08/29/2024
BY JACK BULLOCK
CARBONDALE - If you were to pick a key phrase to describe the SIRR Ohio Division this season, a good one to use would be “missing pieces.”

Graduation gutted this league like a large mouth bass, taking away most of the offensive and defensive strength from all five members of the league.

Some cap and gown ceremonies took more than others, but most teams will trot out many new faces when the programs take the field on August 29th.

Defending league champs Carterville, lost a ton of talent last spring and head coach Brett Diel knows he has some question marks heading into 2025.

The same can be said about Murphysboro, the second place finisher in the Ohio.

Coach Gary Carter lost eight of his top players from a year ago.

Most of the offensive numbers for both of these 4A clubs will need to be replaced.

Harrisburg is in the same boat with skill players missing from a club that started out strong but faded late, losing four of their final five games, including a first round loss in 4A.

Herrin is on its third head coach in as many seasons (Nathan Lieber) as the Tigers are looking for some stability having not qualified for the playoffs since 2018.

Massac County continues to try and rebuild after consecutive 1-8 campaigns for Coach Jacob Collins.

The Patriots also lost a few standouts but they have some talent back, especially at quarterback.

In fact Massac is the only squad in the Ohio who returns their starting QB.

Carterville and Murphysboro have split the last two division championships.

That scenario should play out again in 2025 with the contest between the two slated for October 17 at Murphy.

Herrin could be much improved and Harrisburg will always have athleticism.

Massac County is looking to climb out of the cellar.

In the Mississippi Division, Nashville is the defending champs and they jumped into the 3A playoffs a year ago and won a couple of postseason games to finish at 10-2 overall, 5-0 to win the league title for Coach Stephen Kozuszek.

The Hornets reached the 3A quarterfinals, losing to Tolono Unity.

Pinckneyville mentor Ryan Lott and his team managed just a pair of victories a season ago for a program that has been more suited for the hardwood than the gridiron.

Anna-Jonesboro's first season with new head coach James Yates didn't go well as the Wildcats failed to win a game in 2024.

DuQuoin will look to make another playoff appearance. The Indians started 6-1 a season ago but dropped their final three games, including a throttling at the hands of Monticello in the 3A opening round.

West Frankfort managed to win its final two regular season games to make it to the 3A playoffs before being humbled by St. Joseph-Ogden in the first round to finish 5-5 overall.

Benton got rolling at the right time last fall, putting together a five-game win-streak that got them to the quarterfinals of the 3A playoff before they lost to eventual state runner-up Monticello.

Carterville will return to work this fall with eight important players missing from the 7-3 club a year ago.

A thousand yard rusher (Chance Meyers) and two other runners (Amon Cosey, Nick Bisching) combined were almost 800-yards on the ground will need to be replaced.

Another 674 yards receiving from pair of catchers (Parker Poole, Riley Crain) and a bunch of touchdowns combined with the players gone are going to be missed.

Plus a pair of defenders (Luke Johnson, Riley Crain) who accounted for 145 tackles on defense.

The good news is that all of those positions and uniforms are ready to be filled by a new group of Lions.

Coach Brett Diel will begin his 24th year of coaching with some talent returning.

The line play should be one of the strong points for Carterville as the players returning have experience across both sides of the ball.

Jaxson Smith, a 6-5, 360 lineman, is a four-year starter for the Lions.

He'll be joined up from by teammates senior 5-10, 225 Bryce Reimann, 5-9, 225 senior Ethan Hendricks and 5-9, 225 junior PJ Huizenga.

Having the line back is significant, especially when you have a quarterback returning with experience.

Five-eight senior Andy Johnson took a lot of snaps last season and was productive, accounting for nearly 400-yards in the air and five scores.

Defensively some good ones return for Carterville with 5-7, 215 senior lineman Luke Barnhart, 6-foot, 270 senior defensive tackle Jeremiah Bouchard and Jamison Jones, a 6-foot, 175 senior linebacker.

Smith and Johnson will also play on the defensive side at tackle and linebacker and junior Jonathan Miller is part of the plan when he isn't carrying the ball on offense..

“The strength of this team throughout the summer has been the offensive line. Four returning starters have allowed for a smooth install. We ran the ball well last year and this group wants to do it again. We have had tremendous leadership at the quarterback position, with Andy Johnson taking over. He is a three year starter on defense and split time at QB last year, so he is ready for a big year,” said Coach Diel.

Murphysboro also has a bunch of numbers missing from its 8-3 4A playoff qualifier a year.

Starters Gibson Fager, Wyatt Eovaldi, Tyjaire Kellum, Emanuel Wells, Bryson Canaley, Ari Granados, Brady LeGrand, and Cade Brooks have left the field behind after graduation and the replacements will need to step up.

The new quarterback will be Jacob Schuler, a 6-2 junior, who steps in to replace Fager who is playing football at Southeast Missouri.

Five-ten senior Leo Hughes will get the ball as a running back for the Red Devils as will 6-1 senior Zakhi Huff.

Logan Tanner, a 6-5 junior, 5-10 senior DaeJohn Beard, 5-5 junior Jeremiah Vaughn are the wide receivers and tight end 6-7, 260 senior Kemmeon Hale.

The line will feature 6-2, 215 senior Amir Williams, 6-4, 240 senior AJ Hobbs, 5-10, 200 senior Ross Gill, 5-8, 270 senior Korvone House and 6-4, 230 senior Reece Miluer.

On the defensive side of the ball add Malaki Korando, a 6-foot, 185 defensive end and defensive backs 5-7 junior Jarryion Agnew, 6-foot junior Rylan Robinson, and 5-5 junior Jeremiah Vaughn.

Six-one senior Will Falkenburry, 5-11 junior Maxon Stearns are linebackers and Coach Carter added 5-8 sophomore Noah Cook as a defensive back.

“We graduated some very good football players from last years team. It will be very important for this years team to buy in to our program and display grit and perseverance. This will require leadership from our returning players. I look for this team to improve every week and hopefully be playing our best at the end of the season,” said Coach Carter.

Head coach Jacob Collins does have something no one else in the division has.

The Patriots return their starting quarterback from a season ago.

Senior Kameron Fairfield returns to run the show.

Wide receivers for the QB are senior Caleb Barnard and junior Dee Carruthers.

Three starting linemen, junior Brantley Boos, junior Hayden Lewis and junior Bobby Davis.

Tight end senior Chance Miller was an all-Ohio Division selection last fall.

All-Conference at DE and returns to play TE as well.

Linebacker/running back senior Creighton Boos plays all over the field according to Coach Collins.

Senior Mike Jones is another returning starter as a lineman for the Pats.

All conference placekicker senior Landon Hillebrand also plays defensive back.

Junior Joseph Tolbert and junior Drew Bradford are linebackers for Massac County

Junior Ricky Parmer and Mikey Raley are also part of the Patriots' defense.

Senior defensive back and special teams player Grayson Crim returns

Coach Collins added some sophomores to the mix.

Devin Harris (safety) and lineman Grant Westbrooks have stood out along with running back Justus Mann.

Case Korte returns from an injury last fall and is a linebacker for Massac.

Devonair Skinner will play on both sides of the ball.

Add the names Jayden Poole, Kegahn Helland, Jayden Poole, Kegahn Helland, Logan Little, Landon Staton, Walter Bauer, and Ethan Scott to the list of sophomores expecting a chance for major minutes.

“The biggest key for us is going to be keeping our intensity at a high level for every snap all season,” said Collins.

Harrisburg will also start the season without a bunch of familiar faces who have moved on from the program that went 5-5 with a first round 4A playoff loss to Breese Central.

Coach Matt Griffith will need to replace most of the numbers, including graduated quarterback Owen Rann, who is playing at SIU.

Defensive back/running back Reed Rider, linebacker Colt Prather, wide receiver/defensive back Aiden Unthank and defensive tackle Kane Lands all left the building.

Coach Griffith mentioned Nash Valette, a 5-10 junior running back/linebacker as a returning key.

On the line look for 6-2, 240 Matt Brown on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Shaun Dooley, a 6-foot, 230 lineman is back as well as 6-2, 250 Isaac Miller.

Five-ten junior Aidan Hankins is a running back/linebacker for the Bulldogs and defensive end 6-4, 200 senior Braxton Welge.

“We are a young ball club. Graduated not only a lot of starters, but a lot of two way starters. The junior class brings speed and athleticism and the senior class bring the hard nose play. Looking to use our strengths to win now and not just be a team in a rebuilding year. Tough schedule this year, so our team will be testing week in and week out,” said Coach Griffith.

The Herrin Tigers only came up with one win in 2024, a 28-0 win over Massac County.

For the third consecutive season the program will have a new mentor as Nathan Lieber takes the reigns.

The Tigers will turn to 5-10 sophomore Jaxon Hudson to bark out the signals from under center.

His targets in the passing game will be many but the key to the season will likely come from line as Coach Lieber mentioned three returning players; juniors 5-9 Chandler Russell and 5-10 Ryder Groves along with 6-foot senior Skylar Croteau.

“We expect our line to be the strength of our offense and we are going to rely on them especially early on for success,” said Coach Lieber.

Five-eleven senior Scotty Reynolds and 6-foot senior Dennis Hughes are in the backfield and front line for Herrin.

Four other juniors; 5-10 linebacker Garrett Ray, 5-10 wide out/defensive back Jaytn Hopson, 6-foot receiver/linebacker Rylan Lattuada and 6-2 lineman Brayden Yates will be important.

Expect 5-10 sophomore Jaxon Yates to step into a linebacker role and gain varsity experience this fall.

Defensive linemen include 5-10 senior Jose Mendez, 5-10 senior Dominik Khoshaba, 5-10 junior Garrett Ray and 5-10 sophomore Cadin Pribble.

Defensive backs that Coach Lieber is looking for big things include returning starters 6-foot senior Jacobie Stubbs and Hobson.

Five-eight junior Kainon Boyer and 6-foot sophomore Gabe Eldridge will also play a large part in the secondary.

“This year is important for multiple reasons. We have pieces to have success this season, and we also have worked to set a foundation for the future. We have had a great summer and our upperclassmen have led by example from the start. We are going to be young at some positions but we expect our guys to continue to improve and execute the game plan on Friday Nights. Our entire staff is very proud of our seniors and their commitment,” said Coach Lieber.