By Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Just how good have Carthage football fans had it in recent years?
The Tigers have averaged 10 wins a season for nearly a decade, have played in nine straight district title games and have a Class 5 state championship and another semifinal appearance in the last four years.
But head coach Jon Guidie, who's 163-48 in 18 seasons at the school, and his staff will have their work cut out for them this fall as Carthage must replace the Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year in Luke Gall and every single starter from the team's defense.
Gall, who's now playing at Air Force, was one of the most decorated athletes ever in southwest Missouri as a running back and linebacker. He was the offensive and defensive player of the year in the region and in the Central Ozark Conference. He rushed for 2,000 yards and 40 touchdowns as a senior after totaling 1,902 and 29 as a junior and 1,051 and 15 as a sophomore.
In all, the Tigers graduated four all-state players and nearly a dozen athletes who earned postseason honors.
The offensive line appears to be the team's strength going into August after Carthage's offense averaged 39 points and 323 rushing yards per game.
"That's probably what we're going to have to hang our hat on this year," Guidie said.
The Tigers return senior Malachi Housh (6-0, 290), who will be a three-year starter and earned third team honors in the COC, and three others who started every game up front: senior Greyson Browning (6-1, 210), senior Edward Carreto (6-3, 260) and junior Taylor Stevens-Diggs (6-1, 240). Carreto was a second team honoree on the all-conference and all-region teams.
Junior Landyn Collins started last year at H-back and blocked for Gall all season; now it'll be his turn as the featured back.
"He's just fantastic," Guidie said. "He has a great feel for what we're doing. He has a little bit of speed, some elusiveness to him, and behind that offensive line I think he's set to have a really good year. It'll be impossible to replace Luke Gall's numbers but if he can come in and be as productive as I think then we should be okay."
Those five are it as far as returning starters on offense. Others who could see action are junior Brady Carlton, a quarterback with a good grasp of the offense; senior Jonah Eby at running back, junior Karson Murray at tight end, junior Langston Morgan at receiver, junior Jackson Hettinger at receiver, senior Darrin Witt at receiver and sophomore Blayne Lilienkamp on the line.
Carthage graduated quarterback Cooper Jadwin (1,252 passing yards and six touchdowns, 1,279 rushing yards and 11 scores) and leading receiver Hudson Moore (670 yards, six touchdowns).
The team's defense allowed just 16.5 points per game and limited opponents to 104 passing yards and 141 yards on the ground, on average. While the Tigers should have good size and speed on the defensive line, the unit as a whole remains a question mark with so much to replace.
"We lose everybody. Everybody's brand new," Guidie said. "I don't know if we have one kid with a start underneath him, we're just really raw but there is some talent there."
Senior linebacker Ryan Phillips played sparingly towards the end of the year and will be counted on to be a leader of the defense this fall. Eby could also contribute at linebacker, along with sophomore Cooper Lilienkamp.
Senior Orey Bader (6-4, 210) has some experience at end. Junior Trevor Meadows (6-4, 240) has impressed in the weight room and will play defensive tackle. Junior Nolan Brown (5-11, 235) is quick off the ball and also plays tackle. Sophomore Landon Bland (6-4, 210) could line up at the other end.
Morgan could be a two-way starter at receiver and defensive back, and junior Jackson Hettinger and sophomore Braxton Ralston will also play in the secondary.
"Our size up front is going to be pretty impressive," Guidie said. "We're going to look good; we're going to look the part. We go 6-4 at both defensive ends and we have a 6-4 defensive tackle. There's still so much unknown, though. Some guys who haven't been in the fire yet are going to be thrown into the fire whether they're ready or not."
Carthage will host Monett, Nevada and Carl Junction for the jamboree and opens the regular season at Republic on Aug. 25.