A rare achievement is well within reach for De Soto senior Austin Missey: four years as a starting varsity quarterback.
And to think he almost walked away from the sport, more than once. Losing 28 of 30 games can have that effect on you.
“There were times I thought, ‘Why am I sticking with this?’” Missey said. “There were a couple of days I was really going through it. Looking back, I’m happy I went through the storms. I’m happy that God guided me to be here. This is the happiest I’ve been playing football and I feel proud to be a Dragon.”
Missey is Exhibit A of head coach Russ Schmidt’s ambitious project to rebuild the state of mind of the Dragon football program, and by extension all the athletic teams at De Soto in his dual role as activities director. This is his second season in both jobs; he is the only AD in Jefferson County who’s also a head coach.
“We played catchup last summer in coaching the kids and staff on the expectations,” Schmidt said last week as his players went through their first days of practice on their brand-new artificial turf field. “It seemed like we were chasing our tails. Anytime you have a full offseason, it’s hugely beneficial. We really went about our practices a lot different (and had) more meaningful time with the kids. Our Dragon state of mind had to improve and the kids have started to buy into that culture change.”
Schmidt credits assistant coach Mike Sobol with helping Missey stick with it at QB and develop into a team leader. Local football fans will remember Sobol as a standout at Herculaneum who went on to a notable collegiate career as a safety at Northern Illinois University. Sobol came aboard at De Soto last year as the strength and conditioning coach and then took on extra duty as Missey’s quarterback coach and overall mentor.
“Anytime we stepped off the bus last year and got a look at the other sideline, it was obvious we were inferior to our opponents physically,” Schmidt said. “We had a tremendous first year under Coach Sobol’s leadership. Our kids – both male and female – made significant gains. I feel like we’re on the right path.”
On his wrist at practice last week, Missey was wearing a team bracelet inscribed, “Band of brothers.” He has thrown for 1,141 yards and eight touchdowns in his career.
“I simply want to win and build relationships with my (teammates),” he said. “We’re closer. We’re coming together as a team and bonding. We really are. I feel we can go out there and get things done.”
With starters on the offensive line and skill positions returning as seniors, and a full offseason for Schmidt and his staff to prepare, the Dragons seem poised to produce more than the nine points per game they averaged in 2023.
It all starts up front on offense. Senior Owen Williams, one of the leaders in the weight room, returns at tackle. Also back are seniors James Allen (center) and Eli Hessler (guard) and sophomore Collin Barton (guard).
“Owen didn’t get any postseason recognition last year,” Schmidt said. “He looks and plays the part. He’s put on 30-plus pounds and he hasn’t lost a step and has gotten even more explosive.”
Williams said the mentality of the team is greatly improved. He started playing football with Missey in grade school.
“We’re all rooting for everyone,” he said. “We have an all-around great energy. We’re getting more players every day. I have all my brothers around me. We’re fighting in the trenches every day.
“I’m grateful to be with these guys; they are some of the best I’ve been with. We’ve been together mostly since seventh grade.”
Junior Eli Thebeau, the team leader in rushing (387 yards) and touchdowns (four) last year, is at the forefront of what could be a deep backfield. Junior Thomas Bradley returns at fullback. Senior Joe Escobar, sophomore Levi Huck and junior Brenton Drummond can play halfback and wingback.
“We have a lot of depth in the backfield,” Thebeau said. “We’re ready to get some yards and score some touchdowns this year. I’m an aggressive runner. I’m not the fastest guy, but I can hit some people.”
The new playing surface will be more forgiving when Thebeau is tackled.
“It’s a lot softer and makes you feel better playing on it,” he said. “This is our new house. We have to keep it ours and not let anybody else have it.”
Having picked himself up off the old turf more times than he can count, Missey agreed.
“It’s so beautiful,” he said. “The first time we walked on it, I said it’s like walking on a pillow. I feel like we’ve all earned it. We’re going to put the work in.”
With an outstanding veteran linebacking corps, Schmidt said the defense should be much improved. Senior Connor Seibert, junior Jackson Turnbo, Brenton Drummund, Thebeau and Bradley form that unit. Senior Braxton Drummond, Brenton’s brother, returns to the secondary. Some positions are still being evaluated, Schmidt said.
For many years at other schools, including Hillsboro and as head coach at Festus, Schmidt coached the special teams. He’s got two soccer players, sophomore Josh Golightly and junior Will Weber, lined up for double duty as the placekickers. He also is laser-focused on improving kickoff coverage.
“North County scorched us on the opening kickoff (last year) and I blame myself for not having studied our personnel,” he said. “That was a point of emphasis for me this offseason. It’s a critical part of the game and one I’ve always coached.”
De Soto hasn’t won a game in the Mississippi Area Football Conference since 2019. The Dragons will know where they stand this season after three straight conference matchups in Weeks 3-5: at North County, at Festus and home against Windsor.
Measurable progress in the weight room is one thing, but ultimately the Dragons want to win just as much as any other team.
“I’m excited about (Missey’s) opportunities this year,” Schmidt said. “I don’t want to place any undue expectations on him. He knows what we’re looking for. Situational football is old hat to him. We’re going to cherish these moments over however many weeks we end up playing.”