Entering the 2023 prep football season, the McDonald County Mustangs will be led by five returning starters on defense and four returning starters on offense.
Overall, the Mustangs feature 18 returning lettermen from last year’s squad that went 6-5 overall and won a playoff game before ending the season in the district semifinals.
McDonald County coach Kellen Hoover noted he was proud of how the 2022 team performed in the always-tough Big 8 Conference.
“Last year’s team was a gritty group,” Hoover said. “We knew we would have to scratch and claw our way to some wins and I was proud of our team for so many moments where they came through. We won close games against Logan-Rogersville, Nevada and Cassville during the regular season and scored a touchdown on third and long with a little over a minute left to go up by one against Marshfield in the opening round of districts.
“That was just another example of our team staying together through a hard-fought defensive battle and doing their job when we absolutely needed it the most. I was extremely proud of our kids for all the grittiness they showed in 2022.”
With an experienced group back, along with a number of promising newcomers, the Mustangs will look to build on last year’s success this fall.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who are ready to step into roles on the field and roles as leaders for our football team,” Hoover said. “We have several that are coming back with a lot of playing experience, and others that will be getting their first taste of Friday night football. At the end of the day, we need to bring consistent effort and energy every single day and need to focus on having great discipline in the little things that it takes to be a great team.”
McDonald County lost seven offensive starters and six defensive starters to graduation, so there are some holes to fill entering the season.
Of course, nothing will come easy for the Mustangs this season, as the Big 8 Conference should be tough again in ’23.
“You have to be at your best every week in the Big 8 because every opponent is a tremendous test,” Hoover said. “We’ve got to focus on doing our job the best we can every single snap. If we can maintain that consistency, we hope to reach our potential and have a really great year in 2023.”
OFFENSE
The Mustangs’ spread offense averaged 18 points per game last season, as the balanced attack compiled 146 passing yards and 138 rushing yards per contest.
“We hope to be a physical offense that can run the football effectively,” Hoover said. “It’s hard to be competitive in our conference if you don’t bring a good rushing attack with you. But we also have built our offense to attack teams in other ways if they over-commit to stopping the run and we hope to be able to utilize our playmakers in space if that happens.”
Senior dual-threat quarterback Destyn Dowd (6-1, 190), senior running back Sam Barton (5-11, 175) and senior fullback Samuel Murphy (5-10, 230) all return with starting experience to lead the Mustangs’ offensive attack.
Dowd was an honorable mention all-conference pick at QB, while Murphy earned second-team all-conference honors.
“Destyn really came on strong at the end of the year on both sides of the ball,” Hoover said. “The offensive light bulb came on and he really started to understand what the defense was giving us, and he made the play to take advantage of that. We hope he continues that progression. And we also think he will have a great year on the edge at linebacker.
“We expect Sam to be a great player on both sides of the ball for us this year,” Hoover said. “He started playing running back for us due to an injury in 2022 and showed some natural instincts at the position.”
Seniors Toby Moore (6-4, 290) and Jayce Hitt (6-2, 250) are returning standout linemen. Moore earned second-team all-conference honors, while Hitt garnered honorable mention all-conference recognition. With Moore and Hitt leading the way, the Mustangs should be strong up front.
“Toby has been an important piece for us up front on both sides the last two seasons,” Hoover said. “This season will be no different. He’s had a great offseason, working hard in our workouts and showing an eagerness to be the best leader he can be. We expect really big things for Toby in 2023.
“Jayce is an extremely strong and athletic two-way player up front for us, and we expect him to continue to progress on both sides. He’s a player that takes pride in bringing energy every day and we will continue to expect that this season.”
Senior Cory Tuttle (6-2, 280) and junior Miguel Melendez (5-11, 235) are other returning lineman.
Junior Malosi Sosef is another returning running back, while seniors Slyte Osborne and Josh Pacheco and juniors Dominic Cervantes and Aidrian Short are returners at wide receiver and juniors Alex Bogart and Jace Thomas and sophomore JP Clarkson return with experience at tight end.
Hoover expects Pacheco to be an improved player on both sides of the ball.
“Josh showed a physical side that initially surprised us as coaches in 2022, and has had a great offseason, getting bigger, stronger and more explosive,” Hoover said. “We expect him to be a key part of our defense and take on a bigger offensive role at wide receiver after showing some flashes of brilliance last season.”
Juniors Anthony D’Amico (QB) and Richard Gasca (kicker) are other players with prior experience.
Seniors Huston Porter (WR) and Tucker Walters (WR) and junior Peyton O’Neill (TE) are newcomers to watch.
DEFENSE
The Mustangs’ 4-2-5 defense gave up 21.7 points per game last season. The team will look to decrease the points per game average this season.
“As always, we hope our strength is that we are stout against the run and that we tackle extremely well,” Hoover said. “Our focus will be getting 11 hats to the ball and always playing with elite effort and energy.”
Moore, Hitt and Murphy are key returning defensive linemen, as all three garnered all-conference honors last year.
Hoover noted Murphy had a standout season defensively last year.
“Murph is extremely disruptive on the defensive side of the ball,” Hoover said. “He was third on the team in tackles, with 82 from the interior DL, and is also a reliable guy to hand the ball to in short yardage offensively. He’s extremely strong with a low center of gravity, which makes him really good at the things we ask him to do, and he’s had his best offseason yet, so we’re excited to see what Murph can do this season.”
Pacheco earned first-team all-Big 8 honors at defensive back.
Dowd (LB), Barton (DB), Osborne (DB), Tuttle (DL), Bogart (LB), Cervantes (DB), D’Amico (DB), Melendez (DL), Short (DB), Sosef (LB), Thomas (LB) and Clarkson (DL) are other players who are expected to be key performers defensively.
Porter (DB), Walters (DB) and O’Neill (LB) are newcomers who could contribute on the defensive side.
WEEK 1 IS HERE
McDonald County hosts Mount Vernon on Aug. 25 in the opener of the 2023 season.
“Every game in the Big 8 is a big game,” Hoover said. “Right now, our first game is the most important game on our schedule. A really good Mount Vernon team is coming to our place in Week 1 and that’s the only game we’re thinking about at this point.”
