By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
It had been more than a decade since Rolla beat Camdenton and Waynesville in the same season. After topping both rivals last year, the Bulldogs will look to carry that momentum into Jon Franks’ sixth season.
Maybe the most exciting thing entering the 2021 season is the volume of returning starters; 16 will be back on the field for the Bulldogs.
“We are excited about the direction of the program,” said Franks. “Our past and present players have worked extremely hard to move this program and school to the forefront of the Ozark Conference. But, we still have to earn our place. Nothing is given in this conference.”
Rolla has averaged over 30 PPG in the last four seasons, which has been a major catalyst for the turnaround of the program.
Much of the returning firepower is on that side of the ball with nine starters back.
Senior Adamn Hounsom took the majority of snaps under center, passing for nearly 1,000 yards and adding another 330 on the ground. He’ll be joined in the backfield by classmate Hayden Fane who rushed for 949 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior.
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Fane averaged 132 yards per game over his final three, with Rolla going 2-1 in those games. He’ll again be a focal point of the team’s offense.
“Hayden has had a great off-season; he is healthy and strong,” said Franks. “He does a great job of taking care of himself physically and mentally. We look for him to have a better season than last, and last year was really good.”
Senior Gage Klossner is also back after leading Rolla in receptions (25). He also took some snaps under center.
Maybe the key to Rolla’s season will hinge on its performance in the trenches on both sides of the ball. The Bulldogs return standouts Ethan Crouch and Brock Owens.
Crouch earned All-Ozark Conference honors on the offensive line, while Owens earned the same distinction defensively. They’ll look to anchor what will be one of the most talented units in the league.
“We feel like the most complex part of the process has been to develop each year on both sides of the ball is linemen,” said Franks. “We feel that Ethan is definitely one of the premiere linemen that has come through this program since I have been involved at Rolla. Ethan has a great self-discipline and an amazing hunger to be great at his craft, no matter what it is.
“Brock has the physical tools to be one of, if not the best D-Linemen in our Conference. Coach Sneed does a good job using Brock in defending the opponents’ strengths.”
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Seniors Ty Locklear and Waylon Kinder are back after leading the team in tackles last fall with 89 and 78 respectively. Junior Hayden Crider finished with 56 tackles last season. Classmate Brock Lyle emerged as one of the program’s top defensive backs in 2020 and will be counted on to again guide that unit.
Rolla won four of its last five games before the season-ending loss in the district semifinals to Battle. The returning talent is enough for the Bulldogs to have a great run in the Ozark Conference and beyond.
For Franks, it’s about continuing to do things the right way.
“As every year in this league, anyone can beat anyone,” said Franks. “We have to do a great job at taking care of our details and stay healthy, so we can be consistent week in and week out.”
Rolla will open the 2021 season at Bolivar on Aug. 27 before hosting Glendale on Sep. 3 in the home-opener. The Bulldogs will host a jamboree on Aug. 20 with Cap City, Union and Waynesville.
