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By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The story of Reeds Spring Football is one of the more intriguing ones in the Ozarks over the last decade.
From 2004-2011, eight full seasons, the Wolves went 14-66 on the gridiron with zero winning seasons.
In Lance Gosch’s three years the program is 28-7 with two district championship game appearances.
Gosch has been able to build on what Brian Moler started in Reeds Spring and the difference in direction for the Wolves is simple…
“It always comes down to hard work,” said Gosch. “No matter what we as coaches talk about it comes down to our kids buying into what we are all about. Truly caring about the guy next to you and hard work. If you have the first part it makes the second part a whole lot more fun.”
Last year was nothing but fun for Reeds Spring, earning its first COC win over Bolivar in program history which led to the Wolves grabbing a share of the COC Small title for the first time ever.
With 14 starters back from last year’s 8-3 team, 2017 is yet another opportunity for the Wolves to continue changing the tradition of Reeds Spring Football.
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And, from a schematic standpoint, very few things will change from Reeds physical, old school brand of football on either side of the ball.
Korey Robinette (967 rush yards, 9 TDs) and Colter Whitten (956 rush yards, 9 TDs) have both graduated, but Gosch has several pieces seemingly ready to explode in his system that accounted for more than 3,500 rush yards in 2016.
Junior Seth Stamps is the program’s leading returning rusher (472 rush yards, 5 TDs), while returning quarterbacks Blake Gronvold (367 rush yards, 6 TDs) and Austin Staugaurd (285 rush yards, 7 TDs) will also add to the ground attack.
Senior Kelly Newton, an All-COC selection as a defensive back last year (61 tackles, 5 INTs) will also earn more carries this fall.
Reeds Spring’s offensive could be even more dynamic this year with the ability of Gronvold and Staugaurd to air it out and keep defenses honest.
“We will still run out of the flexbone and we will be an option team,” said Gosch. “We want to run the ball first and play action off of that. We have some skill kids this year that may allow us to put the ball in the air a little more.”
The success of the offense will again depend on an offensive line that is asked to battle every snap in a flexbone offense. Senior Austin Bradfield, a unanimous All-COC pick last year, as well as classmates and fellow All-COC players Cole Crutcher and Asa Baker will help solidfy the trenches on both sides of the ball.
“Our offensive line of Asa Baker, Connor Wiest, Justin Miller, Austin Bradfield and Cole Cruther are all guys that were starters for us at some point during the season last year. They will have to be strength for us this year; we will lean on them pretty heavily this fall.”
Reeds Spring’s defense returns seven starters, which for the first time in several years includes both inside linebackers in leading tackler from last year Ben Moler and Dakota Romesburg.
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Bradfield and Logan Plum returning up front give the Wolves plenty of experience in the box, with ball-hawk defensive back Kelly Newton holding down the secondary.
The Wolves held seven of 11 opponents to 21 points or fewer in 2016 and that unit could be even better this fall.
“We need to be able to communicate and trust each other,” said Gosch. “We always want to be a defensive team that has great effort to the ball. But it really comes down to alignment and assignment on defense. Don’t want to get beat before the ball is snapped. That is where the communication and trust comes in.”
Gosch is also excited about his players that will see an increased role on Friday nights.
“Nick Bunch is a senior that did not play much last year, but has really done a nice job learning and working to put himself in a position to help us this year,” said Gosch. “We have several young kids like JT Bayliff, Prestin Lehew, Cody Hughes and Nate Cerny that have looked good to this point over the summer.
Reeds Spring opens the 2017 season at Mount Vernon on Aug. 18. The ‘Neers ended the Wolves season last year in the Class 3 – District 4 semifinals. Reeds will play its home opener on Aug. 25 against Cassville
