>> St. Michael the Archangel 2024 schedule <<

Surely and steadily, St. Michael the Archangel is becoming one of the most sufficient smaller-class football programs in the Metro.

After their inaugural season in 2017 ended with a 0-9 showing, the Guardians have improved their record in five out of six opportunities, finishing 2023 with a program-best 9-3 mark. Last season saw St. Michael advance to its second-ever district final, first doing so in 2021. While the Guardians fell in the district championship vs. then-undefeated Lafayette County (13-0), the Guardians gave a good fight, putting up the second-most points the Husker defense had yielded all season to that point in a 50-31 decision.

Now heading into his fifth season as head coach at St. Michael, Andrew Pitts will work on adapting his team to a new offense after graduating a quarterback who was selected to the Missouri Football Coaches Association Class 2 All-State Second Team.

“This season will look different as we move on from star quarterback Cam Zaun,” said Pitts, who possesses a 29-14 record at St. Michael. “With Cam last year, we had a very potent passing attack. This season, we will have a stable of good running backs and will lean on our run game more. We have had a great offseason, in which the kids committed to getting better in the weight room and practice field. I really think we will only get better as the year progresses.”

As for that offense, it will feature five returning starters, including receiver-turned quarterback Henry Miller (5-10, 170). The junior hauled in team highs of 76 receptions and 950 yards, accounting for five of Zaun’s 26 scoring strikes. With Miller transitioning from outside the hash marks to behind center, Pitts isn’t expecting perfection and knows patience is a virtue.

“This will cause us to struggle early, but I do feel like we will hit our stride as the year progresses, and by the end, we will be pretty good,” Pitts said.

Miller, complimented by his coach for his speed and his “It” factor, will be flanked in the backfield by junior running back Luis Tellado (6-1, 205) and sophomore tailback Reece Fredrickson (6-0, 170). Coming back from a broken collarbone, Tellado will have a chance to shine with the graduation of Trevor Green, toting the ball 23 times for 119 yards in two touchdowns during his shortened sophomore campaign. Fredrickson will see more action after running the rock nine times for 19 yards during his rookie season.

This group will set the tone for the offense, and Pitts plans to lean heavily on them to establish playaction.

“Tellado and Fredrickson are both very good running backs, giving us a three-headed attack in the running game,” Pitt stated.

Back at wide receiver is Max Thomas (6-1, 175), who brought in 29 catches for 406 yards and four scores, a performance Pitts believes will springboard the junior toward school records. Thomas – also working as the kicker – will tag-team the outside attack with James Wilson, a 6-1, 170-pound junior who snared four passes for 28 yards in 2023, and sophomore Byron Buster, who is looking to box out cornerbacks with his 6-4, 180-pound frame.

 The offensive line has three starters returning, including junior center Ethan Niewald, a 6-2, 220- pound force Pitts expects to lead the hogs up front. Niewald is joined by other returners such as senior tackle Cayton Stump (6-2, 230) and senior guard Carson Lindstrom (6-1, 230). Junior Henry Tellado (6-1, 230) is projected to start at tackle, and junior Gabe Gonterman (6-1, 240) looks to take over at guard. The Guardians’ offense, as of now, is without a tight end position after graduating Lucas Estes, an MFCA All-State Second-Team selection in 2023.

Shifting from an offense that averaged 33.3 points per game to a defense that allowed 23.7 ppg – both the third-best averages in program history – Pitts’ defensive unit will showcase seven returning starters.

“On defense, we return all of our linebackers and will be very good there,” Pitts said. “Our LBs will need to be leaders and make plays.”

The linebacking corps consists of four upperclassmen, starting with senior Luca Bell. The 6-0, 215- pound powerhouse is coming off a standout season, finishing with 97 total tackles, 10 tackles and a sack. He’s joined by fellow senior Colin Stanfield (6-2, 220), who is second amongst all returners with 90 tackles and nine TFLs in 2023, snagging an interception along the way. Senior Hayden Drake (5-11, 215) brings back 45 tackles, eight TFLs and one forced fumble, and Luis Tellado will play both linebacker and on the defensive line, providing 24 tackles and 10 TFLs’ worth of experience.

St. Michael will roll with three traditional linemen and provide a 3-4 look that could shift to a 4-3 thanks to Tellado's talent. The leader of the D-line is Niewald, who recorded 32 tackles, six TFLs and three sacks from his defensive end position. On the opposite end of Niewald is senior Joe Ragusta, a 6-3, 205-pound specimen whose speed and length helped him tally 35 tackles and three TFLs. In the middle is junior defensive tackle Fletcher Kearney (5-10, 220), potentially earning his first starting experience at the varsity level.

The Guardians grabbed nine interceptions in 2023, and a team-high three of them were courtesy of Thomas, who returns 27 tackles to the cornerback position. His other half is junior corner Maveric Cure (6-0, 160), a former rotation player who made five tackles as a sophomore.

The last line of defense for St. Michael starts at free safety with Fredrickson, who had an impressive debut season with 15 tackles and three passes defended. Next to him is junior James Wilson (6-1, 170), whose 10 tackles from last season look to grow this fall with this starting role.

The 2023 season for St. Michael opens up on August 30 at home in Lee’s Summit with Summit Christian Academy, a team that has lost the last two games vs. the Guardians after winning the first four. The Eagles went 2-8 this previous autumn.

There’s quite the juxtaposition between Week 1 and Week 2, with St. Michael next facing St. Pius X. The Warriors went 11-3 last season and are 7-0 all-time vs. the Guardians.

“We are going to play a bit harder of a schedule this season,” Pitts predicted. “We open with Summit Christian, who is in the second season of their new coaching staff, and I think they will be much better. Then we play St. Pius, who is an amazingly good program. We also added Father Tolton and Hayden [Topeka] this year, and both those programs are coming off deep playoff runs last year. Van Horn, Hogan Prep, Pembroke Hill, University Academy and KIPP round out our schedule, and all provide quality opponents who will be a challenge to play.”