Coach Kruppe, coming off a 6-6 season last year, what are some of your thoughts on last year and how are you feeling about the team for the upcoming season?
We started 2023 strong, but then entered the toughest part of our schedule while not at full strength. We were missing some key starters during that stretch, none more noticeable than at the QB position. We were able to get healthier just in time for our playoff run, and our kids did a great job in the post-season. They displayed mental toughness in mounting a 4th quarter comeback vs an athletic Webster Groves team, then avenged a regular season loss to top-seeded Poplar Bluff on the road. They put pressure on a great Cape team before finally succumbing to the state semifinalist.
That experience will help us as we move forward this season. We have many returners from last year who have continued to improve and are looking forward to making their mark in 2024.
Coach you started out the 2023-24 season with a strong home win against your rivals the North County Raiders. You open up this year at North County, how do you prepare your team for a week #1 game against a rival, at their home, and as the season opener?
Coach Jones is notorious for not showing his cards. Typically, NC does not Jamboree, so you don't necessarily have a look at them before the opening kickoff. Ultimately, we'll train our kids to be sound, disciplined football players. We do our best to anticipate what we'll see, then be ready to adjust in-game as necessary. But getting a week 1 victory versus a respected rival is critical in setting the tone for the season, so we look forward to the challenge.
You have two new opponents added to your schedule this year. Can you share your thoughts on St. Clair and Union and the upcoming matchups? How do you prepare for opponents you haven't played before?
St. Clair is a solid football program who will line up in double tight, 3-back sets and try to impose their will physically. It is a great test versus a great team, and we need to be very disciplined in how we execute. Union used to run a Jackson-esque offense, but have recently changed schemes; now they don't spread their formations nearly as much and are more ground-based in their attack. We need to be disciplined and win the battle in the trenches.
We've done some off-season prep for both those opponents, and will use whatever film is available this year to compare against what we've seen previously.
How has the team been preparing during the offseason for this upcoming year?
I really like what I've seen. We had great off-season attendance, which allowed us to improve athletically. It also gave us a foot forward as we entered June activities, as so many of our kids were prepared for what was installed over the summer. We had a productive two-day scrimmage at the end of summer workouts, and it allowed us to grasp where our strengths and weaknesses lie. We should also be getting back a couple kids who spent much of the summer recovering from injuries, which should only help us going forward.
Can you discuss any standout players who you expect to make a significant impact this season, either returning players or new talent?
We return many kids with a wealth of varsity experience. Corey Crawford, Brett Drye, Kaesen McClain, and Connor Rice all have multiple years of starting experience on the varsity level. Scott Fripp, Tatem Tinsley, and Ian Zohner also return after starting last season on one of both sides of the ball. Josh McCarthy is a rising sophomore who will be a difference maker. But the great thing is: we have a bunch of other kids who will be stepping into significant roles for the first time who we have great confidence in. As coaches, we feel like depth will be a strength for us in 2024.
How do you plan to build on the momentum of last year's postseason wins to drive the team towards a deeper playoff run this season?
Preparation will be the key. We must continue to develop as individuals and as a team. Execute well and play with confidence (but not cockiness). I believe our kids have an understanding of what's in front of them and the opportunity they have. We just need to go out and grab it. Like I've told our kids on many occasions, success doesn't just happen. We need to take the steps necessary to achieve our goals.
The Farmington Knights kick off their 2024 football season on the road against their rivals, the North County Raiders, in what promises to be an excellent week 1 matchup. Under the Friday night lights in Bonne Terre, the Knights will take the field at 7:00 PM on August 30th, eager to set the tone for the season with a statement win against the Raiders.