Local players earn MFCA All-State honors; Gall named Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year

The Missouri Football Coaches Association has released it’s All-State awards for the 2022 season.

Carthage running back Luke Gall has been named the Missouri Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year – and multiple local players have earned All-State recognition.

Local players receiving all state honors from the MFCA are listed below, or you can check out the full MFCA All-State teams HERE.

CLASS 2

RB Jackson Marrs (Seneca) – 1st team

ATH Joel Beshore (Lamar) – 1st team

OL Ryan Davis (Lamar) – 1st team

DL Rourke Dillion (Lamar) – 1st team

LB Khiler Nance (Lamar) – 1st team

LB Cameron Sturgell (Lamar) – 1st team

DB Austin Wilkerson (Lamar) – 1st team

K Malachi Hennum (Mt. Vernon) – 1st team

QB Gavyn Hoover (Seneca) – 2nd team

RB Braden Dodson (Mt. Vernon) – 2nd team

WR Ian Ngugu (Lamar) – 2nd team

ATH Conner Ackerson (Seneca) – 2nd team

OL Jacob Gravener (Seneca) – 2nd team

LB Lincoln Renfro (Seneca) – 2nd team

P Alex Wilkerson (Lamar) – 2nd team

KR Jackson Marrs (Seneca) – 2nd team

RB Ty Willhite (Lamar) – 3rd team

LB Cody Downing (Mt. Vernon) – 3rd team

CLASS 4

OL Talan Chandler (Nevada) – 1st team

TE Drew Beachler (Nevada) – 2nd team

DE Case Sanderson (Nevada) – 2nd team

ATH Avious Steadman (Nevada) – 3rd team

DL Donnie Keith (Carl Junction) – 3rd team

LB Johnny Starks (Carl Junction) – 3rd team

DB Konner Poynter (Monett) – 3rd team

CLASS 5

RB Luke Gall (Carthage) – 1st team (Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year)

WR Isaiah Green (Neosho) – 1st team

OL Drew Musche (Carthage) – 1st team

DL Micah Lindsey (Carthage) – 1st team

DE Lucas Ott (Webb City) – 1st team

DB Davion King (Carthage) – 1st team

RB Jared Siler (Neosho) – 2nd team

DB Kaylor Darnell (Webb City) – 2nd team

OL Shaun Hunt (Webb City) – 3rd team

CLASS 6

OL Dontrell Holt (Joplin) – 2nd team

LB Draven VanGilder (Joplin) – 2nd team

 

PIGSKIN PODCAST: Ep. 7 with ESPN 100.7’s Mike Snow

Check out episode 7 of the KOAM Presents: Pigskin Podcast. On THIS episode:

  • Reaction to last week’s Parsons/Galena game (1:35)
  • What’s behind Neosho’s high-powered offense (5:55)
  • Big opportunity this week for Seneca (9:58)
  • Joplin/Carthage matchup this week (12:25)
  • Frontenac aims to stay hot at Parsons (13:17)
  • Interview with ESPN 100.7’s Mike Snow (17:18)
  • Local guys shine for MSSU (33:33)
  • Reaction to Pitt State vs. Northwest (36:08)

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dahsra9ofG0

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5fnOjDAjafMOf0KHmuMqX1?si=tI0Rq5i5SIKmGwEyDMqzbQ

APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/koam-presents-pigskin-podcast-ep-7/id1610196188?i=1000582454378

WEB: https://www.koamnewsnow.com/pigskin/koam-presents-pigskin-podcast/

Neosho trio fuels high-powered offense

NEOSHO, Mo. – The Neosho Wildcats are off to a 4-3 start this season – already securing their highest win total since winning 8 games in the 2018 season.

“We’re excited about where we’re at as a program,” says Neosho head coach Brandon Taute, “We want to get better every day, and we feel like we’re doing that. It’s never really been about setting a number of wins for us, it’s more about continuing to get better. We’re hoping when we get to district time that we’re playing our best football.”

The Neosho offense has been near unstoppable all season long. The Wildcats are averaging 556 yards and 44 points per game through the first seven weeks of the season.

Heading into week eight in Missouri, Neosho has the state’s leading passer, leading rusher and leading receiver – according to stats gathered by MaxPreps.com.

MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STAT LEADERS 

Running back Jared Siler has racked up 1,618 yards so far to lead the state in rushing yards. He has 21 rushing touchdowns, and is averaging 231 yards per game and 7 yards per carry this season.

“Jared is extremely consistent. He always falls forward. He’s a big and strong running back. He’s worked really hard in the weight room to add a little size this off-season,” Taute says of Siler, “He’s also able to break free when you give him a crease. He’s got the whole package. He’ll grind out yards if we need him to, but if he gets out in space, he’s dangerous.”

At quarterback, Quenton Hughes is the Missouri high school leader in passing yards. He’s completing 72% of his throws for 2,184 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. Hughes is averaging 312 passing yards per game.

“He’s a great leader and he’s everything you look for in a quarterback. I don’t think there’s a person in this school who wouldn’t follow him anywhere,” Taute says of Hughes, “He has all those intangibles. He has tremendous arm strength and the ability to move around in the pocket and extend plays. He’s the whole package. He makes smart decisions. We’re excited that he’s just a junior and that we get to have him back next year.”

Hughes’ favorite target this season has been wide receiver Isaiah Green. Green leads the state in receiving through 7 weeks with 1,137 yards. He has already caught 83 passes in 7 games with 11 touchdowns – averaging 162 receiving yards per week.

“Isaiah has some of the best ball skills I’ve ever been around. If the ball is thrown his way, there’s a really good chance he’s going to come down with it, even if it’s not a perfect ball,” Taute says of his standout wide receiver, “He does a great job of running routes and creating space at the top of his routes. He’s also worked hard in the off-season and he’s gotten faster. If he gets a little bit of space out there, he’s capable of making a big play every time.”

While Siler, Hughes and Green are posting unbelievable numbers – it really takes all 11 players to make it all work.

“We’ve got a really good group of kids and they play really well off of each other,” Taute says, “It all starts up with our guys up front. We have a really good offensive line that’s worked extremely hard to protect those guys and open up holes. All of our guys are unselfish. They don’t really care who has the ball as long as we’re getting into the end zone.”

Neosho hosts COC rival and defending Missouri Class 5 state champion Webb City on Friday night, aiming to keep their offense rolling and pick up their 5th win of the season.

“It’s a typical Webb City football team. They’re going to play disciplined football and they’re obviously well-coached,” Taute says of the Cardinals, “They’re doing a couple new things on defense, but at the end of the day their formula is the same. They’re going to be fundamentally sound and they’re going to play extremely hard.”

Friday night’s game will kick off at 7 PM in Neosho.