For Webb City football coach John Roderique, success on the football field doesn’t always equate to the number of football games won or whether or not he produces a state championship. Instead, it’s all about the process in trying to get to that point.
However, last season Roderique and the Cardinals had their cake and got to eat it, too.
After edging Harrisonville (27-21) and Rogers, Ark. (36-33), Webb City waltzed through the large school division of the Central Ozarks Conference on its way to a 15-0 campaign and the Class 4 state football championship.
Following the 41-34 win over Helias in the finals, Roderique claimed his fifth state title in 12 seasons to go along with a fantastic 135-17 record during his tenure.
“It’s not all about winning every game and expecting to win the championship each and every season,” Roderique said of the expectations sometimes placed on the backs of his players. “That wouldn’t be fair to the kids. But it is the ultimate goal here.”
Last season’s run wasn’t the only time a Roderique-coached Cardinal squad finished a season undefeated, but the 15-win total was a Webb City best.
In 2008 the Cardinals, along with Clark County and Orrick, took advantage of a Missouri State High School Activities Association decision to expand the state playoffs to become the first Show-Me State prep football programs to go undefeated and reach that milestone.
Orrick, the first Missouri team to accomplish the feat, won its second straight Class 1 title, while Clark County clinched recognition by claiming the Class 2 crown in 2008.
“We haven’t really talked about being (one of) the first teams to win 15 games in Missouri because it never really was all that important to myself or to this program,” Roderique said. “But we have discussed our history here at Webb City in comparison to some of the other great football teams in Cardinal history, several of whom had gone undefeated as well.”
Equaling last season’s Cardinal status could depend on Roderique’s ability to rebuild his offensive line once again.
Three starters, including Oklahoma State recruit Parker Graham, are gone from an offensive line that paved the way for returning all-state senior running back Braxton Baker (5-11, 180) to rush for 2,002 yards and 23 touchdowns on 266 carries a year ago.
Returning starters senior Andrew Kolb (5-11, 205) and junior Hunter Luna (6-2, 225), who will miss the early portion of Webb City’s schedule because of an injury, may eventually help the Cardinal running game get back to its 2008 average of 285 yards per game.
“We have some big concerns up front,” Roderique admitted. “But it’s kind of become a broken record for us every year. This season we are going to have to replace five guys from tight end to tight end. We may be pretty mediocre to start out, but we’ve always been pretty fortunate to have guys step up for us. ”
Roderique does return last season’s backup center Justin Jacks (6-0, 200), but the rest of the replacements in the interior of the line will be chosen from a list of names that neither started nor earned a Cardinal letter last season.
Back up tight end junior Philip Donna (6-2, 220) returns in 2009, as does junior letter winner Nathan Price (6-1, 195) who will probably be the second tight end in the split-back veer offense Roderique prefers to run.
Jeremiah Box (5-8, 160) rushed for 297 yards and seven scores on 72 carries a year ago giving Roderique a second experienced running back behind Baker. Junior Maddison Johnson (5-8, 155) should also get a number of carries in 2009.
Senior signal caller Patrick Drake will be Roderique’s starter under center, replacing 1,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher Mack Kyle, who led the Cardinal offense to nearly 380 yards per game a year ago, and more than 35 points.
His backup will be junior Scott Roderique (5-11, 165).
Drake will have the luxury of playing catch with two of the Cardinals' top three receivers from a year ago in junior Austin Daniel (6-1, 170) and senior Boo Rodgers (6-1, 170).
Daniel, who Roderique said has great hands, was Kyle’s favorite target a year ago after he reeled in 20 catches for 285 yards and three touchdowns.
Rodgers, meanwhile, is an outstanding athlete on offense, defense and special teams that exploded for 401 yards receiving on just 14 receptions, and three scores.
Returning lettermen senior Chris Hance (6-1, 165) and junior Andrew Pisechko (6-2, 155) round out an outstanding Cardinal receiving corp.
On defense a year ago, Webb City allowed just 247 yards and 15.5 points per contest. More of the same could be in store for Cardinal opposition in 2009 with the return of 12 moniker winners on the stop side of the ball.
Although he doesn’t normally alter his schemes to fit his personnel, Roderique and his staff are in the process of changing from Webb City’s typical four-man front to more of a 3-3 or 3-4 look.
Luna is the only starter returning to the interior of the defensive line, so less experienced Cardinals must step up their play in preparation for an early season schedule that includes a home game against Harrisonville and then a road trip to Rogers in Arkansas Sept. 4.
Donna’s experience at defensive end and the return of a strong line backing corp and secondary could ease the growing pains of Roderique’s green defensive front.
Scott Roderique returns at outside linebacker where he received plenty of playing time a year ago. Junior letterwinner Collin Sigars (5-11, 165) will likely play opposite of his classmate.
At inside linebacker three letterwinners return, including senior Bart Starkey (6-0, 190) and juniors Christian Hoffman (6-1, 195) and Nathan Ervin (5-10, 185).
Rodgers will lead a secondary that should develop plenty of depth for another deep playoff run. Drake, Hance, Johnson and Pisechko are all looking to get plenty of playing time there as well.