What to know about the 8 Boone County high school football teams in 2022
Practices are underway, and the countdown is on.
High school football returns on Aug. 26 in Boone County.
Here are capsules on each of the eight football teams in the county, detailing key returnees, losses and what to expect for the upcoming season.
The following information provided by area head coaches has been slightly edited for grammar and clarity:
Father Tolton Trailblazers
Head coach: Michael Egnew, 4th season
Last season's record: 5-4, lost to Harrisburg 28-16 in districts
Key Losses: RB Braden Willmeth, QB Jonah Lybeck-Brown, TE JC Putnam, LB Xavier Pinhero
Key Returnees: WR/DB James Lee, WR/DB Cameron Lee, OL/DL Ian Meyer, LB/QB/RB Caleb Gooch
How would you summarize last season for Tolton?
"Last season went well. We are excited to build on last year's success."
What's one thing we need to know about Tolton football in 2022?
"We are prepared for success and continue to work hard to ensure another great season. On our team we decide who 'starts' the first week of the season. So essentially, all spots need filled. It will be an interesting battle to see who wins starting spots and who will emerge as the biggest contributors."
The bottom line: Tolton took a grand step last season thanks to some talented upperclassman players. Replicating their contributions is a difficult task, but the Trailblazers should keep winning if they can keep consistently finding ways to develop younger players to fill the team's open roles.
Centralia Panthers
Head coach: Tyler Forsee, 3rd season
Last season's record: 6-5, lost to Hallsville 38-36 in districts
Key Losses: QB Beau Gordon, OL/DL Bradley Werkmeister, WR/DB Mason Barr
Key Returnees: RB Kyden Wilkerson, OL/DL Seth Hasekamp, RB/LB Brayden Shelton, WR/DB Ethan Adams, OL/DL Payton Mabrey
How would you summarize last season for Centralia?
"We got off to a bit of a slow start. We started off with a 1-3 record due to some very tough competition and playing a lot of young guys and guys who lacked that Friday night experience. Once we were able to gain that experience and speed of the game we played significantly better on each side of the ball."
What's one thing we need to know about Centralia football in 2022?
"We as coaches have high expectations for this group as they have high expectations in themselves. We return a lot of starters and other guys who got a significant amount of varsity reps last season, and we hope to get off to a faster start to the season. I know our guys are ready to compete to test themselves against a couple of tough teams to start the season. After the first two non-conference games we break into the tough CCC play. Our goal is to be a contender for the CCC title again and we know that we will have to play very well week in and week out to accomplish that task."
The bottom line: Centralia took its bruises last season but never laid down. Those lessons will serve the Panthers well as they return key players in the trenches and a tough running back in Kyden Wilkerson. If Centralia doesn't lose the edge that it found in the second half of last season and Cullen Bennett leads the offense as the starting quarterback, Centralia will have a good year.
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Harrisburg Bulldogs
Head coach: Steve Hopkins, 4th season
Last season's record: 8-3, lost to Fayette 52-42 in districts
Key Losses: QB Tanner Lanes, WR/DB Jace Carr, OL/DL Brayton Stephenson, LB Tanner Fike
Key Returnees: TE/DB Austin Darwent, ATH Anthony Alicea, OL/DL Logan Fritts
How would you summarize last season for Harrisburg?
"We had a good start to the season and improved from our best record ever in 2020, when we finished 8-4. We ended up 8-3 after starting out 6-0. However, we hit a great trio of teams to finish the regular season in Fayette, Scotland County and Marceline. We were competitive against all three, and won over Scotland County in a great game. We fell short vs. Fayette and Marceline, and yet, we did win seven games in our nine-game regular season for the first time in school history. We then won our first-ever home district playoff game over Tolton and were able to throw a scare into Fayette — coming back from 26 points down in the fourth quarter to lose by 10, with us throwing a pass into the end zone in the last two minutes, but were unable to complete it, and to their credit, we never got the ball back.
"Our conference is extremely tough and in 2021 had the state runner-up in Marceline and in Fayette a team that only lost by one in the quarterfinals to Marceline, so it was a challenge to reach the top. We hope we knocked on the door in 2021 and hope to continue to improve in 2022."
What's one thing we need to know about Harrisburg football in 2022?
"We have built a lot of depth in the past three years, with now over 15 juniors and seniors out, and other key sophomores. When we began in 2019, we had one senior and four juniors and the bulk of our team was sophomores and freshmen. Those freshmen are now seniors and have weathered a challenging three years. They and the juniors are able to rotate in and rest key players for key moments and we hope this added depth gives us a chance to win the close games we've lost the last two years."
The bottom line: Harrisburg has been building a program. That doesn't happen overnight, but Hopkins saw the fruits of his labor last season. Now, the Bulldogs need to carry the momentum. It's on this year's juniors and seniors to carry that torch.
Hallsville Indians
Head coach: Justin Conyers, 4th season
Last season's record: 10-1, lost to Bowling Green 42-30 in the district championship
Key Losses: QB Tyger Cobb, RB/LB Trenton Hobbs, LB Alex White, WR AJ Austene
Key Returnees: RB/LB Harrison Fowler, WR/OLB Landyn Sievers, DE DJ Larkin, OL Jayden Walters
How would you summarize last season for Hallsville?
"Last year the Hallsville Indians went undefeated in the regular season and captured the Tri-County Conference championship for the first time in school history. The Indians' offense averaged 42 points per game and the defense gave up an average of 21. We had a chance for a three-peat for a district championship but fell short losing to Bowling Green in the district championship game."
What's one thing we need to know about Hallsville football in 2022?
"There are big shoes to fill at the quarterback and wide receiver positions on offense with the graduation of Tyger Cobb and AJ Austene. We return four of our five offensive linemen and look to be a little more balanced in our run-pass ratio this season."
The bottom line: When coaches have a player like Tyger Cobb, it looks easy. Now, Conyers and the Hallsville staff need to find a starting quarterback while also developing their younger players. With players like Fowler, Larkin and Sievers, those tasks are much easier. Expect Hallsville to keep its winning ways.
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Southern Boone Eagles
Head coach: Mark Ross, 1st season
Last season's record: 3-7, lost to Eldon 36-13 in districts
Key Losses: QB Hayden Steelman, WR John Tate, RB/DB Bradly Smith, OL/DL Tyler Hilgedick, OL/DL Jonah Sapp, OL/DL Sam Hampton
Key Returnees: RB/LB Jacob Bowles, RB/LB Teller Mange, QB/DB Austin Evans, WR/DB Kellen Ash, WR/DB Chase Morris, RB/LB Ben Taylor
What's one thing we need to know about Southern Boone football in 2022?
"We return a lot of juniors and seniors who played significant minutes last season."
The bottom line: Mark Ross was a successful coach at Marceline. In Ashland, he's in a spot where he can create successful teams. Utilizing some of the returning seniors will give him a chance to win some games early, but Ross' ability to create a winning culture will be imperative in year one.
Hickman Kewpies
Head coach: Cedric Alvis, 5th season
Last season's record: 3-7, lost to Hazelwood Central 37-14 in districts
Key Losses: RB Deon Weston, OL Carrig Irelan, OL/DL Brandon Rhen, DB Jaiden Tandy, DL Isaac Primm, LB Keith Kelley
Key Returnees: LB Elijah Morton, LB Devin Brown, DB Rodney McNeil, DB A'Sean Gaddie, DL AJ Bussey, DL Ondreis Sharp, OL Alex Swank, OL Jayden Woods, DB/WR Tionne Milo, WR Lucas Murray, WR Cole Harrell, QB Carter Holliday, RB Zach Wright, TE Brock Camp, WR Devin Holt, DB/WR Donivan Taylor, RB/WR Jacob Trachsel
How would you summarize last season for Hickman?
"Overall, I think we progressed mentally and physically. We are able to compete in more ballgames. Always want to win more ballgames, but our ability to play fast and create big plays with a young team was very promising."
What's one thing we need to know about Hickman football in 2022?
"We're a more complete team than we have been since I have been the head coach."
The bottom line: Last year, Hickman had hyper-productive players like Jaiden Tandy and Deon Weston. While it stings losing those players, the Kewpies should be in a position to win more games this season with a more developed roster and players that learned lessons from the playing time they earned last season as underclassmen.
Battle Spartans
Head coach: Jonah Dubinski, 2nd season
Last season's record: 5-5, lost to Holt 48-12 in districts
Key Losses: LB Jaylen Broadus, TE/DE Livingston Coaty Jr., WR TJ Turner, WR Rasool Traylor
Key Returnees: QB Justin Goolsby, RB/LB Rickie Dunn, LB Alijah Jackman, WR Keylan Horn, RB Garrett Murray, OL/DL Aiden Jones
How would you summarize last season for Battle?
“Last season was a year of introduction, familiarization and growth. With limited time to begin the process of culture-building, I was pleased with the effort given by the 2021 team as well as the effort and commitment immediately after the season to begin building our 2022 team.”
What's one thing we need to know about Battle football in 2022?
“The 2022 Battle Spartans have a mixture of experienced upperclassmen and exciting young players. The story of the 2022 season will be decided by the ability of older players to lead and young players to grow up quickly!”
The bottom line: The Spartans are set for success in 2022. They have a quarterback and all the offensive weapons needed, plus a defense with one of the best linebacking corps in the state. Battle can go as far as it wants to.
Rock Bridge Bruins
Head coach: Matt Perkins, 1st season
Last season's record: 4-6, lost to Liberty 48-0 in districts
Key Losses: QB Nate Dent, RB Jimmy Whaley, all-purpose Payton Messer, DL Jeremiah Nathan, DB Nate Norris
Key Returnees: QB Sam Kaiser, DL Aiden Dubbert, LB Grayson Cutchlow, RB Tomisaac Johnson, OL Will Benson, WR Mark Hajicek, DL Jeremy Anderson, P Daniel Hull, DL Eso Edo-Ohonba, OL Kosh Oduwole, DB Rashad Ennin, LB Aughust Pfitzinger, DB Jake Hawkins
How would you summarize last season for Rock Bridge?
"Coming off a 4-6 season."
What's one thing we need to know about Rock Bridge football in 2022?
"Kids have had a great summer thus far learning new terminology and great daily attendance. Excited about being a Bruin!"
The bottom line: Rock Bridge struggled last season with injuries and a difficult schedule. Perkins provides an adrenaline shot to a team with plenty of continuity otherwise. If the Bruins upperclassmen buy into what Perkins is bringing, there's no reason Rock Bridge shouldn't win games right away in 2022.
Chris Kwiecinski is the sports editor for the Columbia Daily Tribune, overseeing University of Missouri and Boone County sports coverage. Follow him on Twitter @OchoK_ and contact him at CKwiecinsk@gannett.com or 573-815-1857.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Boone County high school football season is near: What to know
