Despite finishing last year with a 4-6 record, there is plenty to be excited about for the Carl Junction Bulldogs and eighth-year head coach Doug Buckmaster.
The Bulldogs won two of their final three regular season contests last year, and they return a bevy of starters on the offensive and defensive side of the ball in 2020.
Carl Junction’s offense returns nine starters, including a pair of quarterbacks with extensive varsity experience. Senior Drew Patterson is back after transitioning to quarterback last season, when he threw for 1,643 yards and 17 touchdowns, rushing for an additional 319 yards. Also back at the quarterback position is senior Alex Baker, who missed his junior season because of injury but started five games as a sophomore.
The Bulldogs return senior running back Brady Sims, who rushed for 524 yards and four touchdowns, while hauling in 10 receptions for 139 yards and another score in 10 starts last year.
Leading wide receiver Cole Stewart, a second-team all-conference and district selection, is back for his senior season after catching 36 passes for 657 yards and six touchdowns as a junior. Senior Mylas Derfelt, the starting slot receiver, also returns to bolster the pass-catching unit. Noah Southern, a third-team all-conference selection last season, is back for his senior season after catching 32 passes for 366 yards and five touchdowns a year ago.
The offensive line could be the Bulldogs’ biggest strength this season. Carl Junction returns senior center Ethan Howard, who started as a sophomore before missing all of last season because of injury. Senior right guard Reese Bonjour returns after starting every game last season, and junior right tackle Jesse Cassatt is back as the starter.
The strength of Carl Junction’s defense will be in its secondary, where three returning starters are back. Jack Colgin, a third-team all-conference selection at outside linebacker, will transition to the secondary. Senior Trentyn Lehman started every game at safety last season and will transition to cornerback in 2020, with Stewart also returning as a starting corner.
Senior Hunter Row started all 11 games at the linebacker position last season and will anchor the unit in 2020 along with Southern, a first-team all-district linebacker a year ago. Cassatt also returns to the defensive end position where he was third-team Class 4 all-state selection as well as garnering second-team COC honors and first-team district honors.
There will be plenty of competition to fill out the remaining starting positions on the defensive end.
The Bulldogs open the 2020 season on the road against Willard at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28.
