By Chris Parker
Forsyth football returns and experienced and dangerous offensive backfield coming off a program-record eight-win season.
That backfield features a pair of returning second-team all-conference selections Rolly Fisher and Braxton Gross along with second-team all-conference athlete Bryce Nolen.
“It’s a very dynamic backfield. They all bring something a little different,” Forsyth head coach Kris Conley said. “We have a lot depth in the backfield. You can’t just stop one guy and win the game. We have some other dudes that you’ve got to pay attention to also. It makes us tough to defend.”
Gross was all-state as a sophomore, but an injury in the first game limited him to just four varsity contests last season.
Chris Halbrook returns for his junior season after earning second-team all-conference honors at quarterback.
“He (Halbrook) has matured quite a bit since his freshman year,” Conley said. “He is such an accurate passer and has improved on that, (and) his overall understanding of the offense. He can get a little further in his progression now, and we’re able to do more things with him in our offense.”
His top target in Tamarkus Holmes also returns. Holmes, a second-team all-conference pick at wide receiver, affects the game even when not actively involved with the play.
“He just affects the game whether he gets the ball or not,” Conley said. “We have so much depth at running back that he can play receiver, and that helps us run the ball too. He is one of those guys not very many people can play manned up. A lot of teams would have a high-low combo on him, which means we play 10 on nine, which I think helps lead to a lot of our success. Even if he is not touching the ball all the time, you still have to be aware and devote some attention to him.”
Holmes is also a lockdown corner back on defense where he was a first-team all-conference honoree. He only allowed three total completions last season while picking off four passes.
“He might have had better numbers, but people just quit throwing at him,” Conley said. “That allows us to do some things defensively. A lot of times you don’t like going one-on-one, but we feel like we have an advantage in that situation one-on-one when he’s on defense and offense.”
A pair of two-way linemen in seniors Jerrett Walls and Braden Logsdon.
Walls was a first-team all-conference selection on the offensive line and second-team on the defensive line.
“Walls is such a good football player and smart football player and hard worker. He is one of the most reliable guys on the team,” Conley said. “I probably trust him the most of anybody on the team. (He is) such a great kid and hard worker who cares so much.”
Logsdon was also first-team all-conference on the offensive line and second-team on the defensive line. He presents a mismatch on the defensive line.
“Braden is a bull,” Conley said. “He’s our dude inside. You are going to have to double team him. He knows that and takes the challenge on.”
Drake Blackstock and Bob Jackson will also be on the offensive and defensive lines.
Fisher, who was a Class 2 Second-Team All-State selection at linebacker, will anchor the defense.
“He (Fisher) looks crisper and comfortable. He has seen everything already,” Conley said. “I think he has been better in his overall leadership this year.”
Clay Muller, Camerin Stauffer and Evan Heier will also be at linebacker.
Holmes will be joined by Nolen and Maverick Blevins in the secondary. Blevins will fit in at receiver on the offensive side.
Forsyth has a lot of new teams on the schedule this year with the Mid-Lakes adding Springfield Catholic, Reeds Spring, Hollister and Buffalo.
“I think it (the realignment) has added a lot of strength to our conference,” Conley said. “It makes sense with our sizes and locations. It is going to make things tougher for sure, and that is the way I prefer it. Playing a tough schedule like that is going to get you ready for the playoffs.”
With the tougher schedule, even if Forsyth doesn’t replicate last season’s win total, the season could be a success. That schedule features a pair of non-conference games with Class 2 state quarterfinalist Father Tolton Catholic and Class 1 state champion Marionville to open the season.
“I think that we will be competitive in every game,” Conley said. “With a tougher schedule it can be tougher to reciprocate some records from the past, but at the same time it could be a better overall season even though the wins and losses don’t necessarily show that sometimes.”
Forsyth will travel to Mt. Vernon for a jamboree on Aug. 23 and face the host Mountaineers, McDonald County and Neosho. The Panthers open the regular season on Aug. 30 at Father Tolton Catholic
“I would like to see us compete for a conference title again,” Conley said. “(We want) to make it a little further in the playoffs. We lost round two by two last year to a conference opponent. That has been a goal of theirs to take a step forward and get some Missouri hardware.”
