Scott City preview: Flannigan plans encore after eight-win season

It appears the fourth time was the charm for Scott City.

Last season, Terry Flannigan took over as the fourth coach in four years for Scott City's football team. The three previous coaches had combined for just 10 wins.

Flannigan's system stuck with the Rams, and the veteran group put up its highest win total since 1999 and its first winning season since 2000 with an 8-2 finish.

With only three returning starters and just six seniors on the roster, Flannigan will almost be starting over as he tries to continue the Rams' winning ways.

"You look at it, we have three starters returning on both sides of the ball, and everybody else played freshman/sophomore ball or haven't played since they were freshman or junior high kids," Flannigan said. "So it's almost like a new team even though we saw a lot of these kids on a lower level."

Finding which players are ready to step up to the varsity and fill the numerous holes the Rams have will be a challenge. Flannigan hopes having one year in his program will give the players a foundation.

"It's easier this year because the kids know what's expected of them," Flannigan said. "They know how the coaches are going to approach different situations. They come in not too shocked by different things."

Still, with a starting lineup that will likely feature several sophomores, getting the young squad to believe in themselves will take more than just the reassuring words of the coaching staff. Luckily for Flannigan, he has the success in two stints at Scott City to back him up.

Flannigan led the Rams to a 10-2 record and a Class 2 state quarterfinal appearance in 1998, his final year with the Rams in his first stint with the team. Of course, last year's 6-0 start and eight-win season should be fresh on his current players' minds.

"We had one of last year's seniors [Jarrod] Pullen come back and he was telling them the system works, they just have to apply themselves," Flannigan said. "We're trying to convince the kids you have to believe in the system and work to make it work. We're hoping from last year they saw that."

With the continuity of finally having the same coach and the same system back for a second straight year, Scott City's inexperienced players at least have a basic feel for the system.

Flannigan said the progress from the summer camp to preseason practice was evident.

"We're certainly a different team from camp to now," he said. "It's like daytime and darkness. But we also know from Game 1 to Game 8 it will be a different team. We just know we can't get beat up."

Flannigan's job of shaping a young, inexperienced squad will be made that much easier with the presence again of an experienced coaching staff. After having the luxury of longtime head coach Charlie Vickery as an assistant last season (before Vickery took the head coach position at Chaffee), Flannigan was able to get another former local head coach as an assistant in former Charleston coach Brent Anderson. Lance Miller is also back from last year's staff.

"When it comes to coaching practice plays, I just put down drill and they know what to do," Flannigan said of his staff.

Flannigan added: "I've always said first off you're only as good as your kids and as good as your assistant coaches."

Running back and linebacker Jonathan Barr and two-way linemen Michael Yetman and Brett Modglin are Scott City's only returning starters from last season. Barr will have the task of replacing running back Matt Schaefer, who rushed for 1,577 yards last season.

The senior trio will have to become leaders, with the other three seniors on the squad having little to no varsity experience.

Flannigan said he has told his team they will have to step up to continue where last year's group left off.

"We know we don't have the senior base as far as numbers and experience, but those seniors laid the foundation, and I expect you to build on that," he said.

The Rams will start off with three of their first four games at home. Scott City opens the season with Malden, a team Flannigan expects to be a SEMO South division favorite.

"We think we can be competitive if we continue to work hard, stay positive and stick our nose to the grindstone," Flannigan said. "We think we can win some ballgames."

Whether the team can start strong again or not, Flannigan knows he must remain patient with such an inexperienced roster.

"That's one thing I wrote down as a goal, not to be impatient knowing our youth," Flannigan said. "I have to be patient and know I don't have to make radical changes, just find three or four things we do well and stay positive."

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Scott City Info

• Coach: Terry Flannigan, second season (8-2)
• Last year: Scott City posted its first winning season since 2000 and its highest win total since 1999. The Rams won six straight to start the season, but fell in the Class 2 district title game 37-19 to Charleston.
• Key departures: Matt Schaefer, RB/K; Mark Johnston, QB/LB; Jason Schenimann, WR; Shaun Hann, DB; Jarrod Pullen, OL.

2004 results

Malden W 44-20

Portageville W 14-7

East Prairie W 17-0

Brentwood W 31-7

Chaffee W 47-20

Fredericktown W 42-12

Hayti L 27-3

Grandview W 37-6

Crystal City W 19-6

Charleston L 37-19

2005 schedule

Sept. 2 at Malden 7

Sept. 9 Portageville 7

Sept. 16 East Prairie 7

Sept. 23 Brentwood 7

Sept. 30 at Chaffee 7

Oct. 7 Fredericktown 7

Oct. 14 at Hayti 7

Oct. 21 at Grandview 7

Oct. 28 at Crystal City 7

Nov. 3 Charleston 7

Offense

• Scott City lost nearly all of its skill position players from an offense which averaged 27.3 points a game last year. Jonathan Barr averaged close to four yards a carry in limited duty and will likely be a focal point of the offense.

Returning starters:

RB Jonathan Barr 5-11 187 Sr.

OL Michael Yetman 5-10 218 Sr.

OL Brett Modglin 6-2 259 Sr.

Defense

• The Rams limited opponents to only 14.7 points a game but will have to replace the whole secondary. With six seniors, Scott City will have to rely on some young players.

Returning starters:

LB Jonathan Barr 5-11 187 Sr.

DL Michael Yetman 5-10 218 Sr.

DL Brett Modglin 6-2 259 Sr.

Special teams

• Besides leading the area in rushing, Schaefer was one of the top kickers in the area and also the Rams' punter. Scott City will also have to find a new return man as well.

Returning starters:

None

Outlook

• Terry Flannigan turned the Rams around in his first year back, but another strong season will depend on how the team's younger players progress.