By Chris Parker
Neosho football posted the program’s first winning record since 2018 by going 6-5 including a 4-0 start to the season.
It was the fourth season of head coach Brandon Taute’s tenure meaning the Class of 2025 was the first group of seniors to have Taute as a coach all four years of high school.
“We had a really good senior group of kids,” Taute said. “They were the first group that we have had for four years here with that being our fourth season here in Neosho. They set the tone. All of our kids, nine through 12, worked extremely hard last year. They put a lot of time in during the offseason. They developed a lot of confidence through the weightroom and different activities we did throughout the course of the summer. That really showed up during the season.”
Entering Year 5, the Neosho football program’s culture is miles away from where it was when Taute first took over.
“We are in a completely different place,” Taute said. “Everybody knows what is expected. They know they are going to have to show up every day ready to work. They love that challenge. There are no surprises for the kids or the coaching staff. Everybody is on the same page, and we all have the same goals and aspirations. It is a completely different program than a few years ago.”
Offensively, five starters return including four offensive linemen. Everson Tomlinson and Romario Cifuentes are three-year starters on the offensive line. Gabriel Busteed returns to start on the offensive line and is a three-year starter on the defensive line. Miller Franklin rounds out the returning offensive linemen. Michael Schellhorn will be the newcomer at center in his junior season.
“It is going to be huge to have that experience up front,” Taute said. “Being able to hang our hat on the guys up front a little bit to take a little pressure off the (skill) guys is going to be huge early on in the season.”
Blayne Patterson takes over as quarterback in his junior season. He completed 15 passes for 233 yards with 23 carries for 102 yards last season in limited action.
“He is a dual threat quarterback,” Taute said. “He throws the ball well. He has an extremely strong arm. He is accurate. He is capable of making just as big, if not bigger, plays with his feet as well.”
Neosho will turn to Keisean Rhone to replace the graduated Denver Welch who had 1,145 rushing yards last season. Rhone took 25 carries for 187 yards last season averaging 7.1 yards per carry.
“He is a very explosive athlete, and when he sees a crease, he is going to be gone,” Taute said. “He is capable of hitting some big plays.”
Brock Pyle is the fifth returning starter at wide receiver. He will be joined by Haven Plummer, Lincoln Howard and Mason Spiva.
Defensively, things also start up front with an experienced defensive line.
“Being able to have those guys up front that we can lean on and help control the run game a little bit and get after the quarterback and allow us to drop a little more into coverage is huge for these guys that are younger or don’t have quite as much experience,” Taute said.
Everson Tomlinson leads those returning players on the interior of the defensive line. He had a team-high four sacks with nine tackles for a loss last season.
“He is a big-bodied kid, but he has lost a little bit of weight from a year ago. He had to lose weight for wrestling and get down to 285 (pounds) and he has stayed there. He played at 320 (pounds) a year ago,” Taute said. “He is just such a big body that he demands double teams all the time. If you don’t double team him, he is going to win one-on-one almost every time.”
Busteed joins Tomlinson on the defensive line coming off a season with 43 total tackles and six tackles for a loss.
“He is a little undersized, but he plays with heart and passion,” Taute said. “He is maybe our most technically sound lineman. Everson demands a lot of those double teams, so (Busteed) does a great being quick and trying to win one-on-ones.”
Jaxon Ertel is a third returning starter on the defensive line at defensive end. He had 70 total tackles with nine tackles for a loss as a sophomore.
“He is a kid that has gained probably 20 pounds this offseason,” Taute said. “He is a very disruptive and physical football player. We are excited to see how much more physical he is with putting on that weight and strength this offseason.”
Caleb Wilfong and Dayton Kivett are in the mix for the final defensive end spot.
The second level has a familiar name Brody Crane returning for his fourth season starting at linebacker. He had 88 total tackles last season. Crane, an Arkansas baseball commit, chose to continue playing football over fall baseball.
“It is rare to have those kids who play multiple sports especially when they are Division I type kids,” Taute said. “We wouldn’t fault him if he chose to go play baseball all fall. I think you can’t replicate high school football and what it means to be in that locker room with your brothers and classmates. I think it is a testament to even in today’s age you can still be a multisport athlete.”
He will be joined at linebacker by Colbe Mcgehee who is the leading returning tackler after he racked up 93 total tackles last season.
The secondary will feature Plummer, Howard, Spiva and Oliver Martin.
Neosho travels to Mt. Vernon for a jamboree on Aug. 22 before opening the regular season at home against Glendale on Aug. 29.
“We are looking to take another step as a program,” Taute said. “We took a huge one last year getting to a winning record and kind of proving that we belong with everybody in the COC. We lost a lot of really good football players, so I think these guys kind of have a chip on their shoulder and they are willing to prove that we are a program that is here to stay year-in and year-out and it is not just one group of kids that came through.”
