St. Joseph-Ogden aiming to keep successful tradition intact

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ST. JOSEPH — With a fall-like breeze permeating through the partly cloudy sky on a mid-August afternoon, Dalton Walsh yelled out the latest play call.

A Marvel superhero’s name emerged from the mouth of the energetic and intense St. Joseph-Ogden offensive coordinator during the final few minutes of Tuesday’s football practice for the Spartans.

Creative, for sure.

Different, for sure.

Successful?

Well, if last season proved anything, then yes.

SJ-O produced its best season last fall since its 2015 team went undefeated in the regular season before bowing out in the Class 3A state semifinals. For a tradition-rich program like the Spartans, where the only accomplishment missing is an elusive state championship after five state runner-up finishes in the last 35 years, wins are expected every season. Lots of them for a team that checks in at No. 2 in The News-Gazette’s preseason top 10 poll.

An 8-3 record resulted last fall, which included a runner-up finish in the Illini Prairie Conference and the Spartans’ first win against rival Unity in five years.

But a 48-47 second-round playoff loss at Roxana has lingered for the past nine months.

“For all the coaches, all the players, that Roxana loss last year hurt,” SJ-O junior quarterback Kodey McKinney said. “Even though I didn’t play, I could see all the pain in everyone’s eyes after the loss. I don’t want that to happen again.”

The 5-foot-8, 155-pound McKinney is now in charge of directing the Spartans’ no-huddle, spread offense that Logan Smith operated at peak efficiency the last two seasons. Smith has graduated after throwing for 2,686 yards and 29 touchdowns to go along with 639 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023.

“He was like an older brother,” said McKinney, who was Smith’s backup last season and whose dad, Matt, was the Spartans’ starting quarterback in 1999 when SJ-O finished second in state in 3A. “Watching Logan was something else. Very impressive. I want to try to be like him, but also in my own way.”

Even with a new quarterback to work in, the return of senior wide Coy Taylor generates plenty of optimism. The 6-1, 160-pound wide receiver hauled in 95 receptions for 1,342 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

“I’m pretty sure I’m going to be high on the opposing scouting report, but that just means more people on the field will be open,” Taylor said. “Hopefully, it sets my teammates up for good opportunities if I can’t get open. I’m still going to try my best to find the ball and make plays.”

Taylor is correct, though. He has talented, experienced teammates he trusts.

Like Tanner Siems, a 6-4, 185-pound senior, who caught 35 passes for 630 yards and 10 touchdowns. Or the 5-10, 160-pound Tim Blackburn-Kelley. The junior is a highlight waiting to happen after making 60 catches for 726 yards and seven touchdowns a year ago. And sophomore Kaden Wedig (6-1, 170) could factor into the wide receiver plans, too.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Siems said. “Since we do have a lot of people returning, we’re just going to keep building from what we had last year.”

Junior Wyatt Wertz (5-10, 145) is poised to step in as the Spartans’ starting running back, with junior Coy Hayes (6-0, 165) and sophomore Brayden Waller (5-9, 145) used in an H-Back role when the Spartans need it.

Four starters return on the offensive line, too, with senior left tackle Nolan Earley (5-10, 190), senior left guard Quincy Jones (6-0, 200), senior right guard Jackson Ennis (5-11, 220) and sophomore right tackle Cameron Wagner (6-6, 300) all back. Wagner is regarded as one of the state’s top prospects in the Class of 2027, with Illinois, Louisville and Miami (Ohio) already extending offers.

“If you want to really try and focus and take one guy away, you’re going to leave somebody open,” said Shawn Skinner, SJ-O’s coach entering his ninth season. “In our offense, that guy is going to be talented. It doesn’t matter who you leave open. At the same time, it is fun from a coaching standpoint. We get to be creative and find different ways to get guys the ball. There’s nothing off limits. If we can think of it, we’re going to try it and we’re going to practice it. I don’t know if we’ll use it in the game, but that’s one of the fun things about this offense: There’s nothing we won’t try.”

But the Spartans will have to answer one question when their season starts on Aug. 30 at Monticello before hosting Unity a week later on Sept. 6 in their home opener at Dick Duval Field.

How good is their defense?

SJ-O gave up an average of 23.6 points last season and brings back only three starters in Earley, senior Jared Altenbaumer (5-7, 165) and Jones. Altenbaumer made 73 tackles last season at linebacker, but understands why this unit may have some skeptics heading into the season.

“It’s hard because a lot of people left last year that were on defense, but a lot of kids have stepped up, either by changing positions or just coming up to the varsity level,” Altenbaumer said. “They’ve really done a good job of filling those shoes. I believe we’ll be a good defense.”

The Spartans could rely on seniors Gabe Matta (5-5, 180), Corbin Smith (6-1, 190) and Brodie Harms (6-1, 225) on the defensive line. Seniors Carson Sarnecki (6-0, 175), Logan Lackey (6-0, 165) and James Barron (5-9, 175), along with junior Ryker Lockhart (5-10, 165) could contribute at linebacker.

Senior Collin Thomey (6-3, 185) at safety, senior Kyler Swanson (6-0, 160) at cornerback and juniors Lucas Smith (5-10, 160) and Colton Overstreet (6-2, 170) at cornerback could play a factor, too.

Friday night’s scrimmage against Tuscola at Dick Duval Field will start to give Skinner and his staff some clarity on what to expect when the regular season arrives in a week.

A chance to fine-tune those innovative play calls. Find solutions on defense. And keep sustained success for SJ-O another constant this fall.

“In small schools, and we’re still considered a small school, the one thing the football program has a direct effect on is the start of the school year,” Skinner said. “When the football program is going good and Friday nights are fun, it changes the whole vibe of the school in a great way. I think these guys understand it, and they deserve credit for it because they’re a big part of why it’s happening.”