2016 Football Preview: East Prairie Eagles
Head coach: Chad Jamerson, 5th season (14-28)
2015 record: 6-5
District: Class 2, District 1
Conference: SEMO East (Charleston, Kelly, Malden)
Playoff finish: Lost 42-8 to Malden in second round of districts
Returning starters on offense: 8
Returning starters on defense: 6
Notes: After two years of winning just one game the Eagles have posted back-to-back above .500 seasons. To make it a third they'll have to plug in a few old faces into new positions starting with quarterback. Replacing graduated starter Brett Ellis, who threw for 860 yards and six touchdowns and another 457 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground last season, will be Derez Tipler (5-9, 160, Soph.). The athletic Tipler filled in for an injured Ellis last season during a two-game span and went 1-1 as the starter. He compiled 324 yards rushing and was 12 for 25 with 118 yards passing during that time. Pairing with Tipler in the quick and nimble department is returning all-purpose weapon Deverence Jones (5-9, 165, Sr.). Jones averaged 10.1 yards per carry with 1,108 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He was East Prairie's leading rusher, receiver, kick returner and punt returner for a total of 2,304 yards on top of being their second-leading tackler with 63. All-Conference selections Nathan Owens (6-1, 265, Sr.) and Mason Tidwell (6-2, 260, Sr.) return to anchor East Prairie's offensive and defensive lines. Jon Ross Slayden (6-4, 180, Jr.), Luke Marcum (5-10, 130, Jr.), Brian Shoffner (5-9, 176, Jr.) and Casey Gregory return on the defensive side.
From the coach: "I'm excited about this team and the opportunities they have this year. We are replacing a lot of important parts, but the team has worked hard to improve and I think we can play some good football this year. Like any Class 2 school around the state, we must stay healthy. If we can continue to work hard, stay healthy and have a little bit of luck this group of young men can have a fun year." -- Chad Jamerson
Roster
No. | Player |
1 | Carson Aycock |
2 | Jon Ross Slayden |
3 | Deverence Jones |
4 | Brady Colson |
5 | Derez Tipler |
7 | Jack Scruggs |
8 | Preston Gifford |
9 | Ethan Jones |
10 | Chris Cutlip |
11 | Luke Marcum |
12 | Harrison Moore |
13 | Casey Gregory |
14 | Davon Douglas |
18 | Brian Merryman |
20 | Brian Shoffner |
21 | Noah Groves |
25 | John Hayes Bixler |
28 | Keaton Adams |
29 | Marshall Story |
30 | Blake Copeland |
33 | Mason Bryars |
34 | Dakota Woods |
36 | Tyler McCurter |
40 | Raleigh Archie |
42 | Keaton Caery |
44 | Blade Turner |
45 | Logan Allen |
48 | Nate Hodges |
50 | Zach Wilkens |
51 | Justin Warren |
52 | Hunter McCurter |
55 | Nate Owens |
56 | Rex LaPlant |
60 | Mason Tidwell |
61 | Jared Sneeringer |
63 | Chad Housman |
65 | Kenneth Allen |
67 | Brandon Faire |
68 | Kevin Shands |
71 | Zack Triplett |
72 | Gage Eaves |
74 | Grant Hutcheson |
75 | Jacob Holt |
77 | Dalton Farmer |
78 | Dakota Harrington |
85 | Hunter Brown |
88 | Travis Ledlow |
Schedule
A.19 | Kelly, 7 p.m. |
A.26 | at Jefferson, 7 p.m. |
S.2 | Scott City, 7 p.m. |
S.9 | at Hayti, 7 p.m. |
S.16 | Malden, 7 p.m. |
S.23 | at Chaffee, 7 p.m. |
S.30 | Portageville, 7 p.m. |
O.7 | at Charleston, 7 p.m. |
O.14 | Kennett, 7 p.m. |
2015 results
at Kelly | W 41-0 |
at Grandview | W 48-12 |
at Scott City | W 40-34 OT |
Hayti | L 16-45 |
Malden | L 20-38 |
Chaffee | W 36-22 |
at Portageville | L 20-40 |
Charleston | W 55-6 |
at Kennett | L 12-34 |
C2D1: at Portageville | W 34-18 |
C2D1: at Malden | L 8-42 |