By Chris Parker
Mountain Grove football finished 9-3 last season placing 11 players on the all-conference list. Six of those all-conference players graduated including several key skill players. The Panthers graduated leading passer, rusher and two leading receivers.
Aden Estep will step in a quarterback in his sophomore season.
“He is a really good athlete. He has been playing quarterback since junior high. He has stepped into that role, and I think he will do a good job,” Mountain Grove head coach Brandon Rodgers said.
A trio of seniors will join Estep in the backfield including Preston Metty, Daiton Hook and Deveyn Martin. Metty led the group in rushing last season with 75 carries for 382 yards and three touchdowns. Hook took 33 carries for 295 yards and five touchdowns.
“I think we have to lean on them with a sophomore quarterback and replacing two or three linemen,” Rodgers said. “These upcoming seniors have done a good job. I think they had a good class last year to learn from. They expect to be good this year. They have had a good summer and worked hard.”
Brylon Mayberry, Cooper Hoyt, Cooper Hoerning, Alex Kumpula and Destin Unger are all in the mix at wide receiver.
First-Team All-SCA tight end Carson Allen returns as well. He caught 27 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown.
Brody Shelly, Jimmy Holloway and Kaden Richardson return to the offensive line. All three earned some form of all-conference honor last season.
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Defensively, Allen will be the team’s leader at linebacker. He led the team with 98 total tackles last season.
“Carson Allen is one of the biggest leaders on our team on both sides of the ball. On defense, he is our anchor,” Rodgers said. “He is a really nice athlete. He is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds and can move. He has played since his freshman year. He gets us lined up and makes our calls on defense. He is going to be a key to how well we do on defense.”
Metty will join Allen at linebacker. Martin, Unger and Kladen Arthur will also look for time at linebacker.
Look for Shelly, Holloway and Garrett Hutsell on the defensive line.
Estep, Mayberry, Hoerning and Kumpala will be factors in the secondary.
“Defense is going to be our key this year keeping teams to a low score and giving us the ability to have the ball more,” Rodgers said. “We are trying to focus on certain things on defense to improve and hopefully it will.”
Sophomores Kaden Murphy, Gage Beggs and Tyson Sheppard will also vie for time on varsity.
Mountain Grove will host Thayer, Houston and Willow Springs for a jamboree on Aug. 18. The Panthers open the regular season on Aug. 26 at Fair Grove.
