Chaffee football team aims to continue building momentum

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The Red Devils program is looking to continue its climb from the valley of a winless season that immediately followed the mountain peak year of 2013, when Chaffee won its first SEMO South Conference title in 34 years in a 9-2 campaign. After a dramatic drop to an 0-9 season in 2014, the ascent has been steady for the Red Devils, who have adopted the current wave of no-huddle, spread offenses under veteran coach Charlie Vickery, a 1970 graduate of the school.

"I think we want to be a pressure offense and defense," Vickery said. "We want to pressure people and want it to be known that we're going to go fast on offense and we're going to get after people on defense. Instead of a reading type of defense, we're going to try to get after some people defensively."

Undeterred by a winless season, the Red Devils featured 12 freshman a year ago as they fielded a JV team for the first time in four years, recording three wins on the varsity level despite just six seniors on the team. With 11 seniors -- eight with starting experience -- returning and another freshman class that includes 12 players, Chaffee looks to take another step forward.

Offense

Chaffee senior Kendale EadsLaura Simon

As far as offenses in the region last year, none saw a more dramatic improvement than the Red Devils, who quadrupled their average output per game with 24 points per contest. It coincided with the arrival of Landon Tenkhoff, who rushed for 1,388 yards and 20 TDs as a freshman. He accounted for more than 2,000 yards total offense, as he also passed for 784 yards and six TDs, completing 45 percent of his passes.

Vickery said he has never had a freshman arrive with such impact. Tenkhoff had 328 yards rushing -- including seven touchdowns -- in a game against Kelly, but Vickery looks to lessen the load with six other skill position players returning behind an offensive line anchored by four-year starting tackle Auggie Knutson, senior tackle Andrew Jobe and junior guard Devohn Foulk, the latter two with two years of starting experience. The trio averages more than 270 pounds, led by the 290-pound Knutson.

"To me, it's the biggest part out there," said Tenkhoff, who had three games of at least 190 yards rushing last season. "If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have had all the rushing yardage I had. You never see anything in the newspaper about the line, and they never get much credit."

Freshman center Brian Kilburn (5-foot-10) is likely to start on the line, and seniors Jordan Kinder and Austin McFerron, junior Jason Myers and sophomore Cade Sullivan are vying for the remaining spot.

Chaffee senior Auggie KnutsonLaura Simon

"We're pretty solid up front, and I think we've got a little more speed than what we had last year," Vickery said. "I know we're stronger."

Senior running backs Uzziah Beggs and Ryan Holderfield return, and there will be passing options in returning starters Brennan Miller, a senior, and junior Austin Copeland, as well as sophomores Dalton Wilson and Jaxon Van Pelt, who both started on offense late in the season. Vickery is hopeful the multitude of options will lighten the load for Tenkhoff, who averaged 20 carries a game (6.8 yards per carry) last season.

"Other teams are going to start keying on him because of the year he had last year," Vickery said. "I think we can catch the ball, and with our line, we should be able to run the ball, and not just him."

Defense/ST

Chaffee senior Brennan MillerLaura Simon

While the offense improved last year, the defense lagged, surrendering 43.9 points per game.

In one three-game stretch in the second half of the season, Malden, Jefferson and Kelly averaged 63 points. Chaffee scored 57 points in a win against Kelly but found 54 points was not enough to beat Jefferson, which hit the Red Devils for a season-high 72 points.

"You score 54, you ought to win a game," Vickery said.

To that end, Vickery said tackling has been the No. 1 priority since the first day of summer.

Chaffee senior Ryan HolderfieldLaura Simon

"We had on our hit list when we talked there, I said, 'No. 1 is tackling. We've got to be able to tackle,'" Vickery said. "Give up a 15-yard run, not a 55-yard run."

Part of the problem could be addressed with depth. Vickery said he considers 20 of the 39 players on his team capable of contributing early in the season, which should limit some of the two-way play often employed at the Class 1 school.

Knutson and Foulk will be among the group up front and among seven starters returning on defense. The group includes linebackers Miller, Holderfield, Van Pelt and senior Kendale Eads. Leading tackler Devon Nanney was the primary loss on defense.

Tenkhoff returns at safety, and Josh Statler, a sophomore, saw some time in the secondary late in the season. Backup sophomore quarterback Breven Yarbro is expected to help in the secondary, along with Damion Applewhite, who is making the transition from filming games to the field.

Final analysis

Chaffee senior Andrew JobeLaura Simon

"We've come a long way," Knutson said. "Landon Tenkhoff, our quarterback, he played great last year, but we had a hard time on defense. In the middle, the linebacker and skill positions, from last year to now, we've gained a lot. The experience of knowing when and where to do things. We've lost a lot, but we've learned a lot. You learn a lot from losing."

One thing is for sure, the Red Devils will not win the SEMO South title this year, having been relocated to the newly created SEMO West Conference with Hayti, Portageville and longtime rival Scott City. Crystal City and Principia are new additions to the schedule.

Knutson will take improvement on last year and whatever bounties that might include.

"I have a greater appreciation not so much from [2013], but from the year after when we didn't win at all," Knutson said. "When you don't have a win at all, it's kind of precious coming back the year after that and only getting three wins. I'm happier with last season and how that went. We didn't have any wins at all, and we came back and fought hard.

"I hope to be .500 this year. I expect us to play better and be better and hit harder."

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2016 Chaffee Red Devils Roster

No. Name Year Pos.

1 Brennan Miller 12 WR/LB

2 Breven Yarbro 10 QB/DB

10 Landon Tenkhoff 10 QB/DB

11 Dylan Pepple 10 WR/DB

12 Wyatt Parker 9 QB/DB

17 Austyn Swinney 9 WR/LB

20 Tyler Whistler 11 WR/DB

21 Josh Statler 10 WR/DB

22 Damion Applewhite 11 WR/DB

24 Kendale Eads 12 RB/DL

27 Mason Cook 9 RB/LB

30 Brandon Spies 9 RB/LB

31 Seth Menz 9 WR/DB

32 Austin Copeland 11 WR/DB

33 Uzziah Beggs 12 RB/LB

40 Dalton Wilson 10 WR/LB

42 Ryan Holderfield 12 RB/LB

48 Brayden Glueck 12 WR/DB

52 Reece Felty 9 OL/DL

53 Jayson Kinder 9 OL/DL

54 Devohn Foulk 11 OL/DL

55 Kade Sullivan 10 OL/LB

56 Brian Kilburn 9 OL/LB

57 Jason Myers 11 OL/DL

60 Ethan Schroeder 10 OL/DL

62 Austin McFerron 12 OL/DL

64 Andrew Jobe 12 OL/DL

65 Auggie Knutson 12 OL/DL

66 Casey Clover 9 OL/DL

68 John Little 9 OL/DL

70 Brandon Foulk 9 OL/DL

71 Thomas Byerly 11 OL/DL

75 Jordan Kinder 12 OL/DL

77 Ronnie Woods 12 OL/DL

80 Ethan Dockins 11 WR/LB

85 Jaxon Van Pelt 11 WR/LB

86 Kaleb Ballard 10 WR/DB

88 Alex Burch 12 WR/DB

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Head coach

Charlie Vickery, 12th year (39-71)

Assistant coaches

Brad Blackman, Aaron King, Steve Rogers

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2016 schedule

Date Opponent Time

8.19 CRYSTAL CITY 7 p.m.

8.26 PORTAGEVILLE 7 p.m.

9.2 HAYTI 7 p.m.

9.9 @Grandview 7 p.m.

9.16 @Scott City 7 p.m.

9.23 EAST PRAIRIE 7 p.m.

9.30 PRINCIPIA 7 p.m.

10.7 @Jefferson 7 p.m.

10.14 @Kelly 7 p.m.

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2015 at a glance

Record: 3-7

Playoff result: Lost to Mark Twain 48-6 in Class 1 District 1 first round

Points for: 24 ppg

Points against: 45.2 ppg

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Key returners

OFFENSE

Passing: Landon Tenkhoff (74-168, 784 yds., 7 TD, 10 Int.)

Rushing: Tenkhoff (202 att., 1,388 yds., 20 TD)

Receiving: Brennan Miller (16 rec., 120 yds.)

DEFENSE

Tackles: Auggie Knutson (67)

Sacks: Knutson (4)

Interceptions: Tenkhoff (4)