By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Miller football team struggled to score points last fall, averaging just nine per game, and it amounted to a 1-9 record that included a 34-20 win against Pierce City. Head coach Jerrad Hansen said it boiled down to not being able to finish games well.
“This year we’re looking to finish some games,” he said. “We were in most of the football games last year, it’s just one of those things where we’ve got to learn to finish and just win.”
The Cardinals should have similar numbers this season, with between 30 and 35 players on the roster. They must replace four players who earned postseason honors: Brenden Thom, a Class 1 first team All-State punter who also earned Southwest Conference honors as a punter and athlete and was an All-Conference and All-District defensive back; Joey Williams, a second team All-Conference and All-District defensive lineman; Logan Nield, an All-District and honorable mention All-Conference tight end; and Kaleb Groesbeck, an honorable mention All-Conference running back.
But Miller also returns several key contributors, including senior running backs Beau Hall (honorable mention All-Conference) and Saige Colley, senior guard Owen Pritchett (All-District and honorable mention All-Conference), junior lineman Malakhi Dalong and sophomore linebacker Owen Demster (honorable mention All-Conference).
“As far as skill players and the offensive line, we’ve got several back,” Hansen said.
Hall is the leading returning rusher with 304 yards and two scores on 48 carries last year, and he’s drawn some college interest. Senior Brady Johnson returns at wide receiver after making seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown and rushing 12 times for 33 yards. Colley rushed for 109 yards on 42 carries. Senior Garrett Stewart appeared in two games and had one catch, and sophomore Caden Calvin appeared in six games and rushed 15 times for 56 yards; he could become one of the team’s main running backs this year.
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Miller’s new quarterback will be sophomore Nate Hill, who saw action in six games and had five carries and one reception.
Sophomore Lane Allen will make the jump from junior varsity and play one of the guard spots on the offensive line. There’s competition at center between senior Walker Phipps, sophomore Jaxon Johnson and freshman Eli Woods. And Dalon will play somewhere on the strong side of the line, with senior Caydon Lewis probably playing the other guard spot.
“Offensively I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Hansen said. “It’s one of those things where you have a great group coming back who’s been together with me for three years now. They’ve really improved every year and it’s nice in year three where I don’t have to explain as much as I probably did when they were first coming in. They know what to expect and keep improving every single time out. Offensively we have a good shot of being really talented and moving the football and putting some points up.”
Defensively, Miller returns its top four tacklers and the Cardinals will be experienced at almost every position, especially on the line where the team rotated several players in and out. Allen played a lot of snaps there and will move out to defensive end this year. Dalon, a defensive tackle, is “a really good kid for us and very hard to block,” Hansen said, and he also brings a lot of size to the front. He recorded 36 tackles last season. Pritchett (56 tackles) looks to build on his All-Conference honors at defensive end, and Lewis saw action at nose guard last year.
Behind them is Demster, who was an All-Conference middle linebacker as a freshman with 59 tackles. Colley (69 tackles) and senior Spencer Bowles (28) return at outside linebacker, and Johnson (33) also returns at linebacker. Stewart will be a newcomer at corner and Hill will probably play on the other side.
“We graduated about five seniors last year and most were good players for us but really only three were two-way starters,” Hansen said.
Miller opens the regular season with a Saturday afternoon contest Aug. 27 at Hogan Prep, a new addition to the schedule. The Cardinals host Agape in week three, another new opponent. They’ll head to Marionville with Diamond and Lighthouse Christian for a jamboree.
“Our goal is just to compete every day with everyone,” Hansen said. “We want to be the best we can possibly be and compete and win championships.”
