By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
There’s a lot of production to replace for the Glendale football team and head coach Mike Mauk this fall after a 6-4 campaign last season.
The Falcons graduated seven all-conference players including quarterback Cole Feuerbacher, who passed for nearly 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns and led the team in rushing with 1,021 yards and six scores. Leading receiver Wyatt Andrews is gone after hauling in 109 receptions for 1,389 yards and 14 scores. Leading tackler Bryant Booker is gone, too, after racking up 115 stops as a linebacker.
“We’re pretty excited about the guys we have returning,” Mauk said. “We have several starters on both offense and defense who have playing experience from last year and previous years so that’s going to be beneficial to us. We still have some spots we’re looking to fill and there’s good competition for those positions. We’ve got a lot of really good young players who are working really hard to establish their lots, so to speak, in the order.”
Glendale averaged 29 points per game last season – and scored just two total points against Lebanon and Kickapoo. The pass-heavy offense will be especially deep at wide receiver this fall, with as many as a dozen players in the mix for playing time.
Junior Rex Deters (675 yards, five touchdowns) and junior Jaxon Yates (302 yards, six touchdowns) were the second and third-leading threats at receiver last fall. Deters was an honorable mention all-conference selection.
Junior Saul Spurgeon (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) returns as a two-year starter on the offensive line and will be a key blocker up front after nabbing honorable mention All-Ozark Conference honors. Senior Riley Mays (5-11, 230) returns at center and junior Hogan Waldowski (5-8, 225) also played on the line as a sophomore.
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The Falcons will have multiple options to take over at quarterback. Deters was a backup at the position last season and completed three attempts for 29 yards and sophomore Cash Newberry was another reserve who completed 10 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. There’s also a transfer from Kickapoo who could be eligible to play this fall.
“Both of those guys throw the ball extremely well and had a good offseason getting stronger, more athletic and they’ve really looked good this summer,” Mauk said. “We have a couple freshmen I think are looking really well, too. Their play is going to be the future.”
Glendale allowed 22 points or fewer in five contests and gave up an average of 24 points for the season. Mauk said the Falcons will try to build the team around that unit this fall.
The defense will be highlighted by the return of first-team all-conference performer Kellen Lindstrom, a defensive end/outside linebacker who also earned all-district honors. He’ll be a four-year starter and he recorded 73 tackles last year including six for a loss and he also recovered a fumble and blocked a field goal. When the season is done, he’ll take his talents to the University of Tennessee, where he committed earlier this summer.
Juniors Carson McTague (46 tackles, two interceptions), Asra Smith (70 tackles) and Luke Rich (52 tackles) return as key players in the secondary, along with senior Darian Washington. Smith earned honorable mention honors on the all region and all-conference teams and Rich was also an honorable mention all region and all-conference player.
“They all have playing experience and are strong, physical, athletic guys that run really well,” Mauk said. “Our secondary is going to be a strong point on our defense, we hope.”
Senior Jacob Tabor (66 tackles, four for a loss) is another returning contributor listed at linebacker, senior Quincy Johnson (42 tackles, four for a loss) is listed at linebacker and defensive back and junior Jayln Lockett (49 tackles, eight for a loss) returns as a force on the defensive line.
“We’re sitting a little higher than what we’ve been in the past with our numbers,” Mauk said. “We’ve got 75 to 90 kids who are interested in playing football this fall.”
“It’s a very hardworking, team-oriented group of guys we have coming back,” he said. “A great group of seniors leading our team. We’re real excited to get the season started.”
Glendale hosts Waynesville to open the regular season on Aug. 25.
