By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
When he took over as head coach before this season, Derek Hill vowed to knock on every door to increase numbers at all levels of Miller football.
The program is already starting to reap the benefits. Miller has doubled some of its class sizes compared to 2022.
And for a team that’s won just three games since 2020, Hill said increasing numbers is paramount for the future success of the program.
“At the Class 1 level that is huge,” Hill said. “We have struggled with numbers and especially in the upperclassmen which we’ve had a lot of underclassmen. This past year, we took huge steps in the right direction with the nine seniors we had, but our record did not reflect that. With the experience we have returning and the added numbers, I feel confident we will compete every Friday night.”
The Cardinals return 15 lettermen and six starters from last season’s 1-8 team. On offense, junior Nate Hill is back at quarterback after an All-SWCL season where he threw for 1,121 yards and eight touchdowns.
“Nate is our leader on the offensive side, which you want in your quarterback,” Hill said. “He’s able to move the ball with his arm and legs, but most of all, he keeps everyone else clam around him.”
Junior Caden Calvin returns to running back after earning all-conference honors as a sophomore. He tallied 305 yards on the ground in 61 carries last season while scoring one TD and catching 13 passes for 190 yards.
An accomplished defensive back, junior Jarod Lung will see an expanded role at wide receiver for Miller after starting the last half of 2022. Up front, senior Malahki Dalon and junior Lane Kaul will set the tone in the trenches after earning all-conference honors as offensive linemen.
Junior Jaxon Johnson is another returning starter on the line. Like Dalon and Kaul, Johnson will make an impact on both sides of the ball.
Seniors Gavin Burton and Jack Shearer and sophomore Owen Weiss will get reps at wide receiver, while sophomore Gavin Ingle will contribute at running back. Junior Brodie Rinker is expected to get significant varsity time on both sides of the line.
“Our strength will be our experience at key positions on offense,” Hill said. “It brings confidence knowing they can move the football and put it in the endzone. Even though we will be implementing some new concepts and terminology, I’m confident their experience will be able to overcome some new learnings.”
The Cardinals return a lot on defense. Junior Owen Demster was an all-conference linebacker last year, posting 82 tackles with two sacks and one interception.
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Kaul, Hill, Calvin and Lung started every game last season on defense, while Burton (LB), Rinker and Ingle (DB) got valuable snaps throughout 2022.
“These returning kids understand our philosophy on defense,” Hill said. “With Gabe Fris joining our staff as defensive coordinator, we are excited to see how we can progress.”
Top newcomers looking to emerge include senior John Snider (WR/DB), junior Conner Pendleton (OL/DL/K), sophomores Paul Nunez (TE/QB/LB), Blake Walters (WR/DB), Eli Woods (OL/DL) and freshmen Conner Neely (OL/DL), Mason Neely (OL/DL), Sam Ferguson (RB/DB) and Jaylen Madsen (WR/DB).
Miller is at the El Dorado Springs Jamboree on Aug. 18. The Cardinals host Hogan Prep in Week 1 to open the regular season.
“Our schedule is tough, but if we can compete and come out on the right side of a few early games, we could be in a good position come district time,” Hill said.
