Prep Football Preview: Newsom To Carry Dual Load For Parkway North

Donavin Newsom is ready to carry it all on his shoulders.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior will be a two-way starter for a Vikings team that went 7-3 last season but missed out on a Class 5 state playoff berth.

“He’s good at everything, but doesn’t like the attention,” North coach Bob Bunton said of Newsom, who will start at tailback and at linebacker. “He’s a good kid, does well in the classroom. He’s really ready and raring to go.”

So are his Vikings teammates, who hope to build on last year’s record and qualify for the playoffs in the final year of the weird system MSHSAA has in place.

“I don’t think it’s disappointing,” Bunton said of last year’s 7-3 record, “but not making the playoffs hurts. We certainly were in a tough district.”

In that district again this year is Webster Groves (13-1 last year), (6-4) and (8-3).

Offense

Despite the loss of 10 starters – only senior wideout Michael Bozarth returns to his starting position – Bunton thinks the Vikings can reload. Bozarth will also take over the kicking duties from Aaron Hummert, an all-state selection a season ago who is currently playing at Washburn University.

“It doesn’t change for us, each year,” Bunton said. “We want to play the game fundamentally sound and eliminate as many mistakes as we can. Our kids play with a lot of energy.

“It’s not rebuilding. I don’t believe in that in high school. How do you explain that to your seniors? We’ve just got to trust our juniors and these kids who are inexperienced to step up. We’ve just got to make it work somehow.”

Newsom scored 10 touchdowns last year and will be asked to take over the feature back role from James Hawkins, last year’s Suburban South Conference player of the year after rushing for 1,363 yards and scoring 26 touchdowns. Filling in for an injured Hawkins in last year’s season finale against Webster Groves, Newsom ran for 249 yards and scored three times in the 29-24 loss. Jovonte Suber will share some of the rushing duties with Newsom.

Opposite Bozarth on the outside will be 6-9 senior Darrell Johnson. That duo hopes to catch a lot of passes from Andy Huss, a 6-foot junior quarterback.

“He’ll be able to do what we want him to do,” Bunton said of Huss’ ability to run North’s multiple-set offense. “He’s not going to be anything (flashy), he’s just a smart kid who knows the offense and will run it efficiently.”

Defense

Bunton said the 5-3 defense starts with Newsom, who will be the team’s middle linebacker. The Missouri recruit and four-year starter is an all-around great athlete. He was a state qualifier in track and is one of the best players on North basketball team.

“He’s just so very athletic,” Bunton said. “That’s what earned him a scholarship at Mizzou.”

Seniors Johnathan Little and Phil Posley are back at defensive end. Posley, a three-year starter, and Little were both all-conference selections and are two of the five returning starters on defense.

Rafe Janssen, a 5-9, 236-pound junior, will clog up the middle at nose guard.

“He’s very stout,” Bunton said. “He’s a strong kid, plays low to the ground. He had a great year last year.”

Junior safety Nathan Tilson also returns a season after intercepting a pair of passes and collecting 22 tackles. Johnson will play inside after playing defensive end a season ago.

“Those six kids played a lot of football for us,” Bunton said. “They’re going to anchor the team and we’re going to rely on them.”

Coach

Bunton is entering his 12th season as head coach and leads a program that hasn’t had a losing season since 1992. Bunton’s overall record is 76-40.

“We want to be in the mix come district time,” Bunton said. “We want to put ourselves in a position to get into the postseason. Those things really don’t change, but it’s tough in our conference.”

Week One

The Vikings open at home on Friday against St. Louis University High, a team that Bunton calls “very good.” It will be a special opening night for North, which will christen its new artificial turf field.

“We are going to break in the new turf,” Bunton said. “We’ve been practicing on it and we’re very proud of that. We’ve got a nice high school facility.”