Indians hope for repeat of '07 success

In three years, Fort Osage football has gone from doormat to power.
After finishing 1-9 two years ago, the Indians have lost just four games the last two years, including reaching the state semifinals a year ago.
However, coach Ryan Schartz, entering his fourth season, knows keeping that level of success will be difficult this year for multiple reasons.
Part of that is the amount of new faces both on his offensive line and on his defense.
“Everything’s different,” Schartz said. “We gratuated 20 seniors last year. We’re pretty inexperienced. We have to replace seven starters on defense and four on offense – including three linemen. When you’re a young team anything can happen, good or bad.”
One person that will not be different is workhorse running back Dalton Krysa – who has rushed for 2,000 yards each of the past two years. However, Schartz said the yardage is not what Krysa is worried about – but the wins.
“I don’t want him to feel like his career is not successful if he doesn’t run for 2,000 yards again this season,” he said. “The thing about Dalton is he doesn’t care about the numbers of carries or yards. He just wants to win.
“If he doesn’t rush for 100 yards and we win, then he’s the happiest kid on the team.”
To help Krysa offensively, receiver Parker Jones returns.
However, three-year starting quarterback Bobby Wagener is gone, and the mantle of quarterback goes to junior Edward Pearl – who came in for an injured Wagener in the state semifinal game against Belton last season.
However, Schartz said the line is a question offensively and could be for a while.
“There are a lot of questions yet,” he said. “We still don’t know who our first five will be. We’re evaluating practice film and trying different combinations to see what works. But we’re not sure yet. There are a lot of unknowns. It’s a concern for us.
“It might be up until week three or four (until we know).”
Defensively, the Indians will be led by their secondary – particularly juniors E.J. Gaines and Ian Mathis.
Schartz said Gaines could be a big part of a lot of things for the Indians this year, as he returns punts and kicks and could be featured on offense from time to time.
“He’s a player,” Schartz said. “He’s a football player. He makes plays. He led us in interceptions last year and wants to break the school record. He had a lot of pass breakups. He returns kicks and punts, is a streaker on the the punt team. He does it all. He may even see a few offensive snaps this year.
“He’s a game-changing type of kid.”
While the secondary seems set, the front seven has only two returners back and the linebacking corps will be almost totally brand new.
“Last year, I said the strength of this team would be our defense,” Schartz said. “They bailed us out a couple of times last year. But this year, we’re rebuilding with some young kids.
“They’re very capable. I have a lot of confidence in them.”
The Indians also watched the Suburban Middle Six get a lot tougher. After tying for the title last year, the Indians now have to face Lee’s Summit West – the defending Class 4 champions.
“Our expectation is just to play every down hard-nosed and never quit,” Schartz said. “If we do that, then whatever happens, I’ll feel good. I’ve been very realistic with the kids. They know this is a totally different team.
“But they know we will never be outworked.”