After a two-year orbit in a different stratosphere, Odessa football may be ready to come back to earth.

The Bulldogs have won the last 24 games they’ve played, including a 15-0 state title year then another 9-0 start before the plug was pulled on OHS hopes for a state repeat, as COVID concerns resulted in Odessa not playing in the 2020 playoffs.

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But with those seasons exited some top senior classes. But the cupboard isn’t bare for 2021.

The Bulldogs return their entire backfield, starting with senior running back Blake Heitman (6-0, 180), who returns after being selected to Missouri Class 3 third-team. As a junior, Heitman racked up 1,327 yards and 22 touchdowns in just nine contests for a 147 yards per game average.

Also in the backfield will be fellow senior Shon Badder (5-foot-10, 160). Badder notched 491 yards and nine scores as well in 2020, earning an all-league selection for the efforts.

Senior Brenden Jeffery (5-foot-10, 160) will lead the offense again, after throwing for 660 yards and nine touchdowns en route to all-conference honors in 2020.

Another playmaker who will see the ball more in his senior season figured to be Boston Sanders (6-foot-2, 180).

Leading the way in the trenches will be Clay Fox (6-foot-3, 230). The senior was tabbed an all-conference and all-district selection last year.

The line will see a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball, although Fox will cross over to defense as well. Badder will patrol the field at outside linebacker amidst some fresh faces in the linebacker corps.

The secondary does have experience in Heitman, Jeffery and Sanders, who brings his athleticism from basketball (19 ppg) and also was an all conference and all-district selection.

“We have a few experienced players returning from 2020 but some question marks as well,” said head coach Mark Thomas. “We have some young players who need to develop quickly. If they do, we could be pretty competitive.”

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