by Brennan Stebbins (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Few football programs in southwest Missouri have won as consistently as Carthage has for the last decade-plus. In the last 10 seasons alone, the Tigers have won fewer than 9 games just once while compiling an overall record of 99-23.
Last fall's 9-2 campaign was more of the same––Carthage won six times by at least three touchdowns, rolled to an 8-1 regular season and then hosted a district championship game. The squad that takes the field this fall will look remarkably different, however.
The Tigers graduated six players who garnered postseason honors in the Central Ozark Conference west division, including a unanimous first-team offensive lineman (Taylor Stevens-Diggs), a unanimous running back (Landyn Collins) who was named the offensive player of the year and to the Class 5 all-state third team, a unanimous tight end in Karson Murray, a unanimous defensive lineman (Trevor Meadows) who was named defensive player of the year and to the Class 5 first team, and first team COC defensive back Langston Morgan.
In 2025 they'll return just two offensive starters, along with a more experienced defensive unit.
"Last year ended up being a really good year for us and we had some big wins in the season," said head coach Jon Guidie, the COC west coach of the year. "We ended up beating Neosho twice back-to-back, once at the end of the season and in the playoffs and we were shorthanded with some injuries there at the end. We ended up very happy with the results."
The returning starters on offense are both senior linemen in center Byron Reales and guard MJ Martsolf.
"Obviously we're going to rely pretty heavily on those dudes for a while till we get caught up," Guidie said. "It's pretty unusual for us to only have two kids back offensively. Two years ago we graduated 11 starters on defense and had to replace everybody. It's just one of those things, you try to build depth from year-to-year kind of knowing what you're going to be losing and the spots you need to fill. I think a big part of our success is we've had guys waiting their turn and when they get the opportunity to go in they're excited and obviously they're ready because of their work ethic."
Guidie said he's excited about senior Zane Browning as the new quarterback after he started every game there at the JV level for the last two years. Browning takes over for Brady Carlton who totaled 1,123 passing yards and 12 touchdowns.
"He's doing a great job and he's had a great summer," Guidie said. "You can see the progress he's making every single week."
Carthage also has to replace Collins' production (227 rushes, 1,276 yards, 20 TD) in the backfield. A host of names are in the mix at wide receiver including junior Carson Womack, junior Tate Nichols and senior Brody Jackson. They'll all probably start on defense and roll in at receiver. Senior Carson Kinder, junior Malachi Dougless and senior Jack Carlton could also contribute at receiver.
"It's been kind of a merry-go-round on the offensive line and it seems like every week we have a new combination in there trying to get settled," Guidie said. "We're not there yet but we have some kids who've shown some signs and some promise. Kids like (junior) Ethan Roach; (senior) Josh Hill who will be starting on defense and he's been rolling with our offensive line as well. He may end up a two-way starter which isn't ideal, but it is what it is. (Senior) Jed Fewin and (junior) Cooper Charleston and (junior) Jeriah Bayless are in that mix. With all those kids we could start any of them or all of them at certain times. We're just trying to find the right combination right now."
While the offense will enter the season as a relative unknown, Carthage's defense returns roughly half a dozen players with starting experience. Last season the Tigers allowed opponents an average of 18 points per game and the team won 7 games allowing two touchdowns or less.
Senior defensive end Landon Bland is the most decorated of the returners after making the Class 5 All-State third team in addition to his unanimous COC selection and first-team all-region honors. He totaled 45 tackles, 5 sacks and 10 tackles for a loss. Senior Brayden O'Dell returns at the other end position. Senior Jordan Brunnert (1st team COC) is back at inside linebacker and joined in the linebacking corps by junior Jett Dalton (1st team COC OLB) and Hill. Senior Noah Norbury (2nd team COC) returns at safety.
"Those six guys are pretty solid," Guidie said. "They've got a lot of games under their belts, a lot of experience and we're kind of counting on them to have some leadership back there. We've got some questions with some of those other spots but you look at a kid like Brody Jackson and he started our last game and had 20 tackles from the safety spot. He's coming back at a safety on the other side of Noah so we're excited about him. We have two junior corners (Womach and Nichols) that got very little if any varsity time but they were really good JV kids who were pushing upperclassmen all year so we're excited about them."
The defensive line took a hit with the loss of Meadows (first-team All-State) and Nolan Brown. Junior Brady Garren did start at least one game there last season and brings some experience. Senior Steve Serious is also in the mix for playing time up front.
"That side of the ball I think looks to be pretty promising," Guidie said. "Right now, we've got a long way to go offensively with nine new starters and a lot of those key positions."
Carthage will jamboree at Carl Junction along with Nevada before hosting Waynesville to kick off the regular season. The Tigers won't face a Joplin-area opponent until October against the Eagles, Webb City and Neosho.
"We have a bunch of nice kids and they've done a great job in the weight room and getting themselves in condition," Guidie said. "Hopefully that goes a long way. Some of those small things that maybe we haven't focused on as much over the last few years, those are going to become really important this year with our lack of experience and lack of depth so that's what we're focusing on right now."