Flannigan ready to start long run as Rams' coach

For 27 years Scott City football knew success and only one head coach: William Wilthong.

In the nine seasons since Wilthong's retirement after the 1994 season, the Rams have had five head coaches and five losing seasons.

The 2004 season marks the fourth straight year that the Rams are under a new head coach, and Terry Flannigan is planning for it to be the last for a while. This is Flannigan's second time around for Rams, having coached them for the four years immediately after Wilthong's departure.

"I already told them this place is home, that's why I came back," Flannigan said. "I like this community, I like the kids, and I like the people I work with. So unless they load me up on a railroad, that's the only way I'm going to leave."

If Flannigan can return the Rams to a state similar to when he departed, he won't have to worry about any unwanted train rides.

After a pair of 4-6 seasons in his first two years, Flannigan led the Rams to a 7-3 record and finished up with a 10-2 campaign, taking Scott City to the Class 2 quarterfinals.

"We got it back up to what I call the 'Willie Ball' level," he said.

Flannigan left to be an assistant at Sikeston, and Scott City repeated the 10-2 record and quarterfinal appearance the year after, but the program has steadily declined since.

"I want to re-establish it and get it back there," Flannigan said. "I want the town people to be proud, and I want our alumni people to be able to walk with their chests out. The biggest thing is I want these kids to learn to play football -- the way it's supposed to be played in Scott City."

Flannigan not only brought himself back from Sikeston, but he also brought 30 years of coaching experience with him. Charlie Vickery, who coached Sikeston for 26 years before retiring last season, has also joined the staff.

The Rams appear to have a good chance at improving on last year's 3-7 record with a few players returning at key positions, other returning from injuries that cost them a full season, and a mix of talented youth.

Senior Mark Johnston, who didn't play football last year, has taken over at quarterback with Luke McClellan (5-9, 142, sr.) moving out to wide receiver. Johnston, a strong-armed pitcher in baseball, will have targets in McClellan and Jason Schenimann (5-9, 168, sr.), all-conference as a junior.

The running game will revolve heavily around senior Matt Schaefer, who has established himself as one of the top runners in the area over the past two seasons. Schaefer, an elusive target at 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds, galloped for 1,249 yards last year, averaging 6.4 yards a carry.

"He's got great vision and great cuts. He can make people miss," Flannigan said. "He makes us better up front than what we really are. He makes some great reads."

Senior Dane Gibson also returns to the running game after breaking his ankle in last year's jamboree and missing the season. Gibson is more of a power runner, as is 192-pound junior Johnathan Barr.

Senior center Ben Jansen (5-8, 220) is the lone returner on a line with decent size for Class 2. Guard Jarrod Pullen (5-9, 233) returns after tearing an ACL in the first game of his junior season, and senior Ryan Lutes (5-11, 154), who has varsity experience, will man the other guard spot. The tackles will be manned by junior Brett Modglin (6-1, 253), who spent last season on the junior varsity, and senior Matt Miller (5-10, 220), who didn't play a year ago. Matt Backfish (5-7, 167, so.) and Shaun Hann (5-8, 151, sr.) will occupy the ends.

The Rams will show a variety of looks on offense, and on defense they play a 4-4.

Defensively, Barr and senior Josh Carroll (5-8, 170) return at linebacker, while Hann and Schenimann are back in the secondary. Hann, who plays safety, broke the school record for tackles as a sophomore.

"They're not use to playing team defense," Flannigan said. "I think they've become dependent on Josh or Shaun making all the tackles. I told them we're not going to play defense like that. I said you should arrive with a bad attitude and get there with the philosophy that if I'm not the first one there, then I'm No. 2. And if I'm not No. 2, then I'm No. 3. And if I don't get there, I'm just upset with myself and will get there on the next play."

The defensive line will feature Pullen, Josh Marshall (5-9, 225, sr.), Michael Yetman (5-9, 204, jr.) and Modglin. Johnston and Gibson will round out the starting linebacker corps, while McClellan and Schenimann will play cornerback.