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The Rolla squad will have a whole new look in the 2023 season, as Derick Heflin takes over head coaching duties from Jon Franks. Franks decided to resign from the position last year, his stint in Rolla concluding with a 38-40 record. During that term, he led the Bulldogs to three separate seven-win seasons, and in 2017 brought Rolla to just its second state quarterfinal appearance in program history. Now, though, fresh blood is taking over a team that has some serious potential scattered across its roster. “I’m excited to be back in my hometown coaching the Bulldogs,” Heflin says. He appreciates what came before him and what lies ahead, saying, “Coach Franks had a lot of success in the last seven years. We have a very solid young group, matched with a solid group of upperclassmen. We will be young, but the goal is to be playing our best football in November.”
It’ll all start with Heflin imprinting his philosophy on the program. The new coach will focus particularly on the line of scrimmage and look to be the better team in football’s most basic—but most important—battles. “We believe in running the football, stopping the run, and being able to rush the passer,” Heflin says. “It will be the first year of a new system for our team. We hope to build the program by winning in the weight room and being an extremely physical
Class: 5
Conference: Ozark
Head Coach: Derick Heflin
Years at School: First
Overall Record: 40-35
Offensive Starters Returning: 7
Defensive Starters Returning: 2
Total Returning Lettermen: TBD
2022 Overall Record: 5-6 and fundamentally sound team.”
The new system the Bulldogs will have to learn is Heflin’s Flexbone offense. With five starters back on the team’s offensive line, the transition to this new triple-option look should be fairly smooth. Senior OL Demarii Williams (6-2, 285), senior OL Robert Smith (5-11, 200), junior OL Easton Brown (6-0, 260), junior OL Nash Crouch (6-2, 205), and junior OL Rio Sherrell (5-10, 240) combine to form one of the stronger and more experienced O-lines in the area. Sophomore TE Cameron Brown (6-3, 205) could become something of an X-factor for the Rolla offense in 2023, acting as a big-bodied checkdown passing target.
Leading the team’s triple option in the year ahead will be sophomore QB Easton Smith (6-3, 200), who started one game as a freshman for the Bulldogs. Smith has size to spare and is a beast to bring down when he elects to keep the ball himself. If he quickly masters the offense, he may become one of the conference’s most dangerous offensive performers. And Smith will have a number of dangerous play- ers to work with. “We have three RBs who have seen action as starters at different points in the last few years,” Heflin says. The two main backs to feature offer something of a lightning-andthunder look for Cuba. Senior RB Steve Harris (6-0, 190) is a classic bruising rusher, while junior RB Kayden Kinder (5-10, 160) is a slasher who is always a threat to get to the outside. Heflin couldn’t ask for more ideal personnel for the Flexbone. Junior RB Mason Delegarza (5-9, 155) can dart to the edge and is slippery for opposing tacklers. These three players will be fun to watch in the option. “There will be lots of depth and competition in the backfield for carries,” Heflin says. “The skill positions will be really young, but are very good athletes.” Four times in 2022 Rolla was held to single-digit points. Expect them to score with much more proficiency in the year ahead.
Defensively, Heflin will line the Bulldogs up in a 4-2-5. Those two linebackers are the team’s only two returning starters on defense. Senior LB Brett Montgomery (5-10, 195) and junior LB Trustan Richards (5-11, 230) will be the unit’s linchpins. They have each proven the ability to tackle and make good decisions at the middle level. This year, they’ll be joined by junior LB Kaden Reedy (5-11, 200). “The linebacker group has a lot of experience and will be the backbone of the defense,” Heflin says. The team’s defensive line is still taking shape. “Up front will be a rotation of different linemen for us,” says Heflin. Expect some or all of senior DL Demarii Williams, senior DL Robert Smith, junior DL Easton Brown, junior DL Nash Crouch, and junior DL Rio Sherrell to feature heavily at the point of attack in 2023. Two promising newcomers are ready to spearhead the Rolla secondary: senior CB Ryland Gibson (5-10, 165) and junior FS Chase Brown (5-10, 165), each of whom can get to the ball with incredible quickness. “In the back end we have a young group of good athletes,” Heflin says.
A new coach heralds a new era, but thankfully for Rolla fans, Heflin is in familiar surroundings—so it’s not all so glaringly new. Heflin has a proven track record in his half-decade-plus as a head coach, and he looks primed to continue his winning ways with Rolla. Expect this Bulldogs team to quickly gel and puzzle opposing defenses with their option attack. If they can get that going smoothly come September, the Bulldog offense might be must-watch viewing.
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them.
When all you’ve worked toward is on the line, know you’ve got our support as you continue to pursue your dream on the court, on the field, in the pool and beyond. Let’s talk about the dreams you’re working towards, and how I can help protect them.
