By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
An inexperienced Waynesville football team had some chances late in games last season, but the Tigers couldn’t make enough plays when they needed them and finished with a 2-8 record––including four losses by two touchdowns or less.
The good news for Waynesville and head coach Kyle Barkley is the team returns a dozen starters, and a lot more experience, this fall.
“Last year for most of them it was their first time playing Friday night football,” Barkley said. “Experience goes a long way and having three out of five on the offensive line returning, we feel pretty good about some things but there are other gaps we’ve got to fill with other guys. If we can get those other guys to step up and fill those voids we feel pretty good about ourselves. Obviously health is a big factor for us; we’re not a deep team but we do have some guys who can play.”
Barkley said summer workouts saw the best numbers in his three seasons at Waynesville and he’s hoping the work pays off this fall.
Offensively, the Tigers return their top running back, both quarterbacks who split time, a tight end and the three offensive linemen. Michael Kelsey Jr., now a senior, was a first team Ozark Conference and all-area running back who totaled 1,337 yards and 18 touchdowns on 171 carries. The quarterbacks are junior Aden Maust (87 rushing yards, 1 touchdown) and senior Brian Castro (23 completions for 185 yards, two touchdowns). Senior Braylin Scott returns at tight end after making four catches for 31 yards. And seniors Caden King, Kyle Wilking (honorable mention Ozark Conference and all-area) and Caiden Oursler are the returning linemen.
Rashaud Joshway, a senior, is another returning letterwinner who played primarily on special teams, but could provide a boost to the receiving corps this season. He did make five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown last season. Leland Wright, a junior, will step into the wingback spot and also factor into the passing game. And three players are battling for the final two spots on the offensive line.
“We’re still going to try to control the clock with the run,” Barkley said. “We do have some gaps to try to fill whether it’s offensive line or receiver, and we’re still pretty thin in the backfield. But we’re going to try to control the clock, hold onto the ball, shorten the game a little bit and try to keep the ball in our hands as much as possible.”
Defensively, the Tigers aim to be more multiple this year, Barkley said.
“Fly around, make some plays, create turnovers,” he said. “We’ll be very inexperienced in the defensive backfield but hopefully they’re going to grow up fast with some varsity time.”
Waynesville does return at least one starter at each level defensively––five players in all. On the line, that includes senior Ian Sheppard, an honorable mention all-conference player. Three out of four linebackers return in senior Chris Scott (honorable mention Ozark Conference), senior Anthony Cortesini and senior Isaiah Hopper. And junior Karmello Jackson returns at free safety after earning honorable mention all-conference and all-area honors.
In addition to some new faces on the field, the Tigers will be playing some new opponents, too, with the school joining the Central Ozark Conference. They’ll open at home against Carthage, and also host Willard, Ozark, Nixa and Kickapoo. Three of Waynesville’s opponents won at least 10 games last year.
“Being in the new conference has created some challenges,” Barkley said. “Unfamiliarity with the opponents, not as much film, not as much Friday night playing time against them. It’s definitely a challenge but we’re up for it. We’re looking forward to the challenge. There are a lot of great teams on our schedule and each week is going to be a different type of mindset and our kids are going to have to be ready to play.”
