Strong finish in ’07 gives boost to Raytown South
By BOB LUDER
The Kansas City Star
Raytown South football coach David Allie calls the feeling surrounding the Cardinals this pre-season as “pretty upbeat.”
For good reason.
The Cardinals return 18 starters off a team that finished with a 4-7 record but played its best football at the end and won its district.
“We have a lot of experience back,” Allie said. “There are a lot of good players in the group.”
That begins with the senior Ronnell Garner, who led the team in rushing with nearly 500 yards in only six games.
“He’ll also play some receiver, and he’s a return man, too,” Allie said.
Perhaps the team’s most talented athlete is senior wide receiver DaJuan Beard, who led the team in total offense. He’s destined to see time on kickoff and punt returns.
Allie added he has three talented candidates at running back -- junior Eric Brantley and seniors Sean Wheaton and Isaiah Turner. Junior Dennis Tanner is the quarterback.
The Cardinals return all five offensive linemen, led by seniors Kyle Fitzgerald (6 feet, 250 pounds), Easton Crist (6-0, 280) and Daniel Criss (6-4, 310).
The defense looks to be led by three linebackers, each of whom are two-year starters -- Sean King (6-0, 200), Keith Parker (6-1, 225) and Marcus Ivory (5-10, 210). DeAnthony Rimmer (6-2, 170) is a free safety who intercepted four passes.
Question marks remain in the kicking and punting games, which Allie describes as “wide open.”
Raytown South opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday at the new Staley High School in the North Kansas City District, then travels in week two to Platte County, another school with a new coaching staff.
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