By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Reeds Spring is entering its third season under Andy McFarland and all signs point to this being the time when everything culminates.
After battling COVID in 2020 and injuries for a portion of last year, the Wolves put it together late, upsetting rival Hollister in the first round of districts and giving Mountain Grove an absolute dogfight.
Now, with 15 starters returning from last year’s group, McFarland is looking for the program to take the next step.
It starts with senior tight end/defensive end Caden Wiest (6-4, 250).
His frame and athleticism have made him one of Missouri’s most sought-after recruits, holding double-digit Division One offers. While it’s unsure of what position he’ll play in college, Wiest will have the ability to change any game with a single snap this fall.
“Caden’s combination of strength, speed, and size set him apart,” said McFarland. “To utilize this skill set offensively, we move him around on almost every snap. He may line up as an attached tight end, as a flexed out slot receiver, as a fullback, split out as a wide receiver singled up vs a CB, or even lined up at QB taking the snap. Sometimes he will do all of these things in the same game. It should be a lot of fun to watch.”
Reeds Spring also returns All-Big 8 senior running back Preston Blubaugh and All-Big 8 junior receiver James Dowdy. Junior Chris Daniels, and sophomore Jace Bolin also saw significant touches last year.
McFarland also expects senior Sage Patrick to have an impact. Classmates Addison Abshire and Taylor Calzoretta will see time at receiver.
“The RB room is full of dynamic players who are a threat both between the tackles, off the edge, or catching passes out of the backfield,” said McFarland. “Both James and Addison bring a lot of talent and a lot of intelligence to the field, and they both are also high effort players who work their butts off blocking down the field when they don’t have the ball in their hands.”
Reeds will also have experience under center with quarterback Blandy Burall.
Burall threw for 1,750 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore. His command of the offense with so many weapons returning will make this a potentially explosive unit.
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The trenches will be the key for Reeds Spring on both sides of the ball.
Senior Eben Crain will be the leader of what McFarland expects to be a big and physical unit after earning All-Big 8 honors last season. He’ll be joined by the Michaud twins – Spencer and Sebastian – who also started in 2021. Seniors Moses Barr and Brayden Manning, who saw varsity snaps last year, will be in the mix for reps on the line, as well as sophomore Lucas Wattenbarger.
McFarland has also liked what he’s seen from newcomers Josh Lowe and Gavin Smith. Both transfers could see significant time on either side of the line.
“We have a very big offensive line, with a lot of experience returning, and we are expecting that to be a major team strength,” said McFarland. “Our offensive line is full of size, strength, and talent, and we will be counting on them to keep our QB clean, and keep our run game moving down the field.”
Defensively it’ll be Crain and Spencer Michaud returning, with Barr and Smith also seeing significant reps on the interior. Wiest and Lowe – with seniors Brayden Manning and Julius Angeles – will see time at defensive end.
At the second level All-Big 8 senior and four-year starter Adam Lewis will quarterback the defense from his inside linebacker spot. Juniors Daniel Fliflet and Sebastian Michaud will join him.
Seniors Abshire and Dowdy will be joined by Jace Bolin, Ben Fuller, Chris Daniels and newcomer Tracen Cobb in the secondary.
Travis Cagle will take of defensive coordinator duties for Reeds Spring. He has an experienced and talented unit. And, while Wiest will get many of the headlines, he has a host of players around him that will also make plays as opponents look to avoid running directly at him.
It’s been some time since Reeds Spring has won a district championship. This group of Wolves expects to compete for a conference title as well and return the program to the standard it set in the early 2010s when Reeds was routinely in the hunt for deep runs.
For that to happen, they’ll have to navigate a tough Big 8 schedule and likely a share a district with many of those same foes.
“We have a very talented and very experienced team in 2022, and we feel that we have as good a chance as anyone to be very competitive this season,” said McFarland. “However, we also know that we play in a very tough conference, packed with a ton of great teams. The Big 8 is going to be very good as a whole this year, and I think that multiple teams from the Big 8 are poised to make deep playoff runs.
“For Reeds Spring to compete for conference and district championships in 2022 and beyond, we must become more consistent, bringing our A-game week in and week out, and take the season one game at a time. There’s no easy outs for us, every week will be a battle.”
Reeds Spring will host Branson and Lebanon for a jamboree on Aug. 19 before hosting Monett on Aug. 26 to open the 2022 season.
