By Chris Parker
Ozark football improved from two wins to four wins in the second season under head coach Jeremy Cordell.
The Tigers return seven starters on offense including their quarterback and four offensive linemen.
Peyton Russell enters his third season as the starting quarterback. Last season, Russell threw for 1,625 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for another 288 yards and three touchdowns on 64 attempts.
“From the end of the season up until now, and it will continue through the season, (Russell) has been tremendous in his own self development in the weight room, mentally, physically and as a teammate putting in extra time,” Cordell said. “He is a guy that is as loyal as they come, and his teammates follow him. He is the first guy in the weight room and last guy to leave, and that is what you hope for in your leader and quarterback.”
His top target Sam Clark graduated, but his No. 2 receiver Jett Easley does return. Easley had 38 catches for 429 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two kick returns for touchdowns.
“Jett is a special athlete,” Cordell said. “He is smart and intelligent kid. He works hard in school and carries himself well off the field. He loves the game, and he is committed. He is always looking to get better.”
Easley earned First-Team All-COC honors as a returner and second-team all-region as a wide receiver.
Anthony Cordell had 20 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore. Nik Kosovan caught five passes for 60 yards.
Up front, Jacob Bruce, Braxton Edwards, Ethan Johnson and James Rice return to start on the offensive line.
“They all work hard together. They are all committed in every sense of the word,” Cordell said. “They have been through the program the last two years. They know where we want to go and what we want to do. For maybe what they don’t have in terms of sheer size that other lines have, they have work ethic and want-to and desire. That is what will help our success up front.”
Hendrix Haymes returns on offense at tight end.
Seth Baker will be a key running back.
“(Seth is) dynamic, quick, strong, and fast,” Cordell said. “(He is) one of the strongest and fastest athletes in the program.”
Mereck Putt (WR), Westin Samson (WR), Braxton Bell (RB), Isaiah Collins (OL) and Jacob Beasley (OL) will also be newcomers on offense.
Defensively, Ozark returns just two starters so new players will be looking to step up.
“We preach the same things over and over,” Cordell said. “It is defeating and destroying blocks, pursuing to the football, tackling and creating takeaways. That is what we call our fab four. It doesn’t matter who they are if they have or haven’t played defense before, we are going to look to get our best 11 and our supplemental guys on the field that will do those four things. That is how we evaluate every day. It could be a kid who didn’t play much defense last year. If we know that if we can plug him in and we can train him and he can be successful in those fab four, those are the kids who are going to see the field.”
Rice (LB), Haymes (DE) and Jaxon Selsor (DE) are returners who will see defensive time.
Stanley Brice (LB), Chase Kirkland (DB), Cade Morrison (DB), Lucas Edwards (ILB), Thomas Freeman (ILB), Collins (DL), Beasley (DL) and Preston Essary (DL) are newcomers to watch on defense.
Ozark travels to Nixa on Aug. 22 for a jamboree with the host Eagles and Kickapoo. The Tigers open the regular season on Aug. 29 at Willard.
“Success looks like the next step,” Cordell said. “It looks like cohesion. It looks like a strong locker room. It looks like a culture that tries to win in every single aspect whether it is on the field, off the field, and holding each other accountable. (It is) being a true brotherhood and not just I the cliché football sense but really being there for each other. We all go through the same things and go through the same stuff and embrace that. We have talked about this team seeing some of the good and the bad from the last two years. We have definitely made progress. They want to take that next step, and they are excited to do that. They want to do it together.”
