Kearney defensive end Joe Windsor stares up at the projection screen and feels a swirl of emotions. It’s Monday, just a few days after the Bulldogs shut out Harrisonville in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Class 4 state playoffs, and Windsor and the rest of his defensive teammates sit quietly in their locker room watching film of the Webb City Cardinals.Webb City, of course, is the team Kearney will face in the state semifinal game, which takes place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Webb City. Problem was, they were watching film of their heartbreaking 14-7 loss to the Cardinals in last year’s state semifinals. And as defensive coordinator Josh Gray runs through each of Webb City’s offensive plays, Windsor couldn’t help but remember how it felt to see the Bulldogs’ hard-working senior class get sent home empty-handed while the Cardinals went on to win a state championship.“When I watched the film, I was (angry),” said Windsor, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior who has a team-high 12.5 sacks. “I don’t want us to be another team coach (Greg) Jones says goodbye to so early.”Kearney’s coaches insist they showed the players the film so they could point out tendencies, not to get the team fired up. But perhaps a little emotion isn’t a bad thing. Because if Kearney, 11-2, is going to avoid the same fate this season, the defense is going to have to play better than it did last year, when it blew a seven-point halftime lead. “We played great as a defense, but there were little things they would exploit, like us not being in the right gap,” said 6-foot, 190-pound senior linebacker Stephen Juergens, who leads the team with 51 solo tackles and has 7.5 sacks. “All it takes is four yards, three times, to get a first down.”Despite returning only six starters total from last year’s team, Webb City’s offense hasn’t slowed down. The Cardinals are currently 13-0 and averaging 42 points per game. The Bulldogs have had their fair share of attrition as well, returning only six starters on offense and three — Windsor, Juergens and senior cornerback Tyler Funk — on defense from a team that allowed fewer than six points per game last season. But that hasn’t stopped a defense that fancies itself as the “Purple Swarm.” Despite working in eight new starters, the Bulldogs have posted six shutouts this season and allowed just more than five points per game.However, that’s not to say the defense didn’t need some time to jell. After a 13-7 loss to Fort Osage in week two Jones and Gray criticized the defense for missed assignments and missed tackles. Most troubling, Kearney coaches said players weren’t working together. Jones said certain players — particularly Juergens, Funk and Windsor — tried to do too much on the field. “We reminded them that they don’t have to play beyond the expectations of their duty,” Jones.And out of that game came a saying the Bulldogs have used ever since. During a meeting the next week, Gray said that the defense needed to play like a “fist,” with the concept being that like a hand, a defense is stronger when it works together. “When each section of the defense does its job, that’s when the fist comes together,” Funk said. And like a fist, Kearney’s defense has inflicted some serious damage this season, thanks to a renewed focus on team defense and the continued development of several first-year starters. In the eight games since a 21-7 week five loss to Staley, Kearney has allowed a grand total of 20 points and shut out five opponents. Back at Kearney, Webb City remains the focus. Long after the film session is over on Monday, Juergens stands at a blackboard going over plays with Gray. Like Windsor, the disappointment Juergens felt watching film of last year’s game is gone. Now, there’s only excitement.”Oh man,” Juergens said. “I wish it was Saturday already.”

Posted on Tue, Nov. 17, 2009 10:15 PM

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Resurgent Kearney defense seeks revenge against Webb City

By TEREZ A. PAYLOR The Kansas City Star

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Kearney defensive end Joe Windsor stares up at the projection screen and feels a swirl of emotions.

It’s Monday, just a few days after the Bulldogs shut out Harrisonville in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Class 4 state playoffs, and Windsor and the rest of his defensive teammates sit quietly in their locker room watching film of the Webb City Cardinals.

Webb City, of course, is the team Kearney will face in the state semifinal game, which takes place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Webb City. Problem was, they were watching film of their heartbreaking 14-7 loss to the Cardinals in last year’s state semifinals.

And as defensive coordinator Josh Gray runs through each of Webb City’s offensive plays, Windsor couldn’t help but remember how it felt to see the Bulldogs’ hard-working senior class get sent home empty-handed while the Cardinals went on to win a state championship.

“When I watched the film, I was (angry),” said Windsor, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound senior who has a team-high 12.5 sacks. “I don’t want us to be another team coach (Greg) Jones says goodbye to so early.”

Kearney’s coaches insist they showed the players the film so they could point out tendencies, not to get the team fired up. But perhaps a little emotion isn’t a bad thing. Because if Kearney, 11-2, is going to avoid the same fate this season, the defense is going to have to play better than it did last year, when it blew a seven-point halftime lead.

“We played great as a defense, but there were little things they would exploit, like us not being in the right gap,” said 6-foot, 190-pound senior linebacker Stephen Juergens, who leads the team with 51 solo tackles and has 7.5 sacks. “All it takes is four yards, three times, to get a first down.”

Despite returning only six starters total from last year’s team, Webb City’s offense hasn’t slowed down. The Cardinals are currently 13-0 and averaging 42 points per game. The Bulldogs have had their fair share of attrition as well, returning only six starters on offense and three — Windsor, Juergens and senior cornerback Tyler Funk — on defense from a team that allowed fewer than six points per game last season. But that hasn’t stopped a defense that fancies itself as the “Purple Swarm.” Despite working in eight new starters, the Bulldogs have posted six shutouts this season and allowed just more than five points per game.

However, that’s not to say the defense didn’t need some time to jell. After a 13-7 loss to Fort Osage in week two Jones and Gray criticized the defense for missed assignments and missed tackles.

Most troubling, Kearney coaches said players weren’t working together. Jones said certain players — particularly Juergens, Funk and Windsor — tried to do too much on the field.

“We reminded them that they don’t have to play beyond the expectations of their duty,” Jones.

And out of that game came a saying the Bulldogs have used ever since. During a meeting the next week, Gray said that the defense needed to play like a “fist,” with the concept being that like a hand, a defense is stronger when it works together.

“When each section of the defense does its job, that’s when the fist comes together,” Funk said. And like a fist, Kearney’s defense has inflicted some serious damage this season, thanks to a renewed focus on team defense and the continued development of several first-year starters. In the eight games since a 21-7 week five loss to Staley, Kearney has allowed a grand total of 20 points and shut out five opponents.

Back at Kearney, Webb City remains the focus. Long after the film session is over on Monday, Juergens stands at a blackboard going over plays with Gray. Like Windsor, the disappointment Juergens felt watching film of last year’s game is gone.

Now, there’s only excitement.

”Oh man,” Juergens said. “I wish it was Saturday already.”

To reach Terez A. Paylor, send e-mail to tpaylor@kcstar.com

Posted on Tue, Nov. 17, 2009 10:15 PM

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