Smithville may only have eight returners from last season’s state title team, but the goal remains the same.

The Warriors finished a perfect 13-0 and won the Missouri Class 4 state championship, including a 31-0 laugher over Hannibal in the state final, a year ago. But that was last year, and Smithville lost 14 of 22 starters from a season ago. But that’s not tempering expectations.

“This group of seniors have plans to cap their careers with trophies like last year’s seniors,” stated head coach Jason Ambroson. “We return a bunch of hungry, experience competitors that have excelled on the varsity level. Confidence and expectations are very high for several reasons.”

Smithville Team Page

Leading the way will be second-team all-Missouri Class 4 quarterback Andrew Hedgecorth. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior threw for 2,327 yards and 28 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Hedgecorth also rushed for 305 yards and eight scores.

“Andrew’s a great leader for us, and having your quarterback return is always a great start,” Ambroson touted.

Senior Caleb Donnell will step in at running back, after garnering 356 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 50 carries. Fellow senior Preston Rash returns after 300 yards on 61 totes, four for scores. Junior Ayden Ambroson also will haul the rock in the backfield.

On the outside, junior receivers return from some varsity time in 2021, in Max McKenzie (6-foot-2, 160) and 6-foot-2, 170-pound Jett Coleman (162 yards, TD). Seniors Ty Adkins (6-foot-3, 170) and Carson Downey (6-foot-2, 170) also will snare balls from Hedgecorth.

Up front, senior Cole Turner (6-foot-1, 225) returns as the lone starting offensive lineman. Fellow seniors Jayce Farrell (6-foot-4, 260), Noah Tormes, Tyler Sullentrup and Garret Pulse (6-0, 185) will line up in the trenches.

Senior Kevin Pylypczuk (6-0, 180) and Tristan Henshaw will man tight end.

Defensively, a quintet of three-year starters will lead the way, with seniors Dawson Strickland (6-foot-2, 180) and Eli Knorr (5-foot-11, 230) lining up at defensive ends. Senior linebacker Derek Boyd will anchor the middle, while seniors Caleb Donnell (5-foot-11, 195) and Ryan Weers (5-foot-10) man the secondary.

Pulse, Henshaw and fellow senior Justin Perkins (6-foot-1, 225) will bolster the defensive line, while Pylypczuk, Ambroson and Rash will register tackles at linebacker. Seniors Riley Brown (5-foot-10, 185), Sam Wornson (5-foot-11, 155) and Carson Downey (6-foot-2, 170), Adkins and junior Ben Murawksi (5-foot-8 150) will defend passes in the secondary.

“I’m very excited to see what challenges we will face,” Ambroson hyped.  “I have not been around many groups of kids that work as hard as these guys do.  In addition, they have a blast together in the weight room, doing football stuff, and being together. We have a lot of work to do, but very pleased with the direction this group is heading.”