In each of the last three seasons, Fox High School has started out with blowout wins against Mehlville High School. The average margin of victory for the Warriors was three touchdowns.
Despite being in different pools in the Suburban Conference, the two teams meet first for the fourth straight year when the Panthers (Orange pool) travel to Arnold on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff at the Gerald O’Conner Stadium. Fox beat Mehlville 34-6 last year. DJ Cox scored touchdowns on a 34-yard run and a 40-yard interception return, and he returns to the Warriors for his senior year as a two-way starter on offense and defense.
“On the field, our emphasis will be to protect the football and play as clean a game as we possibly can,” Fox head coach Brent Tinker said. “Maximize ball security and get better. We’re really excited about our first game.”
Of the 12 high schools in the county, Tinker has the longest tenure in his position, at 15 years.
“We’re right where we need to be,” he said. “It’s time to play other teams. From an installation standpoint, we had a good summer. I feel good about some things. The plan and progression has been solid and I hope that turns into a faster start.”
Instead of building off those wins against Mehlville, Fox has fallen flat the last four years. During the COVID-shortened season of 2020, the Warriors won 10 games for the first time in their history and made it to the Class 6 state semifinals before losing 13-0 to De Smet Jesuit High School. Since then, Fox (4-6 in 2024) hasn’t had a winning record and is 12-28 over the last four seasons. The 2024 season came crashing down with the indignity of a 35-0 shutout loss to Lindbergh High School.
Tinker said the entire football program is still trying to build back to the number of players it had before 2020.
“The kids we have are doing a fine job,” he said. “We have enough to put together a decent season. We have to stay healthy and do the right things at the right times.”
When Fox has the ball, doing the right things is ultimately in the hands of senior quarterback Chandler Price, who started at the position last year. Price only threw 12 passes but led the Warriors with 611 rushing yards and tied with Tristan Hanks, a 2025 graduate, with seven touchdowns.
“He’s had a great preseason. He fits our system well,” Tinker said.
Starting at running back alongside Cox are senior Antonio Jarillo and junior Jude Pribish. Jarillo and Pribish combined for almost 1,000 yards last year. Pribish has been starting since he was a freshman and is closing in on 1,000 career yards. Junior Cole Theobald played RB on the JV last year and adds depth.
“I feel really good about Cole,” Tinker said.
Senior Paxton Watts was named to the Suburban Conference Red pool first team at defensive back, and he returns to his safety position and is at wide receiver on offense. Watts had 24 tackles and a fumble recovery last fall. He plays volleyball at Fox in the spring.
“It’s fun being back there and reading an offense from afar,” Watts said. “I’ll look at the line to get pass read.”
Watts and Chandler have been teaming up for pass plays since they were in elementary school.
“We’ve been playing sports since we were in grade school,” Watts said. “My favorite thing is to go straight down the numbers on a go route.”
While they didn’t get many opportunities to catch the ball last year, senior Ryder Hanks, Tristan’s brother, senior Zac Pisoni and junior Nehemiah Glanville return at wide receiver. Glanville is the emergency QB too. Junior Gavin Pecoraro returns at tight end, and senior Ryan Joggerst will play there too. Joggerst was all-conference at linebacker last year.
Senior guard Zach Weiner is the only returning starter to the offensive line. Seniors Alex Smith, Draven Faulkner and Carson Bosworth and juniors Cole LeClaire and Eli Spicer and sophomore Will Peralta are all in the mix to start on the OL.
“I really enjoy this group,” Tinker said. “Those seven kids will play every week.”
Fox allowed 30 or more points in half of its games last year. Joggerst was the second-leading tackler with 72.
“He’s disciplined and strong,” Tinker said.
Other linebackers include Theobald, Jarilla, Pecoraro, Pribish, juniors Corbin Fullerton and Adin Dukic and senior Jackson Turner.
Senior Charlie Chapman returns to anchor the defensive line, where he was chosen all-conference. Other Warriors on the DL are LeClair, seniors Anthony Palazzolo, Ethan Paul, Zach Weiner and Zach Braden.
“We have a bunch of sophomores we think will get into the rotation,” Tinker said.
In the Fox defensive backfield are Hanks, Price, Watts, Pisoni, Glanville and sophomores Carson Younger and Robbie Twichell.
Tinker said the team was still trying out kickers and punters. Jonas Hueter (2025) made 18 PATs last year and is now kicking at Missouri Baptist University.