The Joplin High School football team faces some unknowns entering the 2017 season after losing a solid core from a year ago.
But one thing is certain for the Eagles.
“We’re going to go out and compete and get better,” head coach Curtis Jasper said.
Joplin will have some pieces to replace from last year’s team that went 5-5 after losing to Lee’s Summit West in the first round of the Class 6, District 6 tournament.
The Eagles graduated second-team all-state linebacker Solomon Garcia and third-team all-state returner Spencer Newell, who also caught a team-high 74 passes for 816 yards. Newell was also a first-team all-conference selection at defensive back after recording 41 tackles and four interceptions.
Also gone to graduation is quarterback Jokiem Crawford, who was 111 of 200 for 1,302 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. Crawford ran for 1,232 yards on 235 carries and scored 22 rushing touchdowns.
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Joplin will also have to replace second-team all-conference running back Dustin Hunter after he ran for 776 yards on 146 carries. The Eagles also lose their top three receivers in Newell, Gavin Merriman and Hunter.
The Eagles have some options to replace Crawford at quarterback, including Grant Jones (junior), Jake Flowers (junior) and Blake Tash (sophomore).
“They’re all athletic, so if they’re not playing quarterback they’ll be playing something else,” Jasper said.
Isaiah Davis (sophomore), Flowers, Jacob Bartlett (senior) and Nicolas Lewis (junior) could all get looks at running back. Zach Westmoreland (sophomore), Spencer Cornett (senior), Kelcyn Newton (senior) and James Moman all saw time at receiver last season.
Ethan Vang (senior) and Maurice Auberry (junior) return to the defensive line after suffering ACL injuries during Week 2 last season. Travis Stirewalt (senior), Jacob Booe (junior), Evan Bernot (junior) and Dylan Wemer (junior) will log minutes on the defensive line.
Nicolas Lewis (junior), Bartlett, Luke Kuehnel (junior), and Mitch Eldridge (sophomore) will suit up at linebacker. Aidan Thompson returns at safety, while Mckinley Davis (senior), Daron Morgan (junior), Kobe Herring (junior), Kane Parks (junior) and Eli Emiger (sophomore) make up the rest of the secondary.
Joplin opens the season on Aug. 18 at Glendale.
