ELDON, Mo. - At times last season, the injury situation for the Eldon Mustangs was so bad, even no-nonsense head coach Shannon Jolley had to shake his head and chuckle.
A year later, it's Jolley and the Mustangs who may have the last laugh.
At times in 2016, Eldon had to put a game plan together with half of its starters sidelined. Despite that, the Mustangs went on an impressive run to the district championship game before finally falling to powerhouse Owensville.
Eldon finished 2016 with a 7-5 record. And now, in large part by the large number of younger kids thrown into the fire due to the injuries, the Mustangs have a huge amount of experience back for this fall.
The Mustangs open today at Boonville. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
"It's gone really well," said Jolley, in his 10th season at Eldon, of the preseason. "We're healthy, have a great attitude and are pretty excited."
In the Mustangs' wing-T offensive attack, timing is critical. So having such a large number of varsity returners helps greatly.
"That's been the one big thing, having all the returners helps with the transition," Jolley said.
Eldon has 10 starters back on offense and nine on defense.
Returning offensive starters for the Mustangs include senior halfback Isaiah Merida, junior fullback Isaiah Parsons, senior wingback Trenton Dillon, senior guards Riley Pope and Tanner Myers, senior center Tate Warny, junior tackle Jacob Krantz, sophomore tackle Jonathon Schoenfeld, senior guard/tackle Jesse Dummermuth and senior tight end Cole Walker.
And that doesn't count junior Dawson Brandt, who started a couple games at quarterback due to injury.
Defensive starters returning include all-stater Brandt at safety, Walker at middle linebacker, Parsons at linebacker, Dillon at linebacker, seniors Merida and Austin Pipes at cornerback, senior Tanner Myers at linebacker and senior linemen Pope and Trent Bishop.
Merida rushed for 836 yards on 145 carries and scored six touchdowns last season while Parsons rushed for 617 yards on 134 carries and 10 touchdowns. Dillon had 223 rushing yards and scored a total of four touchdowns.
Brandt had 144 tackles and two interceptions last season while Parsons had 139 tackles, Walker 114 tackles, Dillon 74 tackles and 11 sacks, Myers 53 tackles and 4.5 sacks, Pipes 49 tackles and Merida 40 tackles.
The Mustangs averaged 214 rushing yards per game and 27 points in 2016.
"Brandt is a work in progress," Jolley said of his quarterback. "It's his first year as a full-time starter. We feel like in about every position we can be better. We've got some kids who work hard."
The first to face these veteran Mustangs are a rebuilding Boonville Pirate squad.
Boonville is coming off a 2-8 campaign and is entering its third season under the direction of Barry Blank, who was an assistant coach at Jefferson City High and Blair Oaks before taking over the Pirates.
Blank has six starters on both sides of the ball back to build around, including senior center/defensive end Gabe Rumbaoa (43 tackles, 3 sacks in 2016), junior tight end/linebacker Brandon Johnson (team-high 108 tackles, 9 receptions for 177 yards), senior wide receiver/cornerback Adam Edler (14 receptions for 231 yards, 3 touchdowns), senior fullback/linebacker Ben Eichelberger (72 tackles, 369 rushing yards) and sophomore tailback Avain Thomas.
The Pirates will have a first-year quarterback this fall.
Boonville operates from the I-formation with some spread concepts and the base defense is 3-4.
"The seniors and juniors are setting the tempo and have done a good job," Blank said. "And we had a successful jamboree (against Odessa and Fulton)."
"They look better," Jolley said of Boonville. "They have some good-looking athletes. Their option game will be tough to stop. As a team I think they're better. Their overall team speed is good and they have some threats on offense."
Blank knows the Pirates will have their hands full trying to contain the Mustang wing-T.
"It starts up front with Eldon," Blank said. "They get off the ball really well. The running backs and quarterbacks are not flashy but they run behind their pads and run with authority. Coach Jolley gets those kids to play with a lot of energy and enthusiasm."