MOKANE - A well-timed playoff run has given the South Callaway Bulldogs a little extra juice as they prepare to embark on the 2020 campaign.
South Callaway will get its season underway today with a stiff test at home against the Monroe City Panthers. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs were just 6-7 in 2019, but completed the season with a strong burst. South Callaway reeled off three consecutive victories to secure a District 6 title before falling to Marceline in the Class 1 quarterfinals.
That flourish has the Bulldogs particularly amped up to get started tonight against Monroe City, according to South Callaway head coach Zack Hess.
"I think it just generates some excitement with the players - a lot of them are coming back, which is awesome," said Hess, who is beginning his sixth season with the Bulldogs. "They experienced a little bit of success there and what it's like.
"I think it happens naturally when you have some exciting things happen at the end, you want it to keep going. When it doesn't, you're excited for the next year."
South Callaway brings back seven starters from an offense that averaged 29.5 points per game in 2019. The Bulldogs, though, will have a new quarterback at the controls for a second straight season, as 5-foot-10, 150-pound junior Sam Buckner replaces Cole Shoemaker, who graduated.
"Sam brings a lot of good qualities to the table - his ability to command a huddle, to lead an offense," Hess said. "He's still mastering all of his reads and his calls, but he's got a good grasp of it.
"He just needs some game experience at the position, but he's got the tools in the toolbox. He's going to be all right."
While Buckner gets comfortable in operating the offense, South Callaway will lean on its diverse running game that averaged 276.7 yards last season. The Bulldogs lost 1,000-yard rusher Devin Borghardt to graduation, but senior running back Hayden Vaught (5-10, 155) returns after finishing second on the team with 882 yards (10.5 per carry) and eight touchdowns.
"Hayden's physical ability is his speed - he's really fast," Hess said. "He's got really good vision and he can stop-and-go really well. That's really going to help him out."
Junior running back Trace Helsel (5-8, 155) returns after gaining 408 yards (4.9 average) and scoring three times. South Callaway will also welcome back senior running back Hunter Martin-Hay (6-0, 150), who missed the 2019 season after suffering a knee injury.
When South Callaway throws the ball, Hess noted all of his running backs are strong pass-catchers. Vaught finished with eight receptions for 272 yards (34 yards per catch) and four touchdowns.
Junior tight end Jasper Rees (6-1, 185) returns after logging 11 catches for 167 yards (15.2 average) and two scores last season. Senior Tyler Potter (6-2, 205) has moved from tackle to tight end, while the group of wide receivers includes junior Brendon Mealy (6-0, 150) and seniors Holden Adams (5-6, 150) and Hunter Kistner (6-0, 145).
The key to the Bulldogs' offensive prospects could lie up front, where they return almost their entire line. Senior Tanner Vaughan (5-10, 215) is the anchor at center, while senior Kyle Wetherell (6-1, 205) and sophomore Kyle Dickinson (6-0, 215) will occupy the guard positions and seniors Creed Farley (5-9, 160) and John Hecktor (6-1, 175) will hold down the tackle spots.
"Just in terms of their experience, a lot of those guys have been starting since their sophomore year, so they've got a ton of game action," Hess said. "From the standpoint of their (line) calls, understanding the blocking schemes and all of the little nuances, and the fact that they've worked together for so long now, there's a comfort level and a chemistry."
Moving to the defensive side, South Callaway returns eight starters from a unit that surrendered 25.3 points per game in 2019. The Bulldogs' three-man front will be comprised of Vaughn at nose guard and Wetherell and Hecktor at the end positions.
Wetherell finished with 48 tackles and shared the team lead with three fumble recoveries last season. Hecktor and Vaughan both tallied 47 tackles, while Hecktor topped the team with 3.5 sacks.
An active linebacker group will be guided by Vaught and Potter on the outside, while Rees, Buckner, Dickinson and Helsel will rotate at the inside spots.
Rees recorded 79 tackles, three fumble recoveries and 1.5 sacks in 2019, while Vaught finished with 62 tackles and Helsel had 58. Buckner totaled 46 tackles, Potter was next with 45 and Dickinson posted 41.
Martin-Hay will start at one cornerback spot in South Callaway's secondary, while the other cornerback position will be split between Adams and junior Chrisjen Davis (5-10, 140). Mealy will set up at free safety, with Adams and junior Donnie Fortner (5-4, 125) both expected to see time at the position.
Mealy paced the Bulldogs last season with five interceptions and recovered a pair of fumbles.
South Callaway and Monroe City had to scramble to make tonight's opener a reality after both were forced to cancel against their originally scheduled opponents - Mark Twain and St. Pius X: Festus, respectively - due to COVID-19 circumstances.
Monroe City - which moved up to Class 2 in 2018 - went 7-4 last season. The Panthers punctuated a perfect 15-0 season by capturing the Class 1 state championship in 2017.
"First of all, we're excited to play a game," Hess said. "Just to get a game under our belt, against a quality opponent - we presented it to the seniors and just said, 'Hey, we've got this great opportunity, what do you guys think?'
"They were all about it, so regardless of the outcome, we're excited to play that game and play a really good opponent, and prepare for a tough opponent."