Cougars return majority of starters to fold on gridiron PAGE 18 — THE CONCORDIAN, Concordia, Missouri, Wednesday, August 26, 2015
by Hobby King SPORTS WRITER
A year ago, the Crest Ridge Cougars were good on both sides of the ball. However, the Cougars dropped two games within the I-70 Conference, thus finished third behind Saint Paul and Wellington. Eighth-year head coach Chris Cavanah, whose team won the conference and advanced to the 2013 Class 1 quarterfinal round, thinks his team might be primed for another run at a league crown. Still, he must find replacements for three starters on both sides of the ball, including first-team all-state defensive back Justin Donald and second-team all-state linebacker Cole Renick. Cavanah, who is being assisted by Mark Amos, Jake Vencill, Keagan Prather, Flip Courter and Sam Crosson, has a roster of 36 players from which to pluck talent. The roster includes 11 seniors, six juniors and 12 sophomores. The Cougars, who averaged 332/3 points per game on offense, return talented quarterback Tyler Rodgers, a 6-foot-2, 160-pound senior. He passed for 713 yards and nine touchdowns in a run-heavy wishbone offense last year. “He showed us he is a capable quarterback, and the offense will be built around his strengths,” Cavanah said. Also back is 5-8, 160-pound senior running back Kolin Reynolds, who rushed for 1,172 yards and 15 TDs last year as a fullback. Also in the mix at running back is 165-pound Houston Edwards. Noah McCune, a 6-0, 190-pound senior, also returns as a receiver. He
is a four-year starter who has earned all-conference honors every year, including first-team status last year. Jayson Burnap, a 6-0, 180-pound junior, is another of the receivers. “He's athletic and fast,” Cavanah said. “We need to find ways to get him the football.” Bret Bestgen, a 5-9, 150-pound senior who started nine games at running back last year, also is slated to be a receiver. Also in the mix is 5-10, 160-pound junior Sam Matthews. Trevor Shippy, a 61, 190p o u n d senior, returns as a starer at tight end. Also vying for playing time is 6-0, 180-pound sophomore Hayden Ridge. T h e Cougars have a mammoth offensive line, including all five projected starters being over 200 pounds. Dustin Metcalf, a 5-10, 250pound senior, started 13 games in 2013 but did not play last year. He is the top prospect for right tackle. The other tackle is likely to be returning starter Jake McCannon, a 63, 293-pound sophomore. The line's anchor will likely be 510, 235-pound senior Jacob McIn-
doo, a returning starter at center. At guards, Nick Wilcox, a 5-9, 215-pound senior, is slated to be on the right side and 5-10, 230-pound senior Matt Dick is the top candidate at left guard. Dick has been a fouryear starter, and he's been a firstteam all-conference selection each of the past two seasons. Austin Collins, a 6-0, 210-pound senior, who started some at center and guard last year, will provide some depth or could actually end up a starter. Cavanah said the team having five starters back on the line makes it a strength. “ T h i s group is both athletic and big,” he said. “This line could be special, and we will go as far as they take us.” But there are places the Cougars must improve, which involve consistency. “We need to be more balanced than we have been the last few years,” Cavanah said. “We have always run the ball pretty well, but for us to take the next step, we need to have more success throwing the ball.” The Cougars' 4-4 defense allowed only 202 points (55 of which came in a second-round district
“This line could be special, and we will go as far as they take us.”
playoff loss to Skyline) last year, and most of the talent returns. Dick and Shippy are back as defensive ends. Dick had 43 tackles and seven for a loss and Shippy 62 tackles and seven sacks last year. McIndoo returns as a starter as defensive tackle, with Metcalf the top prospect for the other tackle. McCannon and 6-3, 350-pound Dylan McCune also in the mix. Wilcox returns as a starter at linebacker. He totaled 104 tackles last year. McCune also is a returning starter at linebacker who had 96 tackles in 2014. Avery Matthews, a 5-9, 180pound sophomore, and Ridge also are returning starters. Ridge was a starter during the six games the Cougars were without Renick due to injury. Bestgen and Rodgers are back a starting cornerbacks and 6-0, 180pound Jayson Burnap at free safety. Edwards also could be in the mix for some playing time. “We have a ton of depth,” Cavanah said. “It's a physical group that can really run.” Cavanah points to specifics that will make the Cougars successful on defense. “Our edge players need to have a great season for us to be successful,” he said. “Those guys have to take away the outside running game as well as the quick passing game and force people to run between the tackles.” Cavanah is hopeful everything will mesh and the Cougars can compete at a high level. “This could be a special team, but we have a long way to go to get where we want to be,” he said.