Gridiron: Countdown to kickoff

Summer subsides for the rise of fall.

Football is more than just a sport, and the players are more than just athletes. They are soldiers, who armor up and assemble in battalions to conquer or defend their home turf each week of the arduous autumn.

After each practice and each game, they collectively fall on a knee in attention to their head coach, the closest position in sports to the general.

Artistic descriptions aside, here are seven storylines that we have our eyes on this season.

__Can Cape Central make another deep run in the playoffs under junior quarterback Deklin Pittman?__

Morgan Diamond was the Tigers’ starting quarterback since his sophomore year in 2020. Now the reins are passed down to junior Deklin Pittman, who will need to maintain Cape Central’s balanced offense. The Tigers will also need junior Zai’Aire Thomas to build on his 1,056-yard, 18-touchdown sophomore season.

__Can Jackson return to prominence under new head coach Ryan Nesbit?__

The Jackson Indians went from four straight district champions to 6-4 last season. There’s a new head coach, but the athletic identity still remains. After splitting the quarterback duties last year, 2023 is a chance for senior quarterback Adrian Fox to secure the starting position and make it his.

__Can senior captains Christian Schaaf and Drake Robinson lead St. Vincent to an elusive eight wins?__

St. Vincent is the only team in the area to return a Semoball Award finalist on both offense and defense. Christian Schaaf was the top passer last year with 1,791 yards and 20 touchdowns while Drake Robin-son tallied 119 tackles. The sky is the limit for the Indians with this senior duo leading the way.

__With Mark Panagos and Tyson Underwood leading the charge, will Scott City win its first district title since 2019?__

The Scott City Rams had the only two local rushers to top 1,100 yards and 22 touchdowns, and one of them was playing hurt the entire time. Health permitting, seniors Mark Panagos and Tyson Underwood could lead the charge deep into the postseason.

__Behind the strength of the seniors, will Chaffee finally make a run towards .500 for the first time since 2017?__

Chaffee returns their leading rusher Car-son Spies (1,018 yards, 12 TD) who will also take snaps at quarterback. Carter Cossou (71 tackles) and a healthy Levi McKinnie should boost the Red Devils’ pass rush and give them a chance to win more than twice this year.

__After two straight nominations for the Semoball Awards, can Kelly running back Reece Eftink make it three in a row?__

The senior ran for 1,298 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore and 1,340 yards with 16 touchdowns as a junior. If he can improve on those numbers and carry the Hawks back to their winning ways this year, the award may finally be his.

__Can Perryville reach .500 for the first time since 2019?__

The Pirates finished the regular season 3-3 after Rilaynd Graham took over as quarterback. A two-game improvement will mean their first .500 season since 2019. Should they double their win total, it will be the Pirates’ first winning season since 2017, which is also the last time Perryville prevailed over rival St. Vincent.