Cole Ruble scored 17 touchdowns of 50 or more yards last season.
The Seckman senior returns for his third season as the Jaguars’ starting quarterback and in the previous two seasons, big plays were his calling card. After rushing for a school-record 2,555 yards and scoring 30 touchdowns last year, Ruble was named first-team all-state, at the hybrid ‘athlete’ position, in Class 5.
The Jaguars climbed on Ruble’s back for the most wins (nine) in school history, including their first-ever district playoff victories. Seckman beat Cape Girardeau Central and Poplar Bluff in the District 1 playoffs before losing to 2020 state champion Jackson in the district final.
While looking to exceed last year’s rushing totals, statistics aren’t the only thing motivating Ruble. He’s focused more on becoming a better team leader.
“I want to help my team as much as I can,” he said. “The work ethic is better than last year. The weight room has been crazy. We’re a lot stronger and faster and I think we’re going to compete very well.”
Speed has always been Ruble’s best asset. At college camps the last two summers, he’s consistently run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.
“When you look at his stats, he’s had a full high school career already,” Seckman head coach Nick Baer said. “He’s set even higher goals this year and higher team goals. I’ve never seen him ready like this, mentally and physically. He’s ready to be unleashed.”
That will happen Friday in an unusually exciting, intense environment. Originally scheduled to open the season against De Soto, Seckman will travel to Ste. Genevieve to play Valle Catholic in a rare matchup of a Class 5 public school against a Class 1 private school. Seckman’s enrollment is 12 times bigger than Valle’s. But the Jaguars have zero state football championships while the Warriors own 15, second only to Webb City with 16.
Baer said he doesn’t want his players to feel pressure situations for the first time in going up against a team like Valle.
“We want that (pressure) to be in practice,” Baer said. “We researched their games from last year and they get off the ball quicker than any team we’ve seen. They are fast and physical and are able to wear out any team on their schedule.”
Baer then voiced what surely is on the minds of many area football fans eagerly anticipating this game.
“When Valle went through their success, the question was always, could they do it against bigger teams?” he said. “We get the opportunity to answer that question. Can teams from Jefferson County compete with them? It’s a well-oiled machine with a great coaching staff.
“We know it’s going to be a tough, physical game. Both teams can play the David vs. Goliath role. They have 150 kids in their school and we have that many on our football team. They’ve got 15 state championships and we’ve got second place in districts one time. It’s really an unknown game.”
Confidence is high among the Jaguars, Ruble said.
“I expect us to win and play Jaguar football,” he said. “I’ve never seen them play, but I think we’re going to get the job done.”
Ruble’s counterpart on defense is Jaguar senior defensive end Noa Isaia, who has the physical tools to dominate the blockers around him and can close fast on the ball carrier. He had seven sacks and two fumble recoveries last fall. In May, the 6-2, 230 pound Isaia finished second in the discus at the Class 5 state track and field championships with a throw of 53.27 meters.
“There is that ‘Beat Valle’ mentality, but you have to respect them as a team,” Isaia said. “They’re preparing and working just as hard as we are and they have the same exact mindset. We’re not going down there and playing some Class 1 team, like it’s a backyard game. They’re (perennial) state champions, they have dogs on their team.
“We’re not intimidated by those factors. We want to bring the best package we can under those Friday night lights.”
There are 30 seniors on this year’s Seckman varsity. At almost every position – except the kicking game – talented and experienced returning veterans are back. Five of the six offensive linemen (Seckman doesn’t use a tight end) are returning. Only Robert Frank graduated, leaving seniors Noah Hardin, Matthew Zeller, Zach Hudson and Jacob Weigel and juniors Trent Enloe and Max Sell to open the holes and protect the pocket.
“That experience is helping me sleep better at night, for sure,” Baer said.
Even with Ruble’s breakaway abilities, the Seckman offense is designed to burn the clock and run 10 or more plays on each drive. That worked to perfection in a 20-13 win over Fox last year when Ruble capped an 18-play, 90-yard drive with the game-winning touchdown in the final minute.
The Jaguars have other weapons. Running backs Felix Ortiz and Tommy Gibbar combined to score nine TDs last year and they’re joined in the backfield by Brady Ambrose.
Senior Anthony Westervelt is the top receiver for the Jaguars after catching 21 passes for 395 yards and six TDs last season. He also is one of the top basketball players in the county.
“(Westervelt had a) very quiet freshman year, then he goes out on the JV the next year and makes all of these crazy catches, and I knew he’d be good,” Baer said. “Now he can go up and get a ball with anybody on our schedule. He has a catch radius I’ve never had on our field before.”
Seniors Eli Wingbermuehle and Kade Heinemeier also return at receiver. With leading wideout Ty Kitchen gone to graduation, all three could see an increase in catches. Baer said Ruble continues to develop in the passing game.
Another first for the Jaguars last year was winning a conference title. They were 5-0 in the Suburban Conference Orange pool and led the league in average points allowed, 22 per game. This year’s defense benefits from many returning players.
In the defensive backfield, seniors Josiah Maxwell, Brandon Borawski and Will Becker know all the schemes and Baer is confident they can shut down opposing passing games.
Junior Jaydon Ashlock (106) and senior Michael Stivers (81) were among the area leaders in tackles last season. Ashlock started all 12 games as a sophomore and Stivers enters his third year starting at middle linebacker.
“(Stivers) knows what we’re trying to do and the reads to make and now he’s just got to go out there and get it done,” Baer said. “(Ashlock) still has a lot to learn about the game, but he has a natural instinct to find himself around the football.”
Seckman’s entire defensive line returns with Isaia and junior Caden Lappe on the ends and seniors Dom Medioros and Cam Wooldridge on the interior.
“(Medioros and Wooldridge) are not going to wow anybody with their size, but they’re definitely mean and nasty up the middle,” Baer said.
After visiting Valle, the Jaguars open their home schedule against University City on Sept. 2.
“This group isn’t satisfied. They want more,” said Baer, a Seckman alumnus. “We’ve had a great offseason and they’ve been working hard. They set a team goal to win a district championship.”