By Chris Parker
Sarcoxie football was a young team last season, but the Bears were still able to post a winning record at 6-5 despite the youth.
“Last year’s team was really young across the board,” Sarcoxie head coach Russell Ellis said. “We had great leadership from our upperclassmen which helped us get better every week. We ended losing four conference games which were all within two scores.”
The offense returns a strong line along with wing backs and wide receivers.
“Our strength this year will be our guys up front and the experience we bring back at wide receiver and wing backs,” Ellis said.
Gatlon Malotte leads the returning players in his senior season.
“Gatlon is a dynamic athlete that is very physical and explosive on both sides of the ball,” Ellis said. “We look for him to take on more of a leadership role this year. We will lean on his experience to lead our team.”
Malotte earned honorable mention all-conference honors as an athlete last season. He rushed for 580 yards and four touchdowns on offense. On defense at linebacker, he pulled down 97 total tackles.
Fellow seniors Lane Everts (WR/DB) and Daycen Haskins (RB/LB) also return.
Everts had 11 catches for 158 yards on offense while adding 85 total tackles on defense last season.
“Lane is great kid and hard worker,” Ellis said. “He is a natural leader that puts the team above everything else. We will lean on his physicality and leadership.”
Haskins contributed 50 total tackles on defense last season.
“Daycen has worked really hard this off-season, and we will lean on him to replace our losses to graduation,” Ellis said.
Juniors Carter Phillips (WR/LB) and Lucas Pedro (OL/DL) both earned honorable mention all-conference honors last season.
Phillips pulled down 100 total tackles last season on his way to earning all-conference honors at linebacker.
“Carter was our leading tackler last year,” Ellis said. “We will ask him to be a bigger leader and command our defense.”
Pedro earned his all-conference honors on the offensive line.
“Lucas is a big kid that understands our offense,” Ellis said. “He has great feet and works really hard.”
Fellow juniors Greyson Phelps (TE/DL), Kuttler Eaton (OL/DL), Tyler Lambeth (QB/DB), Austin Hirtz (WR/DB) and Nolan Williams (RB/DB) also return.
Ellis on Phelps: “Greyson is a big kid with great ball skills. We will look for him to step up in a more significant role this year.”
Ellis on Eaton: “Kuttler really blossomed last year and has worked really hard in this offseason. We look for him to anchor us down defensively and get a big push up front.”
Ellis on Lambeth: “Tyler had a great season last year. He really stepped his game up in big moments last year. We look for him to battle for the quarterback position.”
Ellis on Hirtz: “Austin is a really explosive athlete that has worked hard in the weight room. We are going to have to find ways to get the ball in his hands.”
Ellis on Williams: “Nolan is going to be a great addition for us in the skill positions on both sides of the ball. He was great for us in the secondary last year and on all special teams.”
Kole Kellhofer (OL/DL), Kewper Pettit (OL/LB), Reily Barrios (RB/LB) and Landen Straw (QB/DB) are a quartet of returning sophomores.
Ellis on Kellhofer: “Kole really took of last year on the offensive line and has done a great job this far in the offseason. He will be a big part up front and will be one of the guys we try to run behind.”
Ellis on Pettit: “Kewper played all 11 games last year as a freshman. He has become the leader in our offensive line group, and I look for us to run behind him.”
Ellis on Barrios: “Reily is going to be a huge factor for us on both sides of the ball. He is a great kid that we will lean on to be the heartbeat of our offense and defense.”
Ellis on Straw: “Landen is a great competitor. He is a great athlete that understands the game. We look for him to battle for the quarterback position.”
Newcomers to watch include: Josh Hoffman (senior WR/DB), Zach Xiong (junior RB/LB), Daniel Pedro (sophomore RB/LB), Colton Walters (sophomore OL/DL) and Miller Altermatt (freshman OL/DL).
Ellis on Hoffman: “Josh is going to be a great addition this year for us at wide receiver and defensive back. I look for him to make significant contributions on both sides of the ball.”
Ellis on Xiong: “Zach has worked so hard this offseason. He is pushing to be one of skill guys on offense and play every special team.”
Ellis on Pedro: “Daniel is going to be a great role on offense and defense for us.”
Ellis on Walters: “Colton has a lot of talent and is a hard worker. We will look for him to take on a role on the offensive and defensive line.”
Ellis on Altermatt: “Miller is a great kid who has worked really hard. I look for him to take on a significant role on the offensive line.”
Sarcoxie will host a jamboree on Aug. 22 before opening the regular season on Aug. 29 at Skyline.
“This team brings back enough experience to be dangerous in the conference,” Ellis said. “We will be relying on our offensive and defensive lines to make plays. We will push these young men to have grit, finish every play, and respond together. We have great kids who are very coachable and reliable. My hope is that we continue to develop these young men into great human beings who can become successful great people.”
