f Plattsburg Tigers se foor the

a It’s a new day y and a new g f eraffoor Plattsbur foootball, as the Tigers enter the 2023 seasonintheeightman season in the eight-man division of Missouri high f school foootball. a “There havve been parts a that havve been really good f frrom this change but some t, haavve been difficul ,””Boswell said. “This was the best educated decision we could’ve a made and havve received a lot of support. This isn’t a longterm plan—it s just a chance f foor us to get back where we need to be. With getting into this so late, some of the challenging things have been finding competition, and the traavvel will be much longer this season.”

Previous turnover at head coach and a continuous decrease in numbers fiug nally ca ght up to the Plattsburg program in 2022. At times, the Tigers barely had a enouggh playyers on the sidelines to field a team, leaving them at a distinct disadvantage against their KCI Conf feerence counterparts.

With the state of the program in flux, third-year head coach Brandon Boswell ’ and the school sadministration made the decision to move the program to eightf man foor the 2023 season.

That transition has been one v with positives and negati es, but it is a challenge Boswell and company are meeting head-on.

While the Tigers are entering the unknown, they bring a talented group of lthtldll plaayyers that could very well makke e them a competitive team in their first year of n f eight-ma foootball.

Leading the charge into the eight-man world are nine experienced seniors who have been big pieces of the Plattsburg program the t f las foour years. The seniors s y on thi yeear’s squad are: w Braden Brown, Corbin Dow, , Jon Fish, Isaia Howard, Dak koota Rankin, Gavin Carter, k K Kyyle Dakee, River Jones and T Tr r yston Miller. a “Our seniors havve rek ally takeen to being leaders. In practice, they’re helping er gu e y coach up th yooung uyys t, and that has been grea ,” ” Bo- g, swell said. p f U frront on the f feensive line, the Tigers bringing a unit with size a plethora of talents. Ret s f ing starter frrom a year k are Dakota Rankiin, Br Brown and Corbin D Joining them along the will be Jon Fish. f e of-s are e and turnr ago aden w Dow. e line o be and swell d rey cut takes been y y, , we

“The line has to one of our strengths, it should be ” said Bos k “So far, they’ve lookeed ally good. They’ve really down on mental mist and their technique has great. Most importantly h. haavve a lot of dept ” f f A pair o frreshmen could possibly see some y on the field are Jaycce Jac k and Luke e Parra. ff Behind the offe e

The 2023 Plattsburg T ard, Tryston Miller, Ga Boyle, Donte Bingha Davis, Jadan Howard Jackson, Luke Parra, ams to Ry Rylan,” k knnow a abble to ontain low us who e time ckson ensive ill be a ayyson. n was uring mbers, hness line at quarterback w sophomore Jaiveon Gra ra s a f A frreshman, G ayyso thrown into the fire d a season with low num and he has gained toug f frrom that experience

“Jaiveon has sho lot of good signs so fa also has days where he lo likke e a sophomore ” Boswell said. “Our responsibility as k coaches is to not make e it d f har foor him. He s going to haavve a lot of weapons to get the ball to, so we need to teach him how to manage all that comes with being quark.terbac ” wn a ar but looks

Hard-running junior g Donte Binghham gives Plattsburg a fast and dangerous threat coming out of the s f backfield. Expectation foor him as the Tigers’ numberone running threat will be high. Joining Bingham in e f the backfield will b feellow k Ga junior avvin Boyle, and like e gBin ham, he brings tons of speed to the Plattsburg running game. Boyle could also see time at the slot position, as well a Plattsburg will havve their own dynamic d wide receiver in Isaia R ard and junior Ryylan ton. Both bring size an leticism to the wide re position, and Coach Bo is hoping their abilities g def ts f fi foor opposin feens y In theor y, , it s goi duo at HowLangd athceiver oswell cause ses. ing to t f e v b ver y difficul foor tea cover both Isaia and R Boswell said “I don’t how people will be a play y us man, tr y and co these two, and not allo to beat them with the run. e f It s going to b fuun to see Gaavvin Carter gives Plattsburg a confident and consistent threat at slot but could also see time at tight end. e def On th feensive side of the ball, there are high k s f expectation foor Dakoota

Rankin, with his siz strength along the sive line. Joining hi f frront will be Jon Fish, Bingham and junior len, w McLal who will be to handle at nose guar Corbin Dow and Carter give Plattsburg ze and deffeenim up Donte Caden tough d. Gavin ga pair k k of playmakeers at linebac e er Meanwhile in the secondy ar y, , Tiger fans can expect ys f big pla frrom Isaia Howard, y Ry Rylan Langton, Gavin Bo le e W and sophomor Wyyatt Da- p vis

Entering the wo n f eight-ma foootball, t k gers enter the unknnow the program has see k takeen the right step to building the itself ba Numbers are growin t f there is excitemen foor to come.

“WWe e expect to b ter,r,” Boswell said. “M this move gives us chance to be comp now we just need to f and perfoorm at a hig with the expectation t can compete and win games.” orld of the Tiwn, but mingglly owards ack up. ng and r what’s be betMaking a real petitive, go out gh level that we n some