Senior running back Mitchell Stoughton ran for 570 yards and six touchdowns last season even though he was third on the depth chart. He had 293 yards and three scores on just 10 carries in the Tigers' first three games. He takes over as the starting halfback this season. (File photo)

Fort Scott High School head coach Don Epps wanted to run last Friday night's Red & White Scrimmage run as much under game conditions as possible. It made sense, really, since the Tigers' season-opening opponent, Nevada, will already have a real, live game under its belt when they meet Friday night at Logan Field in Nevada.

But the game-like conditions may have contributed in a way that was unexpected, yet pleasing. Epps feels like so many players ran things so well that it turns out the Tigers have better depth than anticipated. That may be a by-product of having 16 seniors returning, including All-SEK Honorable Mention receiver/defensive back Alex Barner.

"It's their legacy to uphold," Epps says. "I think it's very special to be a senior at Fort Scott. You get to show leadership. And every week, they have to be ready to play to play hard."

The scrimmage showed that instead of maybe two or three running backs in the rotation, there may be six, sort of like it was last year when Mitchell Stoughton ran for 570 yards and three touchdowns in Fort Scott's first three games, even though he was the No. 3 halfback and touched the ball just 10 times in those games.

"We have a lot of kids who can run the ball right now," Epps said Monday afternoon before practice. "We're excited about the progress we're making in our backfield."

The Tigers were 9-2 last season, falling in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs to Columbus. They tied for second with the Titans in the Southeast Kansas League at 6-1 as Pittsburg won the championship. Fort Scott will continue to run the split-back veer offense, a staple since former head coach Bob Campbell's first season in 1993. Anyone with Pittsburg State University connections, such as those Campbell and Epps have, can understand why as it has proven successful at the collegiate and high school levels.

However, Epps doesn't mind throwing something out there a defense might look at with a bit of surprise. As Campbell used the wishbone on occasion to change things up, so Epps will with some shotgun formations.

"We're doing a bit of shotgun with trips (three receivers)," Epps says. "We can run the ball out of that. And through the year, we may show some I formation. Maybe more toward the end of year. But, overall, we run trap, counter and inside and outside veer. That's our bread and butter.

"The split back's been very good for our program. Our kids believe in it and understand it. It's a great offense. We feel like no matter where we are on the field, we can run it."

Aaron Judy (6' 0", 190, Sr.) continues the Tiger tradition of the senior taking over as quarterback. Ben Gettler (6' 1", 165, Jr.) is the backup. Trevor Swim (5' 11", 150, Soph.) is No. 3 on the chart.

Stoughton (5' 10", 175, Sr.) will start at halfback in the Tigers' split-back veer with Kolby Allen (6' 0", 205, Sr.) at fullback once he recovers from an ankle sprain. Chris Archie (5' 6", 140, Jr.), Cody Cannon (5' 9", 165, Jr.), Blake Cowen (6' 0", 170, Jr.) and Denzell Davis (5' 6", 125, Jr.) give the Tigers additional depth.

Barner (6' 5", 200, Sr.) returns at the "Z" receiver position -- the one that is always out wide -- after catching 29 passes for 580 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. Brandon Boyd (6' 2", 180, Sr.), eligible after transferring over from Uniontown at mid-term last year, and Gary Floyd (6' 0", 165, Jr.) also make that position deep as Epps says "all three have stepped up."

The "X" receiver, which is the position that can flex between a second wide out or a second tight end, has several candidates including Ben Sinn (6' 1", 185, Sr.), Tyson Woodson (6' 3", 185, Sr.) and Josh Hawkins (6' 2", 185, Jr.).

The "Y" receiver, the one that's always a tight end, will be Jonathan Karleskint (6' 0", 210, Sr.) with Logan Fancher (6' 5", 190, Jr.) as his backup.

The starting offensive line will be an all-senior unit with Sterling Braun (5' 10", 210) at center, Andrew McGee (5' 10", 210) at strong guard and Nick Wallace (6' 2", 250) at strong tackle. The quick guard will be Andrew McGee (5' 10, 210) while the quick tackle will be Cole Murrin (6' 2", 230). The primary backups for the line will be Grant Stuckey (5' 10", 195, Jr.) and Drew Bryant (6' 1", 220, Soph.).

"The things I'm pleased with early in the year is that we have a solid receiving corps; they've really stepped up," Epps says. "We have a lot of running back depth. And then we have a strong line. We just have to avoid injuries.

"As an offense, we want to come out and play sharp, fundamental football. We don't want to take ourselves out of the game with interceptions or fumbles. In the first year of the year, we'll really need to avoid those things."

Turning to defense, Fort Scott will continue to run the 4-3 defense (four linemen, three linebackers), which is just as established as the veer is on offense.

"We'll run the 4-3 base with some (secondary coverages) Cover Two or Cover Three looks out of it," Epps says. "We're going to be quick on defense and fly to the ball.

"We feel really good about our defense right now but we have a lot of new faces. It's not a rebuilding year at all. We want to start seniors. That's what we want in our program. It's time for them to step up and take charge. It's been very competitive."

All four starters on the line will be new. There are five players up for playing time at the end positions on the line. Braun, Sinn, Woodson, White and Murrin should all get playing time there as they can rotate in and out.

Wallace and McGee have the inside track on the starting berths at defensive tackle. Stuckey and Bryant will back them up.

The linebacking corps is anchored by Allen, who started as the "Willie" last year and returns there this year. Karleskint is the "Sam" and Cannon and Cowen are contending to replace two-year starter Clint Lawrence in the middle.

"Our linebackers are very versatile," Epps notes. "We're going to get a lot of guys in the game there and help keep them fresh. Each of them can play two positions (at linebacker)."

Boyd and Floyd will start at cornerback with Archie, Stoughton, Davis, Dakota Gillen (5' 10, 160, Sr.) and Bryan Mize (5' 9", 155, Sr.) backing them up. Barner and Judy will be the safeties with Griffin Knopp (6' 1", 170, Soph.) and Evan Williams (5' 11", 160, Jr.) as the backups.

As far as special teams go, Barner will be the kicker and Knopp will do the punting. Allen has done some kicking off in the past. Cowen will be the long snapper on field goals and punts.

Barner, Stoughton and Boyd will perform most of the return duties.

Pittsburg was picked to finish atop the SEK in the pre-season coaches' poll with Fort Scott tabbed for second and Chanute third. Columbus, which the Tigers will face in the regular season for the first time since 1995 (which was also the last time the teams played in Fort Scott), was picked fourth.

"I think the league, overall, is very good," Epps said. "Pittsburg will again be one of the top teams in the league. The team that might turn a lot of heads is Chanute. They have a lot of returning seniors. I think coach (Don) Simmons said he has 24 seniors. They're going to be strong.

"Columbus is going to be good again. I don't see a weak team. Independence is much improved. We're going to be going into a hornet's nest in week two when we go there. They're going to be fired up. I'm looking forward to that one.

"We've added two competitive games. Nevada's going to be a rivalry game. Columbus has turned into a rivalry game. It's pretty neat how we're going to have to be ready every single week this year and we're looking forward to that challenge."

The districts change every two years and 2008 begins a new cycle. However, the KSHSAA saw fit to keep Fort Scott, Chanute, Iola and Anderson County together even after other changes happened to area teams such as Pittsburg moving back up to Class 5A after two years in 4A and Southeast-Cherokee going back down to 3A.

"Iola's going to be one of those teams that's going to be very confident in what they're doing right now," Epps says. "They're going to have the spread offense for the second year. They'll run that 3-3 stack defense. Anderson County, obviously, they beat us two years ago and we'll have to go back there. They're very well coached. The whole district is tough. Every team is going to get ready for us and they can beat you. We know that from experience."

2008 Tiger Schedule

Bold -- Southeast Kansas League game.

Italics -- Class 4A, District 6 game.