Football preview: Perryville has sights set on competing late in games

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- It's been almost 10 years since the Perryville Pirates football team won a district title, and even that wasn't enough to finish with a winning record.

The Pirates finished that season with a losing record, and although the task of having a winning season appears monstrous, Perryville coach Mike Wojtczuk has his sights set elsewhere.

"We need to be able to compete now. In those games we're getting blown out of, we need to still be able to have a chance in the fourth quarter," he said. "We've got to finish. We've got to do the little things right.

"I use the analogy with our kids all the time that it's like a puzzle. When you're doing a puzzle, you can't get the whole picture without putting each one of those pieces in the right spots. That's when you get the big picture."

The Pirates began last year's campaign with two wins but suffered eight consecutive losses to end the season. They've gone 6-24 in three seasons under Wojtczuk, who believes there was plenty to learn from last year.

"You take a lot of things from it. After going 2-8, you've got to take a step back and re-evaluate some things. It wasn't all a wash," he said. "We did some good things, and we found out some things about some kids that we had coming back this year. We looked at some of the things we were doing offensively. We tinkered with some things and made some changes that we feel like are going to benefit us in the long run."

Wojtczuk began conducting early-morning practices several years ago in an attempt to boost attendance numbers and prevent interference with other sports in the summer. He said the adjustment has been beneficial.

"When you finish the way we finish, it makes the kids hungry for something more. That carried over into our offseason strength and conditioning program, and we ran about 98-99 percent attendance with all our kids through the entire offseason," he said. "They spent a lot of time in the weight room and spent a lot of time on speed and conditioning drills. I think we're going to be better off for it this year.

"They're pulling together more. There's more of a team concept, and we've been doing that with some of the competition drills we've been running. ... We just want the kids to compete, no matter what they're doing. We want them to be excited. The enthusiasm level is through the roof right now, and the kids are working hard. It's really been a fun summer."

Wojtczuk believes the offensive line will be Perryville's greatest strength this season.

"We're definitely not going to be as big as we've been in the past, but we're going to be more athletic [on the offensive line]," he said. "We'll be a little more fleet of foot, so to speak, which will enable us to do some things that we haven't been able to do in the past. I think, as we get going, our offensive line is going to be a big strength for us. A lot of those kids are also playing on the defensive side of the ball, which means our defensive line is going to be very athletic this year."

The Pirates return three starters from last season. Junior Matthew Terbrak enters his third season as a starter and moves from guard to right tackle. Junior Austin Mueller moves from tackle to right guard, and junior Austin Bachmann returns at center.

Mueller likes what he's seen from his teammates in practice this summer.

"We have some good days and some bad days, just like any practice, but for the most part, I try to come out and try to get everybody else pumped up," he said. "You can't come out with a negative attitude because it isn't going to help anything. Everybody's got to wake up with a positive attitude and come out ready to play."

Sophomore Brandon Renaud will be the Pirates' starting quarterback this year. Renaud broke his arm halfway through last season.

"Brandon's got a lot of tools, but he's still a little raw and rough around the edges," Wojtczuk said. "He's going to be our guy, our signal caller. There's no doubt in my mind that he's going to progress as the season goes on. He'll continue to get better and better."

Wojtczuk said his team will be more inexperienced at running back. Austin Mills, Kameron Fears, Blake Mattingly and Aaron Mueller will each step in to replace last year's leading rushers, Cody Crawford and Jonny Pruiett, who combined for 1,089 rushing yards a year ago.

Perryville's Kameron Fears carries the ball against Potosi with blocking by Matthew Terbrak, left, and Austin Mills during a jamboree last week at St. Vincent High School in Perryville. (Fred Lynch)

"The guys we've got had a lot of snaps on the JV team, but there's not a whole lot of varsity experience. The only one who really has a bulk of varsity experience in the backfield is probably Kameron Fears," Wojtczuk said. "Early on, that's probably going to be a little bit of our Achilles' heel."

Wojtczuk has been pleased with the progress of Mattingly this offseason. Mattingly will also contribute at wide receiver, along with Aaron Mueller, senior Trevor Green and sophomore Garrett Dix. Junior Holden Stortz returns at tight end.

"Blake's been kind of a utility player for us," Wojtczuk said. "He's really opened some eyes this summer. He's gotten stronger and quicker, and he's got some moves."

Terbrak will lead Perryville at defensive tackle, while Stortz moves from outside linebacker to defensive end. Austin Mueller will also play defensive end.

The Pirates lost leading tackler Dakota Cail to graduation. Cail had 75 tackles at linebacker, a position Wojtczuk believes will be a weakness on defense.

Green and senior Chris Ponder will lead the Pirates in the secondary.

Entering his second season with the team, Green understands his responsibility as a leader.

"I've handled it well. I kind of think of myself as a leader," he said. "I know I work hard and try to do everything right, and I know when people ask me questions, I try to help them out and tell them the right things to do."

Wojtczuk knows that turning Perryville into a contender won't happen overnight, but there's something about this team's mentality that has him optimistic.

"The main strength we have is these kids just have a no-quit attitude," he said. "And I think that's going to carry us a long way."

Pirates Roster

No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos.

1 Aaron Mueller 10 5-10 145 WR/DB

4 Matt Neuling 11 5-5 125 WR/DB

7 Brandon Renaud 10 6-2 180 QB/LB

9 Orion Tallevast 10 5-11 150 RB/LB

12 Austin Mills 12 5-11 155 RB/LB

13 Blake Mattingly 11 5-11 160 RB/DB

14 Ethan Layton 11 5-8 130 WR/DB

17 Dalton Bronenkant 10 6-0 207 TE/DL

18 Shawn Shafer 10 5-5 161 RB/LB

22 Holden Stortz 11 6-1 220 TE/DE

24 Kameron Fears 11 5-8 185 RB/LB

No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos.

28 Trevor Green 12 5-11 175 WR/DB

31 Kyle Hudson 10 5-9 155 RB/LB

34 Kyle Creason 10 5-9 144 WR/DB

40 Chris Ponder 12 5-9 155 WR/DB

45 Kendall Barber 10 6-2 240 OL/DL

46 Lucas Ponder 10 5-10 165 TE/LB

51 Bryant Weibrecht 10 5-10 251 OL/DL

54 Jesse Yates 10 5-10 225 OL/DL

58 Dylan Nelson 10 5-8 176 OL/DL

62 Wes Zahner 12 5-9 260 OL/DL

65 Anthony Moll 11 5-10 185 OL/LB

No. Name Yr. Ht. Wt. Pos.

67 Austin Bachmann 11 6-2 250 OL/DL

68 Tyler Holt 11 5-8 235 OL/DL

70 Austin Mueller 11 6-0 220 OL/DE

71 Maison Cain 11 6-5 380 OL/DL

73 Charles Kasten 12 5-10 240 OL/DL

77 Matthew Terbrak 11 6-1 220 OL/DL

80 Dalton Robinson 11 5-11 155 WR/DB

82 Jerry Dickison 12 5-10 174 TE/LB

84 James Johnson 10 5-9 140 WR/DB

85 Garrett Dix 10 5-9 125 WR/DB

88 Tyler Yates 10 5-10 131 WR/DB