Countdown to kickoff: Cardinals to build on confidence born of success to stay atop CCC

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SHELBINA, Mo. — Winning is now a way of life for the South Shelby football players.

Not only have they experienced success as underclassmen, but most of them haven’t witnessed the varsity squad struggle. The Cardinals won 18 games the previous two seasons combined, including compiling a 9-0 regular-season record last fall when South Shelby won its first Clarence Cannon Conference championship since 2005.

The challenge is to duplicate that and then exceed what the 2023 team accomplished with its 10-win season.

“They have been able to see a little bit of winning, which is something the classes above them didn’t get to see,” South Shelby coach Adam Gunterman said. “They’ve played on winning teams. The biggest thing is getting them to stay together as a family, and they’ve done a really good job of that so far.”

It helps having 13 seniors who grew up playing side by side.

“It builds a connection,” senior running back/linebacker Gabe Bowen said. “We’ve all been doing it since we’ve been little. We all trust each other that we’re going to do our jobs. We’ve been doing this our whole lives. This is what we love to do.”

The bond that has been built is unbreakable.

“They’re very trusting. They’ve very close,” Gunterman said. “Those guys have been together forever, whether it’s travel basketball or playing baseball or whatever. They’re together a lot. Anytime you have a class that has talent but is together, you’re going to be doing some good things on the football field.”

Maybe even some great things.

“We want to do something special,” Bowen said.

Experience up front matters

The foundation for that comes in the form of an astute and stout offensive line.

The Cardinals return three-fifths of the group that powered its way to 440 yards per game and 12.2 yards per carry last season. Aadon Macgruder, a 5-foot-11, 220-pound senior center, and Kaiden Pool, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound guard, were Class 2 academic all-state selections last season, while Cooper Elsen, a 6-foot, 190-pound interior lineman, is equally gifted in the classroom and on the field.

“They’re really intelligent kids who are strong,” Gunterman said. “They work really well together. Their communication is out of this world. When they can check blocking schemes at the line, it becomes a game-changer.”

That group has an important responsibility — protecting an experienced quarterback and blasting open holes for a new set of running backs.

Chase Moellering, a junior, went 10-1 in his first season as a starter while throwing 10 touchdown passes without an interception. He had the benefit of handing the ball off to a pair of all-state playmakers in running back Kendal Hammond and all-purpose back Cameron Wiseman, but he managed a high-powered attack without making mistakes.

“I told him, ‘I might want to get one out of the way to get the dust off a little bit,’” Gunterman joked about Moellering not having thrown an interception yet.

What Gunterman truthfully expects is Moellering to continue making the right reads and putting the Cardinals in position to score.

“It’s the intelligence you need in that position that he’s getting better at,” Gunterman said. “He studies the game and works at it. Plus, he’s a little bigger, little stronger.”

He has the trust of his teammates.

“He knows what he’s doing, which is the best part,” Bowen said. “He’s one of our leaders out there.”

The backfield will consist of several players willing and able to carry the load, such as Bowen, senior Preston Elsen and junior Payton Hetheriton. It likely will be more by committee rather than using one workhorse like Hammond became last season.

“I like that we’re more spread out,” Bowen said. “I like that we have a lot more weapons. It’s going to be tough for teams to stop all of us.”

‘Pressure means that you’re good’

Defensively, the Cardinals bring back starters at every level, which should provide stability and leadership. Yet, there are positions that need filled and players who got a taste of varsity action last season ready to tackle those roles.

“Some of those guys didn’t play until the end of games last year,” Bowen said. “That varsity time on the field is important. Some people have to get used to the playing time.”

Gunterman believes the defense will provide a backbone for the Cardinals to build, especially with the likes of sophomore defensive lineman Colt Threlkeld and senior lineman Draden Black assuming larger roles.

“We’re going to lean on our defense,” the coach said.

They are also going to lean on knowing how to win.

“We’ve been successful through all of our years playing football,” Bowen said. “We knew when we got to high school we’d be successful. That’s why we have so many sticking with it and wanting to play all four years.”

He doesn’t see that as pressure to perform.

“No, I don’t think so,” Bowen said. “I feel like we can go and do the same thing we did last year and do better.”

The expectations, though, are something Gunterman wants the Cardinals to embrace.

“I think there’s pressure, but I think that’s good,” he said. “Pressure means that you’re good. We talk about wanting the target on your back. People want to beat you, and that means they respect you. That’s something we haven’t had in a while here.”