By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
After a winless 2023 campaign in which Monett’s football team averaged about 10 points per game, the Cubs took a step forward last fall in head coach Ben Mauk’s first season at the helm. Monett played to a 3-7 record and saw its scoring average jump to 28 points per game.
“The big thing is we came in and really wanted to establish a foundation, a culture, and a standard of expectation with what we want in our football program,” Mauk said. “Monett’s had a lot of history of success and a lot of tradition, so we try to tap into that and bring back some of that history to the present day team and get these kids to remember that they’re playing for the city of Monett and for each other. Just establishing that culture is tough the first year because you’re coming in as the third head coach in four years so those seniors had three different coaches in their high school career, but they bought in and did a good job. It was an entirely new coaching staff, entirely new offense, entirely new defense and we had less than four returning starters. What we did in the first year was productive and laid the foundation but now it’s time to build upon that foundation and develop some depth and continuity in what we do and how we train and condition. I’m excited after year one at Monett, I love being here and working for the administration and love the community. There’s a lot of support there.”
Even with more returning experience this season, Mauk said the team is moving some players around to find the best 22 and the coaching staff views it as a clean slate: 11 openings on offense and 11 openings on defense. Figuring out how it all fits together is an easier task with the players now grasping terminology and schemes and with more familiarity with the coaching staff.
“They’re getting familiar with our coaches and those relationships with each other and the trust they have in us as coaches is a stark difference to where it was in week one last year,” Mauk said.
This year the Cubs will be led by an experienced senior group. That group includes August Black (60 tackles, 2 INT) who moved from receiver to defensive back last year and led the team’s secondary. Tucker Anderson, a “strong, physical guy and very athletic” recorded 76 tackles and a fumble recovery as a linebacker. Offensively, Alex Meeks is back as a “very athletic” receiver who could be poised for a big year with more familiarity with the system; he made 28 receptions for 232 yards and two touchdowns. Collin Umfleet, who will be a three-year starter, saw action at quarterback and receiver last year and has been a leader of the team this summer; he passed for 134 yards and a score, rushed for 329 yards and 12 scores, and made 28 catches for 178 yards. Edgar Mercado is an anchor of the offensive line and brings tenacity to that group, Mauk said.
“We’ve got a lot of guys coming back who are going to be seniors that got playing time and will be our leaders moving forward,” he said.
Quarterback Dylan Washick returns as a junior after taking the vast majority of snaps there last season. He completed 312 passes (61%) for 3,269 yards and 22 touchdowns.
“He had a really good year as a sophomore learning what we do on offense,” Mauk said. “He does a good job getting the ball in the hands of our playmakers.”
Junior Carson Nestleroad will play a key role after finishing second in receptions and receiving yards (80-922) along with four touchdowns. Senior Miles Young was a returner last year and a defensive back who made 78 tackles with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries; he’ll feature as a wide receiver this fall. Junior Camden Ellis (71 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FUM recovery) played outside linebacker and led the team with five sacks. Junior Aiden Rivera (109 tackles, 2 sacks) was another outside linebacker last year and will move inside this fall.
“We’ve had a few kids come out who didn’t play last year that will really help us on the offensive side of the ball,” Mauk said. “A host of other guys are coming off an injury or got a lot of playing time last year to give us a lot of experience and depth.”
With Monett’s last winning season coming in 2019, one focus for Mauk and his staff has been helping the team learn to win, even in lifting and conditioning.
“We’re trying to find ways to put them in competitive situations where they can win in drills, giving them an opportunity to do what they’re able to do and be successful at it and build their confidence,” he said. “If they can learn how to win and love each other and encourage each other and handle and face adversity like the great teams do, I think they have a chance to be very successful.”
He said the No. 1 job of the coaching staff and the players is to “love each other” through encouragement, motivation and leadership.
“If I can see that out of our kids and the chemistry starts to develop, I think the team has a chance to be really successful,” he said.
Monett will forgo a jamboree again, opting instead to practice like normal which Mauk said gives the team more preparation.
“In jamborees you get like 36 plays and on offense we get through 36 plays in about 15 minutes,” he said. “We spend more time getting dressed than we do in the actual jamboree.”
The Cubs open the season at home against Nevada and then host Strafford in a non-conference game.
