North Shelby at Paris Jamboree. Raider Football Preview
Dylan Mettes runs at South Shelby defense.
Jacob Rich fires a pass vs. Paris at Jamboree.
John Arnett runs the ball during Paris Football Jamboree.
North Shelby Raiders Score Four Times at Jamboree. Raider Football Preview
By David Sharp
John Arnett raced 36 yards for a touchdown against inter county rival South Shelby in the opening series of the Paris football jamboree. Arnett scored again on an 11 yard run against the Cardinals then cashed in a 40 yard TD dash against Westran.
TJ Perry caught a 3 yard touchdown pass from Jacob Rich during the Raider offensive set with Paris. The Coyotes, Hornets and Cardinals scored two touchdowns each against North Shelby. Kenny Smithey scored for South Shelby on a six then a 32 yard run.
North Shelby was competitive against all three teams. The Raiders were able to move the football. Westran was the top team among the four competitors. South Shelby was next. Paris was a distant third followed by North Shelby.
First year Raider coach Todd Cripe commented on the Jamboree. “I don’t know what other jamborees are like, but you look at South (Shelby), Westran and Paris. They are pretty tough. We play two teams that could easily be in the top ten in Class 1,” Todd Cripe said.
North Shelby begins their 2013 varsity football campaign hosting Westran. The Hornets arguably have the best Missouri small school football player in QB Zane Jacoby. North Shelby travels to Salisbury in week four.
“We play some pretty quality competition,” Todd Cripe said. “Our guys are working hard. They are buying into what I am trying to sell them. We do what we can with what we have. These guys have just been busting it for two weeks.”
“Coach (Scott) Gaines and I are proud of them.” Todd Cripe takes over from Josh Brummit who moved on to the Principal job at Atlanta HS. “Not that Coach Brummit and the other coaches before him didn’t try this, but we have to do things the right way,” Todd Cripe said when asked what changes he wanted to make in the North Shelby football program.
“We have to eliminate turnovers. We have to eliminate penalties,” Coach Cripe said. “Turnovers are going to be a key for us. We want to try and shorten the ball game. The kids are coming in with a great attitude to the coaching change.”
“They miss Coach Brummit to death. They loved him. He did some nice things,” Todd Cripe said. “They are doing everything they can for us.”
North Shelby enters the season with 18 players on their roster. Senior Brandon Echternacht missed the jamboree with an injury. Dalton Mettes, Andy Killen, John Arnett, T.J. Perry, and Taylor Jackson join Echternacht as 2013 North Shelby football seniors.
The Raiders have five freshmen out for football. Most of the remaining players are returning full or part time starters. John Arnett is a four year starter. Arnett is a returning all conference and all district performer at running back.
North Shelby lined up in a Power-I offense and 5-3 defense at the jamboree. Junior Jacob Rich will line up at quarterback and safety. Jacob Gander is a center and defensive end. Zach Spilker and Dalton Brumbaugh will start at guard. Colton VonThun and Taylor Jackson line up at offensive tackle.
Drew Miles and Andy Killen play tight end on offense. Dalton Mettes is the Raider fullback and linebacker. Colton VonThun, Andy Jackson and freshman Lane Kemp anchor the NS defense on the line.
Dylan Mettes was listed as a starting linebacker. T.J. Perry starts at defensive end. Andy Killen lines up at corner back along with John Arnett. North Shelby enters the season working to snap a 36 game winless streak.
“We play Fayette in week two. We go to Paris in week three,” Todd Cripe said. “Paris is much improved. They are an athletic football team. We go to Salisbury and then we start our conference schedule.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to play in the Tri-Rivers. “We have six seniors. Five have played all four years for us,” Coach Cripe said. “We have some pretty good senior leadership for a team that only has 17 kids.”
“We are pretty excited to see how these kids grow not only as football players but as individuals as well,” Todd Cripe said. Coach Cripe talked about players showing improvement in training camp and over the off season.
“T.J. Perry has really put the time in. He has put a huge amount of time in the weight room,” Todd Cripe said. “He has put on some good muscle, and has become a better football player because of it.”
Milan and Knox County were cited as two of the top Tri-Rivers Conference teams. “Milan and Knox are the teams to beat,” Todd Cripe said. “The rest of us are pretty much bunched together. It’s going to be a dog fight in our conference this season.”
