High School Football Archives

Blair Oaks football brings back more maturity, physicality

August 10, 2022 10:48 AM Nathalie Jones

WARDSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) After falling to the Mexico Bulldogs in the district title game just one season ago, Blair Oaks football coach Ted Lepage said his team has put together one of the best off seasons he has ever been a part of. “Last year we were so young,” he said. “I think we had

Big shoes to fill for the Harrisburg Bulldogs

August 9, 2022 4:08 PM Chanel Porter

HARRISBURG, Mo. (KMIZ) High school football is just under three weeks away and the Harrisburg Bulldogs look to fill some big shoes after a historic season last year. Long-time head coach Steve Hopkins says in the past the team has never had a practice with more than 20 guys until this year when they are

Collier works to build “blue family” culture in second season at Capital City

August 8, 2022 8:23 PM Chanel Porter

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) In entering his second season at Capital City, Joe Collier says he is working to build a “blue family” culture amongst his team. Last year, the Cavaliers only won one game and Collier says this offseason has come with a different mindset. “We’re been going through the process of learning plays

Jays search for dominant voice after losing big senior class

August 8, 2022 8:30 PM Chanel Porter

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Jefferson City Jays hit the field Monday looking for who will step up and be the team’s voice in the 2022 season. As head coach Damon Wells enters his second season at JC, he says the group seems to be looking for it’s identity after losing a big senior class

“We’re going to be counting on them an awful lot”: Helias football turns to senior leadership

July 26, 2022 9:17 AM Nathalie Jones

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Helias Crusaders will lean on the veterans heading into the 2022 season, as the team will return five starters on offense and four on defense. “We feel like this could be a team, as we develop this season, it could be a very good football team,” head coach Chris Hentges

New era begins for Rock Bridge football

July 14, 2022 4:31 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new era has begun at Rock Bridge after head football coach Matt Perkins took over the Bruins in February. Perkins has spent the past three seasons at West Plains where he led the Zizzers to a 29-6 record during his time. He joins the Bruins who were just 4-6 this past season

Battle football coach looks to build “consistent culture” in second season

June 28, 2022 9:28 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) As he enters his second season as Battle’s head football coach, former Missouri offensive lineman Jonah Dubinski says he needs more consistency from his players in order to succeed. “It’s just about building the culture. Consistent in the weight room, consistent in the classroom and consistent practice. We do that, that was our

Boonville football moves from the weight room to the field to find best 11

June 28, 2022 4:23 PM Chanel Porter

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) Boonville football is coming off of their best record in Coach Greg Hough’s era last season at 8-3, but with some recent talent graduating they’re entering July working to find the best 11 to put on the field. Coach Hough said as they transition from the weight room to the football field,

Hallsville football looks to fill big shoes; summer workouts continue

June 20, 2022 7:53 PM Nathalie Jones

HALLSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) There are some big shoes to fill on the Hallsville football team, as the Indians graduated a standout group of seniors following the end of the 2021-22 school year. As summer workouts continued on Monday, head coach Justin Conyers said he is going to put the pressure on his new group of

Hickman football has “a more cohesive unit”

June 20, 2022 7:27 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Hickman football team started sixteen sophomores last season and as the team works through summer workouts, head coach Cedric Alvis says they are working as a more cohesive unit. “It’s just a close group, a more cohesive unit. The accountability is up and there’s a lot more commitment so hopefully that

Sunday Sit-down with Southern Boone football coach Mark Ross

June 12, 2022 10:11 PM Nathalie Jones

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones brought on Southern Boone’s new football coach Mark Ross in this week’s edition of Sunday Sit-down. You can watch the conversation in the video player above.

Missouri Military Academy names new football coach

February 24, 2022 2:50 PM Nathalie Jones

MEXICO, Mo. (KMIZ) Missouri Military Academy announced that Robert Rosenbaum will serve as its new football coach on Thursday afternoon. The former Marine will bring more than 15 years of coaching expereince to the Colonels. Rosenbaum has experience coaching in the Pop Warner league in Kansas City and also played college and semi-pro football. Rosenbaum

Sunday Sit-down with Rock Bridge football coach Matt Perkins

February 13, 2022 3:23 PM Andrew Kauffman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) ABC 17 Sports Director Andrew Kauffman brought on Rock Bridge’s new football coach Matt Perkins in this week’s edition of Sunday Sit-down. You can watch the full conversation in the video player above.

Rock Bridge hires new football coach

February 7, 2022 4:00 PM Andrew Kauffman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Rock Bridge High School has a new head football coach. Matt Perkins will take over the Bruins program after spending the last three seasons at West Plains. Perkins led the Zizzers to a 29-6 record during his tenure. He was the Southwest Missouri Football Coaches Association coach of the year in 2020

Boonville football standout DJ Wesolak chooses Mizzou

December 15, 2021 10:09 AM Andrew Kauffman

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ) Boonville standout DJ Wesolak will play for Mizzou. Wesolak made his college decision on Wednesday at the Knights of Columbus in Boonville — one of a string of recruits who committed to Mizzou on signing day. https://youtu.be/bOF8aazs1Lc The four-star prospect chose the Tigers over LSU, Georgia, Alabama and USC. According to 247Sports,

Local football coaches say the game has been made safer over time as MU Health care aims to continue the protocol process

December 5, 2021 7:36 PM Chanel Porter

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Local football coaches recognize that rules and protocols have progressed over the years to make the game safer, and MU Health Care aims to continue addressing the issue with the opening of a sports concussion clinic. The center, which is now opened in Columbia, is designed to accommodate a patient as early

Marceline football finishes second in class one

December 4, 2021 11:47 PM Nathalie Jones

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Marceline football team fell to East Buchanan in the state championship game, 21-7, at Faurot Field on Saturday. The Tigers finish the season second in class one action, going 12-2 overall. You can watch the highlights from Saturday’s game in the video player above.

Marceline to play for second-ever state title

December 3, 2021 5:05 PM Nathalie Jones

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Marceline football team will meet East Buchanan at Faurot Field on Saturday at 3 p.m., as the Tigers look to capture the program’s second-ever state championship. https://youtu.be/2wGNIjEXkQw The only season Marceline won a state championship was back in 1986 under former head coach Bill Dennis. Since then, the team has made

Vanatta out as Rock Bridge football coach

November 23, 2021 12:09 PM Andrew Kauffman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Van Vanatta is no longer Rock Bridge’s head football coach, athletic director Michael McGinty confirmed to ABC 17 News on Tuesday. The Bruins are coming off a 4-6 season. Rock Bridge lost to 48-0 to Liberty in the first round of the Class 6 playoffs. Rock Bridge hired Vanatta in Jan. of

Prosecutor reaches agreement in Boonville football star Wesolak’s case

November 23, 2021 11:14 AM Matthew Sanders

Wesolak was charged earlier this year, though details of the charges were not reported. According to court records, the incident happened on March 21 and a warrant for Wesolak’s arrest was issued on May 21. The warrant was recalled and a summons was issued on Aug. 18.