Who returns a lot

[TheRealJoey]

That's a sentence that hasn't been said in quite some time. Good for them.

They averaged 34 points a game this year...the most in decades. And they have the train loaded and back. Wow. Get that D down to 10 points or below a game, and the sky is the limit.

 

[CoachFox-ScreamingEagles]

I got to see next years seniors a bunch in Jr high. All 13 of them. EVERYONE had to play both ways, and they still had a winning record I think, just lost to some of the deeper teams. MAD respect for those boys. They always played together, had to, and never got razzled. Don't leave out Juarez at Center and Kicker, Dillon at DT and Wooldridge at DE. With the half-dozen sophomores that either started or had meaningful minutes this year, are another 8 or so that will fill in to varsity nicely next year for the good seniors we lose. I have no doubt Coach Beshore and his crew will be in the mix again, as usual.

Who cares what the middle school or JV record was? I think those stats have more to do with circumstance than anything. Good programs utilize that stage and youth football with development as the main goal, not wins and losses. Coach Bailey used to tell the youth coaches each year at camp they had one objective: Just make them love the game, and we'll do the rest when we get them. A HS varsity team success is more the result of blending the pieces you have from all four classes than how good the seniors are. It's fun to watch the dominant Jr high and JV teams get their butts kicked as upperclassmen.

Great Post Great Thoughts. what you said is kind of what I meant but you put it alot better. One of the benefits was the Freshmen practiced against the JV every day and that made those kids grow up quick. I am very proud of Trace, and he is a great kid as well. Coach Bailey used to tell youth coaches you guys hook them and I will reel them in.

 

[J. Kane]

Oak Park looks loaded for next year.

 

[TheRealJoey]

I got to see next years seniors a bunch in Jr high. All 13 of them. EVERYONE had to play both ways, and they still had a winning record I think, just lost to some of the deeper teams. MAD respect for those boys. They always played together, had to, and never got razzled. Don't leave out Juarez at Center and Kicker, Dillon at DT and Wooldridge at DE. With the half-dozen sophomores that either started or had meaningful minutes this year, are another 8 or so that will fill in to varsity nicely next year for the good seniors we lose. I have no doubt Coach Beshore and his crew will be in the mix again, as usual.

Who cares what the middle school or JV record was? I think those stats have more to do with circumstance than anything. Good programs utilize that stage and youth football with development as the main goal, not wins and losses. Coach Bailey used to tell the youth coaches each year at camp they had one objective: Just make them love the game, and we'll do the rest when we get them. A HS varsity team success is more the result of blending the pieces you have from all four classes than how good the seniors are. It's fun to watch the dominant Jr high and JV teams get their butts kicked as upperclassmen.

I would disagree to an extent. I rarely see really good 8th and 9th grade teams diminish much by the time they reach high school. For instance, Liberty North recently went to the semis, last year to the finals in Class 6. Those classes started dominating in 8th grade. I do know some programs where winning isn't nearly as important as rotating in everyone, seeing them, and getting them experience. But when a group starts dominating in sports across the board, that means you got the dudes. You could tell Melvin Laster from Liberty North, or Zach Grace from Kearney were dudes when they were in 8th grade. I did see, I think in 2016, the Platte County team that could score like a video game. As 9th graders they beat Kearney like 70+ to 14 or something like that. But K beat them in the district final--turnovers and good D. That PC team was scary. They beat the eventual state champ Harrisonville team 35-0 in an early season match.

 

[Keyboard_QB]

I would disagree to an extent. I rarely see really good 8th and 9th grade teams diminish much by the time they reach high school. For instance, Liberty North recently went to the semis, last year to the finals in Class 6. Those classes started dominating in 8th grade. I do know some programs where winning isn't nearly as important as rotating in everyone, seeing them, and getting them experience. But when a group starts dominating in sports across the board, that means you got the dudes. You could tell Melvin Laster from Liberty North, or Zach Grace from Kearney were dudes when they were in 8th grade. I did see, I think in 2016, the Platte County team that could score like a video game. As 9th graders they beat Kearney like 70+ to 14 or something like that. But K beat them in the district final--turnovers and good D. That PC team was scary. They beat the eventual state champ Harrisonville team 35-0 in an early season match.

Good point. I would contend that there are also "Dudes" in 8th grade that are DUDS as seniors. I feel like more often than not the sustainably good programs year after year develop everyone, not just benefit from a good class.

 

[TheRealJoey]

Good point. I would contend that there are also "Dudes" in 8th grade that are DUDS as seniors. I feel like more often than not the sustainably good programs year after year develop everyone, not just benefit from a good class.

Defintely.

 

[TheRealJoey]

I would disagree to an extent. I rarely see really good 8th and 9th grade teams diminish much by the time they reach high school. For instance, Liberty North recently went to the semis, last year to the finals in Class 6. Those classes started dominating in 8th grade. I do know some programs where winning isn't nearly as important as rotating in everyone, seeing them, and getting them experience. But when a group starts dominating in sports across the board, that means you got the dudes. You could tell Melvin Laster from Liberty North, or Zach Grace from Kearney were dudes when they were in 8th grade. I did see, I think in 2016, the Platte County team that could score like a video game. As 9th graders they beat Kearney like 70+ to 14 or something like that. But K beat them in the district final--turnovers and good D. That PC team was scary. They beat the eventual state champ Harrisonville team 35-0 in an early season match.

Correction...Platte County beat eventual Class 4 champ Harrisonville 49-0 early in the season in 2016 The coaches from PC that year have to look back and think they lost a real chance. They got beat by Kearney 2x that year, and had so much talent on that team. They could score from anywhere on the field within 2 or 3 plays.

 

[thetophat2021]

Correction...Platte County beat eventual Class 4 champ Harrisonville 49-0 early in the season in 2016 The coaches from PC that year have to look back and think they lost a real chance. They got beat by Kearney 2x that year, and had so much talent on that team. They could score from anywhere on the field within 2 or 3 plays.

Issue was their D. Had that unit been upper level that would have been a historic team indeed!

 

[Kzar]

Cape Central

yea, Park Hills Central returns a lot but so does Cape Central. I think that game is gonna be a good one to watch next to year.