Camdenton

Last season, the Camdenton Lakers went 9-2 and were co-conference champions and district runner-up. The offense averaged 41.9 points a game and the defense gave up an average of 19.2 points per game. They had many seniors graduate and are looking to reload and continue their success this season. For the first time in decades a Coach not named Shore will be coaching the Camdenton Lakers. With the retirement of Jeff Shore, who took over for his dad, legendary Laker coach Bob Shore 13 years ago, the program will now be headed by longtime assistant coach Par Pitts. Pitts has a wealth of experience, not only at Camdenton, but as a head coach as well where he compiled a record or 96-73. The Lakers did lose plenty of playmakers to graduation, but they return a good number of players who saw significant playing time last season. Six starters return to an offense that averaged an outstanding 42 points a game! Replicating that will be very challenging, but there is some good talent to build around especially with five senior starters back. Senior Kyle Eidson (6`3, 180) is back at WR after notching 312 yards receiving with 3 Touchdowns last year. Junior wide receiver Karson Durnin (6’2, 170) is back after having 122 receiving yards with 3 scores. Also involved in the receiving corps will be senior Brayden Sheppard (6`2, 180) and junior Willard DeMott (6`0, 170). Getting the ball to them will be senior Kade Durnin (6`2,

Class: 5

Conference: Ozark Conference

Head Coach: Par Pitts

Years at School:1st as HC (10th overall)

Overall Coaching Record: 96-73

Returning Lettermen: 22

Returning Starters Offense: 6

Returning Starters Defense: 4

Last Year’s Record: 9-2

185). He has waited his turn behind the talented Bear Shore who graduated in May. Durnin did see some time at QB and has thrown for 444 yards and 9 Touchdowns. That experience will help ease the transition to him being the every-down play-caller. The primary ballcarrier will be senior Blake Ford (5`10, 180). The running back had 125 rushing yards with 3 Touchdowns and 100 yards receiving with 1 Touchdown last season. Senior Mitchell Sexe (5’9, 160) will also get some carries as well. Lead blocking and handling short yardage runs will be junior Kaidyn Bowen (6`1, 190) at fullback. With his size and strength, the Lakers can count on him to earn the hard yards and pave the way for the running game. Up front, two senior OLinemen return; Garret Hilton (6`2, 265) and Karson George (6`0, 245). Both are athletic pass blockers, but can open running lanes as well. Junior Dominik Poling (6`2, 250) will bring his size and grit to the line as well. The Lakers will attempt to be a more balanced run and pass out of multiple formations on offense this year. Last year they leaned heavily on the passing game, throwing for 243 yards per game and running for an additional 121 yards per game. They will look to be more balanced this season as their skilled talent is more spread out. As far as offensive strengths this season go, Coach Pitts knows his offense can be more versatile this year, “We are looking to be fast and efficient with our offense. We hope to be explosive and make big plays from many different spots.” On defense, only four starters return, but they were all impact players, Senior middle linebacker Sam DeMott (5`10, 200) returns after notching an astounding 132 total tackles, 5 sacks, 5 TFL and a forced fumble and a fumble return. Fellow senior Kyle Eidson will be at outside linebacker where he had 2 interceptions and 4 blocked punts, 35 tackles 3 TFL and a FF. This duo will team up with senior Mitchell Sexe and junior Kaidyn Bowen to round out a solid backer group. The secondary will see senior ballhawk Spencer Mellencamp (6`1, 170) who had 3 interceptions and 78 tackles last year. Senior Brayden Shepard and junior Willard DeMott will round out the defensive backs. Along the D-Line is where the Lakers will need to fill the most open spots. Only senior Jeshua Balderas (6`1, 240) returns to the D-Line where he registered 49 tackles, 3 sacks. 6 TFL, FF and fumble return for a touchdown. Junior Dominik Poling will also join the mix on the line. The Laker defense was stout last year, allowing 168 rushing yards and 109 passing yards per game last year and less than 20 points per game to opponents. “We want to be an aggressive multiple defense that attacks at all angles, playing with our purple haze tradition,” stated Coach Pitts.

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As this is Coach Pitts first year as head of the program, he wants to establish his vision of the future of Laker football, but also leans on the past. “We want to play with great effort. Continue to improve throughout the season and be playing our best football as we enter the post season. We have standards we are holding our kids to and trust the process to achieve our goals.” They have a good core group of experienced players to build around this season. Coach Pitts and his assistant coaches: Andrew Nolting, Brett Eidson, Travis Sanford, Cole Walker, Charlie Gordon, Parker Pitts, Tim McDuffey and Brock Ezard will get their team focused and ready to carry on the tradition in Laker Country. With a challenging schedule as always in the Ozark Conference, they will need to be at their best week in and week out. “We are excited to compete with anyone we play and be one of the hardest playing teams,” stated Coach Pitts. “We want to build on the legacy of Laker football.”

Pigskin’s Pick: