By Michael Cignoli (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
SPRINGFIELD — Searching for its third straight trip to a district championship game, the Glendale football program will rely on its senior leaders and strong defense this season.
After winning a district title and reaching the state quarterfinals in 2019, last year’s Falcons finished 6-5 after dropping the title game to Ozark Conference rival Lebanon featuring Mizzou commit offensive lineman Tristan Wilson.
Glendale counters with its own bona fide college prospect in senior linebacker Cooper Roy, who holds at least a dozen scholarship offers after recording a state-record 25 sacks during his breakout junior campaign. The first of them came in the form of a Power Five offer from Kansas, shortly after he set a state single-game record with nine sacks in a win over Bolivar.
The all-state and all-Ozone selection also holds offers from Missouri State, Miami (Ohio), Indiana State, Ball State, Bowling Green, Toledo, Northern Illinois, Tulane, Buffalo, Navy and Army West Point after finishing the year with 91 tackles, including a team-best 30 for loss.
All-district linebackers Connor McTague, who had a team-best 153 tackles and Gavin Stidham, who was third with 77, are also back for their senior season under head coach Mike Mauk.
“Our defense will be the key to our success,” Mauk said. “We have seniors that need to be our leaders. Connor McTeague, Cooper Roy and Gavin Stidham are great players and will be our leaders. We need them to not only play good football but be great leaders, as well.”
Most of the statistical leaders from last year’s young team are returning this season, though Mauk said none of the returning players had officially locked down a starting role as of yet.
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“All positions are open and we are expecting good competition,” Mauk said.
That includes the quarterback job.
Junior Cole Feuerbacher handled most of the snaps last fall, racking up 1,967 passing yards and 20 touchdowns despite missing the entire month of September. But senior Josh Young, sophomore Fisher Wade and freshman Rex Deeters are all battling for snaps this season.
“Cole and Josh both have experience from last year,” Mauk said. “Cole finished the year strong and both can make our offense go. They have great work habits and are committed to being the best they can be. There is a healthy competition within the group.”
Whoever wins the starting job will have plenty of talented receivers to target.
All-state receiver Jack Clinkenbeard has moved on to Southeast Missouri State, but seniors Derek Horton, Chris Floyd Jr. and Carter Harrel are all looking to build on strong junior years.
Horton led the team with 1,116 receiving yards and 331 rushing yards, scoring 16 total touchdowns. Floyd racked up 540 yards and four scores despite appearing in just six games. They were all-conference and all-district picks, while the 6-foot-4 Harrel added 264 yards and four touchdowns.
“They all have excellent work habits,” Mauk said. “They have good strength and experience.”
Junior wideout Wyatt Andrews is another all-district selection who racked up 642 all-purpose yards. He also threw for 1,155 yards and 10 touchdowns while Feuerbacher was out.
Senior Mateo Altman will lead an offensive line graduated lost postseason award winners Colyer Kuntz and Cooper Tate. Junior Brandon Eagleburger, who transferred to the district from Strafford, and rising freshman Saul Spurgeon will look to secure those open positions.
“Both of them have good size and help us on the offensive and defensive line,” Mauk said.
Leaders on the defensive line include sophomore Kellen Lindstrom, who netted 68 tackles while starting every game as a freshman, and senior Nicholas Dannegger.
Plenty of jobs are available in Glendale’s secondary, as Traven Mathis and Jett Rollins both graduated and Mauk said Charlie Rearden, Eli Thomas and Payton Peterson will not play their senior seasons. The quintet ranked fifth through ninth on the team in tackles last year.
“We are excited about all of our players who make a commitment to our team,” Mauk said. “We played a lot of young players last year. Our seniors were good leaders and we need to have this year’s players step into those roles.”
Mauk is looking for big contributions from Jaxon Lockett, who returns after missing a year with an injury, and juniors Bryant Booker, Kayden Jordan, Ashton Davis, Parker Burns and Lennor Becker. Sophomores Carson McTeague, Luke Rich, Asra Smith, Quincey Johnson, Jackson Templeton and Alex McIntosch could all see significant time on the varsity.
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“Our sophomores need to be ready to play this year,” Mauk said.
The new and returning players will look to improve on a season in which the Falcons went 5-1 against teams that finished below .500, but just 1-4 against teams with winning records.
“We can’t control who we play or what their record might be,” Mauk said. “We can control our effort to become the best team we are capable of becoming. We have to continue to work hard and play together as a team. Our senior, veteran players must set a strong example for our younger players to follow.”
The Falcons open the regular season with visits to West Plains (August 27) and Rolla (September 3). Their home opener is set for Thursday, September 9, against Hillcrest.
“Our number one goal is to have a winning season,” Mauk said.” We play some very talented, well-coached teams. We have to improve, get better and play together if we want to win a district championship.”
