By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Joel Wyatt’s first season at West Plains couldn’t have gone much better.
The Zizzers went 9-4, advancing to the Class 4 Final Four before losing to St. Dominic. That team sent two players to Division One programs and another to Missouri S&T.
Now the attention turns to rebuilding as West Plains returns just seven total starters, led by a Division One signee at receiver in Briggs Hughston.
“We lost a lot of returning starters as we only have three back on defense and four back on offense,” said Wyatt. “But we are way ahead of the curve on learning the offense compared to last year.”
Hughston – also a basketball standout – committed to FCS power Northern Iowa where he will transition to more of a traditional tight end role with his 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame.
He’ll be joined by fellow senior Rylan Kenslow (6-2, 190) at receiver.
Senior Dawson Howell (6-3, 250) will take over at running back, becoming one of the biggest you’ll see at the high school level regardless of class. He rushed for 194 yards and a pair of touchdowns last year. He’ll be joined by classmate Lance Norton and junior Remi Wilson.
The offensive line will be young, headlined by all-area sophomore Jaxon Hunter (6-3, 240). Juniors Peyton Reynolds (6-1, 240), Maddox Hawkins (6-1, 225) and Jeff Edgeller (5-9, 220). Junior Fernando Lopez (6-0, 240) will likely start at center.
The triggerman for it all will be junior Isaiah Jones (6-3, 190). After starting at linebacker as a sophomore, Jones will be the latest dual-threat quarterback for West Plains.
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“We will be in year two of learning a new system so mentally we are way ahead of last year,” said Wyatt. “It took us half the year last year to find our groove and get comfortable in the new system.”
The defense will be led by junior linebacker Alex Judd (6-1, 210), who totaled 92 tackles last year, earning all-area honors. Senior Lance Norton will join him in the linebacking corps.
Sophomore Warren Lawson is looking at action at outside linebacker.
Hughston and Kenslow will lead a big and athletic secondary, with junior Will Stauffer joining them after starting last season.
Lopez, Hunter and Hawkins will likely be two-way linemen, joining senior Dylan Brigman (6-1, 230) on the defensive line.
“Defensively, we have to find some defensive linemen and safeties,” said Wyatt. “Our aggressiveness and our run defense. Similar to last year, we will have many kids playing both ways, which is not good in the Ozark Conference and in our district.”
The Zizzers have won district titles in four of the last five seasons, posting a 50-11 record over that span.
To continue that run, WP will have to get a new crop of names and faces acclimated to Friday night lights and new roles.
“I really enjoy being around this team,” said Wyatt. “They have a hunger to get better and prove people wrong. Their work ethic in practice and in the weight room has been great this summer. We have to stay healthy and our young players will have to emerge for us to be contenders in the conference and district.”
West Plains will jamboree at Fair Grove with Glendale and Marshfield before opening the 2023 regular season at Bolivar on Aug. 25.
