Preseason predictions don’t mean much to Festus football head coach Russ Schmidt.
Although the Tigers won the Mississippi Area Football Conference Red Division championship, finished with a winning record (7-5) and reached the Class 4 District 1 championship last fall, don’t expect Schmidt to hand out plaudits about this year’s team.
With an offensive backfield loaded with talent, a more seasoned quarterback ready for his second year under center and a solid defense, many feel Festus has the most talent of anyone in the conference, or maybe even the county.
Schmidt has warned his players about the dangers of bragging on social media. And two starters, fullback Chalmer Brickhaus (back) and guard Dominic Nolfo (foot), could miss the season opener against Fox on Friday.
“I’m excited for this group of kids. They’ve worked a long time to get to this point,” Schmidt said. “I’m proud of what our coaching staff (Rob Pryor, Jim Sardo, Jeff Kopp, Rob Martucci, Rob Probst and Brian Bidlack) has accomplished this offseason. I’m cautiously optimistic about things. I’m flattered people think we’re going to have all of this success, but a couple of injuries could derail that.”
This is the second year the Tigers are running their offensive system. Collectively, Schmidt said he and his assistants agree the team is ahead of where they were at this time last year.
“Defensively, we’ve simplified things and as a result our kids are faster to the ball,” Schmidt said. “I’ve turned over the special teams to my assistant coaches. I can’t wait to get to (Friday) night and pull the blanket off to see what this thing looks like.”
The blanket comes off against the Warriors, a Class 5 school; Festus is Class 4. Fox beat the Tigers 27-6 in Week 1 last year in Arnold.
“We got our toes stomped on at Fox,” Schmidt said. “We were slow out of the gate against Sullivan. Against North County, our kids came alive. Each week we improved. The only night we regressed was against Borgia. We turned right around and took Troy (Buchanan) to the wire. I plan on taking our team to Troy this year and go down to the same wire, but I expect to win this year.”
Finding a team as deep as the Tigers are at running back would be difficult. Schmidt can rotate three fullbacks and five wingbacks in and out. During early season games when the temperatures can still be over 90 degrees, that kind of depth can grind defenses into dust.
Festus rushed for almost 4,000 yards last fall and most of those players return. Seniors Jack Robinson (125 carries, 787 yards), Brickhaus (127-848) and Justus LaBrayere start at fullback. At wingback are sophomore Dalten Yates, juniors Austin Anderson (106-752), Cole Wagner (7-67) and Cayden Glaze (17-127) and senior Jaden Rystrom (98-954). (See cover story.)
When the Tigers took the field against De Soto in Week 5, Collin Doyel replaced Austin Coale as the starting quarterback. Doyel, a junior this year, completed 4 of 5 passes and rushed for 46 yards in a 28-18 victory that triggered a three-game winning streak.
Doyel is the starter this season and is backed up by Coale.
“Collin was not afraid to come to the sideline and have a conversation about what he saw on the field,” Schmidt said. “Even though we’ve got coaches in the press box, he’s the one behind enemy lines.
“He’s a born leader. He does everything full speed. Rarely does he make a mistake. The huddle belongs to him. He’s thinking like a coach as he prepares for that first game. He throws the ball well and we hope to give him more opportunities to do that this year.”
With a plethora of backs, the Tigers don’t throw much. Festus threw 60 passes for about 350 yards in 2018. This season, juniors Cayse Martin, Daylen Wagoner, seniors Jordan Meczkowski, Tyler Wright, Jaxon McFarland and Damarion Anderson will line up wide.
“Our receivers run disciplined routes, and they block hard,” Schmidt said. “They will all contribute to Friday night success.”
Like any football coach, Schmidt said he realizes that all the talent in the world doesn’t add up to one first down without the bruisers along the offensive line. Junior Judson Holland and seniors Dominic Nolfo and James Wooten were starters on the O-line last year. Seniors Greg Sneed, Nate Carron and Lane Teddleton and juniors Rodney Campbell and Luke Greenstreet will all see starting time up front. Holland is a three-year varsity veteran who has played all the positions on the O-line. He’ll be the center this year. Nolfo was in a walking boot because of some tendon damage in a foot, but he should be ready to plug back into guard by Week 2.
“When we break the huddle and come up to the line of scrimmage, we don’t intimidate anybody,” Schmidt said. “We’re going to get physical and play to the whistle.”
The defensive line will be manned by seniors A.J. McKenzie, juniors Jacob Folk, Devon Hoppmann and Lucas Smith and Greenstreet and Carron.
Robinson and Nolfo switch to linebacker on defense and sophomores Trent Ellis and Tyler Harris could find themselves with significant playing time if injuries occur.
Coale, a state qualifier in the pole vault in 2018, was a late arrival to the secondary last year and he intercepted two passes against De Soto in the district game. Wagner, Meczkowski, Doyel and Anderson form a fast, athletic secondary that will be hard to throw against.
“They’re all very athletic and they can run and that’s the biggest thing,” Schmidt said.
Ryan Esparza spent a lot of time over the summer practicing kicking and he and Coale will handle those duties. McKenzie will be the punter.
Festus saw its season end last year with a 45-6 loss to West Plains. The Zizzers aren’t in District 1 this fall, but Sikeston and Cape Girardeau Central and the other Class 4 MAFC Red schools remain.
The district assignments were announced by the Missouri State High School Activities Association last Friday. Schmidt said what many were thinking the day before.
“I think part of our community is lighting candles hoping West Plains isn’t in our district.”