached at matt.gleaves@newspressnow.com.

Follow him on Twitter: @SJNPSports.

We need to execute in all aspects of the game. It’s all about execution and raising the bar and our kids have really raised the bar for themselves and the team so far this season.

— JONATHAN SCHOONVER,

New North Andrew coach who boasts winning pedigree as a player at Mound City (high school) and Missouri Western (college)

2012 Craig/Fairfax Hornets Football Schedule DATE

OPPONENT

8/24 8/31 9/07 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 10/19

West Nodaway Tarkio Rockport West County Nodaway Holt Mound City Stanberry North Nodaway South Holt

LOCATION Away Home Away Home Home Away Home Away Away

TIME 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m. p.m.

GOOD LUCK, HORNETS!

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C6

Friday, August 24, 2012

PLATTE VALLEY conference Preseason capsules DEKALB ❯❯ Coach — Vernon Pike, 20th year, 120-70 ❯❯ 2011 record — 5-4 (2-2 in PVC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Brent Bush (751 yards rushing, 9 TDs); Brent Bush (1198 yards passing, 21 TDs); Kolby Reagan (758 yards receiving, 12 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB/DB Brent Bush, WR/DB Kolby Reagan ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 3 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — C Seth Gore, sr.; DE Hunter Crockett, sr.; RB Colton Couch, jr.; OL/DL Dakota Sonderegger, sr.; WR Jaden Foulk, jr.; DE Chris Christgen, jr.; QB/ WR Austin Hall, sr.; RB/LB Scott Grable, so.; OL Ty Frakes, sr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Chilhowee; A31 vs. North Andrew; S7 vs.

Union Star; S14 vs. Hughesville; S28 at Stewartsville; O5 at North Andrew; O12 at Christian; O19 vs.

Southwest Livingston

NORTH ANDREW ❯❯ Coach — Jonathan Schoonover, 1st year ❯❯ 2011 record — 5-5 (3-1 in PVC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-3 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Zach Officer (983 yards rushing, 13 TDs); Nate Atkins (980 yards passing, 16 TDs); Cody Edwards (688 yards receiving, 8 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — TE Cody Edwards, RB Chase White ❯❯ Returning starters — 2 on offense, 2 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB Quayde Bauman, jr.; RB Zach Officer, sr.; DE Kolby Davison, jr.; OL Colby Atkins, sr.; LB Skyler Spoonemore, jr.; DB Nate Atkins, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 vs. Christian; A31 at DeKalb; S14 at HardinCentral; S21 vs. Stewartsville; S28 at Union Star; O5 vs.

DeKalb; O12 at Southwest Livingston; O19 at South Nodaway

SOUTH NODAWAY ❯❯ Coach — Dustin Skoglund, 4th year, 6-24 ❯❯ 2011 record — 3-7 (1-3 in PVC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 1-3 in district play

File Photo | St. Joseph News-Press

Stewartsville running back Dominick Fleeks prepares to stiff-arm St. Joseph Christian’s Alex Maudlin at Christian Field last season. Fleeks rushed for 1,950 yards in nine games last year. ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Tom Fletchall (808 yards rushing, 11 TDs); Tom Fletchall (611 yards passing, 6 TDs); Cody Burden (550 yards receiving, 5 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB Tom Fletchall, OL/DL Zach Hilsabeck, RB Cody Burden ❯❯ Returning starters — 5 on offense, 5 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — WR/RB/LB Dakota Murphy, sr.; QB Mitch Hilsabeck, sr.; TE/DE Silas Nielson, sr.; RB/LB Blake Meyer, sr.; OL/ DE Dalton Murphy, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at HardinCentral; A31 vs. Christian; S7 vs.

Norborne; S14 at Union Star; S28 vs. Southwest Livingston; O12 at Stewartsville; O19 vs.

North Andrew

❯❯ Key returners — QB/LB Ethan Crowe, jr.; WR/DB Gage Vinson, sr.; RB/DB Mason Mehrhoff, sr.; OL/DL Jordan Konopasek, jr.; OL/ DL Anthony Sayers, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Northwest (Hughesville); A31 vs. Union Star; S7 vs. Hardin-Central; S14 at Norborne; S21 vs. Northwest (Hughesville); S28 at South Nodaway; O5 vs. Stewartsville; O12 vs. North Andrew; O19 at DeKalb

SOUTHWEST LIVINGSTON ❯❯ Coach — Tyler Anderson, 3rd year, 15-5 ❯❯ 2011 record — 7-3 (4-0 in PVC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 3-1 in district play; lost quarterfinal vs. Mound City ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Ethan Crowe (1,119 yards rushing, 25 TDs); Ethan Crowe (1,608 yards passing, 28 TDs); Justin Lewis (1,011 yards receiving, 21 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — RB/DB Justin Lewis, OL/DL Chance Gardner, RB/DB Anthony Allred ❯❯ Returning starters — 5 on offense, 4 on defense

STEWARTSVILLE ❯❯ Coach — Nathan Whitmer, 3rd year, 4-15 ❯❯ 2011 record — 3-6 (0-4 in PVC) ❯❯ Postseason recap — finished 0-4 in district play ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — Dominick

Fleeks (1,950 yards rushing, 21 TDs); Ryan Graeff (244 yards passing, 0 TDs) ❯❯ Key losses — QB/RB Ryan Graeff ❯❯ Returning starters — 3 on offense, 3 on defense ❯❯ Key returners — RB/LB Dominick Fleeks, jr.; RB/LB Ty Friend, jr.; OL/DL Justin Burris, jr.; RB/LB Payden Thompson, so. ❯❯ Schedule — A24 at Norborne; A31 vs. Hardin-Central; S7 at Chilhowee; S21 at North Andrew; S28 vs. DeKalb; O5 at Southwest Livingston; O12 vs.

South Nodaway; O19 vs. Union Star

UNION STAR ❯❯ Coach — Ken Boatwright, 1st

year, 182-98 overall ❯❯ 2011 record — did not field team ❯❯ Postseason recap — n/a ❯❯ 2011 stat leaders — n/a ❯❯ Key losses — n/a ❯❯ Returning starters — n/a ❯❯ Key returners — QB/LB Nick Palmer, sr.; OL/DL Ryan Hutchcraft, sr.; OL/DL Blaine Klaasmeyer, sr.; RB/DB Jake Mitchell, sr.; OL/DE Chase McDaniel, sr.; DE Chance Booher, sr.; QB/DB Sean Kelley, jr. ❯❯ Schedule — A31 at Southwest Livingston; S7 at DeKalb; S14 vs. South Nodaway; S21 at Norborne; S28 vs. North Andrew; O5 vs. Hardin-Central; O12 vs.

Lincoln Prep; O19 at Stewartsville

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