With work underway to replace their artificial-turf playing field damaged by flooding this summer, the Fox Warriors scrimmaged Saturday night on a grass practice field in front of family and other fans.
Fox hasn’t posted a winning record since 2020 (10-2), but with a three-year starter at quarterback and a runaway train for a fullback, Warrior fortunes could rise faster than the Meramec River after a downpour.
Senior QB Cam Underwood will run the option and his wingman will be sophomore Jude Pribish (6-2, 220), who is a bruising ball carrier in the mold of the school’s all-time leading rusher, 2018 graduate Bobby Niebert, who’s back as the team’s running backs coach.
Pribish succeeds graduated halfback Ayden Smith, who averaged almost 10 yards per carry last season, finishing with 1,422 yards and 11 touchdowns.
As a freshman in 2023, Pribish didn’t play much until the last month, when the Warriors split their last four games after starting the season 1-5. He ran for 399 yards on 74 carries and scored two touchdowns. Fox’s season ended abruptly with an upset 37-12 loss to St. Mary’s in the first round of the Class 5 District 1 playoffs.
After a week of preseason practice, head coach Brent Tinker said he saw progress from his team’s offseason work. Heading into his 14th season in charge, Tinker is the longest-tenured head football coach in Jefferson County.
“We saw a lot of what we were expecting,” he said. “The kids have put together a solid offseason, so they’re bigger, stronger and older than we’ve been lately. Their maturity is shining through. We’re not happy with where we’ve been as a program and the boys are buying into the concept.”
A concept Fox has followed for three-plus seasons is Underwood piloting an option offense. He averaged 12.1 yards per carry in rambling for 615 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago. He also completed 23 passes for 332 yards and six TDs, not bad for an option quarterback. In a 50-14 victory at Hazelwood West, he ran for four touchdowns and passed for another.
“The biggest thing about Cam is how he’s developed as a person,” Tinker said. “I expect him to have a good year and part of that is how he’s matured as a person. He’s always been athletic, or he wouldn’t have started as a freshman. Our philosophy is run and play-action. We’re not going to trick anybody.”
Tinker called Pribish a “Renaissance Man.”
“He’s gifted, intelligent, in advanced classes, clubs and organizations and will play three sports (wrestling, track and field),” Tinker said. “We have huge plans for him.”
As they do in most years, the Warriors have depth in the backfield, with senior Tristan Hanks and juniors Antonio Jarillo and DJ Cox ready to spell Pribish. All three saw action a year ago and Cox ran for 106 yards and a touchdown in last year’s season-opening 42-7 win over Mehlville.
Tinker said he’s excited about the wide receivers, led by senior Orlando Taylor, who averaged 22.8 yards on six receptions and scored two TDs, both in a 24-19 midseason loss to Poplar Bluff. Also lined up outside will be juniors Chandler Price, Luke Duff, Zac Pisoni and Paxton Watts and seniors Conner Blasi and Ben Dulaney.
Tight ends in an option offense act like extra linemen and have to block well. Seniors Brayden Griffith and Preston Fore and sophomore Gavin Pecoraro will line up there.
Most of the offensive line returns. Senior Payton Younger has started at guard all four years. Junior Jackson Schroeder is the pivot at center. Others in the rotation will include Draven Faulkner, Alex Smith, junior tackle Zach Weiner and seniors Geno Woelfel, Keifer Cook and Chris Shetley.
Shetley, Younger and Fore along with Wesley Jefferis, Ian Farnham, Jack Yang and Ayden Whaley will make up a similar rotation along the defensive front.
Underwood, Cox, Watts, Price, Pisoni, senior Kelan Kirkpatrick, junior Ryder Hanks and sophomore Nehemiah Glanville give Tinker plenty of options in the secondary.
The strength of the defense, which Tinker said is “loaded with leaders,” will be the linebackers. Seniors Otti Stranger and JJ Westerhold, Blasi, Hanks, junior Charlie Chapman and sophomores Corben Thornton and Ryan Joggerst all will have their chance to make an impact.
“There’s going to be more than ample opportunity to pull kids out (for a breather),” Tinker said. “They’re all going to be coached and sent back in. It’s like pitching (in baseball) – you can never have enough defense.”
Tinker will need to find a replacement at kicker with the graduation of Cayden Keisker, who punched through 18 extra points last year.
Fox was winless (0-4) in the Suburban Conference Red pool in 2023.
The Warriors open at Mehlville Aug. 30 in a contest originally slated as a home game before the field damage and ongoing replacement. Next up will be the Seckman rivalry game Sept. 6, hopefully on a just-completed Jaguar field.
“We should be improved,” Tinker said. “I don’t know if we’re elite, but if we maximize our abilities, we should be pretty darn good.
“Realistically, it’s a nice rivalry game (against Mehlville). I’m appreciative they’re letting us play there. They’re a nonconference opponent, which doesn’t make any sense.”