East Prairie’s veteran core could propel team to new heights

East Prairie’s Braylan Cade squares up for a tackle during a practice on Wednesday, August 14.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — After enduring a series of tough seasons, East Prairie is ready to rise from the ashes. With a talented group of returning players and a new head coach, the Eagles are poised for a breakout year.

“The biggest focus for us this summer was trying to get maximum effort and competition in everything our players did,” said new East Prairie coach Ian Penrod. “We saw this in the 7-on-7s we went to but more so as we went through the summer in our camps. We saw it get better each day.”

Connor Marcum is a name that East Prairie football fans should be familiar with. The senior wide receiver and running back has been a standout player for the Eagles for the past few seasons.

Last year, Marcum had a monster season, catching 31 passes for 829 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also rushed for 637 yards and nine touchdowns, making him a dual-threat weapon that opposing defenses have to account for.

Marcum’s impressive performance earned him the SEMO Conference-Central Scoring Champion title, with 139 total points. His ability to make plays both as a receiver and a runner makes him one of the most dangerous players in the area.

East Prairie’s Connor Marcum runs over a teammate during a practice on Wednesday, August 14.

Dennis Marshall ~ Standard-Democrat

The team also returns a dynamic duo in the backfield with senior fullback Braylan Cade and junior running back Tavion Ware. 

Cade is a tough, powerful runner who rushed for 436 yards and six touchdowns on 107 carries last season. Ware is a versatile playmaker who can both run and catch the ball effectively. He rushed for 942 yards and 10 touchdowns on 182 carries last season.

Together, Cade and Ware form a formidable one-two punch that opposing defenses will have to contend with.

Their ability to complement each other and keep defenses off balance will be a key factor in the Eagles’ success this season.

East Prairie also has a promising quarterback in senior Ty Wallace, who joined the football team midway through last season and quickly made an impact.

Wallace completed 57-of-110 pass attempts for 1,123 yards and 12 touchdowns.

He also added another touchdown on the ground, showcasing his playmaking abilities.

With a full season under his belt, Wallace is poised for even greater success in 2024.

His arm talent, athleticism, and decision-making skills make him a dangerous weapon.

Mark Gammons, the team’s top offensive lineman, will need to be a leader and the glue that holds the line together, especially with the loss of several key players.

Another solid threat is 6-foot-2-inch senior receiver/defensive back Tripp Shoemaker.

Shoemaker is a talented pass catcher who can be a matchup problem for opposing defenses.

Seniors Brian Brazan and Rudy Arizmendi and juniors Seth Fiebig and Hunter Palmer have also been solid contributors for multiple seasons.

Their experience and versatility will be valuable assets.

“The biggest strength the team has is their experience in varsity games,” Penrod said. “While they haven’t been very successful most of the players have been playing varsity level for two or three seasons which is a big advantage as players develop and grow.”

As the Eagles prepare for the upcoming season, they are focused on improving execution and effort

Penrod is committed to creating a culture of excellence within the East Prairie football program.

He believes that by setting high standards and demanding the best from his players, the Eagles can reach their full potential.

“I see effort and execution as the biggest room for improvement,” Penrod concluded. “While they’ve had a lot of varsity playing experience they’ve also had growing pains along the way, learning from those mistakes is how we get better execution. My goal as a head coach has never changed. Each day try to be better at something, always compete and try to be 1-0 each week. We’re always going to focus on the task at hand and not try to put the cart before the horse.”