KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - Kevin O'Neal is well aware of the risk-reward when it comes to a certain discussion, and how fleeting it can be.
O'Neal is certainly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for his North Callaway Thunderbirds as they open the 2016 football season tonight when they travel to Southern Boone (kickoff at 7 p.m.). North Callaway will be looking to improve on a 5-6 finish in 2015 that ended with a 53-12 district semifinal loss at Palmyra.
"There's that word 'potential,' and it's there, and I think we have a lot of potential, but we have to go get it," said O'Neal, who begins his third season as head coach at North Callaway. "Nobody's going to give us anything. So that word (potential) is just a word.
"We've got to reach that potential by pushing each other and getting better every week."
The Thunderbirds were never able to establish firm footing last season, alternating wins and losses, suffering consecutive setbacks once, and only packaging back-to-back wins one time.
"Consistency was a problem that I think we had last year," O'Neal said. "We had times where we played very well and then times where we did not play well. We started a lot of younger guys and we never really bonded as a team.
"It seemed like when we did get a couple of things going, we had a couple of key injuries that would happen and we'd have to change things we were doing offensively. That had a big effect on the flow of the game."
O'Neal believes the leadership of a strong senior class has emboldened and energized his squad.
"Those guys are ready to win, they want to win, they've worked real hard this offseason," O'Neal said. "Already, starting out this year, we have a cohesiveness about this team that we haven't had in the past.
"These guys are playing for each other, as much as they are for themselves."
One of the dependable seniors O'Neal will be leaning on is quarterback Milo Henry, who heads into his second year as starter. Henry completed 72-of-164 passes last season for 1,071 yards, 12 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also rushing for 224 yards and six scores.
"Milo is a natural leader, the kids rally around him," O'Neal said. "Last year was a learning experience for Milo - he got better as the year went on. He's done a great job this offseason preparing for this year.
"I expect good things from Milo; he's worked very hard."
O'Neal added Henry is benefitting from the tutelage of former North Callaway quarterback Jake Haubner, who has joined the Thunderbirds' coaching staff.
"Jake and Milo are very similar in the way they lead teams and the way they think about things," O'Neal said. "It's been very good for Milo to have Jake around to help him out."
Two other seniors - Wyatt Branson and J.T. Higgins - also return to the backfield to help spark North Callaway's running game. Branson picked up 338 yards and had four touchdowns in 2015, while Higgins gained 315 yards and also scored four times.
Junior running back Adam Reno, who missed the final four games last season with a broken collarbone, is healthy again after rushing for 239 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Jordan Delashmutt will also be called on to handle a share of the carries.
"They all have little bit different styles, J.T. and Jordan probably being the most similar - power backs," O'Neal said of the foursome. "I'm very excited about the skill guys - Wyatt and Adam have looked great so far.
"Milo does a great job of spreading the ball around to all of them. That's what we're going to have offensively - a balance between a lot of guys that, on any given night, can have a great game."
Meanwhile, Henry will have all of his top receiving targets back this season. Reno (five), senior wide receiver A.J. Stubblefield (four), Branson (three) and junior wide receiver Austin Edwards (one) accounted for all 13 of the Thunderbirds' receiving touchdowns in 2015.
Despite the time he was out, Reno still topped North Callaway with 20 catches for 353 yards. Stubblefield followed with 19 receptions for 253 yards, Branson had 10 for 199 and Edwards finished with 11 for 107.
"What excites me the most about this bunch is they don't care who gets the recognition," O'Neal said. "They're not coming back saying, 'Coach, get me the ball; Coach, I want to do this.'
"They'll step up when it's their time. A.J. has worked very hard on his blocking on the perimeter for runs; Austin Edwards has worked very hard on that. They block for each other as much as they want the ball."
Providing the protection and blocking up front along the Thunderbirds' offensive line will be senior center Sam Slaughter, senior Matt Salisbury and sophomore Paden Lewis at guard, and senior Isaac Wright and junior Tanner Pezold at tackle.
Pezold returns with the most experience from last year, while Wright and Salisbury received playing time. Slaughter is back after missing last season with a torn ACL and Lewis is a transfer from Jefferson City.
Senior Nick Douglas and junior Josh Hudson will also fill in as versatile backups along the line.
"Those guys communicate very well with each other up front," O'Neal said. "They're working well as a unit and that's what probably excites me the most."
O'Neal has set a high standard for the North Callaway defense this season, as eight starters return. Branson and Higgins will guide the defensive line at the end positions, while Wright, Slaughter, Salisbury and Douglas will be incorporated inside at the tackle and nose guard spots.
Branson and Higgins logged 38 and 34 tackles, respectively, in 2015.
"Those two guys are solid football players, fun players to coach," O'Neal said. "They do exactly what they're asked to do and they're leaders up front.
"It means a lot to have those two guys back on the outside to set the edge for us."
Reno (36 tackles) and Edwards (42) will man the two outside linebacker positions for the Thunderbirds, while Pezold (38) and Delashmutt (54) will occupy the middle spots. Reno shared the team lead with seven sacks last season and Edwards recorded a pair of interceptions.
"Those four guys played it (the position) last year and they know exactly what they're doing," O'Neal said. " My assistant coaches have said several times how well these guys work together and how they coach each other, as much as we're coaching them.
"That's great to see. They understand the defense, they know what's going on and I think it's going to show this year."
Henry will also guide North Callaway's secondary from his safety position, while Stubblefield and sophomore Dawson Wright will be the cornerbacks. Stubblefield topped the team with four interceptions in 2015 and Henry had two.
"Milo, as much as he is a leader on offense, he's exactly the same on defense," O'Neal said. "He's the guy that gets that secondary set, makes all of the coverage calls, gets everybody where they need to be.
"It's good to have a quarterback on that side of the ball that understands offenses and what's coming at them."
Southern Boone is entering its third year under head coach Trent Tracy. The Eagles posted a 6-5 record in 2015, eventually bowing to Fulton in a wild 61-48 shootout in the district semifinals to end their season.
"Southern Boone's a good program, coach Tracy's done a great job," O'Neal said of tonight's opener. "They had a good season last year, I expect them to be well-coached and to be ready to play football.
"For us, we have to come out and play well. We've worked on a lot of things, we're excited."
North Callaway at Southern Boone
Updates on Twitter: @FultonSunSports and @SBooneHS.