Blair Oaks football brings back more maturity, physicality

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 a really good football team, but our maturity level, physicality wasn't there. With six sophomores and a freshman starting on defense, the off season helped transition that into being, okay we need to play a lot more physical and that involves getting more physical in the weight room. I think that's the biggest difference I see is we're a lot more physical than we were last year."

The loss in that 2021 district title game is a thing of the past for the Falcons.

"I feel like we got cut short last year, it could have been different, but we just have to look forward," safety Alec Wieberg said.

Lepage sad it is all about looking forward, never backwards.

"We don't need any motivation, let's put it that way," he said. "We just got to worry about right now and that's what I talked to our players about. The Navy Seals have a big saying that you only quit when you start thinking about other things. Think about what you're doing right now."

Quarterback Dylan Hair is entering his senior season with Blair Oaks, following in the footsteps of his brothers Nolan and Jordan who also played for the Falcons. Lepage said Hair had a strong performance in the weight room over the summer, adding on a lot of muscle.

Hair left last year's district championship game with an injury, but is returning to the field for the 2022 season.

"People are really saying we're underdogs because of last year and that we had a disappointing season," he said. "We're all fired up and ready to play and get out there."