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Even though the McDonald County Mustangs football team went 0-10 last year and has just two wins in the past three years, the feeling is that this year's Mustangs will begin a turnaround in the program. Leading the way is new coach Kellen Hoover. Hoover is a graduate of El Dorado High School and Missouri Southern State University who spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Monett, which included a state title last season. "We want to compete each and every week for four quarters," Hoover said. "Once we reach that point, we can focus on learning how to win. It is a definite process. We are working on getting better each day. We want to have great tempo each day and the kids have bought into that. I think we have steadily improved from day one. We are working on coming together as a group — as one unit and that will get us through good times, hard times and adversity. We are really trying to push that oneness on the program as a whole." Hoover said it looks as though the Mustangs will begin the season with about 55 players (ninth- through 12-grade), including several who have been out of football for a year or more and some who haven't played since junior high school or youth ball. "Were actually to the point we are struggling to find enough jerseys to fit eligible players without using ineligible numbers," Hoover said. "That's a good problem to have." The Mustangs return eight full-time 417-223-3232 LA OFICINA HABLA ESPAÑOL www.GeedingLaw.com Pineville, MO • Criminal Defense • Drugs • Municipal • Traffi c • Divorce • Child Custody • Modifi cations • DWI • Probate Law Have a Great Season Mustangs! 845-3913 • 845-3566 2682 W. State West 76 Hwy • Anderson, MO B & M TIRE & MUFFLER SERVICE Good Luck Mustangs Good Luck Mustangs See us for all your tire needs! 2C McDonald County Press Thursday, August 24, 2017 F a l l S p o r t S p r e v i e w Team Working To Turn Things Around By Rick Peck Special to McDonald County Press PHOTO BY RICK PECK The 2017 McDonald County Mustangs football team. DAY DATE OPPONENT LEVEL LOCATION TIME Friday Aug. 11 Jamboree Varsity Away TBA Friday Aug. 18 Salem High School Varsity Away 7 p.m. Friday Aug. 25 Marshfield Varsity Home 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 1 Seneca Varsity Away 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 8 Cassville High School Varsity Away 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 15 Mount Vernon Varsity Home 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 22 Lamar Varsity Away 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 29 Monett High School Varsity Home 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 6 East Newton Varsity Home 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 13 Aurora High School Varsity Away 7 p.m. Friday Oct. 20 TBA Varsity TBA TBA starters and a couple other part-time starters, split pretty much evenly on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. "Offensively, we have a ton of skill guys back," Hoover said. "We have a lot of holes to fill on the offensive line, but we have some kids ready to step in." Returning at quarterback is senior Peyton Barton. As a junior, Barton threw for more than 1,400 yards and ran for nearly 200 while accounting for 13 touchdowns before tearing his ACL in the final game of the season. Barton's favorite target was Cole Football Game Schedule SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 3C