Beachler excited for upcoming season, four vie for starting varsity QB position

Saturday, July 28, 2018
Nevada High School head varsity football coach Wes Beachler, seen here in this Daily Mail file photo, is eager for the 2018 campaign to get underway.
Daily Mail | File photo

The battle for Nevada High School’s next starting varsity quarterback is heating up.

With the season less than a month away it’s a four-man race to replace departed three-year starting QB Braeden Hinton.

Those in contention are 6-foot-6 senior Trey Beachler, 6-foot-4 junior Matt Thorp, and sophomores Dylan Beachler and Ty Thomas.

“Those were the four coming out of camp last week who were in the running for the quarterback spot,” NHS head football coach Wes Beachler told the Daily Mail on Friday. “Usually, after the completion of the second camp, I know who I think is going to start; it’s not very clear to me right now, but it will be by the time week one rolls around. I’m pretty confident somebody will separate themselves as the starter.”

All four are newcomers to the varsity level, with Thorp boasting the most experience at the position after taking the bulk of the snaps on the JV squad last year.

“It’s going to come down to — who can lead the team,” noted Beachler. “Trey didn’t play last year, but he’s played quarterback in this system before. Ty didn’t play last year, but is gaining ground quick. And Matt and Dylan have been in the system playing quarterback.”

Added Beachler: “All of them are pretty good at distributing the ball, and getting the ball where we need to have it. And also knowing the offense and the footwork. But somebody’s got to separate themselves as a leader, as a thrower, as a runner. And I believe somebody will do that.”

Coming off a 5-6 campaign, which included an impressive 48-32 playoff victory over Raytown South, Nevada’s next QB will have big shoes to fill replacing Hinton.

“I’ve seen some really good flashes from a couple of them, making good decisions in the passing game,” said Beachler, declining to specify which of the four. “We’ll continue to work with all four of them, and develop all four as best as we can, and make a decision when we get close to week one.”

Beachler is by no means showing his cards, but did say that it’s ideal for his starting quarterback to begin his tenure at the varsity level as a sophomore.

“I typically like to start a sophomore at quarterback if I feel like that is also our best player (at the position),” he said. “Obviously, last year, nobody was going to unseat Braeden Hinton. I would take him back 50 years in a row if I could get him. But I do like to start sophomores as long as they’re the best at the position. Because if they are the best as a sophomore then you’ve got them back for two more years after their sophomore year.”

Added Beachler: “If Dylan or Ty, one of those two sophomores, is not our best option for this year, then we will move forward and look at those guys to be the starter down the road.”

Beachler, who is entering the second season of his second stint leading the NHS football program, has worked diligently at improving the program’s numbers since arriving in Nevada last year.

“We’re sitting around 25 freshmen, which is good,” explained Beachler. “And I think most of those freshmen who are out will stay. We’ve picked up some good ones. Dan Hope is a big freshman lineman who came out for camp, and said he really enjoyed camp. And I think he’s a kid who’s going to stick around the program. He’s worked hard and he enjoys it.

“So him, along with 24 others, are kids that I think are going to play football more than just a year or two. I think we’ll see the majority of those (freshmen) as seniors.”

Beachler said currently there are 30-35 upperclassmen in the fold.

“We’d like to get that number to 40-45, to 50 eventually,” he said. “That’s where we’re at right now, and we’re going to continue to build the program to get those numbers up.”

Beachler said depth could be the team’s primary weakness this season.

“I wish we had a little more depth, especially in the junior and senior classes,” he said, adding “I really like the group of kids that we do have. We just don’t have a lot of depth, particularly along the offensive and defensive lines. So that’s my big concern right now.”

Beachler said several upperclassmen have recently been added to the roster, including starting (basketball) combo guard Carter Swearingen and forward Kayden Ast.

“I picked up a few seniors this week, that were athletes in other sports that I tried to talk into playing last year,” said the veteran coach, adding, “(when) they were a little hesitant. But this is their senior year, and I think they’re going to help us in some way, just being good athletes out in the field.”

Beachler said he’s pleased with his core returning group of upperclassmen, which includes standout linemen Caleb Longobardi, Peyton Denney, and Treytin Fleeman.

“They’re working hard and the commitment’s there,” said Beachler. “All three were looking pretty good last year as juniors, they’re going to be even better this year as seniors.”

Continued Beachler: “Our offensive and defensive lines are experienced, and they’re pretty doggone good. And the weakness is also our offensive and defensive lines, because there’s not a lot of depth.”

The program was hit particularly hard by departures of skill position players due to graduation.

“Our skill guys are pretty inexperienced, but we have some talent there,” said Beachler. “When Jaren Powrie runs the ball, it’s going to look like Braxton Shadden is back. Both Jaren and Justin Guy run the ball tough and physical.”

The first test for Beachler and company is the Carthage Jamboree on Aug. 17, in which Nevada will scrimmage against host Carthage, as well as Monett and Carl Junction.

“It will be a rough and tumble night,” predicted Beachler.

Concluded Beachler: “I really like this group of young men. I think they’re a buy-in group, a cohesive group — they get along really well, care about each other, and love to play football the right way. I think barring any injuries we’ll have a pretty entertaining group to watch.”

Nevada’s season opener is slated for Aug. 24, a road match-up with Big 8 foe Reeds Spring. Nevada’s home debut is set for the following week, Aug. 31, as the Tigers host Mount Vernon.

In arguably their most anticipated match-up of the season, Nevada travels to Lamar Oct. 12, facing off with the seven-time defending Class 2 state champions, while also renewing a once storied rivalry.

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