It's not often a league returns with two Coach of the Year
award winners walking the sidelines, but that is just what will happen this year
in the nearly created CCC-Pershing Division. Brookfield and Clark County,
led by Tri-Rivers Coach of the Year Matt Smith will join Macon, Palmyra, and
Centralia. Erle Bennett earned top coaching honors in the CCC and will
have his work cut out this season as he returns just 3 starters.
There is an excitement in North Central
Missouri with the newly alligned league and the creation of great new rivalries.
Senior running back Justin Alderton
returns to lead Clark County, our pre-season favorite. Let's take a look
at each league team.
Clarence Cannon Conference
Pershing Division
Pre-Season Conference Notes:
1. CLARK COUNTY-- The Indians make their
first appearance in the CCC after dominating the Tri-Rivers Conference in recent
seasons. Head coach Matt Smith says, "We must replace several key players
from last season's team, including sifting through a quarterback competition
that will likely run through two-a-days".
The Indians will return 7 offensive starters including senior
running back Justin Alderton (6-1 190) the Most Valuable Player
in the Tri-Rivers last season. WR Brian Whistton (Sr,
5-11 175) along with a pair of senior offensive lineman Mitchell Welker
(5-10 210) and Jacob McAfee (5-10 215) return after earning all-league honors.
5 starters return on defense including senior defensive back
Ryan Whiston(5-11 185) and the addition of our newcomer of the
year in the league, junior defensive tackle Tanner Ramsey(6-5 315).
2. CENTRALIA--
Although the Panthers return 0 offensive starters and just 3 on defense
Centralia ranked at or near the top of nearly every ballot as league coaches
ranked their pre-season selections. Tradition has proven Erle Bennett's squads
just don't have down years.
Bennett says, "We are replacing every starter on
offense and 8 starters on defense. We will have little time to improve
as the strength of our schedule is much better this season. We will have
to develop very quickly on the offensive & defensive line if we are
going to be able to compete in our
new Conference and district alignment."
Senior defensive back
Holden Meyers(5-11
170), senior linebacker Caleb White(5-9 175), and senior linebacker Joel
Bohlmeyer(6-0 180) return for the Panthers.
3. BROOKFIELD--
"It will be a difficult task because we
are joining the Clarence Cannon Conference this season and we are losing some
tremendous athletes and competitors from last year's team", commented head coach
Nile Thudium.
On offense the Bulldogs will look to a
very solid backfield, athletic with great speed. The offensive line is
inexperienced and must develop quickly. Senior Mike McCollum, junior
Andrew Baum(5-9 160), and senior Jante Glasgow(5-8
175) lead the way in the backfield. While the quarterback position is also
a question mark, Coach Thudium has confidence the situation will play out well.
On defense in the Bulldog 3-5-3 scheme will count on a
"tremendous group of linebackers" according to Thudium. The defensive backfield
is strong, and many of the same offensive lineman that need to gain experience
will be counted on as well.
Brookfield brings a solid football tradition to the CCC, while
the challenges will be new this season, the same level of quality football
should be expected.
4. MACON--
Are the Tigers being overlooked? No team in the CCC returns as much
experience as Macon which finished 4-6 a season ago.
"We return more letterman (23) and more
starters (16) than in any of our previous seven years", commented head
coach Pete Claas. "Expectations are
very high among our team and our community, even though we will only
have six seniors this season. A lot of juniors saw significant playing
time last year as sophomores and we expect them to step up and be very
productive players this season."
Senior
linebacker Austin Clapp
returns, he recorded 72 tackles on defense and rushed for 527 yards and 14
touchdowns in the offensive backfield. Sophomore running back
Taquan Kelly
returns after rushing for 631-yards and 5 touchdowns. Junior
Brandon Clema
is an anchor on the defensive line, he compiled 50 tackles and 6 sacks a season
ago.
5. PALMYRA--
The Palmyra Panthers hope to rebound from a 2-8 season.
"We are going to have to grow up
quickly along the offensive and defensive lines", commented head coach Jason Keilholz.
"We will need to stay
injury free and progress through the year to compete in our very tough
conference."
Six
offensive and six defensive starters return for the
Panthers including senior quarterback Austin
Hinkle
and senior running backs Chad Englehardt and Jacob Bross. On the line Josh
Conrad and Brice Caldwell provide experience on both offense and defense.
MOsports.com Fearless Predictions
Conference Champion: Clark County
Conference Player of the year:
Senior running back Justin Alderton
(6-1 190), Clark County
2010 Top Returning Clarence Cannon Conference Players
Outside Linebacker
Austin Clapp -
Macon - SR
DB Holden Meyers - Centralia
- SR
Return Specialist
Holden Meyers - Centralia
- SRRB *Justin Alderton Clark County
6'0 190 SR
DL Jonathan Howren Clark
County SR
WR
Brian Whiston Clark County
5'11 175 SR
OL
Mitchell Welker Clark County
5'10 210 SR
OL
Jacob McAfee Clark County
5'10 215 SR
DL Justin
Alderton Clark County
6'0 190 SR
DL
Byron Clayton
Brookfield 5'9 180
SR
KICKER Josh
Torrez
Brookfield 5'6 145
JR
This post was edited on 7/1 10:23 PM by MOsportsStaff
award winners walking the sidelines, but that is just what will happen this year
in the nearly created CCC-Pershing Division. Brookfield and Clark County,
led by Tri-Rivers Coach of the Year Matt Smith will join Macon, Palmyra, and
Centralia. Erle Bennett earned top coaching honors in the CCC and will
have his work cut out this season as he returns just 3 starters.
There is an excitement in North Central
Missouri with the newly alligned league and the creation of great new rivalries.
Senior running back Justin Alderton
returns to lead Clark County, our pre-season favorite. Let's take a look
at each league team.
Clarence Cannon Conference
Pershing Division
Pre-Season Conference Notes:
1. CLARK COUNTY-- The Indians make their
first appearance in the CCC after dominating the Tri-Rivers Conference in recent
seasons. Head coach Matt Smith says, "We must replace several key players
from last season's team, including sifting through a quarterback competition
that will likely run through two-a-days".
The Indians will return 7 offensive starters including senior
running back Justin Alderton (6-1 190) the Most Valuable Player
in the Tri-Rivers last season. WR Brian Whistton (Sr,
5-11 175) along with a pair of senior offensive lineman Mitchell Welker
(5-10 210) and Jacob McAfee (5-10 215) return after earning all-league honors.
5 starters return on defense including senior defensive back
Ryan Whiston(5-11 185) and the addition of our newcomer of the
year in the league, junior defensive tackle Tanner Ramsey(6-5 315).
2. CENTRALIA--
Although the Panthers return 0 offensive starters and just 3 on defense
Centralia ranked at or near the top of nearly every ballot as league coaches
ranked their pre-season selections. Tradition has proven Erle Bennett's squads
just don't have down years.
Bennett says, "We are replacing every starter on
offense and 8 starters on defense. We will have little time to improve
as the strength of our schedule is much better this season. We will have
to develop very quickly on the offensive & defensive line if we are
going to be able to compete in our
new Conference and district alignment."
Senior defensive back
Holden Meyers(5-11
170), senior linebacker Caleb White(5-9 175), and senior linebacker Joel
Bohlmeyer(6-0 180) return for the Panthers.
3. BROOKFIELD--
"It will be a difficult task because we
are joining the Clarence Cannon Conference this season and we are losing some
tremendous athletes and competitors from last year's team", commented head coach
Nile Thudium.
On offense the Bulldogs will look to a
very solid backfield, athletic with great speed. The offensive line is
inexperienced and must develop quickly. Senior Mike McCollum, junior
Andrew Baum(5-9 160), and senior Jante Glasgow(5-8
175) lead the way in the backfield. While the quarterback position is also
a question mark, Coach Thudium has confidence the situation will play out well.
On defense in the Bulldog 3-5-3 scheme will count on a
"tremendous group of linebackers" according to Thudium. The defensive backfield
is strong, and many of the same offensive lineman that need to gain experience
will be counted on as well.
Brookfield brings a solid football tradition to the CCC, while
the challenges will be new this season, the same level of quality football
should be expected.
4. MACON--
Are the Tigers being overlooked? No team in the CCC returns as much
experience as Macon which finished 4-6 a season ago.
"We return more letterman (23) and more
starters (16) than in any of our previous seven years", commented head
coach Pete Claas. "Expectations are
very high among our team and our community, even though we will only
have six seniors this season. A lot of juniors saw significant playing
time last year as sophomores and we expect them to step up and be very
productive players this season."
Senior
linebacker Austin Clapp
returns, he recorded 72 tackles on defense and rushed for 527 yards and 14
touchdowns in the offensive backfield. Sophomore running back
Taquan Kelly
returns after rushing for 631-yards and 5 touchdowns. Junior
Brandon Clema
is an anchor on the defensive line, he compiled 50 tackles and 6 sacks a season
ago.
5. PALMYRA--
The Palmyra Panthers hope to rebound from a 2-8 season.
"We are going to have to grow up
quickly along the offensive and defensive lines", commented head coach Jason Keilholz.
"We will need to stay
injury free and progress through the year to compete in our very tough
conference."
Six
offensive and six defensive starters return for the
Panthers including senior quarterback Austin
Hinkle
and senior running backs Chad Englehardt and Jacob Bross. On the line Josh
Conrad and Brice Caldwell provide experience on both offense and defense.
MOsports.com Fearless Predictions
Conference Champion: Clark County
Conference Player of the year:
Senior running back Justin Alderton
(6-1 190), Clark County
2010 Top Returning Clarence Cannon Conference Players
Outside Linebacker
Austin Clapp -
Macon - SR
DB Holden Meyers - Centralia
- SR
Return Specialist
Holden Meyers - Centralia
- SRRB *Justin Alderton Clark County
6'0 190 SR
DL Jonathan Howren Clark
County SR
WR
Brian Whiston Clark County
5'11 175 SR
OL
Mitchell Welker Clark County
5'10 210 SR
OL
Jacob McAfee Clark County
5'10 215 SR
DL Justin
Alderton Clark County
6'0 190 SR
DL
Byron Clayton
Brookfield 5'9 180
SR
KICKER Josh
Torrez
Brookfield 5'6 145
JR
This post was edited on 7/1 10:23 PM by MOsportsStaff
