Semoball

Game plan for Doniphan FB is simple: Wear you down

The Dexter defensive front and Doniphan offensive front take off for each other following a snap at Charles Bland Stadium on Friday in Dexter.
Tom Davis ~ Tdavis@semoball.com

The Doniphan High School football squad scored 18 points in a recent loss at Dexter, which may not sound like much, but the fact is, that number is the most the Dons had scored in seven outings.

“Doniphan came out in the second half and made good adjustments,” first-year Bearcat coach Chad Jamerson said following the win. “That adjustment that they made was that they came out and they were more physical.”

The Dons (0-5) will try to continue that style of play on Saturday at 2 p.m. when they host Father Tolton Regional Catholic (4-1) out of Columbia.

Doniphan is in just its fifth year of football, so the Don athletes are still growing both physically and mentally on the field. However, Doniphan had multiple sustained offensive drives against Dexter, as its eight-man front executed well.

“The running backs ran really hard,” first-year Doniphan coach Jason Lance said, “and our offensive line is improving.”

What made the performance of the offensive line even more impressive was the fact that its most experienced piece, senior Charlie Jones, is out with a concussion.

“We are getting better,” Lance said. “We are progressing. We’re still not there yet. We’re not hitting on all cylinders yet.”

But the Dons are “hitting.”

The offensive line consists of seniors Devin Horton, Carson Roberts, and Dalton Sappington; juniors Braden Hinton, Kaden Buffington (tight end), and Waylon Spencer; and sophomores Trenton Anders and Kendel Schroeder.

That group was instrumental in junior Doniphan backs Joel Rhynes (fullback) and Luke Emmons (tailback) making several nice gains, as well as seniors Lorenzo Rios and Carson Leroux.

“Our pad level wasn’t where it needed to be,” Jamerson said of his defensive players battling the Doniphan offensive line. “They were very physical up front and they found, and exposed, a ‘c-gap,’ and we had to make some adjustments.”

The Doniphan strategy is pretty simple to figure out. Lance wants his offense to line up and pound the opposition until it relents.

“We’re not going to outrun anybody, by any means,” Lance said. “We’re going to be very physical and drive the ball down the field. I am very proud of (our offense). I thought, at times, we had some momentum and had some rhythm.”

Emmons is in his first season as a tailback after being all-conference as a fullback last year, and he scored early in the game from four yards out, while later adding an eight-yard touchdown run.

“I’m very proud of Luke,” Lance said.

Emmons and Rhynes are “weight room warriors,” according to Lance.

“They are leaders and are very physical,” Lance said.

Father Tolton and Scott City will be tough tasks for Doniphan in the remaining 2022 schedule, but if the Dons get Jones back and continue evolving with their strength and persistence, it will have a puncher’s chance in games against East Prairie and Chaffee.

“We want to wear you down,” Lance said, “play physical, grind it out, and control the clock.”

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