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Team Missouri insists it feels no pressure in trying to end skid

It seems no matter who you ask on the Missouri side, there is little pressure on them. All of this despite dropping the previous two games of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association Metro Classic, scoring a combined 12 points in those two games and turning the ball over three times in a 20-9 loss last year.

No, this is a new year, and the 2009 edition of the GKCFCA Metro Classic is a new day. The game will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at Blue Springs South High.

"I wouldn’t say there is any pressure on us," Kearney quarterback Conrad Schottel said. "The coaches have talked to us and let us know Missouri is in a two-game losing streak. We definitely want to win. We are going to lay it on the line."

Hogan Prep High coach Phil Lascuola, an assistant coach in two previous Metro Classics, will lead the Missouri side. Lascuola’s Rams are a perennial state qualifier in Class 2, and he said it would be a coach’s dream to have this much talent on a team during the regular season.

"We are very talented," Lascuola said. "I don’t have much more to say than I would love to have this much talent on my high school team. They are all-stars; what can you say?"

Lascuola said his coaching staff has made it clear to the team they would like to end the losing skid.

"That is what we have been stressing from day one," Lascuola said. "Even when we met back at the beginning and took pictures and met all the kids. What we said is we wanted Missouri back on the ‘W’ side again."

However, that doesn’t mean there is a ton of pressure placed on the kids to make sure it happens.

"I don’t think so," Lascuola said. "It is an all-star game. It is not like anyone is going to die if it doesn’t go exactly the way you want it. At the same time it is something we want to do for the Missouri side. Everyone wants to win, but I don’t think there is any more added pressure than a regular competition."

The Missouri side is littered with all-conference and all-state performers — including many from the Northland. Schottel was the 2008 Frank Fontana Award winner, given to the top small class player in the metro area.

Fort Osage running back Dalton Krysa will also be playing for Missouri. Krysa rushed for 6,341 yards in four years with the Indians and scored 81 touchdowns. Oak Park running back Nick Werst will provide quite the contrast to Krysa’s power style with his quickness.

There will not be a shortage of talent at receiver, either. Raytown South’s DaJuan Beard and Ronnell Garner will be trying to wreak havoc on the Kansas secondary.

Doing the dirty work up front will be Park Hill’s Vincent Waller and Richard Cowger, Park Hill South’s Austin Baska and Smithville’s C.J. Keeney.

"We have fast kids everywhere and athletes everywhere," Schottel said. "We are getting along as a team too. That is also a pretty important thing. Even when we are talking to each other and jawing it is pretty playful. It isn’t harmful to the team."

Defense will be a strong spot as well. With linemen like Blue Springs’ Gus Toca and St. Joseph Central’s Justin Love, as well as linebackers such as Kearney’s Tyler Trout and Belton’s Casey Lewis, the Missouri side will be strong up front.

The secondary will not be weak, either. With Lee’s Summit North’s Quincey Williams, Winnetonka’s Andy Helmick and St. Pius X’s Jon Danaher, there is athleticism to spare.

After winning the last two contests, Kansas leads the all-time series 10-6.

"They are going to be just like us," Schottel said. "They are going to be a bunch of athletes. Whoever comes together first is going to win."

Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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