by Jeremy Benson, GrandRiverConference.com
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Coaches Pre-Season Poll
GRC West and Missouri State 8-Man defending champion North Andrew Cardinals look to defend their respective championships this year. But if they are to do so, they will have a tough road. According to the coaches, they are picked to finish second in the GRC West. Worth County Tigers are the coaches' pick to win the GRC West in 2023. The Tigers won the GRC in 2021 but finished 3rd in a very competitive race last season. North Andrew is picked to finish 2nd.
Here are the coaches' picks for the 2023 season for GRC West 8-Man:
Worth County
Worth County finished 9-3 and 4-2 in the GRC in 2022. However, all 3 of their losses were by one score and went down to the final possession. The season ended with a 40-38 thriller to eventual state champion North Andrew in the district championship game. This season, the Tigers are the pick to dethrone the Cardinals in the GRC West and possibly for the state crown as well.
The Tigers lost some talented players including Levi Cassavaugh (1st Team All-Conference Running Back, Linebacker and Returner, 2nd Team All-State Linebacker), Dylan McIntyre (1st Team All-Conference Tight End and Kicker, 1st Team All-State Tight End), Jase Latham (1st Team All-Conference Defensive Lineman, 2nd Team All-State Defensive Lineman), Creed "Swampy" Wilcox (Hon Mention All-Conference Offensive Lineman), and Braxton Hightshoe.
Top players returning for Worth County include Tyler New (1st Team All-Conference Punter and Hon Mention All-Conference Quarterback & Defensive Back), Elias Alarcon (2nd Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman), and Grant McIntyre (2nd Team All-Conference Defensive Back)
They expect newcomers Bo Collins and Landon Wilmes to also contribute this season.
North Andrew
North Andrew won their 7th 8-man State Championship in 2022 and their 3rd GRC 8-man Championship. They finished 13-0 and 6-0 in conference. Last year's dream season will be a tough one to follow up for the Cardinals. Coach Dwayne Williams is now retired, and his son, Dustin, has taken over.
The Cardinals will have to replace 10 seniors from last year's state champion. Leading the seniors were two of the top players in the state in Hayden Ecker and Jacob Chittum. Ecker was a 1st Team All-Conference Running Back and Defensive Back, 1st Team All-State Running Back and Defensive Back, and named MOFBCA Offensive Player of the Year in the State of Missouri. Chittum was a 1st Team All-Conference Defensive End and Offensive Lineman, 1st Team All-State Defensive End and Offensive Lineman, 2nd Team All-Conference Kicker, and named MOFBCA Defensive Player of the Year in the State of Missouri. Other top seniors include Aiden Miller (1st Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman, 1st Team All-State Offensive Lineman), Dawson Eychaner (1st Team All-Conference Linebacker, 1st Team All-State Linebacker, 2nd Team All-Conference Wide Receiver), Khizer Shunk (2nd Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman), Collin Patterson (1st Team All-State Defensive Lineman, 2nd Team All-Conference Defensive Lineman), Andrew Goff (1st Team All-State Hybrid, 2nd Team All-Conference DE/LB) and Gunner Lawrence (Hon Mention All-Conference Tight End).
However, at North Andrew, even when they lose ten seniors, they have talent behind them to reload. They will be led by Quarterback Braxon Linville (1st-Team All-Conference All-Purpose Back, 1st-Team All-State Athlete). Other players returning for the Cardinals include Payton Simmons (Hon Mention All-Conference Defensive Lineman), Avery Miller and Mathew Evans.
Top newcomers expecting to contribute are Blaise Patterson and Jaxon Richie.
New coach Dustin Williams expects the Cardinals "to stay healthy and work to compete for a conference title."
Stanberry
A young team and a difficult schedule meant a lot of growing pains for the Stanberry Bulldogs in 2022. They finished 4-6 overall and 2-4 in conference. The Bulldogs hope to improve on that this season.
Gone from Stanberry are Lance Wallace (All-District and 1st Team All-Conference DE/LB), Kaeden Showers (Hon. Mention All-Conference Offensive Lineman), and Gavin Cameron (Hon. Mention All-Conference Running Back and Defensive Lineman).
The Bulldogs will return star running back Tucker Schieber (2nd Team All-State, All-District, and 2nd Team All-Conference Running Back, 2nd Team All-Conference Defensive End), who rushed for over 1,300 yards last season. In addition, Colby McQuinn will be back at quarterback. Decker Heyde will also return.
Newcomers that expect to contribute are Calvin Smithson, Reagan Heyde, and Colby McQueen.
Coach Shane Hilton expects the Bulldogs to be competitive within the conference and most likely to finish somewhere between the middle and the top half.
Albany
Albany's dream season last year fell victim to one of the toughest districts in 8-man state history. After finishing the season 8-1 in the regular season and 5-1 in conference, they were seeded #5 in District 4 and had to play their first game on the road. To add injury to insult, it was a rainy and sloppy night, and they were not able to overcome their mistakes falling to East Atchison 28-20.
It will be tough to duplicate this season with Kemper Cline (2nd Team All-State, 1st Team All-District, and 1st Team All-Conference Quarterback, 1st Team All-Conference Defensive Back) moving on to play at Upper Iowa. Cline is not the only key player that Albany will have to replace. Also gone from the Warriors are Truman Runnels (1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-District and 2nd Team All-Conference Linebacker, 2nd Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman), Porter Davis (1st Team All-Conference Wide Receiver, 2nd Team All-Conference Defensive Back, 2nd Team All-District Returner), Kyle Burke (2nd Team All-District and 2nd Team All-Conference Tight End, 2nd Team All-Conference Linebacker), Jerrid Bunten (2nd Team All-District and 1st Team All-Conference Defensive End, 2nd Team All-Conference Running Back), Cody Peery, Sam Miller, Troy Popplewell, and Alex Wilson.
Seth Miller earned 2nd Team All-Conference Defensive Linebacker last year and had 63 tackles with 7 for loss. He is returning at OL/DL along with Kole Emerson at WR/DB, Quentin Hurkman at RB/DL and Bryce Martin at OL/DL. Key newcomers include Kemper's brother, Chase, who will take over the quarterback duties, along with Andrew Wiles at OL/LB and Zane Rippy at TE/LB.
Coach Doug Fountain said, "We have a good group of players with experience in our system and who have worked hard to develop their talents. Our success will hinge on our ability to grow into varsity roles and continue to develop as the season progresses."
King City
King City finished 7-4 overall and 3-3 in conference in 2022. Their 4 losses were to 3 of the top 5 ranked teams in the state and the eventual State runner-up Bishop LeBlond. However, they have a tall task of replacing 17 seniors from last year's team.
Key players that the Wildkats will miss include Chase Moss (1st Team All-Conference Offensive Lineman and Defensive Lineman, 1st Team All-State Offensive Lineman and Defensive Lineman), Ty Mooney (1st Team All-Conference Linebacker and 2nd Team All-Conference All-Purpose Back), Ron Pulliam (2nd Team All-Conference Returner and Hon Mention All-Conference Ron Pulliam), Landan Jackson (1st Team All-Conference Defensive End), Levi Hittle, and Jacob Boone (2nd Team All-Conference Defensive End).
King City will have no returning starters from a year ago, so will be relying on almost entirely newcomers including Sophomore Graham Medsker RB/LB, Sophomore Ryder Sample RB/DB, Junior Darwin Bowden QB/DB, Junior Jaxzen Johnston OL/DL, and Sophomore Tucker Mollus TE/DE. Only Johnston has varsity experience.
Coach Micah Breckenridge said, "With no returning starters, we are looking to see how our young players develop throughout the season. We have a talented group of players, but their inexperience and youth at the varsity level will be in question. We have a young, but talented group. We lost 17 seniors and only return 2 seniors this year. We will have all new faces on both sides of the ball who have
been working hard during the offseason to have a successful season."
Princeton
Princeton finished 7th in GRC 11-man last season with a record of 1-7 overall and 1-5 in conference. However, they were unable to finish the season due to a lack of available players. This season, the Tigers are moving to 8-man with the hopes that they will be able to have the numbers to compete. They begin their first season in the GRC West picked 6th by the coaches.
Andrew Rhoades leads the senior class that graduated last season. Rhoades led the team in rushing yards and tackles and earned 2nd Team All-Conference honors at linebacker, Honorable Mention All-Conference at Athlete, and All-District at running back. Other key players that the Tigers will miss include RB/LB Tyler Brown, and 3-starters on the offensive and defensive line - Jaden Finney, Hunter Foster, and Johannes Oaks.
Princeton will have a lot of talent back this year that will give them a shot at competing against their new conference foes. They will be led by WR/DL Talan Holt (All-District & 1st Team All-Conference Wide Receiver and All-District & Hon Mention All-Conference Punter), OL/DL Evan Houck (Hon Mention All-Conference Offensive Lineman) and WR/DB Kelby Thomas (All-District Wide Receiver). Clay Evans returns as the quarterback in addition to linebacker. Other returning players include OL/DL Nicholas Rubio, RB/DB Cooper Boxley, RB/DB Ethan Rhoades, and RB/LB Tyler Coffman.
Newcomers for the Tigers this year are Navari Payton (from Mercer) and Payton Miller (from Newtown-Harris)
Coach Nathan Powell said, "Stepping into the premier 8-man league in the state and knowing the level of competition we will see from week to week is exciting for us. There is definitely more enthusiasm from our athletes and a lot of anticipation from the community. We've spent the summer trying to find ourselves so to speak and now that the season is upon us, we feel pretty confident in what we have settled into. For the first time in several seasons, we have actual depth at each position which will help keep kids fresh and most importantly play a JV schedule to build experience and confidence in our younger kids. We're going to work week to week to build confidence in our kids and get better at what we're doing. We have yet to play an actual 8-man game, and we all still have plenty to improve on."
Pattonsburg
Pattonsburg was able to put up points on the board in 2022, but its inability to stop opposing teams was its downfall. The allowed a conference-high 63.6 points per game en route to a 3-7 season and 1-6 in the conference. The Panthers return a lot of talent this year in hopes to improve.
Gone from the team are Brody Langfitt (1st Team All-State, All-District, and 1st Team All-Conference Wide Receiver, 2nd Team All-Conference Defensive Back, KKWK All-Star Team) and Sam Coin (All-District and 2nd Team All-Conference Wide Receiver, All-State Academic Team).
Gage Iddings (All-District and 2nd Team All-Conference Quarterback, All-District and 2nd Team All-Conference Linebacker) hopes to have another strong campaign at quarterback this season. Last year he threw for almost 3,000 yards (2,921). In addition, he had 42 touchdown passes. When you add in his rushing, he totaled 3,340 yards. Pattonsburg also returns talented wide receivers Landon Preston, who had 388 yards receiving and 6 TD, and Daltyn Sperry with 156 yards. Wyatt Maize will join the receiving core this year to give Iddings another target.
Parker Virtue had a season-ending injury last season but will return for the Panthers this year. Iddings and Preston were also key players on the Panther's defense as well.
SJCS
St. Joseph Christian started the 2022 season with a 25-game losing streak, so their first goal was to win a game to end that streak. They were able to do that big when they defeated Northland Christian 68-0 in game 7 ending the streak at 31 games. They finished the season 1-9 overall and 0-7 in conference. The Lions will still be young again this year, but they gained a lot of experience with freshmen and sophomores getting a chunk of the playing time last season.
Jacob Clabaugh (2nd Team All-Conference Linebacker) is gone along with Kellen Dunn. Returning for St. Joseph Christian will be Jaren Padgett (Hon. Mention All-Conference Defensive Lineman), Judson Smith, Vail Fruechting, Cy Carlson, Levi Miller, Logan Hubble, Peyton Hausman, Conner Wagers, and Aiden Martindell. A top newcomer for the Lions will be Shaden Morris.
Coach Troy Schenk said he expects the team to take the next step at getting better and competing in the GRC. He is excited for another season and continuing to build the SJCS football program.
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