Knights claim majority of All-Conference in 1st year
By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor
Daily Journal Sports Editor
Nov 24, 2008 - 10:08:32 CST
POPLAR BLUFF — The Farmington Knights made the move from the MAFC to the SEMO North Conference in the past off-season, and the results paid dividends for their inaugural year. Farmington won the conference title with a perfect 4-0 record in the five-team league.
Farmington knocked off perennial favorite Jackson by a score of 42-38, and then escaped a challenging Sikeston squad in the final game of the regular season with a 27-26 win. The Knights made it all the way to the quarterfinals in the state playoffs where they lost to Gateway Tech.
To add to their first-year success, the Knights’ players and coach also landed 13 out of the 25 All-Conference selections. Due to there only being five teams in the conference, the coaches selected only a first-team. Jackson received five selections, Cape Central had three, and Sikeston and Poplar Bluff each had two players named.
Farmington players were named to seven of the 11 positions on offense. Zach Hibbitts received the quarterback selection and was the only sophomore selected. Senior Zach Oyler was named one of three running backs, and seniors Bryan Krause and Nick Baker landed the two wide receiver spots.
Krause was the only player to be selected for both sides of the ball at a defensive back position as well.
The Knights also received three of the five offensive linemen positions with Dakota Smith at tackle, Seb Thomure at guard, and Josh Vaughn at center. Kyle Sullivan was named to the defensive line. All are seniors except Vaughn who is a junior.
Trent Busenbark made All-Conference linebacker, and Jordan Kimrey was selected at defensive back along with Krause. Place-kicker Logan Bradley was the only freshman to make the team.
Farmington head-coach Todd Vaughn was named Coach of the Year.
SEMO North All-Conference Team
Offense
QB — Zach Hibbitts, soph., Farmington;
RB — Zach Oyler, sr., Farmington; Cantrell Andrews, sr., Cape Central; Eli Jackson, jr., Sikeston;
WR — Bryan Krause, sr., Farmington; Nick Baker, sr., Farmington;
T — Jacob Duvall, sr., Poplar Bluff; Dakota Smith, sr., Farmington;
G — Matt Brown, sr., Jackson; Seb Thomure, sr., Farmington;
C — Josh Vaughn, jr., Farmington.
Defense
DL — Kevin Pridemore, sr., Jackson; Dalton Cochran, jr., Jackson; Richien Russell, sr., Cape Central; Kyle Sullivan, sr., Farmington;
LB — Blake Peiffer, sr., Jackson; Cole Rogers, jr., Jackson; Trent Busenbark, sr., Farmington; Josh Ritter, sr., Cape Central;
DB — Ben Knuckles, sr., Poplar Bluff; Bryan Krause, jr., Farmington; C A Strickland, sr., Sikeston; Jordan Kimrey, sr., Farmington.
K — Logan Bradley, fr., Farmington
Coach of the Year — Todd Vaughn, Farmington
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Farmington knocked off perennial favorite Jackson by a score of 42-38, and then escaped a challenging Sikeston squad in the final game of the regular season with a 27-26 win. The Knights made it all the way to the quarterfinals in the state playoffs where they lost to Gateway Tech.
To add to their first-year success, the Knights’ players and coach also landed 13 out of the 25 All-Conference selections. Due to there only being five teams in the conference, the coaches selected only a first-team. Jackson received five selections, Cape Central had three, and Sikeston and Poplar Bluff each had two players named.
Farmington players were named to seven of the 11 positions on offense. Zach Hibbitts received the quarterback selection and was the only sophomore selected. Senior Zach Oyler was named one of three running backs, and seniors Bryan Krause and Nick Baker landed the two wide receiver spots.
Krause was the only player to be selected for both sides of the ball at a defensive back position as well.
The Knights also received three of the five offensive linemen positions with Dakota Smith at tackle, Seb Thomure at guard, and Josh Vaughn at center. Kyle Sullivan was named to the defensive line. All are seniors except Vaughn who is a junior.
Trent Busenbark made All-Conference linebacker, and Jordan Kimrey was selected at defensive back along with Krause. Place-kicker Logan Bradley was the only freshman to make the team.
Farmington head-coach Todd Vaughn was named Coach of the Year.
SEMO North All-Conference Team
Offense
QB — Zach Hibbitts, soph., Farmington;
RB — Zach Oyler, sr., Farmington; Cantrell Andrews, sr., Cape Central; Eli Jackson, jr., Sikeston;
WR — Bryan Krause, sr., Farmington; Nick Baker, sr., Farmington;
T — Jacob Duvall, sr., Poplar Bluff; Dakota Smith, sr., Farmington;
G — Matt Brown, sr., Jackson; Seb Thomure, sr., Farmington;
C — Josh Vaughn, jr., Farmington.
Defense
DL — Kevin Pridemore, sr., Jackson; Dalton Cochran, jr., Jackson; Richien Russell, sr., Cape Central; Kyle Sullivan, sr., Farmington;
LB — Blake Peiffer, sr., Jackson; Cole Rogers, jr., Jackson; Trent Busenbark, sr., Farmington; Josh Ritter, sr., Cape Central;
DB — Ben Knuckles, sr., Poplar Bluff; Bryan Krause, jr., Farmington; C A Strickland, sr., Sikeston; Jordan Kimrey, sr., Farmington.
K — Logan Bradley, fr., Farmington
Coach of the Year — Todd Vaughn, Farmington