Countdown to kickoff: Mark Twain’s familiarity on offense should lead to consistency, success

CENTER, Mo. — There’s a renewed sense of optimism brewing within the Mark Twain football team.

Two years after winning 10 games and reaching the district championship game, the Tigers managed only one victory last season to finish in a three-way tie with Louisiana and North Callaway for last place in the Eastern Missouri Conference.

This year’s seniors are out to prove that was an aberration and not a trend.

“One-and-nine doesn’t look good on paper,” quarterback Nolan Epperson said. “I thought we could have done better. We had a young team and were out of sync a little bit. We want to hit the ground running and show people what we have.”

Brayden Moss, an all-conference lineman entering his fourth season as a starter, echoed those sentiments.

“We have a lot of want-to this year,” he said. “Everybody wants to be better. Nobody wants to win only one game. We want to be one of those teams that shakes things up and surprises a lot of people.”

That confidence is largely based on Mark Twain having 10 seniors on its roster, compared to only a handful a year ago, to go along with seven juniors. It returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense, meaning maturity and familiarity with schemes should help improve performance.

“We have most of the team coming back,” Moss said. “We have a lot of guys with experience who are comfortable being in the game.”

That wasn’t the case in 2023, and it showed.

The Tigers surrendered 30 or more points eight times last season and scored 20 or more only twice, including a season-high 40 in their lone victory in Week 6 against Louisiana. They were held to six or fewer points four times and averaged just 14.

“We had several chances to win late in ballgames but couldn’t pull it out,” said Mark Epperson, who is entering his third season as head coach.

Being able to sustain drives and score points will be key this fall if Mark Twain wants to contend in the EMO and advance beyond the first round of the district.

That begins at quarterback. Mark Epperson used three different players at the position in the opening three games last season trying to find a spark before settling on his son, who proved to be the better dual threat.

“It was a little awkward at first because we didn’t know who the quarterback would be,” Nolan Epperson admitted.

There will be no such problem this season. The job belongs to him, and he enters the season with more confidence.

“He’s going to be a good quarterback for us,” Mark Epperson said. “He’s more of an option-style quarterback who reads what’s in front of him well. He has a really strong arm, so he can get the ball downfield if we need him to.”

Nolan Epperson should have plenty of weapons at his disposal.

Jack Dotson and Eli Tobin, two diminutive but quick running backs described by the coach as “tough as nails,” return in the backfield, as do Coden Miller and Landen Armour at wide receiver. Speedy Justin Bergthold will be another pass-catching threat.

Dotson and Miller were all-EMO selections as juniors.

“We need to figure out what we’re doing and stick to the plan,” Nolan Epperson said. “We need to keep on pushing, keep on moving forward.”

On paper, the offensive line should be a strength. The 6-foot-2, 265-pound Moss will be joined by junior Micah Daniels (6-0, 285), sophomore Joey Bailey (5-9, 240), and senior Tristan Johnson (6-2, 255), who missed last season with an injury. The smallest, senior Jacob Dotson (5-9, 195), will be at center.

Johnson will try to fill the shoes of Wyatt Evans, a four-year starter and third team all-state selection in 2023 who is now playing at Truman State.

“We have weapons all over the field and that should open up some opportunities for big games,” said Moss, who has generated interest from NCAA Division II and NAIA schools. “Nolan is a smart kid who has a year of experience under his belt. He has grown into the role. Our zone schemes fit him well.”

As is the case with most small schools, most of those players will also be penciled in on defense. That unit surrendered 370 points last season, although EMO champion and eventual state semifinalist Bowling Green scored 119 of those in two meetings.

Mark Epperson believes experience and maturity should prove beneficial on both sides of the ball.

“I think our starters are top-notch and our expectations are way up there,” he said. “Just bringing guys back who know our offense, know our defense, is a plus.

“If things work out, we could be in the mix in the conference. But we don’t have a lot of depth. If somebody goes down or gets hurt, that could be a problem.”

Mark Twain begins its second season as one of the smallest schools enrollment-wise (273) in Class 2. It opens with three non-conference games that could prove pivotal. Two of those opponents, Highland and Salisbury, are newcomers to the schedule.

“Those will be big for us,” Moss said. “All are winnable games. We’re a momentum team. If we start the season off with some wins, I think we could be hard to stop.”