New coach makes case for pride

This summer has been one big audible for the Scott City Rams.

The Rams were approaching the line of scrimmage for the season when suddenly everything changed.

Seeking to resurface above .500 after two losing seasons, the Rams unexpectedly have undergone a head coaching change in the last month and have been introduced to a new playbook.

Jackie Johnson is the Rams' new head coach after Jason Burkman resigned for personal reasons after his only season at Scott City, a 4-6 campaign. Johnson was hired just days before the start of fall practice.

"This team is hungry," Johnson said. "They want things now. There's a lot of pride in Scott City and a lot of history. They're wanting to get it back on track, and that's what we're going to try and do this year."

The Rams are looking for their first district championship since 1999 and their first winning season since going 7-3 in 2000.

"It seems like we haven't had a winning season in a long time, but it's only been two years," senior lineman Zac Callow said. "It's really big. It's important to us to get a winning season."

Johnson, hired as the team's defensive coordinator in the spring, brings a different approach after spending the past seven years at Caruthersville.

Johnson wasted little time in unplugging a power wishbone offense that sputtered, instituting a spread offense instead.

"We're adjusting to the new coach," senior receiver Ryan Glastetter said. "I like it a lot better because there's more for receivers and running backs than last year."

Johnson is looking to spice up an offense that struggled to move the ball, which led to the defensive unit being overworked.

Junior Shaun Hann (5-9, 160), one of a number of talented sophomores who started last year, set a school record for tackles from his defensive back position.

"I won't get near as many tackles as I had last year," Hann said. "That'll be good for the team. That's not real good having a safety with, like, 142 tackles."

Optimism in general abounds as last year's juniors return experience with matured physiques. Five of the top six tacklers return from a team that came on late. The Rams were able somewhat to salvage a down year by winning their first two district games, forcing a championship showdown with Charleston, which Scott City lost 42-7.

"Everybody's more experienced, and we realize we've got everyone back," Callow said. "Last year built our confidence. We want to get back there, but we want to win it."

The primary loss from last year was leading receiver Chad Weatherspoon, who also played a disruptive defensive end with a team-high 11 sacks.

Junior quarterback Luke McClellan (5-8, 160) returns and will have numerous options as the Rams send out one to four receivers in their spread offense.

"Last year was just two receivers running two different patterns and nothing complicated about it," McClellan said. "If they weren't open, I was screwed. But now I can drop back and have more windows to throw to and more opportunities. I hope the line holds up. I think they will."

Glastetter (6-1, 185) was the team's second-leading receiver as a junior and will be joined at the position by senior David Dees (6-1, 170) and juniors Hann and Jason Schenimann (5-9, 165).

Junior Matt Schaefer, a quick and darting runner who ran for over 800 yards, will complement the more powerful running styles of senior Joe Brunner (6-1, 195) and junior Dane Gibson (5-10, 185).

The Rams will field a hefty offensive line in Callow (6-3, 230), Wes Page (5-11, 340) and Andrew Killian (6-1, 230) -- all seniors -- and juniors Ben Jansen (5-11, 210) and Jarrod Pullen (6-0, 250).

"Hopefully our defense is not on the field as much as they were last year," Johnson said. "And hopefully our offense can produce points to allow the defense to have more confidence when they go out there on the field instead of being pressured that they have to make a stop every time."

Much of the early attention in preseason practices was devoted to the new offense, with the belief that the defense, which is not undergoing such a drastic change, would be able to handle itself.

"I think they were on the field a lot last year defensively and got a lot of playing time and feel comfortable," Johnson said.

Hann, Callow, Gibson, Glastetter and Josh Marshall (5-10, 230) were among the team's top tacklers. Callow and Marshall, a junior, return to the defensive line and will be joined by Brunner, Killian and Pullen.

Linebackers will be Jansen, Gibson, junior Josh Carroll (5-11, 175) and sophomore Jonathan Barr (5-8, 185).

The secondary will consist of Glastetter, Dees, Hahn and Schenimann.

Keys

Because Scott City has only 35 players on the roster, it lacks depth. The team can't afford too many injuries.

Offense must establish itself and show the ability to sustain drives and score points. Defense spent too much time on the field last year due to an ineffective offense.

jbreer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 124