No surprise this year - New Madrid expected to be good

NEW MADRID -- New Madrid County Central was, far and away, Southeast Missouri's surprise team of 2005, rebounding from a 1-9 record in 2004 to a 7-3 mark last season.

"Last year was a testament to our players, No. 1, buying into the system, and No. 2, coming to work hard every day," said NMCC head coach Arlen Pixley.

The Eagles finished second in the SEMO Conference Central Division and were a win away from a district championship, losing to eventual champion Dexter. Said Pixley, in his third season at the helm, "In the second to last game of the season, we put ourselves in position to win the conference and the district.

That's a huge turnaround from 1-9, where you're blown out of the conference after you've played your third conference game."

Despite displaying tenacity and grit in capturing three of their seven wins by a total of six points -- three points over Sikeston, two over Charleston and one over Caruthersville -- the Eagles' mantra going into this season is "finish."

"We've got to get some of these guys that are another year older in our system to buy into the fact that they need to finish things," said Pixley. "At times we started (games) pretty well and had guys on the rope, but just didn't finish very strong. So our main goal this year is to finish. That's what we've been preaching since (summer) camp."

Baptism by fire

With 62 players out, NMCC returns seven starters on offense and six on defense.

"We're excited about our turnout and our new kids," said Pixley. "We're excited to see how it looks on Friday night."

Forced to give freshmen and sophomores significant playing time two years ago, the NMCC program reaped rewards last season and should benefit even more in 2006.

"That's huge," said Pixley. "Those guys we started as sophomores last year and freshmen two years ago learned a lot and I hope that experience of going out there and doing some things and (having) some of the successes we had on the field carries over and will be an all-the-time thing, not just a some-time thing."

The starting units, primarily junior and senior dominated, are comprised of players who have seen both the bad and the good times at NMCC. They're now battle tested and ready to put their stamp on the proud tradition of Eagle football.

Leading the way are two seniors who have been in the mix for four years, tight end/defensive end Woody Smelser and center Brad Colbert.

"They're both 4.0 students and outstanding guys who have stayed the course," Pixley said. "Both started as sophomores. They want to go out with a bang and, as far as hard work, effort and attitude goes, they do a great job of setting the tone for everybody else.

"They're great guys in the locker room, in the huddle and on the sideline. I can't speak highly enough about those two guys and what they've meant to me in the four years they've spent in our program."

Colbert and Smelser are simply solid football players. Colbert, for instance, made 98 shotgun snaps last season and only two were bad. In '04, he had only four errant snaps in 127 attempts.

"He's been as consistent as all get-out," said Pixley. "If he can keep cutting those bad snap numbers in half, I think we can live with one this season."

Also lining up on the Eagles' offensive front, is one of the area's best, Patrick Guest.

The 6-0, 225-pound Guest was voted to the first team all-conference and all-region offensive and defensive teams, as well as the kicker on the all-conference squad. He had 58 tackles with 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for losses.

"Patrick spent two weeks this summer with his uncle, who played eight years with the Denver Broncos, and he's been to camps at two or three different places and he's looking sharp," said Pixley. "You can tell he's had some upper-level tutelage."

Rounding out an impressive quintet in the trenches are junior guards L.T. Sutton and R.D. White and junior tackle D'Adrian Farr. Sutton was also a first team all-conference and all-region selection as an offensive lineman.

Speed, versatility at skill positions

NMCC's skill positions are also manned by players who saw meaningful playing time early in their careers. Triggering the Eagles' multiple offense is junior quarterback Leslie Williams, who was thrown into the breach last season, leading the team to a 5-2 mark as a starter.

"He knows what his role is in our offense and he's accepted it," said Pixley. "He could be a great playmaker for us and he's throwing the ball better than he did last year."

Leading receiver Tommy Rowe returns for his senior campaign following a breakout season in '05. Rowe, a threat from any place on the field and by any means -- pass, run or return -- was a second team all-state kick returner and the Eagles' second leading scorer.

Pixley describes Rowe as a wide receiver in a running back's body.

"He's really versatile with great hands and he's a nasty outside blocker," added Pixley.

Running back. Now that position may present the greatest challenge to fill.

Graduated Printice Willis and Antonio McIntosh received the majority of playing time and combined for more than 2,000 rushing yards in '05.

Converted senior wide receiver Marquese Gates, an athletic, quick 175-pounder, will likely get the start with senior DeAnton Brown in the wings.

"They should provide a nice little tandem at running back," said Pixley. "We have great competition between those two guys in practice. One day, one guy looks a little better, the next day, the other guy looks better, then, on some days, they both look fantastic. They're both doing the little things right…ball security, taking proper angles, and so forth. Both of them are competing for a starting job and competition is a great thing to have."

Junior Dylan Harris steps in at fullback and junior Justin Beasley, who's been impressive in practice, will handle the other wideout position.

"We have a lot of tools and we have to use that to our advantage," remarked Pixley.

Versatility, across the board, creates a favorable depth situation for the Eagles.

"We have no fear of lack of depth due to injury at this point, because we have so many guys that can play several positions," Pixley said. "We're two deep across both the offensive and defensive lines."

Defense must not rest

If the Eagles expect to continue their upward trend, they must shore up a defense that allowed 31.2 points per game in 2005.

Employing a base 4-4 set, Smelser and Sutton are at defensive ends, Guest at tackle and senior Keon Chavers at noseguard.

At linebacker, senior Michael Brown and junior Dijuan Waters patrol the inside with Harris and Gates on the outside. Rowe and Beasley are at the corners with Williams at free safety.

"We're probably more multiple in our defensive schemes just because of the different styles of offense we see from week to week," said Pixley. "There are some things we do with different alignments to counteract certain styles.

"We have the ability to adjust and give different looks at any given time."

Guest will again handle the placekicking chores and Michael Brown will do the punting.

Young guns

The future also looks bright for the Eagles as Pixley is high on a talented group of freshmen, who have been undefeated throughout their middle school seasons, including undefeated and unscored upon as eighth graders.

'They're going to be some guys to watch in the future," he said. "Talk about hard workers, yes sir-no sir guys, here early, stay late. You couldn't ask for anything more."

Some rookies, such as Dontre Jenkins, Lennies McFerren III, Rodney Anderson and Sevuan Waters are pressing for varsity time.

Summary

A schedule change replaces two formidable opponents, Farmington and North County, with St. Pius X of Festus and Poplar Bluff.

"We'd like to play some of those high-caliber games, but closer to home," said Pixley. "Due to whatever reasons, we've had to travel to North County, Ste. Genevieve, Farmington, Jonesboro and Blytheville, Ark., Mt. Vernon, Ill. They're all quality teams with consistent programs but it's tough, when you're a small Class 3 school like we are, to go play a large Class 4 or Class 5 school and expect to have any success early on when they're running two deep at you and you're still trying to get your No. 1's ready."

NMCC opens with St. Pius, at Festus, on Sept. 1. Said Pixley, "We're approaching this season as this (success) is going to happen, not as we hope this happens. We expect good things to happen. Our expectations at NMCC are always high. You don't go play for a state title and not want to get back there again.

"I'm not worried about wins and losses. I'm worrying about seeing improvement on the field every Friday night. If we become better blockers, better tacklers, better ballhandlers, we're going to win ballgames."