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By Josh Hall
The Nixa High School football team will look significantly different in 2017.
The Eagles lose seven players on offense, including their starting quarterback and lead running back, and five players on defense from last year’s team that went 6-5 after losing to Carthage in a Class 5 District 5 semifinal.
Those losses aren’t affecting how head coach Rich Rehagen is approaching the season.
“Our goals for the season are really no different than any other,” Rehagen said. “It’s for us to go out and compete in every game, play hard together and play hard every down.”
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Nixa, which won its first four Central Ozark Conference Large games and lost its last four, will look to replace three-year starting running back Nicos Oropeza and quarterback Andrew Rivera. Oropeza ran for 1,053 yards on 215 carries and scored 12 touchdowns on the ground. . Rivera was 52 of 107 passing for 780 yards with four touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Jack Sanders, a senior, has been getting the majority of the snaps under center throughout the summer. Senior Carter Boone and junior Hunter Crabtree have also gotten some reps. Sanders has the most experience at the position after going 8 of 24 through the air las year of 122 yards.
Nixa has plenty of options as the lead man at running back, as well. Sean Sample (junior) got some playing time at wide receiver last season, and was a running back for the junior varsity team. Alec Deveney (senior) started in a few games at full back for the Eagles in 2016. Nick Nielsen (junior) could also see time in the backfield.
“I would say we definitely got some guys competing for jobs, for sure,” Rehagen said. “Guys are definitely stepping into roles that are new, and that happens every year. It’s kind of interesting to see how it all works out. There’s a lot of jobs open right now.”
Division I prospect Alex Allen will be a force at tight end and defensive end for Nixa. As of June, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound senior had received offers from Wyoming, Army, Air Force, South Dakota State, Missouri State, Illinois State, South Dakota and Western Illinois. Last season, Allen caught eight passes for 179 yards.
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“He’s a big kid. He’s improving as we go. I hope he has a big year for us,” Rehagen said. “I know he’s worked hard to get himself ready for our season. I know he’s looking forward to the year and I’m looking forward to watching him.”
Defensively the Eagles bring back the most experience at defensive line. Seniors Oswaldo Garcia, Zach Rehagen and Nick Maples are all back from a year ago.
Ryan Murphy will be a key piece at safety after suffering a mid-season injury last year. Ryan Murphy also saw some time at defensive back last season.
“I really like this team,” Allen said. “We’re pretty young, but the junior class and the senior class have kind of joined together, and I think we make a pretty solid team.”
Nixa opens the season on Aug. 18 at Willard.
