It wasn’t long after a spectacular 2023 season came to an end when coach Jason Koper knew his returning Warrenton High football players were ready to build on what they had accomplished.
“After having a great year last year — one of the best in the entire program’s history — and bringing back 17 starters, it felt like Dec. 1 we were already chomping at the bit to get back on the field,†Koper said. “We had a great offseason, sitting at around 90 percent attendance for the summer. Couldn’t be more excited to get back on the fall practice field and the first game can’t come soon enough.â€
After five successive sub-.500 seasons in which they combined for just 16 total victories, the Warriors burst out of the gate last fall with two close wins against bigger schools and parlayed that into an 11-game winning streak to start the season and an 11-1 district runner-up campaign overall.
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“One of my goals when I took over was to never talk about being a football team but being a football program,†said Koper, who enters his fourth season at the helm. “Having good seasons every year and really making Warrenton football feel relevant.â€
Nine of the 17 returning starters are on offense for Warrenton, which is the No. 7 small school team in the preseason rankings.
At the top of that list is senior running back Austin Haas, who has a combined 3,740 yards and 35 touchdowns from scrimmage in his three seasons of high school football, including 1,712 yards and 26 TDs on the ground last fall.
“Austin Haas is a three-year captain for us,†Koper said. “The last couple years, I let the team get the say-so and he was one of our highest vote getters. This year as a coaching staff we felt there was no reason to even vote on Austin. He’s a team leader and a vocal leader. We’ve described him many times as the heartbeat that makes the engine run.â€
Haas will have a new face handing him the ball as one of the offensive starters the Warriors graduated is quarterback Charlie Blondin, who threw for 2,642 yards and 21 TDs a year ago.
“You don’t replace a Charlie Blondin,†Koper said. “I remember we were playing Mexico in Week 9; it was third-and-42 and Charlie threw a 45-yard strike to Mason Thompson. You just don’t have that in your playbook very often when you lose a guy like him.â€
The keys to the Warrenton offense have been handed to senior Brandon Johnson, who has been a standout on the Warriors defense the last couple years.
“Brandon Johnson really made his name last year at safety, one of the leading interception guys in ºüÀêÊÓƵ,†Koper said. “He has absolutely, without a doubt been one of our smartest football players on our team the last couple years. He runs our offense incredibly well and doesn’t make many mistakes in his reads.â€
Despite the transfer of Chance McPike (42 receptions, team-high 8 TDs) to Lutheran North, Johnson will have a plethora of receiving options at his disposal.
That group includes Thompson, a senior who led the Warriors in catches (49) and receiving yards (889) last season, senior Peyton Dawson (29 receptions, 361 yards), junior newcomer Deadrick Forrest and senior tight end Evan Schenck.
“Mason Thompson is looking even better than last year,†Koper said. “And really just because of Mason and Chance doing so well, Peyton Dawson kind of flew under the radar, but he’s a heck of a playmaker. We’ve gotten him much more involved in our playbook this year.â€
Warrenton also returns its entire starting offensive line in junior left tackle Logan Nichols, senior left guard Alex Wilson, junior center Jack Morris, senior right guard Chance Klasing and senior right tackle Kyle Lauck with sophomore Marcus Greene also figuring into the mix.
“When you hit the offseason and the playbook’s in and all you’re doing is fine-tuning, it makes life a lot easier,†Koper said. “I feel like right now we’re kind of looking at Week 7 ability-wise with having all those guys back.â€
The Warriors allowed a GAC North-low 16.9 points per game last year and eight defensive starters are back.
“The core of our defense is back bigger and stronger and faster than what we were last year,†Koper said. “We’re talented everywhere and deep with guys that have had snaps.â€
That unit will be led by all-state and All-Metro selection Kadin Stroer, a senior linebacker who amassed a team-best 142 tackles.
“Kadin Stroer is the heart and soul enforcer of the defense,†Koper said. “He gets sideline to sideline and he’s strong and physical. He should have an even better year than last year with the work he’s put in.â€
Johnson is also one of the leaders of the Warrenton defense after a seven-interception campaign last fall.
“Brandon Johnson is kind of like the general of the defense,†Koper said. “He sees it all. He communicates it all.â€
Dawson and senior Austin White are also back in the secondary, while senior Cole Meyer returns at linebacker and Haas will also see more time on defense at linebacker.
The defensive line will feature senior Trey Guthrie, Morris, junior Jake Mincher and junior Javon Jones, who racked up 19 sacks as a sophomore last season.
“Javon is back bigger and stronger than last year for his junior year,†Koper said. “He is one of the very few guys that I’ve had the opportunity to coach where you watch him and when he fires off the ball, he’s one of those kids that’s almost unblockable. Without a doubt, one of the most talented kids I’ve coached.â€
Warrenton will open its season with an Aug. 30 home game against Wright City, which finished 6-4 last season.
It will be the first gridiron meeting this century for the two schools that are separated by just 7.1 miles of Interstate 70 pavement.
“It’s a big rivalry game. I’ve tried as much as I can to downplay the rivalry just so we don’t get hyperfocused on one game, but it’s great for the communities,†Koper said. “We’re only six, seven miles down the road from them. Anytime you can get a community rivalry going like that, it’s great for both programs. Exactly what you want to start off Week 1 in high school football.â€