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By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Matt Perkins’ first two seasons at West Plains have seen two of the best back-to-back campaigns in program history, following up a 9-2 district runner-up 2019 with a 10-2 district championship run in 2020, ending with a 36-30 quarterfinal loss to eventual Class 4 state champion Helias Catholic.
The Zizzers will now look to get over the hump with 17 returners back in 2021. For Perkins and West Plains, how last year ended has done nothing but add fuel to an already raging fire.
“It has been all we have thought about for eight months,” said Perkins. “Our kids know we are knocking on the door. We have to be more disciplined and do little things better to take the next step.”
The best way to reload for 2021 is with experience, which West Plains has plenty of.
An offense that averaged 42.3 PPG in 2021 returns its starting quarterback, three of its top four rushers and leading receiver. That’s in addition to a loaded offensive line that returns intact, led by Division One prospect Jaylon James.
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Senior Dagen Kenslow is one of the area’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, passing for 865 yards and rushing for another 791 and 22 total touchdowns.
“He will be very good this year in all ways,” said Perkins. “We gave him more and more down the stretch and he handled it well. He will take a jump this year. We have seen that this summer from him. Special year ahead.”
Kenslow will be well protected with James and company. He’s joined by fellow three-year starters and classmates Blake Reid and Aedyn Holt.
“We have had good ones in the past, but this is our smartest unit,” said Perkins. “If they take a step with nastiness they will be the best.”
Leading rusher Titus Seley is gone, but West Plains will look to feature senior Connor Lair in that role. Lair, who earned a host of Division One offers over the summer, including Air Force, Army and SEMO. D2 powers Northwest Missouri State, Pitt State and Lindenwood have also offered. Lair’s unofficial visit to Kansas State proves his Power 5 potential.
He may be better known as a linebacker (105 tackles in 2020), but Lair rushed for 616 yards and six touchdowns on just 45 carries, suggesting he’s more than capable of sustaining a large role on both sides of the ball.
Junior Heston Miller will use his speed to complement Lair in the backfield. He totaled 469 yards from scrimmage and led the team in receptions. Senior Josh Leazer is expected to also see targets, with his 6-foot-5 frame and crazy measurables making him a mismatch all over the field.
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West Plains will look to take another step defensively with eight starters back on that side of the ball, including Lair, Holt and senior Garrett Drown (74 tackles, 7.5 sacks in 2020).
Perkins is also excited about the development of Jason Lopez and Evan Ackerson on the defensive side of the ball. In addition to starting at quarterback, Kenslow is a standout in the secondary too.
A theme of this year’s defense will be speed.
“We return quite a bit and they’re fast,” said Perkins. “We have some really good players that the league and state will learn about.”
With two district championships in the last three seasons, the Zizzers aren’t looking for just district championships or moral victories – West Plains is looking to compete for a state championship.
Perkins believes it’ll largely be mental factors for West Plains to take the next step.
“To win it all we will have to be focused all year,” said Perkins. “I think the league is up. Glendale in Week 1 is a tough team. It starts hard for us and stays that way to the end. We expect to be in the thick of it. We just hope that our kids stay healthy and stay together.”
West Plains will jamboree with Camdenton, Sedalia Smith-Cotton and Jeff City on Aug. 20 before hosting Glendale on Aug. 27.
