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Jones excited about progress as 2008 kickoff approaches
By Chris Geinosky
Although most high school football coaches will admit they’re excited about the new expanded playoff setup, a large number are quick to share their uneasy feelings about having to cut back the preseason by a week to accommodate the new schedule.
With one less week of practice to prepare for the season, some teams saw the grim reality of the situation during ugly play at last week’s preseason jamborees. However, Kearney High appeared to be one of the exceptions, as the Bulldogs had the look of a team in midseason form by dominating play in their regular season tune-up in Harrisonville.
“I feel like we’re ahead of where we’ve been in the past,” Kearney coach Greg Jones said. “Our staff adjusted to the schedule. We went into summer, knowing that the last week of July is the first week of two-a-days.
“We’ve always had a laid-back approach to the camp in July, but we went to work this year. We told the kids, that’s the way it had to be with the new schedule.”
Apparently, the Bulldogs were listening. After an impressive showing at last week’s preseason jamboree, which featured a pair of larger Class 5 teams in Belton and Raymore-Peculiar, Kearney looks more than ready to accept its role as one of the metro’s top Class 4 squads this year.
Kearney will be looking to make its second straight trip to the state playoffs this season and build off of last year’s 10-2 campaign that ended with a quarterfinal loss to eventual state champion Lee’s Summit West. Since the Titans have moved up to Class 5 this year, that’s one less thing Kearney needs to worry about.
Still, the Bulldogs have their work cut out for them. They just hope to have the luxury of starting the season at full strength.
“Expectations are high around here, and the kids understand that,” Jones said. “Goal No. 1 will always be to play game 11. You get in it to win it.
“… Hopefully, all of our kids will be able to suit up this week. We had six starters standing over here on the sideline tonight (at the jamboree). We had 40-some kids play tonight. That’s half our kids. That gave us a chance to see some other people, and we do have a lot of depth right now. But still, we don’t want to have this injury bug thing come up and bite us already. We’re not ever going to use injuries an as excuse, so everybody has to be ready to do their job.”
In the third year of Jones’ two-platoon system, Kearney expects to have as many as three dozen different players contribute on a weekly basis this season. Here’s a look at the Bulldogs’ starters and a few key backups heading into the season.
Quarterback
Senior Conrad Schottel returns for his second season under center. As a first-time starter last year, Schottel guided a Kearney offense that scored 36 points per game on the way to a 10-2 season.
Running backs
Defenses will have a hard time knowing what’s coming from the Kearney running game, as at least six different ball carriers will be in the mix. Senior Cody Creason, the team’s only three-year starter, came on strong last season and should be the leader of the backfield.
Kelton Orr, Ashton Hiatt, Anthony Knese and Aaron Henrichs can all run the ball. Mark Krause and Dillon Brink return as the top two fullbacks.
Receivers
Kearney has some big shoes to fill, since last year’s starting receivers are playing at the college level. Trying to fill those shoes will be Tyler Funk, Austin Stephens, Taylor Woolf and Josh Klenda.
Offensive Line
The Bulldogs believe they can pick up from where last year’s team left off if the offensive line can produce. Junior left tackle Dillon Starzl is the only returner on the front line, but there’s plenty of talent and depth there. Ethan Doyle, Tyler Brite, Greg Harris and Jacob Beckett are penciled in as early season starters, but Cody Kolb, Michael LaVine and Kyle Street will all be in the mix.
Defensive Line
This may be Kearney’s most experienced spot on the field with all three starters returning — Street at nose guard with Justin Prasifka and Joe Windsor on the ends.
Linebackers
Tyler Trout is the only returning linebacker, but this is another deep position for the Bulldogs. Stephen Juergens, Krause, Grant Paris, Travis Shadrach, Colton Michael and Trent Wright all could see time.
Secondary
Returners will fill three of the four starting spots, including outside safety Nick Funesti and cornerbacks Funk and Stephens. Brian Boggess and Wright will take care of the other safety spot, and Gary Kuhnel has grabbed the top backup position.
Special Teams
Krause, one of the area’s top punters, will also contribute on special teams for the Bulldogs. Matt Slenker, another player who came on strong at the end of last season, will handle the rest of the kicking duties. Caleb Benner has won the long snapper job, and Juergens returns as the holder. Several athletes are in the mix for kickoff and punt returns, including R.J. Traverson, Funk and Kearney’s stable of running backs.
Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or cgeinosky@npgco.com.
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With one less week of practice to prepare for the season, some teams saw the grim reality of the situation during ugly play at last week’s preseason jamborees. However, Kearney High appeared to be one of the exceptions, as the Bulldogs had the look of a team in midseason form by dominating play in their regular season tune-up in Harrisonville.
“I feel like we’re ahead of where we’ve been in the past,” Kearney coach Greg Jones said. “Our staff adjusted to the schedule. We went into summer, knowing that the last week of July is the first week of two-a-days.
“We’ve always had a laid-back approach to the camp in July, but we went to work this year. We told the kids, that’s the way it had to be with the new schedule.”
Apparently, the Bulldogs were listening. After an impressive showing at last week’s preseason jamboree, which featured a pair of larger Class 5 teams in Belton and Raymore-Peculiar, Kearney looks more than ready to accept its role as one of the metro’s top Class 4 squads this year.
Kearney will be looking to make its second straight trip to the state playoffs this season and build off of last year’s 10-2 campaign that ended with a quarterfinal loss to eventual state champion Lee’s Summit West. Since the Titans have moved up to Class 5 this year, that’s one less thing Kearney needs to worry about.
Still, the Bulldogs have their work cut out for them. They just hope to have the luxury of starting the season at full strength.
“Expectations are high around here, and the kids understand that,” Jones said. “Goal No. 1 will always be to play game 11. You get in it to win it.
“… Hopefully, all of our kids will be able to suit up this week. We had six starters standing over here on the sideline tonight (at the jamboree). We had 40-some kids play tonight. That’s half our kids. That gave us a chance to see some other people, and we do have a lot of depth right now. But still, we don’t want to have this injury bug thing come up and bite us already. We’re not ever going to use injuries an as excuse, so everybody has to be ready to do their job.”
In the third year of Jones’ two-platoon system, Kearney expects to have as many as three dozen different players contribute on a weekly basis this season. Here’s a look at the Bulldogs’ starters and a few key backups heading into the season.
Quarterback
Senior Conrad Schottel returns for his second season under center. As a first-time starter last year, Schottel guided a Kearney offense that scored 36 points per game on the way to a 10-2 season.
Running backs
Defenses will have a hard time knowing what’s coming from the Kearney running game, as at least six different ball carriers will be in the mix. Senior Cody Creason, the team’s only three-year starter, came on strong last season and should be the leader of the backfield.
Kelton Orr, Ashton Hiatt, Anthony Knese and Aaron Henrichs can all run the ball. Mark Krause and Dillon Brink return as the top two fullbacks.
Receivers
Kearney has some big shoes to fill, since last year’s starting receivers are playing at the college level. Trying to fill those shoes will be Tyler Funk, Austin Stephens, Taylor Woolf and Josh Klenda.
Offensive Line
The Bulldogs believe they can pick up from where last year’s team left off if the offensive line can produce. Junior left tackle Dillon Starzl is the only returner on the front line, but there’s plenty of talent and depth there. Ethan Doyle, Tyler Brite, Greg Harris and Jacob Beckett are penciled in as early season starters, but Cody Kolb, Michael LaVine and Kyle Street will all be in the mix.
Defensive Line
This may be Kearney’s most experienced spot on the field with all three starters returning — Street at nose guard with Justin Prasifka and Joe Windsor on the ends.
Linebackers
Tyler Trout is the only returning linebacker, but this is another deep position for the Bulldogs. Stephen Juergens, Krause, Grant Paris, Travis Shadrach, Colton Michael and Trent Wright all could see time.
Secondary
Returners will fill three of the four starting spots, including outside safety Nick Funesti and cornerbacks Funk and Stephens. Brian Boggess and Wright will take care of the other safety spot, and Gary Kuhnel has grabbed the top backup position.
Special Teams
Krause, one of the area’s top punters, will also contribute on special teams for the Bulldogs. Matt Slenker, another player who came on strong at the end of last season, will handle the rest of the kicking duties. Caleb Benner has won the long snapper job, and Juergens returns as the holder. Several athletes are in the mix for kickoff and punt returns, including R.J. Traverson, Funk and Kearney’s stable of running backs.
Sports writer Chris Geinosky can be reached at 389-6654 or cgeinosky@npgco.com.