De Soto lost the heart of its offense and defense to graduation in running back Dominic Punjani and linebacker Will Rector, both first-team all-conference choices (Mississippi Area Football Conference Red Division) a year ago. The Dragons also saw honorable mention quarterback Ethan Reissing grab his diploma last spring.
What Woodland sorely needed were a few senior leaders to help maintain continuity after the departure of former head coach Chris Johnson. Caleb Coleman, Bradley Hunt, Brody Fischer and Cody Petty have answered Woodland’s call.
“We have good chemistry at the moment,” Woodland said. “Some kids are way ahead of where I thought they’d be and Brody is light years ahead at quarterback after not doing it until July. I’m pleased with our effort and overall attitude.”
Fischer had never played quarterback until this summer at camp. He was a wide receiver last year and caught nine passes. His two older brothers were recent standouts for the Dragons. Briar was the MAFC Red first-team quarterback in 2019 and graduated in 2020. Levi was De Soto’s leading pass catcher last season (14 catches, 201 yards and five touchdowns) and graduated this spring. Woodland said he wants Brody to manage the game.
“I have a good relationship with Brody,” he said. “He knows I trust him to do this. He’s the right guy and has the right mindset. Linemen are goofy. They get mad at each other and themselves. He’ll get them right. That part of it, I wasn’t worried (about) at all.
“Football-wise, he’s way ahead of where I want him to be. And he’s taken that role on. He’s never thrown a football unless he was playing catch. We’re going to run the ball and the QB will run too. He won’t throw the ball 40 times a game. He’ll be on the move.”
Hunt came over from the soccer team last year and has emerged as one of the Dragons’ top players at running back and linebacker, where he was an all-conference second-teamer last year after posting 52 tackles, a sack and fumble recovery. He did not have any carries last season.
“He ran very well this summer, so that’s reassuring,” Woodland said. “The backfield is way ahead of where I thought it would be. That’s the biggest surprise.”
Woodland said Coleman had an outstanding offseason and is a tremendous worker. He ran for two touchdowns last year.
“We had our first scrimmage and it was refreshing to see him try to find the end zone,” the coach noted. “Sometimes running backs just run over people, but he was trying to find the end zone regardless of what that looked like.”
Petty is a returning starter at wide receiver and he’s joined out wide by juniors Dom Bourn and Drew Hardin and sophomores Colton Fischer, the youngest of the Fischer brothers, and Chase McAllister.
“If you’re a running team, (for receivers) it’s ‘No block, no rock,’” Woodland said. “So they’re going to block before I throw them the football.”
De Soto’s offensive line had to be rebuilt last year and it appears that has paid off as the unit returns intact. Three juniors who started last year are Jesse Deaton, Isaac Foeller and Steven Woelich. Senior Tim Harmon started on both sides of the line. Junior Richard Gilchrist and sophomore Cory Dierks are both candidates to start on the O-line.
“They’re meshing pretty well,” Woodland said. “We didn’t have 100 percent attendance this summer but they missed (only) one or two days as a group, so they’ve bought in and are ready to go.”
Coleman joins Hunt at inside linebacker and if the Dragons can corral ball carriers between the tackles, Woodland likes their chances on defense. Brody Fischer also plays linebacker.
“If you watched enough of our games last year, when Caleb came back against
Hillsboro, the difference he made on defense was unbelievable,” Woodland said. “We had a contact camp in Farmington (this summer) and it was tough to run inside against us with those two guys.
“I’m not scared to put my quarterback in that position. It’s a numbers game. If you don’t have 75 guys, it’s hard to not play them both ways.”
Petty and Bourn will start at cornerback with McAlister and Hardin at safety. The defensive front will be interchangeable with the O-line.
Hunt has made five field goals and 24 extra points as kicker the past two years.
De Soto lost to Seckman 55-0 in its season opener last Friday.