"Improving Every Day and Finishing Every Play"

Such was the motto in 2023, but after just the second season below .500 in 13 seasons under Tom Radke, the mantra can be reused in 2024 in a rebuilding campaign.

St. James has the numbers for a deep, successful squad this season, with over 160 total players on the roster. There isn’t just quantity to this roster, though, but quality as well, with plenty of returning talent that is sure to help the Thunder make a playoff run toward the EKL title.

Starting on offense, the Thunder returns just two starters on offense. However, SJA will have strong players filling those slots left by the 2024 senior class. Incoming senior linemen Brock McKenzie (5-foot-11, 255), Carter Jasperson (5-foot-9, 192), Jackson Cantu (5-foot-9, 185), Jack Marsha (5-foot-10, 209) and Luke Neff (6-foot-5, 265) are leading the way in the trenches. They will do their best to make holes for fellow senior and 2023 team rushing leader, 5-foot-8, 170-pound tailback John Tujague to run through. Tujague had 75 carries for 263 yards last year and will look to build on those numbers as his workload increases heavily. St. James will look to further increase their capabilities in the run game, which in a pistol offense could provide major advantages in versatility and play calling.

In the passing game, Spring Hill transfer Tyson Beashore (6-foot-2, 185) will get the start after the departure of 2023 quarterback Ben Wheeler, who takes his talents to the Kansas State, where he will play defensive back. Beashore went 74-for-131 with 1,020 yards passing and eight touchdowns this past year. The turnover differential was not kind to the Thunder last year, and with Beashore’s 8:4 TD/Interception ratio, that proves to be a step forward.

“(We) were -11 in turnover differential, which cost (us) down the stretch in a tough EKL schedule,” Radke said. 

Beashore will have the assistance of the 2023 team receiving leader, senior Parker Chase (5-foot-11, 177), who caught 31 passes for 415 yards and 4 touchdowns. Chase will be accompanied by seniors Sam Niesen (6-foot-1, 168), Jude Wunder (5-foot-6, 143) and one of the few projected starting juniors for the Thunder Alec Jett (6-foot-1, 170).

Putting more points on the board will also be a major point of emphasis for this Thunder offense, being outscored 178-249 and putting up over 20 points in just 4 out of their 9 games. A stronger run game, an experienced and successful quarterback and a less experienced, but still talented group of receivers, there’s opportunity to be had.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Thunder look to uphold their image as a defensively sound squad. They have plenty of weapons that have proven they can pull their weight and make big stops.

Up front, the Thunder have a stout presence on the edge with 2023 team tackling and sacks leader, senior and 2023 All-State defensive end Max Requet (6-foot-2, 233) Requet has shown great promise and will be a player to watch this season in Kansas high school football, tallying 10 sacks, a forced fumble, 40 total tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 2023. Requet will have fellow senior standout Aiden Dreiling (6-foot-1, 204) covering the other defensive edge, who returns from injury after missing the last season.

In a 4-2-5 base defense, getting pressure on the quarterback is imperative to help make sure the opposing QB can’t expose holes left by a non-mirror defense, something both of these players can do very well. Another part of what makes this 4-2-5 defense go is their stellar linebacking corps, led by two returning starters in Jack Bevitt (5-foot-10, 204) and Hank Schreiner (5-foot-11, 198) who will add to that pass rush and strengthen run-stopping capabilities.

Forcing turnovers and shutting down the strong passing attacks of the EKL will be the name of the game for this defense. Part of winning that turnover battle discussed previously as well as shutting down the pass will fall upon this secondary, which is led by senior corner Ben Drewry (6-foot, 175) who had 4 interceptions in 2023. He will lead a very athletic and experienced group to patrol the skies.

Overall, Radke seems overjoyed at the amount of physical, athletic and intelligent athletes he has at his disposal this season on both sides of the ball. It seems like he is heavily embracing the role of enforcer with this year’s team, bringing the beef and having a load of hard-hitting, experienced players. Physicality seems to be the name of the game, quite fitting for a team named the Thunder.

“Our talented defensive weapons and experienced offensive line will be a force to be reckoned with in 2024…Our goal is to win the EKL.”

Radke goes into this season as a brand-new inductee to the GKCFCA Hall of Fame after having many years of success at St. James. This year, he looks to get his team back on track. The Thunder are currently picked to finish third in the 2024 EKL preseason poll. With a group full of seniors and a program full of pride looking to bring themselves back up to the pedestal, the EKL seems to be there for the taking for this storied program looking to rebound.