Seneca had one of the area’s biggest turnaround seasons in 2017. The Indians improved from three wins in coach Ryan McFarland’s first season to nine wins in season two.
“The kids came in and bought it. Everything the coaching staff asked the kids to do the kids did. Offseason was great and our summer workouts were great,” McFarland said. “We only had seven seniors last year but they were great leaders and set the tone for everyone else.”
Expect another strong season from the Indians with a deep junior class and nine offensive starters returning to the lineup.
Things start with senior quarterback Gavin Clouse. Clouse threw for 785 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 953 yards and 13 touchdowns on 132 carries last year.
“He (Clouse) is like having an extra coach out on the field. He can explain our offense to people probably better than I can,” McFarland said. “Anything we want to draw up he can do it and he can explain it to the offense. To have a kid on your team who can do that doesn’t happen very often.”
Junior running back Trey Wilson earned first-team all-conference honors after rushing for 986 yards on 124 carries as a sophomore.
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“Last year I think he (Wilson) caught people by surprise. They didn’t realize how fast he was and how strong he was,” McFarland said.
Senior Eli Dodson will anchor the offense after earning all-conference honors in his first season playing high school football. Brady Hymer, Jakob Sampson and Kayden Hancock will join Dodson on the line.
Junior Monty Mailes will be a threat both in the receiving and running games. He turned just seven catches into 229 yards and four touchdowns last season for an average of 32.7 yards per catch. He also rushed for 347 yards on 49 carries with five touchdowns.
Seniors Parker Wolfinbarger and Miguel Bonilla along with junior Levi Ketchum will factor in at wide receiver. Junior Nathan Long will be a key offensive piece at tight end.
Five defensive starters return led by Harris Griffith and Wilson. Griffith was second on the team in tackles with 71 while Wilson led the team in sacks with 10.
Alex Cook started at safety last year, but will move around this season. Caleb Miller is back to starting at defensive end in his senior season. He will be joined on the defensive line by Skyleer Commons (defensive end), Tylor Lazure (defensive tackle) and Kade Skelton (defensive tackle). Mailes will also see time at defensive back.
Seneca was the No. 1 seed going into the district tournament last year, but was upset by Mt. Vernon in the second round. This year the Indians want to go further with a more experienced group.
“We just hope to get better. Our goal is to play a football game in November. None of the kids on our football team have played a football game in November. That is what we have grabbed onto, just trying to get to November. If you can get to that district championship game and win that coming out of the Big 8 then you have a chance to do something,” McFarland said.
Seneca goes to Joplin for its jamboree with Joplin, Webb City and Lamar on Aug. 17. The Indians open the season on Aug. 24 with a trip to Springfield to welcome the Catholic Irish to the Big 8 conference.
