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Season Preview: Blue Springs

By Chad Rader, 810 Varsity , 07/22/19, 4:30PM CDT

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Wildcats among best in Metro ... again

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Every summer, one in Kansas City can expect to talk about the heat, looking forward to football season and who are the top high school teams in the Metro.

Every summer, it takes maybe one or two schools down the list before Blue Springs is mentioned.

Once again, that’s the case with the Wildcats, as Blue Springs brings back yet another veteran roster from a 10-4 season, and on the doorstep of its third straight Missouri Class 6 title game.

And BSHS should be right back in that same spot again in the playoffs.

“This team reminds me a lot of last year’s team. We’re not a start-studded team we’ve had some years with 3-4 Division I guys who can turn the game around with a play,” said long-time head coach Kelly Donohoe. “But we have a great group of high school players.”

There will be some new faces with quarterback Dom Harkness taking the helm. The 6-0, 190-pound senior saw limited time last year with a knee injury, but Blue Springs likes what Harkness brings in his senior campaign.

“He’s a runner and a thrower, so we feel we can open it up a bit more this year with him,” Donohoe said. “We brought him in during the playoffs for a couple of series, and we scored on both possessions. He’s confident and a guy the team can rally around.”

Harkness will have veteran receivers to throw to, including slotback Cooper Willich. The senior led Blue Springs with 22 catches for 320 yards and two scores.

Also returning is senior receiver Patso Tapusoa (6-0, 180), who snared two touchdowns in 2018. Junior Xavier Loyd also will catch balls, while BSHS adds junior Isaac Harkness and brings across senior Stefan Black from the secondary.

“We have our top three guys back, and Stefan brings a threat when he’s out there on offense,” Donohoe stated.

As usual, Blue Springs will have a strong running game, with three backs garnering carries. Senior back Quentin Fontenot (5-foot-8, 150) rushed for 413 yards and five touchdowns behind Aveion Bailey, who has now graduated.

“Quentin was our best guy in the semifinal game vs Rockhurst,” recalled Donohoe of Fontenot’s 46-yard on six carry effort. “He’s electric and quick.”

Fellow senior Micah King and junior Deandre Thomas also will share carries at running back. Also in the backfield will be senior fullback Jake Schnakenberg (6-0, 230) and sophomore Carson Willich (5-foot-10, 175).

Up front, the Wildcats lost four seniors to graduation, but return one of the top roadpavers in the Metro in junior right guard Beau Stephens (6-foot-6, 315). The junior already holds offers from Mizzou, Iowa State, Kansas and K-State.

“We lost four seniors who are playing college football, and everyone knows about Beau, but everyone wonders what we’re going to do,” Donohoe said. “But we really like the guys we have.”

At left tackle, junior Troy Fischer (6-3, 250) will line up alongside senior left guard Tyler Boudreaux (6-2, 240). Senior center Braiden Rosen (6-2, 250), Stephens and senior right tackle Andrew Fonua (6-5, 260) round out the line.

Blue Springs brings back two experienced tight ends in senior Eli Stewart (6-foot-2, 230) and senior Nick Henderson (6-foot-3, 230).

“We bring a lot of skill guys back and if we get the guys up front established quickly, we’ll be a good football team and really good offensively,” Donohoe touted.

Henderson will lead the Wildcats on the line of the 3-4 defense, notching 48 tackles – 15 for loss – and nine sacks a year ago. The first-team 810 Varsity Elite 81 selection also forced two fumbles, with an interception and fumble recovery in 2018.

Senior Jose Ramos also will be in the trenches, with Stewart and Schnakenberg rotating at the other defensive end spot.

Blue Springs feels the strength of the team will be linebacker, returning senor inside linebackers Christian Mendez (6-0, 205) and Danny Wheeler (5-foot-11, 190). Junior Kaleb Starr (5-foot-10, 190) also will see time in the interior.

On the outside, four Wildcats will vie for two spots. Senior Landon Kreissler and junior John Mullins will see time on one side, while senior Jack Jobe and junior Jackson Boyd will compete at the other linebacker.

“We’re really excited about our linebacker corps,” Donohoe said. “We haven’t had this kind of depth in a while.”

Black, an 810 Varsity Elite 81 first-team, leads the secondary. The 6-0, 180-pound cornerback holds offers from Air Force, Army as well as Missouri State and others.

Starting opposite Black will be senior Alex Hughes (6-foot-2, 175). Junior Jordan Worley also will rotate in at corner.

“Stef gets a lot of the attention – he just looks the part,” Donohoe said. “We switched him from receiver last year and potentially could be a really good cornerback for us.”

Seniors Brett LaVar and Quin Ensor will line up at safeties. Fred Romero brings back a veteran threat as a senior kicker.

“We have a good senior class with 36 seniors – one of our bigger senior groups,” Donohoe said. “They work hard, care about each other and do a good job leading our lockerroom.”

 

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