Missouri high school football team previews (South Central region): Lebanon seeks to continue upward trend

The Yellowjackets have won district titles four of the past five seasons and reached the Class 5 quarterfinals in 2021.

By Chris Geinosky | Photo courtesy of Missouri Helmet Project 

Over the next few weeks, SBLive Missouri will break down various high school football teams in the state in anticipation of the upcoming 2022 season. Here’s our look at the Lebanon Yellowjackets.

HEAD COACH

Will Christian, 17th season (115-72; 151-82 overall)

RETURNING STARTERS

6 offense, 6 defense

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 10-2

League record: 8-1, tied for 1st in Ozark Conference

Playoffs: Lost 35-13 to eventual Class 5 state champion Webb City in state quarterfinals

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RB/LB Cade Muscia, 5-11, 205, Sr.

Coming off a season where he rushed for 1,394 yards and 22 touchdowns while being named third team all-state by the Missouri Football Coaches Association, Muscia looks primed for a big senior campaign. He will be running behind a new offensive line that lost four starters to graduation, including linchpin Tristian Wilson, one of the top blockers in the state.

RB/LB Nathan Bartell, 6-0, 185, Sr.

One of the team’s most important two-way players, Bartell has the ability to be a difference maker on both sides of the football. He earned postseason awards as both a running back and a linebacker a year ago and will once again be one of the team's leaders.

TE/DE Gunner Williams, 6-0, 235, Jr.

Another top returner, Williams has good size and athleticism. He was named first team all-conference as a tight end and second team as a defensive end by the Ozark Conference coaches last year and could be in line to have another big season this fall.

WR/DB Austin Hendrix, 6-0, 165, Sr.

Hendrix started all 12 games both offensively and defensively for the Yellowjackets during last year’s history-making season. After losing key pieces to graduation last spring, he will be counted on more this year as a senior leader.

OTHER RETURNING STARTERS

OL Danen Conrad, 5-10, 235, Jr.; RB/LB Jax Glendenning, 5-8, 165, So.; RB Jacoby Fultz, 5-10, 195, Sr.; DB Jarrett Sing, 5-7, 175, Sr.; DB Kaleb Nail, 5-9, 155, Sr.; LB Gavin Smith, 5-9, 170, Jr.; DE Preston Ellington, 6-2, 195, Sr.; LB Cole Dustin, 6-0, 200, Jr.; DB Hoyt Honey, 6-1, 170, Jr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

LB Ryan Heinrichs, 5-9, 170, Sr.; WR/DB Hager Hufft, 5-8, 160, Sr.; OL/DE Ethan Faircloth, 5-9, 225, Sr.; LB Walker Smith, 5-7, 175, Sr.; OL Brandon Hutson, 6-0, 270, Sr.; WR/DB Andrew Isbell, 5-10, 155, Sr.; TE Keaton Mizer, 6-2, 170, Sr.; DB Andrew Bowling, 6-0, 150, Jr.; LB Sean King, 5-10, 180, Sr.; WR JC Wells, 5-10, 155, Jr.; OL Joseph Tietze, 5-10, 200, Sr.; RB Jamall Rogers, 5-11, 200, Jr.; WR Ben Cluck-Schmoutey, 5-11, 165, Jr.; LB Griffin Jones, 5-11, 165, Jr.; DL Richard McConnoughey, 5-11, 200, Sr.; DL Jacob Suha, 5-10, 185, Sr.; OL Wyatt Shumate, 6-0, 255, Jr.; OL Thomas Howe, 6-3, 200, Jr.; OL Thomas Wrinkle, 6-2, 280, Jr.; TE/DE Ben Cooper, 6-2, 195, Jr.; DL Jesiah Mebruer, 5-11, 190, Jr.; OL Sam Henson, 5-11, 180, Jr.; OL Dathan Durbin, 5-10, 190, Sr.; DB Jacob Wells, 5-10, 160, Jr.; DB Cannon Roark, 5-9, 145, Jr.

OUTLOOK

Winning seasons have become a trend for the Lebanon football program. In fact, the Yellowjackets have turned in one lone losing campaign in the past 16 years after last year’s memorable 10-2 season.

Last year, Lebanon captured the program’s fourth district title in the past five seasons and earned a share of the Ozark Conference Championship for the first time in a decade. The Yellowjackets once again advanced to the state playoffs, but fell short in the quarterfinal round against eventual Class 5 state champ Webb City.

The team has six full-time starters back on both sides of the football, but also have several other returners who started on a part-time basis during the course of the season.

Cade Muscia returns as one of the top running backs in the state after rushing for nearly 1,400 yards and 22 touchdowns last year. Nathan Bartell, Gunner Williams and Austin Hendrix are all key two-way players. The big question mark for the team is the offensive line, which will be inexperienced.

COACH SAID

"We are returning a nice group of kids who have experienced four district championships in the last five years. I think we have a nice mix of veteran players and young players that should lead to us being in the equation. We have to stay hungry every day and push to get better in order to take the next step in our program." - Will Christian