By Chris Parker
Parkview football enters the season on a 25-game losing streak. Breaking that streak is the No. 1 goal for the team this year.
With that in mind, Parkview head coach Ben Dougherty plans to switch his offense to a run-first attack.
“We are going to get back to really running the ball a lot,” Dougerty said. “It is going to be more open, up-tempo spread offense where we are really going to look to get the ball to our playmakers in space. We want to get them as much open space as possible and let them go to work. We definitely plan on being able to run the ball very well.”
One of those playmakers is senior Chris Anderson. The four-year letterman and three-year starter was a second-team all-conference selection last year. He hauled in 36 catches for 583 yards and six touchdowns. Dougherty expects him to get touches at wide receiver, running back and even snaps at quarterback isn’t out of the question.
The head of the running game will be three-year starter Cam Harris. Harris led Parkview with 112 carries for 406 yards last year. The senior earned honorable mention all-conference last season.
“I feel like he (Harris) has been on the verge of a breakout,” Dougherty said. “With the way we are doing things this year and with the offensive line we have coming back, this could be that year for him.”
Anthony Nunda will slide into the backfield at quarterback after earning honorable mention all-conference honors at wide receiver last year.
“I think he (Nunda) is going to be really dynamic for us,” Dougherty said. “He isn’t a very big guy, but he is athletic and quick.”
Jamile Johnson, who stands at six-foot-seven, will be a big target on the outside at wide receiver. Caimon James will also look for time at wide receiver.
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The offensive line will be stout led by Eric Anderson and Covey Heslin. Anderson is a four-year letterman and Heslin is a three-year starter.
Devonte Trout and Jared Johnson are a pair of juniors who will fill out the right side of the offensive line. Johnson has shown great growth in his short time playing football.
“Jared is only in his third year of playing football. I am really excited by him,” Dougherty said. “I think he has the potential to really impress some people. He has the size and the footwork.”
Defensively, record-setting linebacker Ryan Decker returns. He set the school record for tackles in a season with 158 total tackles last year. He is on pace to break the career tackle record this year.
“He is a great kid and hard worker,” Dougherty said. “You wouldn’t look at him and think size-wise that he is a prototypical linebacker, but he really has a nose for the ball. He flies around the field.”
The secondary brings back three-year starter Ethan Brantley. He will start at cornerback.
There have been many players in the mix for time on defense for Parkview.
“We have been playing a lot of different guys in a lot of different spots just to find some dudes who want to come and hit hard on defense,” Dougherty said.
Sophomore Holden Oliver will start at safety after lettering as a freshman. Cam Whitten will be linebacker. Tayshaun Finley returns to the lineup at defensive end. Jacob Oesterreich and Jaden Knox will also be in the mix for time on defense.
“I think we are going to be pretty undersized defensively, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Dougherty said. “I think we are going to be pretty quick and pretty fast in multiple spots. We are going to fly to ball. We are going to try to cause turnovers and chaos and havoc to put our guys in the best position to make plays.”
All of these players have a singular focus: break the streak.
“We have lost 25 games in a row and our kids right now want to break that streak,” Dougherty said. “Whenever it happens we are going to be excited because we know we have put in all the work required to break that streak. All of the kids I have mentioned are kids that are committed and been here for several years. They have gone through these bumps in the road and are ready to get back to where we have been in the past.”
Parkview will travel to Bolivar for a jamboree on Aug. 19 with the host Liberators, Cassville and Willard. The Vikings will open the regular season on Aug. 26 at home against Lebanon.
