2020 Fall Preview: Neosho Football

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By Brock Sisney (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

NEOSHO — The Neosho Wildcats have at least one ballyhooed new addition for the 2020 season.

This new addition, though, will not catch or throw a forward pass, will not carry the football through a sea of would-be tacklers, will not make a single block, and will not make a single bone-jarring hit.

It measures 100 yards long between the goal lines, 120 yards long overall, and 160 feet wide.

Yes, Neosho has become the latest school in the highly competitive Central Ozark Conference to put down field turf. The last touches on historic Bob Anderson Stadium were made in late July.

“New turf on Bob Anderson Stadium will make an already awesome setting even more attractive,” fourth-year Neosho head coach Leon Miller said. “The commitment of our community and district for all programs is a much needed shot in the arm. Our maintenance staff has also done a lot of painting and cleaning that has made a world of improvement. This, along with future projects, will make Bob Anderson a first-rate facility that our community can be proud of for years. Our kids deserve quality facilities to train and prepare in and this lets them know the hard work is appreciated. This also allows us to have a consistently great playing surface year round for multiple uses.”

CLICK HERE FOR LINKS TO ALL OF THE FALL PREVIEWS

Neosho debuts its new playing surface Aug. 28 in the season opener against Republic (coached by former Neosho head coach and Miller’s precursor Dustin Baldwin).

The Missouri Football Coaches Association issued a release July 14 that recommended teams keep all activities, practices, and scrimmages in-house and to avoid interaction with other teams, and the MFCA also recommended the elimination of the jamborees traditionally held the week before the start of the season.

“I think we have handled it (COVID-19) pretty well,” Miller said. “We tried to keep things as normal as possible while adhering to the protocols laid out for us. I think the fluidity of the information and opinions are frustrating at times. With the cancellations of team camps, jamborees, et cetera, you really don’t have a chance to get a read on where you are versus different competition. I think our athletes, parents, and coaches have all done a great job through all of this, I think just the uncertainty weighs on you.”

The Wildcats return three two-way starters from a 2-8 team last season, senior running back and linebacker Drayke Perry (5-foot-11, 210 pounds), senior offensive and defensive lineman Kaden Decker (6-3, 235), and senior tight end and outside linebacker Sam Sullivan (6-3, 200). All three players also serve active links to the 8-4 district finalist team from two seasons ago.

Junior running back Talon Mitchell (5-9, 150), senior linebacker Jacob Fry (6-0, 175), and junior linebacker Tristen Linders (6-0, 210) all return with starting experience from last season.

For the first time during Miller’s time at Neosho, the starting quarterback will not have the surname Kelley. Gavin Kelley earned the starting job for Miller’s first season and Gage started behind center his junior and senior years. Racey Shandley (5-10, 165) and Landon Kivett (6-0, 145) are seniors listed at quarterback.

The Wildcats do return 27 varsity lettermen and have an additional 22 players, mostly sophomores, listed on a preliminary roster. Three-time state champion wrestler and University of Arkansas at Little Rock commit Cayden Auch (5-10, 165) stands out among those 22 names with the gutsy grappler listed at running back and defensive back.

Auch would fit right in with a football program coached by Miller, who spent 30 seasons coaching Kansas schools Frontenac, Parsons, and Girard before crossing state lines to Neosho. (Perry also won a state wrestling championship at 220 pounds his junior year and Auch and Perry contributed half of Neosho’s four individual state champions to a dominant team performance.)

“This group works hard, encourages each other, and wants to be successful,” Miller said. “We don’t have any superstars, just a bunch that will grind and push each other. We will need all of our seniors and upperclassmen to provide a championship attitude and work effort to be successful. Kaden Decker and Jacob Fry have provided excellent senior leadership for us this offseason. We have a large nucleus of kids from all grade levels that are very committed and consistent in their effort and desire to get better and make the team better.”

The COC landscape includes two defending state champions (Class 5 Carthage, Class 4 Webb City) and one returning state runner-up (Class 6 Joplin).

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