Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

COLUMBIA: Horner likes challenge of staying at high level

COLUMBIA -- Columbia's football program has been in a state championship game and the semifinals the past two years.

So when Eagles coach Scott Horner tries to downplay expectations a bit after the loss of so many key seniors, the other Cahokia Conference coaches aren't buying it.

"They've raised their program to a different level," Freeburg coach Ronnie Stuart said of the Eagles, who won 24 of 27 games the past two seasons.

"There's no doubt the bar's been set high," said Horner, whose team was 12-1 last season and lost 28-12 to Du Quoin in the Class 3A semifinals. "There's not many coaches out there that don't coach to win, to be in that position. There's a lot of things that have to happen along the way, but it's certainly something you hope to maintain. That's the challenge."

While Horner sees 2009 as a bit of a rebuilding year, he hopes the foundation for consistent success has been laid. He has three starters back on offense and four on defense.

"Certainly we've had a great run of kids and a great run of talent, just great kids in general," said Horner, whose team plays host to Sparta at 7 p.m. today. "We did get hit hard by graduation."

That hit included all-state quarterback Brian Winters (2,643 yards, 37 touchdowns, 632 yards rushing), top rusher Jarren Galli (616 yards, eight TDs) and all five of the Eagles' top receivers.

However, the Eagles return some key ingredients that helped create that success.

Senior Alex Starek (6-2, 220) is a three-year starter at left tackle. Lining up next to him at guard will be senior returnee Jeff Stoecker (6-2, 285), who played tackle last season.

"The Stoecker kid is a load," Horner said. "He's 285 pounds and he can move."

Replacing Winters at quarterback will be senior Tanner Hall (6-2, 175), who saw limited action at the position last fall and also started at defensive back.

"He's starting to really learn and understand the offense," Horner said. "He's not little and he's got great feet. He just needs to get some snaps under his belt. We've had a pretty good run of athletic kids back there and we try to utilize what those kids do best."

Junior Bryce Bastien decided not to play football this season. Other quarterbacks include 6-4 junior Brad DeMoulin, a transfer from Missouri, and sophomore Alex Schlemmer.

The loss of Winters and so many receivers could signal a return to more of a ground-oriented attack. Horner may run the spread, but he never minds pounding things out on the ground.

The top backfield hopes are elusive senior Kyle Breitenstein, a starter at outside linebacker last year, and senior Clayton Revelle (216 yards, three TDs).

"The beauty of the spread is you can do both," Horner said. "And that's coming from a guy who's coached double-wing, wishbone, stack-I and spread. You can really put teams in a bind.

"It's not that we couldn't run last year, but we were pretty successful throwing it and we did it a lot."

Trying to fill the large void at receiver are seniors Billy Haag (6-4, 170), Kyle Stumpf (6-3, 175) and Adam Hanke. Junior Eric Radake has been impressive, while junior Wilson Babb and Breitenstein are also in the mix.

The Eagles don't feature one receiver and like to spread the ball around, so Hall should have several options.

Starek and Stoecker will be major forces on the offensive line, where senior center Robbie Gonzalez (6-0, 220) also returns. Senior Tyler Warren (5-11, 220) and juniors Dylan Feldmann (5-9, 185) and Rhyse Koesterer (6-2, 240), a transfer from CBC High in St. Louis who lives in Columbia, are all competing for spots.

Starek (30 tackles, two sacks) and Stoecker (46 tackles) also will start on the defensive line.

Breitenstein (82 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions) was one of the team's most productive defensive players last season and returns at outside linebacker.

Revelle (31 tackles) takes over at middle linebacker with Robbie Likens and Nick Sitzes filling other linebacker slots.

Hall (37 tackles, two interceptions) moves from cornerback to safety and will be joined in the defensive backfield by Haag, Radake, Hanke and Babb.