Now that Hazelwood East head football coach Mike Jones has guided the Spartans to the Missouri Class 5 state football championship, some may say there is no where to go but down for the second-year coach.
Jones, however, has no intentions of allowing a Spartan slide in 2009.
“Every year we expect to play for the state title,” Jones said of recovering from the loss of 11 starters that played in the 39-34 win over Raytown South in last year’s championship game. “We’re not going to give in to lowering our standard just because we lost a great class of seniors. Everyone in this program will have to get better. All of us coaches must try to get better and our returning players must get better.”
Despite the challenges lying ahead for his program in the upcoming season, Jones will accept no excuses. He’s only interested in a lot of hard work, dedication and last but not least improvement.
“We are going to have some young kids replacing a senior class that did an excellent job of leading this team last season,” Jones said. “But at Hazelwood East we expect greatness every year. This program is bigger than any one player and bigger than any one coach. Our greatest challenge may be in teaching the young kids, the ones that haven’t played a lot here, what it takes to be a varsity football player at Hazelwood East.”
The Spartans lost just three offensive starters from a year ago and will have skilled players aplenty as they attempt to defend the school’s third state title in 16 playoff appearances. Hazelwood East’s 2008 state football title was the school's first since 1995.
The return of three starters on the offensive line has Jones thinking run first during the upcoming season.
Set to lead the way in the line are returning starters senior guard Chris Evans (6-0, 210), junior guard Ronelle McNeil (6-2, 215) and senior tackle Darryl Looney (6-1, 210). Sophomore Demeco Wilson (6-1, 265) and freshman center Nick Turner (6-0, 205) are in the running to fill in elsewhere on the line.
Running behind Hazelwood East’s great wall is Jones’ returning starter at running back, E’lon Spight, who ran for 445 yards and 6 touchdowns on 103 carries in 2008. Senior tight end/fullback Christian Kirksey (6-2, 205) is also back as is senior Hassan Hamilton (5-11, 175).
Jones lost quarterback Eric Brown following that last second come-from-behind win over the Cardinals. Ready to take over his spot under center is Jacquise Evans (5-9, 160) who did a little bit of everything in 2008.
Evans completed 12 of 16 aerials for 124 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 230 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries a year ago. Freshman Ray Merriweather (5-10, 160) is looking to get some snaps under center, as is sophomore Trey Hill (5-11, 210).
If Evans does get the nod as the Spartan signal caller he will have a couple of very capable receivers to throw the ball to in seniors Don Shumpert (6-2, 180) and Walter Powell (5-10, 155). Shumpert, Jones’ top prospect to play at the next level, reeled in 15 passes for 238 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. Powell hauled in 11 strikes for 136 yards.
Juniors Kenneth Wells (5-10, 160) and Stevon Jones (6-0, 185) also have the talent to see the football field at wide receiver.
On the stop side of the ball, Jones returns one starter on each line of defense in 2009. Up front senior defensive end Brice Murphy (6-0, 215) returns after making 65 tackles, including eight tackles for losses, and five quarterback sacks a year ago.
Kirksey returns to inside linebacker where he was credited with 93 tackles, seven of which were for losses, three sacks and an interception. Shumpert comes back for his final season after making 65 tackles, six for negative yardage, three sacks and four interceptions as a junior.
Junior Marcus Venson (6-1, 285) joins Murphy up front as does Wilson. Outside linebackers junior Carlton Bailey (5-9, 165) and senior Justin Rogers (5-10, 170) return to the second tier of defense.
Turner will battle for playing time at linebacker, while Wells, junior Duwan Baker (5-9, 160) and Hamilton are the cornerstones of a very capable secondary.
Jones has made it perfectly clear that he wants to establish the run first on offense, but he said his defense would be unpredictable from week to week.
“We’ll do what ever we think we have to do in order to shut down each offense we face,” Jones said. “If we feel we have to send eight players then we’ll send eight players. But if we think we can get to the quarterback by rushing four guys then that’s what we’ll do. We’re going to be kind of a smorgasbord of defense. We’ll adapt to whoever we’re facing each week.”
Hazelwood East opens the season against Christian Brothers. Then the Spartans will battle Class 6 state qualifier DeSmet Jesuit before taking on 2008 Class 6 champion Hazelwood Central.
