Momentum is a funny thing. Just ask Raymore-Peculiar head football coach Tom Kruse.
Leading 18-6, Kruse and the rest of the Panther faithful watched agonizingly as Raytown South scored on pass plays of 65 and 43 yards to rally for a 27-18 Class 5 semifinal win a year ago, snatching an Edward Jones Dome visit out from under Raymore-Peculiar.
That was then and this is now, however, as Kruse returns tons of talent from that 2008 edition of Panther football, and a fist full of lessons.
“Momentum is a crazy thing in high school football,” Kruse said. “When the momentum shifted last year we were just trying to find that guy we could go to. But all of a sudden it was too late.
“When adversity strikes this season though, I think we’ll be calm. We have outstanding leadership this season and the kids are focused. We came up a game short last year and the kids really want to get back there.”
Before Raymore-Peculiar can get into post season play this season, the Panthers will have to survive a rugged conference slate which features Class 6 favorite Blue Springs, perennial Class 6 power Blue Springs South and a Liberty squad that is at least a preseason top five team in the big school rankings to start the season.
Then they will have to finish second or better in a district that includes Springfield Central, Lee’s Summit North and 2007 Class 5 state runner-up Belton.
History is on Kruse’s side with this group of players. After moving up to the Suburban Big 7 league last year the Panthers found themselves tied in the top spot with Blue Springs and Blue Springs South after each team compiled a 5-1 record in league play, outdoing even Kruse’s expectations.
“It really surprised me,” Kruse said of his team’s ability to win the conference crown in just his first year in the league. “I thought we’d be better, but I didn’t realize we’d do as well as we did.
“Playing in this league will definitely be an advantage for us. We will have to be prepared and compete each Friday and that will prepare us to make a deep run in the Class 5 playoffs.”
As he enters his 10th season at the helm of the Panther football program, Kruse has the luxury of returning seven starters on both sides of the ball. More importantly, he has four starters coming back on the offensive line and three more on the defensive line.
“I think our offensive line will definitely be a strength having four quality players back,” Kruse said. “As I see it we have one kid that is definitely a Division I-A prospect and three others that will be playing either Division I-AA or Division II football in upcoming seasons.
“Defensive line-wise we have two solid defensive ends coming back and two other players that have received a lot of playing time, so I feel pretty good there as well.”
Kruse, who led Raymore-Peculiar to Class 5 state championships in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and has coached in six playoff appearances with the Panthers, hopes to run the ball about 60 percent of the time this season.
The Panthers, who finished the 2008 season with an 11-2 record, will run some option as well as some misdirection out of Kruse’s Wing-T offense this fall. Then to keep things interesting he’ll call on junior quarterback Cameron Coffman to put the ball in the air.
“I’d say we’re probably a pretty disciplined football team that is known to play the game physically,” Kruse said. “We like to get around. We fly to the ball. Offensively we want to stay somewhat balanced. We might be a run team early in the year because we have the guys up front to at least create holes.
“We should be a solid football team. We don’t have a lot of weaknesses. These kids can play.”
Offensively, senior guard Brandon Bossler (6-3, 260) is projected to start next to fellow seniors and 2008 regulars tackle Andrew Mueller (6-4, 265), tackle Patrick Noyes (6-2, 270), guard Eric Morris (6-3, 270) and center Gage Roe (6-0, 250).
Coffman (6-2, 185), who threw for 2,369 yards and 23 touchdowns to just 7 interceptions last year, returns after a monster sophomore season.
Kruse, who carries an 82-26 record into the 2009 season, likes Coffman’s ability to make an impact with his arm or his legs and with an experienced line disrupting defenses in front of him sees a huge year in store for his signal caller.
Fullback Andrew Miller (6-0, 190) and running back Anthony Dilorio (5-10, 185) return after rushing for 280 yards and eight touchdowns collectively a year ago. Caleb Holman (5-9, 155) is expected to play his way into a starting role as well.
The trio will try to fill the void of the 1,675 yards and 27 touchdowns that 2008 regulars Brett Houchen and Kris Cornelius battered opposing defenses for.
At this point sophomore Walker Evans (6-4, 200) and junior Trevor Vogelsmier (6-1, 180) appear to be the replacements for departed receivers Gavin Lutman and Mark Sappington, who caught balls worth over 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns collectively a year ago.
On the stop side of the ball, defensive ends senior Jake Peterson (6-4, 250) and junior Trevor Liniger (6-1, 205) are set to disrupt any offensive scheme that comes their way. Junior tackle Travis Ray (6-1, 250) is back to man his position once again, while senior tackle Clint Cox (5-10, 265) is expected to help anchor the middle of the defensive line.
Senior Alex Stockam (5-10, 185) brings plenty of starting experience to the linebacking corp for Kruse in 2009. His sidekick will be Jesse Jackson (5-10, 190). The duo will have big shoes to fill after Kruse lost graduated Missouri Player of the Year Andrew Wilson, who was credited with 130 tackles a year ago.
The Panther secondary could be the strength of the defense this season with the return of all four starters from a year ago. Seniors Daniel Breit (5-9, 170) and Nick Misner (6-1, 180) and juniors Deron Washington (5-9, 165) and Nico Shelly (5-9, 155) are set to separate opposing receivers from the ball and help out in run support when needed.
Raymore-Peculiar hosts Truman Aug. 28 to begin the season, and then conference foe Liberty comes calling in what could be the top game in Missouri during second week action.
