By Chris Parker
Stockton football graduated many key contributors from last season’s team that finished 8-3 overall.
This year both the returning and new Tigers are ready to meet the challenges of the Southwest Conference head-on.
“The players chose “Say When” from the movie Tombstone as our motto for this year,” Stockton head coach Luke Rader said. “It’s our way of saying we know we will see great opponents and expect adversity, and we’re ready to take those head-on. On the field, or in life, we want to be people who attack challenges with our head up and eyes open.”
Easton Hubbard and Jack Rickman graduated and took with them a combined 3,000 yards and 36 touchdowns passing and rushing.
Logan Reser looks to see an expanded role this season after he rushed for 673 yards and 10 touchdowns on 84 carries last season. He earned second-team all-conference honors at running back.
“Logan is a high motor kid that works extremely hard,” Rader said. “He was a big key in all phases last year and we look for him to be a leader for us this fall.”
Justin Anderson, who carried 16 times for 83 yards last season, also returns to the backfield.
Up front, a trio of all-conference offensive linemen in seniors Kale Rader and James Flora along with junior Trevor Swaggerty return.
Kale Rader was named second-team all-conference, honorable mention all-area and academic all-state.
“Kale is a big, strong kid,” Coach Rader said. “He’s intelligent and communicates well. He has improved every year and made a big jump last year. He has really worked to improve his quickness this off-season and we will need him to lead our newcomers this fall.”
Flora earned second-team all-conference and academic all-state honors.
“James is very intelligent and works extremely hard,” Coach Rader said. “He does all of the little things correctly. He has been a leader for us for a couple of years now. We will look for him to continue those things to lead us.”
Swaggerty was an honorable mention all-conference selection.
“Trevor is a big, strong kid. He’s very intelligent and a hard worker,” Coach Rader said. “He did a good job last year stepping into a starting role on the offensive line and rotating in on defense. We will look for him to be a solid foundation we can build around this fall.”
Sophomore Cannon Brown looks to take over at quarterback. He completed 13 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns last season.
“Cannon is a three-sport athlete and a really smart player,” Coach Rader said. “He is very poised and got some big experience late in the season last year when our starter had an injury. We will look for him to run everything offensively and make sure everyone knows their job.”
Junior Chase Gregory is the leading returning receiver. He had six catches for 129 yards and three touchdowns last season.
“Chase is very quick and explosive,” Coach Rader said. “He’s able to fill several different roles on the field. He was able to rotate in and gain experience in several areas last year. We hope that the combination of his physical ability and experience will have him ready to have a big fall.”
Overall, wide receiver and tight end will see a host of possible options.
“We have several guys competing and who will see time throughout the season at those positions,” Coach Rader said. “We will end up with a rotation or with different personnel in the game depending on the situation.”
Flora and Reser also return at linebacker. Flora, who earned honorable mention all-area honors at linebacker, led the team with 45 total tackles last season. Reser contributed 38 total tackles with seven tackles for a loss. Justin Anderson also saw varsity time at linebacker and returns.
Other returning players to watch include Noah Schick (junior WR/DB), Clayton Luff (junior WR/DB), Ty Nuding (junior DE/RB), Ty Hansen (junior DB/TE), Mason Evans (junior OL/DL), Anthony Bommerito (junior OL/DL) and Ayvun Austin (sophomore WR/DB).
Sophomores Ethan Pettit (LB/TE), Leighton Hieskell (OL/LB), Jace Norman (WR/DB), Henry Abercrombie (LB/TE) and Jon Brummett (WR/DB) will be newcomers to watch.
All the newcomers and returners have come in ready to improve.
“I think their attitude has been the biggest strength so far,” Coach Rader said. “They have been a fun group to coach this summer. They seem to really enjoy being with each other. They also seem to want to be coached and to get better. If we can continue that through the season, it will help us improve each day.”
Stockton travels to Sarcoxie for a jamboree on Aug. 22 before opening the regular season on Aug. 29 at Marionville.
“The goal is always to use every day we’re given to improve,” Coach Rader said. “At the end of the season, I would hope we can say that we did everything we could to improve as much as we possibly could in football and as people. I would also hope that all of our players will have better lives, and improve others’ lives, from being on this team.”
