Countdown to kickoff: Cougars believe speed, improved defense help flip script

EWING, Mo. — Despite the speed, efficiency and explosiveness the Highland football team showcased on offense last season, defense determined the Cougars’ fate.

A 52-50 loss to Clark County in the district opener is no better example.

“We have to get guys in the right positions to make plays,” Highland coach Dave Degarmo said. “That’s really something we’ve been looking at all offseason and into camp.”

For good reason. The Cougars scored 32 or more points four times last season and averaged 27.6 points, but they allowed 26 or more points in all but one game and surrendered 35.3 points per game. A 3-5 record could have been reversed with a stingier defense.

“We know what we’re doing defensively, so it’s a matter of read and react,” Degarmo said. “We go through our tackling drills and all of our other things and you can see us getting better. It’s hard to say exactly what it is, but it has a lot to do with experience.”

With a vast number of players who are heading into their second or third year as a starter, the benefit of maturity can’t be overstated. It’s rubbing off on the younger players, too.

“You see (senior running back/linebacker) Robert Goehl giving pointers to the younger guys about things he’s learned,” Degarmo said. “He didn’t necessarily have that kind of stuff because he kind of got thrown into the mix. These younger guys are gaining from his knowledge. It’s nice to see that.”

It’s even more beneficial to have Goehl, quarterback Drew Mallett, wide receiver Cameron Bringer and others returning.

Goehl was a second-team all-area selection at linebacker last season when he piled up 113 tackles. He also was a second-team All-Clarence Cannon Conference selection at running back to go with winning four medals in the hurdles and relays at the state track meet.

He had 227 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a road victory against Missouri Military Academy last season and delivered one of the signature highlights of the season with an 85-yard kick return for a touchdown.

Mallett enters his fourth season as the starting quarterback, is a dual threat who was an all-state sprinter and employs a bevy of speed weapons in wide receivers Dylan Stustman and Cameron Bringer, who also are all-state sprinters.

“With our playbook, these guys know it,” Degarmo said. “Because of all of their experience, they are going to be able to take whatever we throw at them and run with it.”

Add a second-team all-conference offensive lineman in Shon Stark to the mix and it’s easy to see why Degarmo and his staff are encouraged by the offense’s potential.

“It’s really showing how speed pays off,” Degarmo said. “We can get guys out on the edge. We can run the ball up the middle. We can throw the ball downfield and we have guys who can get there and hopefully blow the top off of coverage. It opens so much up for us.”

If the defense finds better footing, the Cougars might see the need for speed leads to success.