The rebirth of the Grandview varsity football team is almost complete.
When the Eagles host Scott City on Aug. 24, the resurrection from the abyss of the 2016 season, which ended prematurely because there weren’t enough players to compete, will unfold.
Dave Dallas was hired in 2017 to breathe new life into the program. He coached the Eagles during their self-imposed junior varsity campaign last fall.
Dallas addressed the crowd Saturday during the school’s introduction of its 2018 fall sports teams. The long line of players standing on the track with him were a testament to the progress that’s been made. Dallas has 37 players to start the new season.
“I think we have kids who have been around our system and know what to expect,” Dallas said. “We’re biting the bullet to compete against somebody else. What I’m most excited about is the knowledge base we’ve gained in the last year. I’m not getting that dead look when I talk about certain things. We’re still growing. Knowing how to go about things sometimes is a struggle. The most exciting thing about this group is they don’t make the same mistakes. They’re very coachable.”
Grandview will primarily run a one-back spread offense with sophomore Jakob Brand at quarterback. Freshman Clayton Riddle will serve as Brand’s backup. Dallas said Riddle probably has the best arm on the team and Brand has developed into an efficient thrower.
“Jakob has taken his game to another level with his secondary reads,” Dallas said. “If he sees a linebacker blitz, he knows what to do.”
Brand has several weapons at his disposal in seniors Bryan Martinez and Travis Love flanked outside at receiver and sophomore David Creath and senior Ely Moore charging out of the backfield.
“Being able to read the blocking schemes is the key thing for (Creath and Moore),” Dallas said. “Ely is more of a downhill runner. David’s good at planting that foot and changing directions.”
Martinez and Moore are the only two players left from 2016. Love is the school’s top boys hurdler and qualified for the pole vault at the Class 3 state track and field championships in May. Junior Dylan Barker and sophomore Alex Massey will line up at wide receiver.
“We feel like we have five good athletes we have to have on the field at all times,” Dallas said.
Blocking will be center Trenton Kostro (senior), right guard Kris Ledbetter (junior), right tackle Drew Litviak (junior), left guard Dustin Shoemaker (junior) and left tackle Jake Turner (senior).
Turner transferred from Windsor and is a fullback turned lineman. Ledbetter and Litviak played in every JV game last year.
“(Turner) has really bought into what we’re doing,” Dallas said. “He’s never played offensive line and he’s really come along.”
Sophomore Dawson Milner and juniors Franklin Greenman and Jared Lattimore provide depth on the offensive line.
On the Eagles’ defensive front are Lattimore, Litviak, Milner, juniors Dustin Shoemaker and Brice Haverstick and senior Chris Garrison. Dallas said all of those players weigh 220-plus pounds. Kostro and junior Kris Ledbetter are the defensive ends.
Creath, Martinez, Moore and Turner form a solid quartet at linebacker. Brand, Barker and Massey are the defensive backs.
Creath will handle all of the kicking duties and Dallas said he’s made some field goals from 40 yards this summer. Moore will use his strong leg to punt for the Eagles.
With new head coaches at Crystal City and Herculaneum, it’s a good time for the Eagles to relaunch their varsity program. The other teams in the I-55 Conference, St. Vincent, Jefferson and Valle Catholic, are the top contenders for the league title. The 14-time state champion Warriors have won the I-55 the last five years.
“Over the years, Coach (Jefferson head coach Alex Rouggly) has done a great job,” Dallas said. I think (the Blue Jays) are right behind Valle and the rest of the teams are at that third level.”
Dallas isn’t sure what class or district Grandview will be assigned to this year. The Missouri State High School Activities Association will determine that this week. Dallas said the Eagles are “a little ahead” of where he expected to be when he was hired.
“There’s a lot of excitement and buzz and I’m excited for the kids,” Dallas said. “ Last year was a positive experience.”