Core group returns to lead Nevada football

Sunday, August 20, 2006
Colby Shepherd started at wide receiver and cornerback by the end of his freshman year last season.

By Joe Warren

Herald-Tribune

NEVADA, Mo. -- When John Skeans took over as the head football coach at Nevada High School prior to the 2004 season, he knew there would be a transition process. While he wouldn't say so, Skeans was facing a rebuilding task for a program that had fallen on hard times.

Junior Ronnie Herda has started at quarterback since he was a freshman.

Proof of that came during the 2004 campaign, when Nevada only won two games and was blown out in many contests.

In 2005 there was a youth movement. Part of which was dictated by the low numbers of juniors and seniors on the squad, and part of which was the result of a superior sophomore class that was overflowing with talent.

That meant a steady stream of sophomores received varsity playing time and even a couple of freshman saw the field for the crimson and gray.

With the 2006 season on the horizon, that group of sophomores have become juniors, getting another year of weight-lifting under their belt and a year of maturity to sharpen their wiles.

That means the Tigers in 2006, while still relatively young, will hardly be considered the babies at the dance.

"We have a full year of varsity experience for all of our starters," Skeans said. "The game is going to slow down for them. We're going to be able to run our offense and defense at a faster pace."

While the Tigers still only have around 55 players in the whole program this season, they do have an experienced group.

Junior quarterback Ronnie Herda looks to lead the offense. Herda took over the starting role midway through his freshman year, and was the unchallenged starter a year ago. While injuries limited him to less than half a season in 2005, he's not a typical junior starting quarterback on the varsity.While many junior signal-callers will spend half a season getting accustomed to the varsity game, it will come as old hat for Herda.

Herda will be running an offense that Skeans began installing in 2004.

While sophomore Cameron Cartwright, who stepped in for the injured Herda last season as a freshman, is not playing this season, Trevor Foreman has been taking reps with the second team and has earned Skeans' confidence.

Look for the familiar spread attack offensively featuring multiple formations. While Nevada lost their top three runners in the backfield to graduation, Skeans feels they have solid depth at the skill positions this season.

Jacob Cherry, another junior, looks to have the outside edge as the starting tailback this season.

Although senior Josh Underwood should also get plenty of touches this season.

Classmate Jake Anderson will likely start at fullback, with sophomore Devin Chapman spelling him.

Sophomore Colby Shepherd will lead a core of receivers that is very deep. Shepherd was starting outside by the end of his freshman season and was a major contributor. Look for Underwood and Cherry to be split out at times, along with junior Dan Lovinger, who also has some varsity receptions under his belt.

Aaron Dade and senior Lane Baker will provide depth, while Logan Harms will be at tight end when the position is called upon.

"No matter who the starters are, that group of players is going to play a lot in the ballgame," Skeans said.

The line is also very experienced.

Juniors Colton Johnson, Jerrod Alexander, Ryan Herda and Cole Bond all started up front last season. Add Jordan Tumm, David Reaves, Spencer Thompson, Colin Pettibon, Ethan Fast, Nathan Pike and Springfield transfer Donnie Hubbard to the mix and the Tigers are much deeper in the trenches than they were a season ago.

Defensively look for the familiar Multiple 4-3 from the Tigers, with the occasional 5-3 look when necessary.

Fast, Pike, Hubbard, Thompson, Pettibon, Reaves and Tumm will shift in and out along the defensive front.

Ryan Herda, Alexander, Anderson and Bond give Nevada four experienced and capable linebackers. That quartet will be key as the Nevada scheme calls for the line to eat space and blockers, allowing the backers to flow to the ball and make play.

When Nevada goes to its 5-3 look, Herda will take over nose tackle, a position he's played sparingly since his freshman season.

The secondary only has one piece returning with starting experience in Shepherd, who took over as the team's best cover-corner down the stretch in 2005.

Dade is getting a lot of reps at corner opposite Shepherd, and Lovinger also will figure into the mix. Jacob Cherry, who might see some time at linebacker as well, will be in the secondary from time to time and so will Baker and Underwood.

While the special teams units have not been decided yet, look for Cherry and Ronnie Herda to get the bulk of the kicking duties, as they've shown the strongest legs in preseason work so far.

The Tigers open the season at home Sept. 1 against Bolivar.

Nevada, which was 3-7 in 2005, carries a two-game home winning streak into the contest.

After that it will be the annual game against El Dorado Springs. Nevada's dropped two straight to their rivals to the east and have to visit their place on Sept. 8.

Sept. 15 is homecoming, and Nevada welcomes Butler to town for that contest. Butler hasn't been on the Tigers' schedule in recent years, despite being only 30 miles to the north.

The Bears replace the Lamar Tigers on Nevada's schedule, as Lamar will get to hold on to "Oscar" for the next two years since they don't play Nevada.

Southwest Conference play begins in Week 4, as Nevada hosts Carthage on Sept. 22.

The dreaded trip to football factory Webb City awaits in Week 5, as the Tigers visit the Cardinals on Sept. 29.

A road trip to Neosho follows in Week 6. The Tigers beat the Wildcats in Nevada last season after barely falling in Neosho the year before. That game is Oct. 6.

McDonald County visits Oct. 13, as the Tigers look to avenge last season's 21-7 loss in Anderson.

District play starts Oct. 20, as Nevada welcomes three new district opponents for 2006. A home date with Cassville starts things off.

Road trips to Seneca and Monett end the season, as Nevada no longer faces Carl Junction, Harrisonville and O'Hara.

The Tigers will have their work cut out for them as they face three state playoff teams from a year ago (Webb City, Bolivar and Cassville).

"The number one goal right now is to come out as well as we can play against Bolivar," Skeans said.

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