Jays expect experience to factor in improvement

Daniel Barber (1, receiving a block from Kyle Portman during last Thursday's scrimmage) should benefit from the blocking of Pleasanton's experienced offensive line. (Linn County News photo/Brad Allen).

Pleasanton's second year of 11-man football stands a good chance of being better than the first but the Blu-Jays will still face a tough fight to contend for Three Rivers League and district championships.

Pleasanton moved back up to the 11-man game last season and finished just 2-7. However, those two wins came against league opponents Jayhawk-Linn and Oswego and allowed the Blu-Jays to take second place in the four-team TRL-Upper Division behind Uniontown.

The Jays had just four seniors last season so head coach Chris Brindle, who begins his ninth season here, has reason to feel optimistic as the year begins with tonight's home game against Archie, Mo. There are eight seniors and eight juniors among the 28 out for football here.

"Our players got a lot of experience as we had only those four seniors," Brindle says. "We have almost 20 lettermen returning and 14 players who started at some point last season. Our team has to make some adjustments in dealing with the switch to 11-man football but that won't be an issue this season."

Uniontown, though hit with the unexpected transfer away of Gage McKinnis, is still the team to beat in the TRL and also presents a challenge in the district as do perennial power Pittsburg Colgan and Humboldt, which had only one loss going into district play but finished third.

"We feel like we had one of the tougher Class 2A schedules with three games against 3A opponents," Brindle said. "Our 2A district opponents were 17-1 going into district play.

"We should show much improvement over last season although we still have a very tough schedule. Our kids never give up even in dealing with the adversity last season. Our guys will swarm to the ball and will fight until the end."

After facing two teams that both finished with 6-4 records to start the 2007 season in Archie and Baxter Springs, Pleasanton's next four opponents finished with losing records.

The anchor of both the offensive and defensive lines will be 6' 3", 297-pound senior Chris Duggins, who has been an all-TRL performer the past two years. Brindle says some Division I colleges are looking at Duggins to be a center or a long snapper for them. His strength is evident in the fact that he's been a State qualifier in shot put and discus during his high school athletic career.

Duggins will be at offensive tackle, protecting quarterback Jeff Fairbanks, a 5' 10", 177-pound senior who was an all-league performer on both sides of the ball last season, as he runs the option offense. In the backfield will be junior Daniel Barber (6' 2", 180) and senior Kodee McKee (5' 10", 197).

Kolbee McKee (5' 9", 148, Jr.) and Tyler Myrick (5' 11", 150, Soph.) are the backup quarterbacks. Transfer Dakota Kern (5' 8", 168, Soph.) and Gannon Coffman (5' 10", 172, Fr.) are also looking for playing time at tailback. They both have good speed as evidenced by league track honors each received last year. T.J. Davis (5' 10", 193, Jr.) can back up both the tailback and fullback positions.

Barber can also play receiver. Dakota Kern (5' 8", 148, Soph.) is also listed as one of the top wideouts. Danny McCullough (6' 1", 175, Sr.) is slated to be the tight end. Also listed as receivers are seniors Gage Harris (5' 10", 150) and Devan Bailey (5' 8, 150), sophomore Zack Rivera (5' 8", 130) and freshman Rance Shoenhals (5' 2", 120). Stetson Kern (5' 10", 152, Jr.), David Sowards (5' 11", 165, Jr.), Jonathan Ransier (6' 0", 161, Soph.) and Cody Raymond (6' 0", 158, Fr.) are listed as backup tight ends.

Expected to start along with Duggins on the offensive line are senior tackle Kyle Portmann (5' 11", 152), senior guard Alex Richmond (6' 0", 183) and junior center Logan Casey (6' 0", 194). Other potential starters include sophomore Dillon Roberts (5' 11", 235), who can play tackle or guard but was injured all of last season and couldn't play, and freshman Skyler Martin (5' 9", 205), listed as a tackle, who can already squat 315 pounds.

Also listed as offensive linemen are centers Bryan Gilbert (6' 0", 176, Jr.), Aaron Loggins (6' 1", 222, Soph.) and Matthew Schmidt (5' 10", 168, Fr.), guard Cody Maloney (5' 11", 160, Jr) and tackle Reid Hein (6' 0", 200, Fr.).

Pleasanton will run multiple fronts and coverages on defense, according to Brindle. Duggins, Portmann, Richmond and Barber will be on the defensive line. Stetson Kern, Martin and Roberts are also listed as linemen.

Fairbanks and Kodee McKee are outside linebackers while Gilbert and Casey can man the middle. Coffman is also listed as a linebacker.

In the secondary, McCullough is the free safety, Bailey the strong safety and Harris, Myrick and Kolbee McKee are listed as cornerbacks. Dakota Kern is also listed as a safety.

Pleasanton's season kicks off at 7 p.m. tonight. Next Friday, the Blu-Jays host Class 3A Baxter Springs.

2007 Blu-Jay Schedule

* -- Three Rivers League-Upper Division game.

$ -- Class 2-1A, District 5 game.