Highland looks like a champion, but nothing’s certain in MVC football

In quarterback Garrett Marti and wide receiver Sam LaPorta, the Highland Bulldogs return several of the best football players in the metro-east for another run at the playoffs.

But most of the other teams in the conference have improved sufficiently enough that no coach sees an automatic win on the league schedules. Triad and Waterloo, especially, have made strides that likely will get them back to the playoffs.

Jerseyville, led by all-conference quarterback Drew Sauerwein, has enough weapons on offense to be dangerous. Civic Memorial, though young, always seems to find a way to contend. And Mascoutah has a full year of growth and experience under energetic second-year coach Josh Lee.

What’s ahead for the deep and competitive MVC in 2017? Here’s an overview of each team:

Civic Memorial

2016 record: 5-5 (first round playoffs)

Coach: Mike Parmentier (2nd year, 5-5)

Key Returning players: QB Bradyden Pierce (43 of 115, 556 yards, 4 TD, 7 Int) ; DL Eli Jones (43 tackles 3 fumbles); OL Travis Wallace (6-1, 270); OL Brayden Gerogeoff (6-2, 225); RB Austin Eaton (6 rush, 23 yards).

The way Coach Parmentie sees it: “CM lost 20 seniors from a 5-5 team in 2016. We only return three starters on offense and one on defense so there will be many new faces this year. Quarterback Brayden Pierce returns from last year which has helped with the transition on offense.”

Highland

2016 record: 9-2 (second-round playoffs)

Coach: Jimmy Warnecke (7th year, 42-21)

Key Returning players: QB Garrett Marti (128 of 206, 1,849 yards, 15 TD, 3 Int / 118 rush, 757 yards, 10 TD); WR/DB Sam LaPorta (50 catch, 857 yards, 7 TD / 63 tackles, 3 Int); WR/DB Dylan Shaw (4 rush, 36 yards/ 18 tackles); LB Kyle Lane (151 tackles, fumble); DB Jack Etter (70 tackles, 4 fumbles, 4 Int);

The way Coach Warnecke sees it: “We’ve been snake-bit when it comes to injuries the last couple of years and have lost some key players for the season. We hope that trend reverse itself, first of all. We really like this group. We’re strong in the offensive backfield and, on defense, in the secondary. I’m the position coach for the line and that’s one area where we’ve always taken a lot of pride. There’s room to improve for these guys, but they are working hard and I think it can be a special group.”

Triad

2016 record: 7-4 (second round playoffs)

Coach: Paul Bassler (20th year, 114-79)

Key Returning players: RB Trevor Nott (109 rush, 746 yards, 7 TD); LB Nathan Clark (98 tackles, 59 solo, 6 sacks); DB Aric Crehan (60 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 fumbles); DB Nick King (42 tackles, fumble, Int); LB Beau Barbour (70 tackles, 4 sack, Int); Kaleb Woolverton ; QB Cody Qualls (2 rush, 7 yards / 60 tackles, 2 Int.)

The way Coach Bassler sees it: “The type of kids we have coming through year in and year out fits our (triple option) offense. We’ve had success with it, so we’re not going to change it ... The whole senior class has about 26 kids in it and a lot of them got quality time last year, so we have good experience. (Quarterback) Cody Qualls was Tommy’s back up the last two years as a sophomore and junior. He’s very explosive and athletic and, if he can be as patient as Tommy was, we’ll be in good hands ...

“We dropped Althoff from the schedule and added Mount Zion which is a quality program. Collinsville will be a good challenge for us the second week because they are as physical and as quick as us. Then our conference has gotten so much better over the last five years. Wow. There’s no patsy. You have to show up every week and play.”

Jerseyville

2016 record: (2-7)

Coach: Jon Adkins (2nd season, 2-7)

Key Returning players: QB Drew Sauerwein (150 of 241, 2,025 yards, 18 TD, 8 Int / 138 rush, 636 yards, 11 TD); WR Blake Wittman (51 catch, 795 yards, 10 TD); LB Chris Jackson (44 tackles); DL/OL Collin Cary (6-0, 235) ; LB Jon Woeflfel (39 tackles, 27 solo); OL/DL Jaden Craigmiles (6-1, 170)

The way Coach Adkins sees it: “With a strong senior class of 18 kids, we look to be very competitive in he MVC this year. With that being said, we probably have one of the toughest schedules in the state of Illinois. Every game is going to be a tough, hard-fought game that we are gonna have to come to play.”

Mascoutah

2016 record: 1-8

Coach: Josh Lee (2nd season, 1-8)

Key Returning players: QB Darius Cooley (30 of 60, 403 yards, 4 TD, 5 Int / 159 rush, 638 yards, 10 TD) Ronald Clay, QB Patrick Beck (33 of 75, 536 yards, 5 TD, 6 Int / 26 rush, 71 yards, TD); WR Trsehun Buckingham (18 catch, 231 yards); LB Dylan Ross (26 tackles, 25 solo); DL DeJahn Tyson (10 talkes, sack); LB Malik Green (32 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 fumble, Int).

Waterloo

2016 record: 5-5 (first-round playoffs)

Coach: Dan Rose (18th season, 81-82)

Key Returning players: RB Dalton Viglasky (89 rush, 282 yards, 3 TD); RB Jake O’Daniell (6 rush, 8 yards); RB Ryan Parker; LB Jesse Matthews (89 tackles, 2 sacks) ; LB Clayton Watters.

The way Coach Rose sees it: “We’ve got three really quick and really fast kids in the backfield, where in past years we’ve always seemed to be a back short. You’ll see some traditional wing-T out of us this year compared to the last couple years where we’ve had to run more of a Malzahn-type offense out of the spread. Defensively, we’ve got two good inside linebackers — Jesse Matthews and Clayton Watters — that we feel really good about.

“It’s been Highland and Triad at No. 1 and 2 in the conference the last couple years and we’ve either the odd man in or the odd man out of that group. We certainly hope to take a step forward, bu you can’t look at any game on our conference schedule and see an automatic win. It’s a tough conference.”

This story was originally published August 24, 2017 at 11:35 PM with the headline "Highland looks like a champion, but nothing’s certain in MVC football."