Staley vs. Lee's Summit West

ESPN High School Football Kickoff preview

Originally Published: August 24, 2012
By Damon Sayles | ESPN RecruitingNation

Show Me State powers collide when Kansas City (Mo.) Staley takes on Lee's Summit (Mo.) West on Saturday (ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET) in the ESPN High School Football Kickoff. Staley defeated Lee's Summit West 76-70 in four overtimes in last year's Class 5 state semifinals.

STALEY FALCONS

Coach: Fred Bouchard
Record: 0-0
Team overview: In a matter of four years, Bouchard and the Falcons have climbed to the top of Missouri high school football. After an undefeated run and a Class 5 state championship, Staley now finds itself as the hunted, rather than being the hunter. Look for the team to be competitive and not take plays off.
Prospect history: Staley is a relatively new school, first opening its doors in 2008. Since that span, Staley has seen several players earn college football scholarships. RB Morgan Steward and DE Nate Lohn were senior leaders on last year's state-champion squad. Steward is now at Missouri, and Lohn is at Stanford.
Top prospect: Three-star QB Trent Hosick has been the definition of a dual-threat quarterback. A Missouri commit, Hosick threw for 1,422 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 2,054 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior. In the state semifinal against Lee's Summit West, he accounted for 371 total yards and seven touchdowns.
New face: Because of the effectiveness of Steward, few rushing yards went to other Staley running backs. Shifty senior Tre Childs has the chance to excel in the backfield this season and continue what Steward started. As a backup, Childs averaged nearly eight yards per carry.
Keep an eye on: TE Tyler Nugent had a solid summer, and he is expected to be a playmaker in passing situations. At 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, Nugent is a big target for Hosick, but he's also a player who loves to hit.
Other prospects: Senior OL Austin White is expected to be an anchor not only on the offensive line but also in the entire offensive package. He is a returning all-state selection looking to improve his stock in the recruiting game. 2015 LB Parker Mertz had an impressive freshman campaign on varsity, recording 48 tackles, three fumble recoveries and an interception. Mertz is only a sophomore, but he'll be called upon to lead a young defense.
Bet you didn't know: Staley is the first "Green" school of Missouri. It earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in 2008.

VS.


LEE'S SUMMIT WEST TITANS

Coach: Royce Boehm
Record: 0-0
Team overview: Lee's Summit West won the Missouri Class 5 state championship in 2010 but was on the wrong end of the four-overtime shootout in last year's state semifinal against Staley. That's the team's motivation this season, and the Titans are hoping a strong defensive front seven will be the key to another dominating season.
Prospect history: In the last five years, the Titans have compiled a 56-11 record. Credit that to solid coaching and a talented crop of players each season. Last year's team featured the coach's son, Under Armour All-American Evan Boehm, and starting QB Luke Knott. Boehm and Knott are now freshmen at Missouri and Iowa State, respectively.
Top prospect: ESPN 300 DE Jamone Boyd, at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds, is one of the biggest names in the recruiting circle yet to verbally commit. Boyd is strong enough to play on the line, quick enough to play LB and versatile enough to line up at TE if necessary. Arkansas, Kansas State, Missouri and Oklahoma State are among the schools that have offered.
New face: 2014 QB Thomas Ganaden will take over the offense for Knott, and Boehm is very high on the signal-caller. Ganaden had a promising summer, and he's expected to attract multiple colleges from now until the end of his senior season.
Keep an eye on: LB Nick Ramirez committed to Missouri in April, and he's out to prove that he's one of the best linebackers in the country. The four-star athlete had 115 tackles last season, and he's compiled more than 250 tackles throughout his varsity career as both an inside and outside linebacker.
Other prospects: TE Austin Burau has a ton of upside, and the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder will be looked at as a big target for Ganaden early. DL Lane Pennington was an all-state selection last year, and he will add depth to a loaded front seven. OLs Kyle Morrison and Tyler Reid are technically sound linemen who will be charged to keep Ganaden's jersey clean. Morrison is a tackle, and Reid is a guard. DB Brandon Miller has interest from Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri and others, but he can really elevate his recruiting with a strong year.
Bet you didn't know: As good as Lee's Summit West is in football, the school's robotics team is considered one of the nation's elite.

Damon Sayles

Reporter, RecruitingNation
  • Covers recruiting in the Midlands
  • Joined ESPN in 2011

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