By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Seneca is now under new leadership with Cody Hilburn taking over for Ryan McFarland, who took a coordinator position at Webb City.
Hilburn – like McFarland – is going back to coach his alma mater after spending the last 10 years at Carthage where he helped the Tigers win a state championship in 2019.
The opportunity to go back home was one Hilburn couldn’t pass up.
“It definitely makes it special being my alma mater; it was really the only job that I would have left Carthage for,” said Hilburn. “Seneca has such a great football tradition and a community that supports its football team like no other. During my time at Carthage I had the opportunity to see what championship level football looks like. There is a certain way of doing things in all aspects of football and life that give you the best opportunity to be successful. Those are the things that we are currently trying to instill in our players.”
Hilburn won’t have an empty cupboard in Year One.
Senior Ethan Fritchey is the earlier leader to slide in at quarterback in Hilburn’s spread attack.
“Ethan played multiple positions last season but is the front-runner to play quarterback this fall,” said Hilburn. “He has the ability to be a dual threat player that we like to have with our offensive scheme.”
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Senior Jax Graham is back after an All-Big 8 junior season at running back in which he rushed for 696 yards in limited action. The shifty playmaker could line up anywhere offensively and could also see time on the defensive side of the ball.
Senior Dane Napier is also back after an All-Big 8 junior campaign at linebacker. Hilburn believes he’ll see time at H-back as well as adjusting to a new role at safety.
Brock Hultman and Tanner Nesvold will be two-way players on the offensive and defensive line for the Indians. Chris Alexander will also be looking at action on both sides of the ball and David Cooper will transition from fullback to the offensive line and Jacob Gravener will also see reps with the unit.
Gabe Commons will also be a two-way player that Hilburn is counting on to bring great energy and leadership.
Junior Conner Ackerson is coming off of a season that saw him haul in 30 receptions for 452 yards. He will again be counted on for big plays.
Seneca’s offense could look familiar to Carthage fans.
“We will look very similar to how we looked at Carthage,” said Hilburn. “We will base out of a two back spread look but will be very multiple and will adjust certain things to utilize the abilities of our players. We will always look to establish the run first and then try to be explosive in our play action game.”
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Hilburn is excited by what he’s seen from Lincoln Renfro and Dominick Wheeler, believing both could have large roles at linebacker. Jordan Allen could also see time at receiver and in the secondary.
Tightening up a defense that allowed 30 or more points in six of 10 games will be one of Hilburn’s toughest tasks.
“We want to be very sound in our alignments and scheme,” said Hilburn. “We will simplify things, hopefully allowing our kids to play extremely fast and physically. Creating turnovers will be a major emphasis on the defensive side of the ball.”
While he hasn’t coached in the league, Hilburn is no stranger to Big 8 Football. He knows the gauntlet that the league schedule is and the likelihood of seeing conference opponents multiple times due to how the districts are drawn.
While winning conference, district and state championships is the ultimate goal, Hilburn is focused on the small steps within the journey of building the foundation of a successful program.
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“I felt like the COC was the best large class conference in the state and I feel like the Big 8 is the best small class conference in the state,” said Hilburn. “You have to prepare extremely hard every week because every team is well coached and will be ready to play.
“We just keep asking our kids to get 1% better every opportunity they get. We’re going to hopefully improve every week and if we get that opportunity at the end of the season, we will hopefully be playing our best football and take advantage of it.”
Seneca will travel to Webb City on Aug. 20 for a jamboree that also includes Joplin and Lamar. The Indians will open the 2021 season and Hilburn Era on Aug. 27 – at home – against Marshfield.
