By this point, we’re all pretty familiar with Nixa’s new head coach John Perry.
“I don’t go eat in Ozark for a reason. I’m going to pay my taxes in Nixa, and I’m going to eat in Nixa,” Perry said after the 33rd Backyard Brawl.
But he’s not the only new face to make an impact for the Eagles on Friday Night.
“I was just sitting in my math class and hear someone knocking on the door, and it’s the new football coach,” said Nixa senior Smith Wheeler.
“I’m like, come on man, help us out. We’re trying to go out there and win some games and get this thing flipped around,” said Perry. “He said I’ll think about it, and we just stayed on him Reid Potts probably recruited him as much as I did.”
That persistence paid off as All-State track athlete Smith Wheeler proved to be a stud wide receiver. And the Eagles added another receiver this year, as Jackson Bray transferred in from Spokane.
“We don’t have football down in Spokane, so my mindset was just to try something new and it’s been a lot of fun. I didn’t think I’d be in the position that I am right now, but here I am. It’s been a great time a great experience,” said Bray. “I played mighty mites and second grade. That was the only other time I’ve played football, but other than that, no.“
Bray and Wheeler were key in the Eagles’ win in the district semifinals.
“Golly, Smith had 170 yards in a big time playoff game Saturday. Jackson probably had another hundred. I mean, that’s over 250 yards on offense from two guys that didn’t play football last year, and I mean that’s pretty good,” Perry said.
And the two hope to have the same impact in the district championship at Ray-Pec on Friday.
