By Chris Parker
Sarcoxie football had its best season since 2017 with an 8-2 record last season.
“We had a great core group of seniors that had been playing since they were freshmen. I kind of put it all on them. The kids just stepped up,” Sarcoxie head coach Russell Ellis said.
The Bears will miss that strong senior class but have strong returning players as well led by two-way force Noah Garrison. The senior was a First-Team All-Southwest Conference selection at both running back and linebacker last season.
On offense, he carried the ball 138 times for 1,248 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“Noah has great vision. Obviously, he’s really, really fast. He’s one of the top runners in the state in track and field. He has taken the role of leadership in our offense,” Ellis said. “He is not like a traditional like sprint running back. We’re a downhill triple option (team). He is our fullback, so he has to make some dirty yards too. He’s just a gritty kid who is extremely hard worker and just a very, very good kid.”
Defensively, he pulled down 124 total tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, three sacks and an interception.
“He’s the heart and soul of our defense. There’s nothing that that kid hasn’t seen. He’s played in a lot of football games and just has a great nose for the football. He’ll be in the middle of our defense and always has been,” Ellis said. “He’s just a great reader and knows sometimes he needs to take on a block for his brother, he can knife it, or he can scrape over it. He’s an all-around solid football player. One of the best football players in Sarcoxie history for sure.”
Grant Caddick will move from wide receiver to quarterback this season.
“He (Caddick) is just a great leader. He has impressed with the things that he does and the way that he carries himself,” Ellis said. “He has some big shoes to fill. We’ve had some really good quarterbacks come through Sarcoxie. I look for him to have a breakout year.”
Gatlon Malotte will join Garrison in the backfield taking handoffs. Chris Lara will also play running back.
Sarcoxie looks to run the ball, so the offensive line is key to the success of the team. Caleb Chrisman will be the top starter returning there after earning honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
“Caleb’s experience up front telling kids how we do things, how we how we practice, how we call our fronts and how we call our scheme is vital,” Ellis said. “It’s just like having another coach out there. It’s beneficial for me because I can (tell) Caleb take care of this kid while I’m dealing with this other kid.”
Greyson Phelps, Lucas Pedro, Kuttler Eaton, Isaac Sanchez, Colton Walters and Daycen Haskins are looking for time on the line. Haskins is making the move from fullback to offensive line this season.
“Daycen is a selfless kid. It is really hard to transition from a skill position to an offensive lineman, but Daycen wants to be on the field. He wants to be a part of it,” Ellis said.
When Sarcoxie does throw the ball, look for Lane Everts and Carter Phillips at wide receiver.
Defensively, Garrison makes things go from his middle linebacker position. Sarcoxie uses a five-linebacker set with Carter Phillips and Haskins joining Garrison in the middle. Chrisman, Malotte and Everts will be in the rotation at outside linebacker.
Up front, look for Kewper Pettit, Phelps, Eaton and Sanchez.
The back end of the defense will feature Lara, Everts and Caddick in the secondary.
Sarcoxie will host a six-team jamboree on Aug. 23 featuring Liberty, Lebanon, Pierce City, Ash Grove and Stockton. The Bears open the regular season on Aug. 30 at home against new Southwest Conference foe Skyline.
“We have not had a losing season since my first year. I am really looking for these kids to just compete every game. Hopefully we can continue that and win more than we lose. Obviously, I never want to predict a losing season or a winning season or a perfect season, but I really like the kids we’ve got,” Ellis said. “They’re gritty. They’re hard workers. They’re very coachable. The sky is the limit with this group just as long as we don’t worry about wins and losses and just take care of ourselves; take care of the little things and have a shot at the end to get the win.”
