By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
As the East Newton football team seeks its first winning season in more than a decade, the Patriots have turned to a new head coach this fall in Tom Ellis.
Ellis, though, isn’t really new to East Newton; he coached the team from 2006 to 2009 and compiled a 16-28 record. Now he replaces Kyle Wood, who went 2-9 last fall with wins against Mt. Vernon (21-14) and El Dorado Springs (41-6).
With an overall coaching record of 28-38, Ellis returns to an East Newton program that has won just 10 games in the last 10 years and that graduated six offensive starters and seven defensive starters from last year.
That list includes five who earned postseason honors: Easton Schrader (second team Big 8 West receiver), Matthew Knight (honorable mention Big 8 tight end), Barratt Burkey (All-District and honorable mention Big 8 linebacker), Nathan Evey (All-District running back), and Collin Farley (All-District defensive end).
The Patriots return five offensive starters from a unit that averaged 12.3 points per game, and they return four defensive starters from a unit that allowed 33.2. Ellis will move the team to a power/option scheme offensively and install a 4-2-5 defense.
Senior Ty Bowman returns as a quarterback and linebacker who excelled in special teams. He was a second team Class 2 All-State punter, a first team Big 8 West punter and an All-District punter. Additionally, he was a second team Big 8 linebacker. He’s a three-sport athlete listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds.
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Senior Dominic Shaw (6-1, 290) returns as a two-way lineman who was an honorable mention offensive tackle in the Big 8 West. Senior Mason Hailey returns as a two-way lineman who earned All-District honors for his offensive work. He’s a three-year starter on the line and is listed at 6-1, 210.
Other returners are senior receiver and defensive back Riley Downum (6-0, 165), senior defensive back Hayden Heatley (5-9, 170) and junior defensive lineman Haze Hagedon (6-0, 200), who also plays offensive line.
That leaves a lot of spots up for grabs, and the Patriots have several players in the mix for those.
On offense, there’s senior Alex Heatley (5-9, 185), who could start on the line; junior David Moua (5-10, 200), who could help on the line after not playing last year; junior Devan Hang (5-10, 195), who could earn a spot on the offensive or defensive line; sophomore Braxton Wolfe (6-0, 165), who could start at receiver and free safety; and sophomore Zayden Ferguson (5-11, 185), who saw time at running back and could start in the backfield.
In addition to players like Hang and Wolfe, the defense could get contributions from senior Brian Bontrager (6-0, 175), who could start at linebacker; sophomore Cayden Larsen (5-9, 160), who could start at defensive back; and sophomore Will Eichelburger (5-9, 165), who could start at defensive back and serve as the backup quarterback. And junior Eden Enlow (6-0, 185) could also contribute for East Newton.
The Patriots open the regular season at Logan-Rogersville and will host Hollister (Sept. 2), Cassville (Sept. 16), Monett (Sept. 30) and McDonald County (Oct. 21).
