Trust the process.
That mantra has risen to prominence over the last decade in the sports world, and that sentiment very much applies to the Neosho football program under third-year coach Brandon Taute. After the Wildcats had a one-win campaign in Taute’s inaugural season, Neosho not only jumped up to four wins a year ago, but there was remarkable improvement outside of just the win-loss record.
“It has been huge, honestly,” Taute said about the growth he has seen in his program heading into his third season. “This group of kids we have—they’re awesome. They work harder than any other group I’ve been around and they know our expectations. … The upperclassmen have done a great job leading. I feel like we have a true player-led team. … Our kids are just way more dialed in [during practice] and they understand what the goal is and what we are here for.”
Now, Neosho is tasked with taking its development as a program a step further for the upcoming 2023 season.
“I think the biggest thing for us as far as development as a program and taking the next step is just continuing to build that confidence in our kids,” Taute said. “Our kids need to understand and have confidence that they do belong with the top teams in the conference and on any given Friday night, we are capable of beating anybody. As soon as they start to believe that, you will see a lot of things start to change in our favor.”
The Wildcats bring back six starters on the offensive side of the ball highlighted at the skill positions by senior quarterback Quenton Hughes and senior WR Cade Camerer.
“It’s all going to start with them,” Taute said when asked about the importance of his returning playmakers. “Those are two three-year starters for us at quarterback and wide receiver. We are going to have some new faces around those two, but when you have a (QB) and a (WR) who can lead and set the tone for the kids everyday in practice, it’s a huge advantage for us as an offense and a coaching staff when those guys can help coach-up the younger kids.”
Of course, the strength of Neosho’s offense will be in the trenches, with four returning starters anchoring the line—senior center Willie Velasco, his third year as a starter, senior OL Xavier Tomlinson, junior OL Tyce Hardin and sophomore OL Everson Tomlinson.
“It all starts up front,” Taute said. “We have a lot of kids with experience coming back. … They’ve done a tremendous job this offseason of buying into the weight room. We are a lot bigger up front than we’ve ever been in my time here. And, they are stronger, they’ve added good weight. They are a tight-knit group and as close as any group on the team. When you’ve got that going for you up front, you always have a chance.”
Defensively, Neosho returns multiple starters at each level. Senior DB Jack Lankford and sophomore DB Bostyn Patterson are back in the secondary, joined by senior LB Drake Swift, junior LBs Trey Hardin (all-COC honors) and Korby York and sophomore LB Brody Crane in the second level as well as senior DE Zak Goff and junior DE Brice Warren along the defensive line.
“We have some really good players on the defensive side, and we feel the defensive line is the best since I’ve been here,” Taute said. “We are still young on defense, which is crazy to say because of all of the guys who have played varsity football. But, it’s a lot of juniors and a couple of sophomores over there. They are still going to do things out there you wouldn’t see from a senior, but they’re experienced and playing above their year, that’s for sure.”
Players stepping into bigger roles this season or new faces who are expected to make an impact at the varsity level include a hefty number from the junior class: WR/DB Hudson Williams, S Cade Spiva, RB Denver Welch, OL/DL Nathan Rogers, WR Tyrone Harris and WR/DB Kanten Smith.
“We just want them to enjoy the experience,” Taute said when asked what he wants to see from the newcomers to the varsity level. “It’s high school football, so it should be a fun thing for them. As important, just try not to feel the pressure and go out and execute. Trust the people around them who have done it before and lean on those guys. If we do that, good things will happen.”
For Coach Taute, the biggest thing he wants to see from his Wildcats this season is simply confidence in their talent, confidence in their preparation and confidence in each other. Taute has seen the scales tipping in that direction. Neosho opens the season on the road with a matchup against Willard on Aug. 25.
“They have to believe in each other and have the confidence to shake off whatever happened the play before and know if they continue to line up and execute that we are never out of a game,” Taute said. “We can play with anybody in the conference, it’s just a matter of believing we can. We just have to keep believing and fight through any adversity we may face.
“You hear the kids talking a lot more about what they’re capable of and what we can do as a team if we continue to work hard. They are repeating a lot of the things the coaches say, which is always a good sign. … They understand it’s high school football and whoever works the hardest and executes the best is going to come out with a win.”
