Spring River Valley Conference player of the year Justin Jack has graduated after leading the Miller Cardinals to the league crown and back-to-back league titles. The Cardinals finished 11-2, 7-0 in league play and appear to have enough returning to be considered the favorites.
Greenfield and Pierce City each advanced to the playoffs a season ago and look like top candidates to challenge the Cardinals.
Let's take a quick look around the Spring River Valley Conference.
MOsports.com Predicted Standings
Miller-- The past two seasons have produced quality Miller Cardinal football including a pair of trips to the MSHSAA Class 1 semifinal round, a 21-5 record, and back-to-back Spring River Valley league titles. This season the Cardinals will suit up many new faces that must produce quickly if the Cardinals are to duplicate recent success.
"We lost a lot of guys that started for multiple years so going into the season we will be inexperienced, especially at the skill position", commented head coach Dustin Baldwin. "Up front we lost a few starters on each side of the ball but we have good depth and experience for a class 1 school on the offensive and defensive lines."
Senior Dylon Demster(6-2 280) earned first-team all-conference honors along with senior Fred Sattler(6-2 265) another all-conference performer who brings great size and skill at any level. The line will be solid for the Cardinals. Keep your eye on junior Derrick Estell(5-11 180) a starter at half back and linebacker. Estell is expected to be a dominant peformer on both sides of the ball for the Cardinals and has the talent to play on Saturday's in a few years.
One area where the Cardinals are prepared and ready to flourish is in the area of playmakers. "The skill position has a lot of talent and they have had success the last?two seasons?on Monday Nights. The question will be how we transfer that over to?Friday nights."
"Defensively we made strides last year in being a more physical attacking team. We will need to continue that trend in 2011." A season ago the Cardinals gave up just over 12 points per game in an 11 victory season.
With a mix of veterans and newcomers this season in the 4-3 scheme hopes are high the Cardinals will continue to improve.
Miller will once again be placed on top of the Spring River pre-season rankings and expectations of a deep playoff run remain high.
Greenfield-- Eight offensive and eight defensive starters return for a Wildcat team that tasted the playoffs in 2010 and have much higher goals this season.
"We feel like we have an opportunity to excel this year", commented head coach Tom Ellis. "We have a lot of starters back on both sides of the ball and will be more familiar with the offense and defense. We play in a very tough conference and are hoping to compete for the title and be playing our best football come district time. We need to build some depth behind our starters and stay healthy for the best chance at a successful season."
Pierce City-- "This season will be a difficult year for us", commented head coach Mac Whitehead. "Not only are we trying to replace a great group of seniors from last year, we are trying to replace the backbone of Pierce City football for the last 22 years. The loss of Coach Weatherly will be a tremendous obstacle. We will be very young at several positions this year. We have a few veteran OL and DL which is always a positive. We will depend on some of our younger skill guys to really make an impact this year. We will just look to compete every week and hope for the best.
10-2, 6-1 a season ago, the Eagles return 6 offensive starters and 5 on defense.
Nearly every league coach pegged Zach Crouch as the top lineman in the league on both sides of the football.
Lockwood-- The Tigers finished 6-4 a season ago, 4-3 in Spring River league play. Junior quarterback Isaac Lasater (@Isaac_Lasater) returns as a leader for the Tigers.
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Sarcoxie-- The Bears advanced to the playoffs with a 3-8 mark. Junior Logan Jones returns at running back as the Bears top offensive threat.
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Liberal-- Lewis Dunkeson has guided Liberal to a 16-14 record in his tenure, including a 4-6 finish in 2010. Senior quarterback Colton Selvey returns.
Diamond-- 1-9, 0-7 in league play the Wildcats gave up 37 points per game, scoring just 9 in 2010. Senior running back Jarren Reinhart returns as a top threat for the Cats.
Jasper--This will be a very important off-season to determine the drive and will to win these kids have", commented head coach Josh Dirks. "They have had two completely different seasons the past 2 years, with a District Championship in 2009 and a 1-8 season last year. Their commitment to this summer will be a huge factor in how they respond in the fall. With the response so far this off-season, we look to bounce back and make a move up the conference standings." Junior running back Jordan Adams returns after an all-conference season.
MOsports.com Predicted Champion: Miller Cardinals
MOsports.com Pre-Season Player of the Year: QB, Cedric O'Hara(5-10 180), Pierce City, Jr.
Top returning Spring River Valley Conference returning talent includes:
Defensive Line 1st Team
Zach Crouch Pierce City - 12
Linebacker 1st Team
Curtis Palmer - Pierce City - 12 -U
Offensive Line 1st Team
Dylon Demster - Miller - 12
Zach Crouch - Pierce City - 12
Running Back 1st Team
Curtis Palmer - Pierce City - 12
Punter 1st Team
Colton Selvey - Liberal - 12
Defensive Line 2nd Team
Dylon Demster - Miller - 12
Fred Sattler - Miller - 12
Linebacker 2nd Team
Wayne Jo Sooter - Pierce City - 12
Defensive Back 2nd Team
Cedric O'Hara - Pierce City - 11
Quarterback 2nd Team
Isaac Lasater - Lockwood - 11
Cedric O'Hara - Pierce City - 11
Kicker 2nd Team
Riley Jack - Miller - 11
Cedric O'Hara - Pierce City - 11
Defensive End Honorable Mention
Alex Shaw - Lockwood - 12
Chase Hargis - Greenfield 12
Linebacker Honorable Mention
Tyler Boyd - Greenfield 11
Dalton Brollier - Greenfield 11
Elijah Pitts - Lockwood - 11
Defensive Back Honorable Mention
Jordan Moots - Miller - 12
Offensive Line Honorable Mention
Dillon Feasel - Greenfield 12
Chase Hargis - Greenfield 12
Jed Kaderly - Jasper - 11
Fred Sattler - Miller - 12
Garron Cantrell - Pierce City - 11
Tight End Honorable Mention
Dustin Preston - Greenfield 12
Caleb St. John - Lockwood - 11
Kurtis Bloss - Sarcoxie - 12
Wide Receiver Honorable Mention
Austin Marshall - Greenfield - 10
Wayne Jo Sooter - Pierce City - 12
Running Back Honorable Mention
Jarren Reinhart - Diamond - 12
Jordan Adams - Jasper - 11
Derrick Estell - Miller - 11
Logan Jones - Sarcoxie - 11
Quarterback Honorable Mention
Colton Selvey - Liberal - 12
This post was edited on 7/12 8:29 PM by MOsportsStaff
Greenfield and Pierce City each advanced to the playoffs a season ago and look like top candidates to challenge the Cardinals.
Let's take a quick look around the Spring River Valley Conference.
MOsports.com Predicted Standings
Miller-- The past two seasons have produced quality Miller Cardinal football including a pair of trips to the MSHSAA Class 1 semifinal round, a 21-5 record, and back-to-back Spring River Valley league titles. This season the Cardinals will suit up many new faces that must produce quickly if the Cardinals are to duplicate recent success.
"We lost a lot of guys that started for multiple years so going into the season we will be inexperienced, especially at the skill position", commented head coach Dustin Baldwin. "Up front we lost a few starters on each side of the ball but we have good depth and experience for a class 1 school on the offensive and defensive lines."
Senior Dylon Demster(6-2 280) earned first-team all-conference honors along with senior Fred Sattler(6-2 265) another all-conference performer who brings great size and skill at any level. The line will be solid for the Cardinals. Keep your eye on junior Derrick Estell(5-11 180) a starter at half back and linebacker. Estell is expected to be a dominant peformer on both sides of the ball for the Cardinals and has the talent to play on Saturday's in a few years.
One area where the Cardinals are prepared and ready to flourish is in the area of playmakers. "The skill position has a lot of talent and they have had success the last?two seasons?on Monday Nights. The question will be how we transfer that over to?Friday nights."
"Defensively we made strides last year in being a more physical attacking team. We will need to continue that trend in 2011." A season ago the Cardinals gave up just over 12 points per game in an 11 victory season.
With a mix of veterans and newcomers this season in the 4-3 scheme hopes are high the Cardinals will continue to improve.
Miller will once again be placed on top of the Spring River pre-season rankings and expectations of a deep playoff run remain high.
Greenfield-- Eight offensive and eight defensive starters return for a Wildcat team that tasted the playoffs in 2010 and have much higher goals this season.
"We feel like we have an opportunity to excel this year", commented head coach Tom Ellis. "We have a lot of starters back on both sides of the ball and will be more familiar with the offense and defense. We play in a very tough conference and are hoping to compete for the title and be playing our best football come district time. We need to build some depth behind our starters and stay healthy for the best chance at a successful season."
Pierce City-- "This season will be a difficult year for us", commented head coach Mac Whitehead. "Not only are we trying to replace a great group of seniors from last year, we are trying to replace the backbone of Pierce City football for the last 22 years. The loss of Coach Weatherly will be a tremendous obstacle. We will be very young at several positions this year. We have a few veteran OL and DL which is always a positive. We will depend on some of our younger skill guys to really make an impact this year. We will just look to compete every week and hope for the best.
10-2, 6-1 a season ago, the Eagles return 6 offensive starters and 5 on defense.
Nearly every league coach pegged Zach Crouch as the top lineman in the league on both sides of the football.
Lockwood-- The Tigers finished 6-4 a season ago, 4-3 in Spring River league play. Junior quarterback Isaac Lasater (@Isaac_Lasater) returns as a leader for the Tigers.
?
Sarcoxie-- The Bears advanced to the playoffs with a 3-8 mark. Junior Logan Jones returns at running back as the Bears top offensive threat.
?
Liberal-- Lewis Dunkeson has guided Liberal to a 16-14 record in his tenure, including a 4-6 finish in 2010. Senior quarterback Colton Selvey returns.
Diamond-- 1-9, 0-7 in league play the Wildcats gave up 37 points per game, scoring just 9 in 2010. Senior running back Jarren Reinhart returns as a top threat for the Cats.
Jasper--This will be a very important off-season to determine the drive and will to win these kids have", commented head coach Josh Dirks. "They have had two completely different seasons the past 2 years, with a District Championship in 2009 and a 1-8 season last year. Their commitment to this summer will be a huge factor in how they respond in the fall. With the response so far this off-season, we look to bounce back and make a move up the conference standings." Junior running back Jordan Adams returns after an all-conference season.
MOsports.com Predicted Champion: Miller Cardinals
MOsports.com Pre-Season Player of the Year: QB, Cedric O'Hara(5-10 180), Pierce City, Jr.
Top returning Spring River Valley Conference returning talent includes:
Defensive Line 1st Team
Zach Crouch Pierce City - 12
Linebacker 1st Team
Curtis Palmer - Pierce City - 12 -U
Offensive Line 1st Team
Dylon Demster - Miller - 12
Zach Crouch - Pierce City - 12
Running Back 1st Team
Curtis Palmer - Pierce City - 12
Punter 1st Team
Colton Selvey - Liberal - 12
Defensive Line 2nd Team
Dylon Demster - Miller - 12
Fred Sattler - Miller - 12
Linebacker 2nd Team
Wayne Jo Sooter - Pierce City - 12
Defensive Back 2nd Team
Cedric O'Hara - Pierce City - 11
Quarterback 2nd Team
Isaac Lasater - Lockwood - 11
Cedric O'Hara - Pierce City - 11
Kicker 2nd Team
Riley Jack - Miller - 11
Cedric O'Hara - Pierce City - 11
Defensive End Honorable Mention
Alex Shaw - Lockwood - 12
Chase Hargis - Greenfield 12
Linebacker Honorable Mention
Tyler Boyd - Greenfield 11
Dalton Brollier - Greenfield 11
Elijah Pitts - Lockwood - 11
Defensive Back Honorable Mention
Jordan Moots - Miller - 12
Offensive Line Honorable Mention
Dillon Feasel - Greenfield 12
Chase Hargis - Greenfield 12
Jed Kaderly - Jasper - 11
Fred Sattler - Miller - 12
Garron Cantrell - Pierce City - 11
Tight End Honorable Mention
Dustin Preston - Greenfield 12
Caleb St. John - Lockwood - 11
Kurtis Bloss - Sarcoxie - 12
Wide Receiver Honorable Mention
Austin Marshall - Greenfield - 10
Wayne Jo Sooter - Pierce City - 12
Running Back Honorable Mention
Jarren Reinhart - Diamond - 12
Jordan Adams - Jasper - 11
Derrick Estell - Miller - 11
Logan Jones - Sarcoxie - 11
Quarterback Honorable Mention
Colton Selvey - Liberal - 12
This post was edited on 7/12 8:29 PM by MOsportsStaff
