Even though the McDonald County Mustangs football team went 0-10 last year and has just two wins in the past three years, the feeling is that this year's Mustangs will begin a turnaround in the program.
Leading the way is new coach Kellen Hoover. Hoover is a graduate of El Dorado High School and Missouri Southern State University who spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Monett, which included a state title last season.
2017 McDonald County Mustang Football Roster
#^NAME^GRADE^HT^WT^POS
1^John Howard^10^5’9”^140^QB/DB
2^Trent Alik^9^5’8”^125^WR/DB
3^Peyton Barton^12^6’1”^195^QB/DB
4^Ben Mora^10^5’9”^165^QB/DB
5^Marshall Foreman^11^5’9”^160^WR/DB
6^Zack Woods^11^5’8”^145^WR/DB
7^Tae-Shaun Alik^10^5’8”^130^WR/DB
8^Oakley Roessler^11^5’10^185^WR/DB
9^Ethan Francisco^9^5’8”^145^QB/LB
10^Caleb Curtis^12^5’11”^165^WR/DB
11^David Roark^12^5’10”^170^RB/LB
12^Cole Delossantos^12^6’2”^185^WR/DB
13^Reece Cooper^11^5’10”^160^WR/DB
14^Jaxson Dawdy^11^5’9”^170^WR/DB
15^Kennedy Hodson^12^6’2”^185^WR/DB
17^Oscar Ortiz^10^5’8”^130^WR/DB
18^Rustan Lett^12^5’11”^170^WR/DB
20^Matt Calhoun^12^5’9”^175^RB/LB
22^Keegan Driscoll^10^5’10”^135^WR/DB
24^Caleb Misner^10^5’8”^125^WR/DB
25^Isrrael Desantiago^12^6’0”^190^RB/LB
28^Logan Renner^9^5’7”^120^RB/LB
30^Keagan Spurgeon^10^5’7”^130^WR/DB
31^Michael Williams^10^5’9”^145^RB/DB
32^Tyson Vallance^11^6’0”^180^WR/DB
33^Erin Yang^12^5’5”^135^RB/DB
34^Austin Manwiller^9^5’6”^125^RB/LB
40^Timber Teague^12^5’11”^190^RB/LB
43^Bucky Harrell^12^6’0”^185^TE/LB
44^Joel Morris^10^5’10”^140^WR/DB
46^Zach Sheppard^12^5’9”^160^WR/DB
49^Dylan Allison^10^6’0”^175^K
53^Dylan Akins^11^6’1”^220^OL/DL
54^Tanner Harner^11^5’9”^240^OL/DL
61^Lane Pointer^10^6’2”^250^OL/DL
64^Trey Black^12^6’2”^275^OL/DL
65^Aiden Groh^9^5’7”^170^OL/DL
66^Bradley Saylor^9^5’9”^175^OL/DL
71^Tryston Leach^10^6’3”^310^OL/DL
72^Jordan Tallman^11^5’10”^220^OL/DL
73^Nolan Baisch^11^5’8”^240^OL/DL
74^Elliott Wolfe^11^6’2”^290^OL/DL
75^Kolton Blue^10^5’9”^205^OL/DL
76^William Gordon^11^6’2”^265^OL/DL
77^Matthias Shearer^10^6’1”^240^OL/DL
78^Creed Lindquist^12^6’1”^230^OL/DL
79^Kaiden Campbell^9^5’10”^210^OL/DL
80^Micah Burkholder^11^5’11^190^WR/LB
81^Brennon White^10^6’0”^195^TE/DL
82^Joseph Beavor^11^6’0”^175^WR/DB
83^Tyler Nelson^9^5’6”^120^WR/DB
84^Walter Wilson^10^5’8”^135^WR/DB
86^Jackson Clarkson^9^6’0”^170^TE/LB
87^Gabriel Sanchez^9^5’8”^140^WR/DB
88^Grant Cooper^12^6’1”^185^TE/DL
Head Coach – Kellen Hoover
Asst Coaches – Sean McCullough, Craig Collins, Kanon Hoover, Chris Kane, Blake Martin, Daniel Sumler
"We want to compete each and every week for four quarters," Hoover said. "Once we reach that point, we can focus on learning how to win. It is a definite process. We are working on getting better each day. We want to have great tempo each day and the kids have bought into that. I think we have steadily improved from day one. We are working on coming together as a group -- as one unit and that will get us through good times, hard times and adversity. We are really trying to push that oneness on the program as a whole."
Hoover said it looks as though the Mustangs will begin the season with about 55 players (ninth- through 12-grade), including several who have been out of football for a year or more and some who haven't played since junior high school or youth ball.
"Were actually to the point we are struggling to find enough jerseys to fit eligible players without using ineligible numbers," Hoover said. "That's a good problem to have."
The Mustangs return eight full-time starters and a couple other part-time starters, split pretty much evenly on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
"Offensively, we have a ton of skill guys back," Hoover said. "We have a lot of holes to fill on the offensive line, but we have some kids ready to step in."
Returning at quarterback is senior Peyton Barton. As a junior, Barton threw for more than 1,400 yards and ran for nearly 200 while accounting for 13 touchdowns before tearing his ACL in the final game of the season.
Barton's favorite target was Cole DelosSantos, who caught 56passes for 551 yards.
Other threats in the passing game include Oakley Roessler, Micah Burkholder and Kennedy Hodson. Roessler is also a running threat, rushing for 222 yards last season. Burkholder moves from wide receiver to tight end and Hodson returns from injury that forced him to miss most of the 2016 season.
"Peyton has been great for us," Hoover said. "He is a really positive leader and is extremely coachable, as well are all of our kids. But I work with Peyton individually at practice and he wants to get better every single day and every single drill. He has put the time in to be a great quarterback.
"Cole has also been a great leader. He has been so good with the new guys and the young guys. You love to have that leader at each position as well as having the best pair of hands on the team. Oakley is that vertical threat that blows the top off the defense. He is also becoming a very good route runner.
"Micah played a lot of wide receiver last year, but we asked him to come down with the lineman. With the strength he picked up in the weight room this summer, we knew he could do it if would buy in and he has bought in full go."
The running game will feature Timber Teague at fullback and Isrrael De Santiago at tailback. De Santiago ran for almost 200 yards last year.
"You couldn't ask for two guys you would rather have to run around and hand the ball to," Hoover said. "Timber likes getting the ball but at the same time he likes blocking people, too. That's a great thing to have in a fullback and he is willing to pave the road for Izzy depending on the play call. It's nice having two guys that are rather selfless back there and don't mind who gets the credit as long as the job gets done. Izzy is that workhorse back that everybody has loves to have. Depending on the defense, we can turn around and give it to him several times a game."
Leading the returning offensive linemen is junior Elliott Wolfe, who will be moved from offensive tackle to guard. Tanner Harnar and Will Gordon are expected to move up from the junior varsity while sophomore Trystan Leach saw some playing time on the line as a freshman.
Defensively, Hoover said he wants to put the best defense on the field that causes the opposition offense the most problems.
"If a team is very run heavy, we want to get guys into the box to stop the run," Hoover said. "If a team throws a lot, we will adjust to that."
Leading the defense will be returning starters DelosSantos, De Santiago, Teague, Bucky Harrell and Trey Black. Black will be joined up front by Nolan Baisch and Dylan Akins. Baisch, a weightlifting champion, returns to football after not playing last year.
"Nolan will sit in the middle of the defense," Hoover said. "He is a strong and explosive kid. He is a perfect nose guard for our defense. He is short and squatty and can squat a house. He is still learning how to transform that weight room success to the football field. Trey is another good leader for us. He gives our offense so many problems on scout team. That has been good for our tackles because they have to learn to block a guy like Trey. Dylan is a little undersized but provides some athleticism."
Slated to start at linebackers are Teague, Harrell, De Santiago and David Roark.
"David Roark is out for the first time and has been a great surprise," Hoover said. "He loves to be physical and loves to tackle. He just likes the game of football. Bucky is a great leader with a great motor. Izzy (De Santiago) and Cole (DelosSantos) on the outside gives us a lot of ability in both the running game and the passing game."
Secondary will be Caleb Curtis, Marshall Foreman and Zack Woods.
"Caleb is back out and has been a pleasant, pleasant surprise," Hoover said. "We love having Caleb out there. He is a senior that comes to work every single day. He is a great kid and great team guy and I am glad he is having some success."
Foreman was a part-time starter last year while Woods missed last year with an injury.
"We want to compete for four quarters every game," Hoover said. "From there, we believe the wins are going to happen. We just need to gain confidence. That happens in practice and playing well in games.
" I appreciate the support from community. Barkin' Pig fed the kids one night and that was just out of nowhere. The assistant coaches have been great. The administration has been very supportive. Everyone at school has been so great."
McDonald County opened the season on Aug. 18 at Salem before they host Marshfield in the home opener at MCHS. Game time is 7 p.m. for all games.
Sports on 08/24/2017