It was almost exactly five years between wins when Grandview beat I-55 Conference rival Herculaneum last October.
After shutting down its varsity squad in the middle of the 2016 season, followed by a junior varsity-only season in 2017 and a winless (0-10) return to varsity play in 2018, the Eagles finished 2-8 last year and placed five players on the all-conference team.
A group of Grandview players who have stuck it out with head coach Dave Dallas the last four years returns to give the Eagles plenty of skill-position talent and a chance to have a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time in more than a decade.
Senior David Creath had surgery after injuring his knee playing basketball for Grandview last winter. Creath checks in at about 215 pounds and can be a top power back in the I-55, where he was a first-team running back last year after amassing 985 yards.
“He’s going full tilt,” Dallas said. “He’s going to be a workhorse for us. From a skill standpoint, I think we’re pretty good.”
Junior Chase Wilson, a second-team all-conference defensive back in 2019, rushed for 700 yards last season and will line up next to Creath in the Eagles’ split-back offense.
For the second straight season, senior Jakob Brand and junior Clayton Riddle will share the duties at quarterback, at least early on. Both veteran signal callers are capable if unspectacular at the position.
“It’s still unresolved at this time. Both will always be somewhere on the field for us,” Dallas said.
Senior Gavin Oldham starts on the offensive and defensive lines. Dallas said Oldham has matured physically and emotionally in four years more than anyone on the team.
Junior Austin Welch started in the trenches against Lutheran North – the eventual Class 2 state champion – in the Class 2 District 2 playoffs last fall. Dallas said Welch should have played more last season.
“His feet have gotten better and he’s one of the strongest kids on our team,” the coach said.
Junior Will Windes starts on the offensive line with juniors guard Brandon Volner and Michael Trost and senior Dawson Milner, who was a second-team all-conference defensive end last fall. That group figures to play on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Junior Eric O’Brien was a second-team punter and honorable mention linebacker and will resume those duties again this year.
“He’s very talented and skilled at what he does,” Dallas said of O’Brien.
About 10 freshmen will fill in the varsity ranks. Dallas got his players organized and on the field on July 6 and worked with them for about a month.
“We’ve had the best summer and fall camp we’ve ever had in terms of the kids (being) bought in. They’re working hard and they know what to expect,” he said. “It’s night and day (compared to) where we were at this time last year.
“Our football IQ is much higher and this core group knows what we expect from them. When we talk to them, they can self-correct. We’re in the second year of our offense. It’s been a real natural flow for them. Just having the opportunity to go out on the field is huge.”
Grandview hosts its first two games of the season, against Winfield on Aug. 28 and I-55 Conference rival Bayless on Sept. 4. The Eagles’ lone Saturday game is at Russellville on Sept. 19. Grandview hosts Class 1 state champion and perennial I-55 king Valle Catholic on Sept. 25.
“I think we can take the next step. They’re ready for that challenge and they know what it takes to do that,” Dallas said.
TOMORROW: Herculaneum