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Season Preview: Blue Springs

By Chad Rader, 810 Varsity, 07/13/18, 4:30PM CDT

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Yet another state title game trip ahead in 2018?

Wildcats Return Strong Cast Again

-> Blue Springs 2018 Schedule

-> Blue Springs Team Page

After two consecutive trips to the Missouri Class 6 state title game, the well has to eventually run dry for Blue Springs, right?

Ehhh, not so fast. The Wildcats bring back another strong cast and are poised for another league title and long playoff run.

“We really like this football team,” said Blue Springs head coach Kelly Donohoe, a four-time state champion coach at BSHS. “We drop off a little bit in athleticism, but we gain that back in tough, strong, team-oriented kids. I love coaching these guys.”

Blue Springs also will be “tough” and “strong”, but just big up front, and experienced. The Wildcats bring back four returning starters from last year’s 11-3 team that shared the Suburban Gold league title and advanced to the state title game.

Leading the way is three-year starter Conrad Rowley. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound senior committed to Northwestern earlier in the fall and will be one of the state’s best at guard.

“He’s the leader of our offensive line, and to go to a Big Ten school says enough about the work he’s done over the years,” said Donohoe.

Another three-year starter, senior center Jack Johnson (6-foot-2, 265) will join sophomore Beau Stephens. At 6-foot-5, 310, Stephens is impressive – enough to start as freshman in 2017.

“He played as a freshman, which never happens here,” Donohoe said. “He’s a huge human being.

Senior Jessup Leakey (6-foot-3, 265) also will return as a starter. The lone newcomer to the line, senior Patrick Robinson, debuts at 6-foot-4, 265.

Also on the line at tight end will be junior Eli Stewart (6-foot-2, 220).

Lining up behind the wall of humanity will be senior quarterback Koby Mansfield (6-foot-1, 200). Mansfield learned behind two-year starter Chase Donohoe, but will be ready.

He’ll enjoy two nice options to hand off to – senior Aveion Bailey, who rushed for 963 yards and seven touchdowns, and senior Nick Wood, who enjoyed a strong sophomore campaign, but was out with injuries last year.

“Aveion is a physical, strong bruiser, and Nick will be back at 100%, and he can run. We’ll have a great 1-2 punch at running back.”

At receiver, senior Matt Marzolf (151 receiving yards, 2 TDs) will be joined by junior Cooper Willich.

“We will be very run heavy, but we feel we can do a nice job in the passing game with our backs and tight end as well.”

Defensively, Blue springs will be lead up front by Niko Manning (5-11, 243) and senior defensive end Simeon Sullivan (6-foot-5, 300).

“Niko is an all-state level player who’s extremely strong and quick,” Donohoe said. “Simeon will take up a lot of space up front.”

Another up-and-coming talent is junior defensive end Nick Henderson at 6-foot-4, 230 – and growing.

At inside linebackers, junior Austin Stuller (6-foot-1, 230) returns along with junior Jake Schnakenberg (6-foot, 180). On the outside, seniors John Pittman (5-10, 185) and Ethan Zipsie (6-foot-2, 200) will round out the linebacker corps.

The secondary is led by returning starter senior Matt VanHoecke (6-foot-2) at free safety, as well as cornerbacks in juniors Stefan Black (5-10, 175) and Ray Horton (5-10, 180).

“Our defense will be coached very well and will do a lot of very good things, and be a very, very tough defense,” touted Donohoe.

While the names have changed over the last couple years, Blue Springs could be lined up for another big season.

“We’ve had kids who’ve been a part of or watched us go to two straight title games, and they want to finish it off,” said Donohoe. “It’ll be tough with our schedule and Class 6, but these kids are tough too.”

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