By Chris Parker
McDonald County football is looking for a bounce-back season with 15 total starters returning from last season’s 2-8 team.
The Mustangs will rely ask many players to contribute in all three facets on Friday nights.
“I hope we always show tremendous physical and mental toughness,” McDonald County head coach Kellen Hoover said. “I feel like we’ve really emphasized that this offseason and our kids have really bought into that. We’ve got a lot of guys that will have to play offense, defense, and special teams this season, and we’ve got to be physically and mentally prepared for the grind that it may be. We’ve seen our kids really take to that so far, and I hope that shows up throughout our season.”
Ryder Martin takes the reins at quarterback as a dual threat.
“Ryder Martin has had a great offseason and has shown some ability to be a threat throwing and running the football at the quarterback position after having a really strong junior year at free safety,” Hoover said.
Martin earned second-team all-conference honors as a defensive back last season. He had 85 total tackles with four pass deflections and one interception.
Look for Wyatt Gordon, Brodie Roessler and Breck Rubeck at wide receiver with JP Clarkson at tight end.
Roessler, who will also be a defensive back, led McDonald County with 544 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season.
“Brodie Roessler had a great second half of the year when we started basing out of spread formations, and I think he can roll that into his senior year,” Hoover said. “He’s always been a vertical threat and can also turn short catches into big gains.”
Rubeck was just behind him with a 422 receiving yards and five touchdowns with a team-high 34 catches.
“Breck Rubeck has always been a great route runner with tremendous hands and has started at cornerback since he was a sophomore, but has shown an improved burst this offseason and has looked great in his role at wide receiver,” Hoover said.
Rubeck had two interceptions and 42 total tackles on defense. Roessler had 31 total tackles on defense.
Clarkson is a three-year starter at defensive end who will have a bigger offensive role this season. He led the team with 14 hurries on his way to honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
“JP Clarkson should have an increased role offensively and brings a lot of experience to the defensive end position as a three-year starter,” Hoover said.
McDonald County will look for a lot out of its run game with Maddox Feagin, Vince James and Leo Soas seeing carries.
“We need to be multiple enough to take what the defense gives us,” Hoover said. “We hope to be able to have a physical run game, which we feel opens things up to our guys on the outside in space.”
James led the group with 116 rushing yards last season.
Up front, look for Maks Spurgeon, Max Eliam as returning starters. Karson Toney, Justice Washam, Jake Townsend, Logan Lyster, Landen Obed, and Chester Curtis are all competing for the other offensive line spots.
Spurgeon earned second-team all-conference honors as a tackle last season.
“Maks Spurgeon returns as a three-year starter on the offensive line and is highly motivated after last season was cut short due to injury,” Hoover said.
On defense, Hoover wants his team swarming to the ball.
We want to be a team that tackles extremely well and gets 11 hats the ball with relentless pursuit,” Hoover said.
Clarkson, Spurgeon, Obed, Eliam, Hayden Ashbaugh, Stevan Benhumea and Lyster are all options at defensive line.
At linebacker look for Feagin, Wyatt Gordon and James. Gordon had 50 total tackles with two interceptions last season. Feagin contributed 58 total tackles with James adding in 20.
The secondary will feature Martin, Roessler, Rubeck and JW Riley.
McDonald County travels to Mt. Vernon on Aug. 22 for a jamboree with the host Mountaineers, Neosho and Forsyth. The Mustangs open the season on Aug. 29 at Lamar.
“I want to see us get better every single day,” Hoover said. “We’ve challenged ourselves as individuals to do that throughout this summer, and it has made us better collectively as a team. We need to continue that mindset to be better than we were the previous week, day, and play. If we can consistently keep getting better, we can reach our potential as individuals and as a team this season.”
