He gave his word last summer.  And, today he followed through with his signature.  Blue Eye’s Andrew Mitchell will be a College of the Ozarks Bobcat.  The senior swingman signed a national letter of intent today in front of family, friends, and classmates during a ceremony at Blue Eye High School.

Bulldog Coach, Kyle Turner was emotional while talking about Andrew.  He told Bobcat coach Steve Shepherd that he was “getting a good one”.  He went on to speak about the hard work and dedication of Mitchell.   As much as Andrew the player, Turner spoke about Mitchell the person.

Coach Shepherd spoke about how happy he was to be getting Mitchell.  He spoke about watching him develop over the years and why he offered (a scholarship) early.

When asking about why he chose C of O Mitchell said that in the end that the decision was easy.  He loves the school and likes the idea of getting the play close to home.  “The camaraderie we had was great” was Mitchell’s response to the time that he already has spent with the Bobcat team.

He went on to talk about his love for Blue Eye and his desire for him and his teammates to pick up where they left off last year.

Mitchell led Blue Eye to their first district championship since 2009, last year.  He earned first team All-State honors in doing so.

When the final buzzer sounded Friday Night it marked the end to another Reeds Spring Football Season.  For me, its always a sad time to see it come to an end.   This year’s ending has a little extra sting to it.

That, tough to take, feeling isnt because of the great group of seniors that I will miss, although I will miss them without a doubt.  Its not because this group fell short of expectation, I thought they fought beyond what many thought they could do.  Its tough because the man that is primarily responsible for making Reeds Spring Football relevant is done.

Although its not 100% locked in stone and nothing is official, and something could always change, Brian Moler, is stepping away from coaching.    Being an assistant principal is a full-time task in itself.  But, Moler has been balancing that task with also being a coach.  It is really too much to ask anyone to do.  Yet, Moler has done an exceptional job at both.  Still, one can understand his needed to devote his time to that administrative role.

If you are new to the area, you may not know what the Reeds Spring Football Program was like before Moler.  There was  lack of direction and wins were far and few between.  They were 2-18 during Jeremy Hays’ two years as head coach.  And, they had not won more than three games  in a season since the millennium.

Coach Moler came in and went to work of building a culture.  The wins did not come right away.  In fact, they only won 7 games in his first 4 years.  But, in that time you could see the change start to take place.  Players were starting to buy into the program.  The off-season became more important to them.  By 2012, the turnaround was revealed on the field; seven wins for the first time in 15 years.  And it just took off from there.

But, to me its not just about the wins.  Its how he did it.  He surrounded himself with a great staff.  He did a great job of mentoring some young coaches and brought in some great experience to mix in with it.   You add the hiring of Lance Gosch to it and the the program was ready to reach heights it had never seen.  And, has improved even more with more additions.

When he moved into the assistant principal role, he gave up head coaching duties and became part of Coach Gosch’s staff.  For many that could be tough, but the two of them were great with the transition and the program has continue to thrive.

He has helped develop boys that came out for the sport of football into men that will go into the world and be great husbands and fathers.  To me, that is more important that anything that has been done of the field.  His players love him.

Years after he left Aurora to come here, I would still see former players and fans come up to him and talk to him  He left a lasting impression there, just like he did at Strafford, and Hillcrest before that.

He is not going away.  He will just not be a coach any longer.  I have told him that I will have a headset for him.  And while it might not be right away, I will eventually find a way to get him in the booth with me to call a game, if nothing else, for a guest appearance.

As I said, nothing is etched in stone.  I would be happy to sound like an idiot for writing this and see him out there again next year.  I would like nothing more…..

Coach, thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for the students of the Reeds Spring School District and Thank you for everything you have done for me.

Amy, I know you and the kids sacrificed a lot of time with him.  Thank you for sharing him with all of us.  Everyone of us is better for simply getting to be around him.

If you are not already familiar with it, get used to hearing the last name Arnold.   Riley and Avery have dominated the cross-country scene for Blue Eye, this year.  And, Saturdays State Championship Meet was no different.

The sisters were again the class of the field.   Running together the first two miles, Avery was just ahead of Riley at the mile mark, the two crossing at 6.02.65 and 6.02.70 respectively.  By mile marker number two, It was Riley that had had just under a tenth of a second lead.  By the end of the 5K (3.1 miles) course, it was Riley that claimed the individual state title crossing the tape at 20:07.99 and Avery next only ten seconds back.  Did I mention the two are only freshmen?

The youngster theme continued as Freshmen would actually capture 4 of the top 5 spots in the race.

The Lady Bulldogs would place two more runners in the top fifteen of the team scoring.  Braylynn Siercks was 8th (11th) and Olivia Labrier was 15th (22nd) .  Skye Hobbs 47th rouned out the scoring. (Only a teams top 5 finishers count towards team points)  Maddison Suffal was 71st… Good enough for a State Runners-Up finish for the team , just 13 points behind Kansas City Lutheran for the Class 1 State Title.  The Lady Bulldogs did finish with the best average time in the field.

I mentioned the youth earlier.  Its hard for any team to be younger than the Lady Bulldogs.  Of the six ladies that competed FIVE are freshmen to go with one junior.

The Blue Eye boys had a fine day as well.  The Bulldogs brought home a Fifth place finish.  The were led by Chris Lemp and Ryan Cardenzana.  School of the Ozarks’ Titus Thompson was second overall.

Hollister girls finished 13th in the Class 3 Meet.

A year ago Ben Moler was named the Small Central Ozark Conference Defensive Player of the year and eventually All-State.  This year the Wolves switched conferences to the Big 8.  Playing in the East Division they not only see teams like Springfield Catholic but also Mt Vernon, led by the reigning state defensive player of the year, Will Boswell.

Despite that Moler finds himself in the same position.   Today, league coaches named the senior, Big 8 East, Defensive Player of the Year.

You will find bigger linebackers.  And, you will find faster linebackers.   But, you will have to look really hard to find one that gets to the ball any better.  Student of the Game is a term that is over used, but it really fits Moler.  He just gets it.  To put it simple..  HE IS A FOOTBALL PLAYER.

Joining Moler on the first team is quarterback Blake Gronvold.  Gronvold got the nod as an “all purpose” player.  Running the Wolves offense, he has been effective with both his legs and arm this year.  Fullback Cody Hughes was lost for the season after breaking his arm against Marshfield.  But, before going down he had already showed enough to conference coaches that they voted him first team.  Safety Seth Stamps also received first team honors.

Moler proved to be effective on both sides of the ball, as he received second team recognition, for his work as a guard, blocking for the Reeds Spring rushing attack.  He is joined by tackle Justin Miller.  Tony Leal got the nod as second team defensive lineman. And Gronvold got the double recognition as well for his work at corner.

Cole Watson received honorable mention at receiver.

Hollister has had quite a season.  And they had a number of athletes recognized as well.

Logan Narvaez  was a first team running back selection.  He was joined by offensive teammates Dylan Barber (OL) and receiver Logan Armitage.

Jesse Wright was named 1st team linebacker.

Armitage  also made the second team for his work as a defensive back.

Austin Hove, Garrett Moody, Konnor Hatfield, Clay Humbyrd, and Barber received honorable mention acalades.

Tyson Riley from Springfield Catholic was the leagues offensive player of the year.

Mt Vernon’s Tom Cox was named Coach of the Year.