Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

Reborn South harbors same expectations

The Olathe South football program is barely recognizable these days.

The Falcons logo hasn’t changed. The uniform colors remain blue and gold. South still practices on the fields at the east edge of campus.

But a new day has dawned at South.

“Everything is new, so it feels like we’re starting over,” said first-year coach Jeff Gourley, who took over for Mark Littrell in mid-May after eight seasons at the helm of the Belton (Mo.) Pirates.

With Gourley came new offensive and defensive schemes and a relaxed atmosphere.

“Everything, starting with summer weights, has been completely different, but we’re adjusting to it well,” senior running back/cornerback Reggie Harris said. “It’s a good different; it’s what we need.”

Already, Gourley has endeared himself to the Falcons players, who seem to be having fun and appreciate their new coach’s jovial attitude. But they also respect the fact that when they hit the field, it’s time to work.

For Gourley the job of coaching is brand new in a sense too.

The first time he clapped his hands at practice and barked, “Dog drill, let’s go,” only his son started running to his station for the drill. The rest of the Falcons stared at Gourley with perplexed looks.

He hadn’t yet explained a dog drill to his players.

“For 14 years I haven’t had to teach anything like that,” Gourley said.

At Belton, the underclassmen simply followed the upperclassmen when it was time to break into groups at practice. Nobody had to have the drill explained.

Understandably, then, South is a program in flux.

Although no one connected with the Falcons seems overly worried. It was to be expected, after all.

“(Coach Gourley’s) a likable guy and easy to talk to, so it hasn’t been a tough transition,” senior running back Jake Byrd said. “I think everything is going to fall into place.”

One thing that hasn’t changed for South, which reached the Class 6A championship game last year before losing to Hutchinson, are the lofty expectations.

“The objective is to stand tall at the end of the season,” Gourley said. “I left Belton with some unfinished business over there; came over here and they have some unfinished business over here. Until we’re standing on the top of the podium, the job’s not done.”

Every team at this time of year is thinking championship — league, district and state.

“That’s definitely our goal, and I think we have the talent and the personnel to do it,” Byrd said. “We just have to put our minds to it and practice hard, so we can get better throughout the season.”

That can be tough for a team with so much learning to do, but it might be especially tough for the Falcons, who return just one starter on offense and only two on defense.

Byrd returns at running back, but South must replace its entire offensive line, its entire receiving corps and will be led by junior quarterback Tanner Dutton, who replaces All-Sunflower League chucker Mike Keese.

“We’re going to have a more fast-paced offense, and I think we’ll be real successful with it,” Dutton said. “We can keep defenses off balance.”

Gone are the days of the Falcons quarterback trotting to the sideline before each snap.

Instead, South will deploy a versatile attack that defies convention.

Joining Byrd in the backfield, Harris and converted quarterback Marshall Davis will see carries, though Davis technically will be a slot receiver.

Senior Kale Lothamer, who replaces Aaron Kolich at center, and junior Seth Wonch, who replaces Brennt Courtney at right tackle, will anchor the reconstructed offensive line.

Defense will be an even greater challenge with only two returners: Harris at cornerback and senior Tanner Miracle, who will move from strong-side linebacker to middle linebacker.

In some ways, as Miracle goes so too will the Falcons defense.

“His leadership alone, not to mention the physical play of the game, just his mentality is going to be critical,” Gourley said. “He’s going to have to perform, and if he doesn’t, we could be in trouble.”

Fortunately, Miracle welcomes the added pressure.

“I look at it as more of a challenge than anything,” Miracle said. “I definitely don’t mind taking on a leadership role. I want to be one of the big dogs, making tackles and helping the team however I can.”

Five Falcons to watch

RB Jake Byrd, sr.

Again slated to be the workhorse for the Falcons, Byrd is a durable and powerful runner with excellent vision and the will to bowl people over. He rushed for 860 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior during the regular season.

RB/CB Reggie Harris, sr.

He’s the lightning to Byrd’s thunder. A superior athlete, Harris will fill a scat-back role for the Falcons and brings big-play ability to every touch.

LB/TE Tanner Miracle, sr.

Unquestionably the leader on defense, Miracle will make the play calls as he moves to middle linebacker. He may be the most indispensable Falcon.

QB Tanner Dutton, jr.

Now at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Mike Keese left big shoes to fill and it looks like Dutton will be asked to try and fill them first. He’ll have to make good decisions to keep defenses honest.

WR Marshall Davis, sr.

It seemed as if no one could tackle Davis when he entered during the fourth quarter late in blowouts last season. Apparently, few people could tackle the sturdy, dual-threat converted quarterback on the junior varsity — which went 7-1 — either.

Telling number:

That’s how many combined varsity starts South’s offensive and defensive lines, wide receiving corps and quarterbacks have combined. The learning curve will be steep in Gourley’s inaugural season.

Circle your calendar for:

Sept. 5 at Olathe Northwest

Games versus Olathe North and Olathe East are always big and the Falcons are in a brutal district with North, Blue Valley and BV West. Early-season contests against SM West and Free State also will be litmus tests for a rebuilding program, but the season may hinge on a good performance against Olathe Northwest that first game. Getting off to a good start against a city foe would provide confidence for the players and build trust toward the coaching staff.

Reason to cheer

The Falcons once again have athleticism to spare. Byrd, Harris, Davis — they’re all potential game-breakers with incredible versatility as runners, receivers and passers. And that only scratches the surface for a squad with better depth than last year’s 6A state runners-up, so look for South to deploy a sneaky, unpredictable attack with so many options at its disposable.

Reason to fear

As much talent as South has, if an unproven offensive line can’t assert itself and if the equally unproven defensive line can’t hold its ground against the run, it won’t matter how much talent lines up in the skill positions. Line play also will hinder or greatly help Dutton’s transition to the varsity ranks.

Submit an ad