Missouri high school football team previews (Kansas City region): St. Michael the Archangel ready to build off historic firsts from '21 season

The Guardians are coming off their first winning season, including two postseason victories.

By Cody Thorn 

Over the next few weeks, SBLive Missouri will break down various high school football teams in the state in anticipation of the upcoming 2022 season. Here’s our look at the Guardians from St. Michael the Archangel Catholic.

HEAD COACH

Andrew Pitts, 3rd season (12-9)

RETURNING STARTERS

6 offense, 5 defense

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall Record: 7-4

Playoffs: Beat Lexington, 45-20; Beat Lawson, 48-7; lost 70-14 to Richmond in district championship

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Cam Zaun, 6-1, 170, Jr.

Zaun will move into the full-time starting role at QB this fall after serving as the backup last year to his older brother, Dillon. The younger Zaun was a receiver last year, catching four passes for 44 yards, but got some time under center. He was 20-of-37 for 476 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. 

WR Caleb Briggs, 5-11, 175, Sr.

He is the top returning receiver back for the Guardians after hauling in 30 catches for 616 yards and eight scores. Out of the team’s top five receivers last year in terms of yards, he is the only one back. He earned first-team all-district honors last year.

OL/DL Zach Berry, 6-2, 225, Sr.

Berry was second on the team last year with 48 tackles, while adding two sacks and seven tackles for loss. He earned postseason honors as an offensive lineman, earning first-team all-district and was named to the Examiner’s second-team All-Area team. He’s also an accomplished wrestler for the school. 

K/P Max Ellis, 6-2, 175, Sr.

A standout on special teams, Ellis was a first-team all-district pick last year at kicker. In a game against Diamond last year, he hit field goals from 42 and 45 yards. This summer, he made a field goal from 52 yards. Ranked 4.5 as a kicker and 4.0 as a punter by Kohl’s Professional Camp rankings.

LB/RB Chandler Prosser, 6-0, 175, Sr.

He’s the team’s top returning rusher in terms of yards and scores. He got 35 carries and ran for 258 yards and three scores last fall. 

OTHER RETURNING STARTERS

OL Gunnar McTamney, 5-9, 235, Sr.; CB Karson Jones, 5-7, 160, Sr.; WR/FS Avery Brown, 6-0, 175, Sr.; LB Blaise Rastorfer, 6-0, 170, Sr.; LB Hayden Drake, 5-10, 185, So.; CB Brady Simpson, 5-10, 152, Sr.; LB Lucas Estes, 6-1, 150, Jr.; OL Carter Gulick, 5-11, 195, Jr.

OUTLOOK

Last year featured a lot of firsts for the Lee’s Summit parochial school, including the first winning season in the program’s five-year history. The team played the most games in one year and won two games in the postseason for the first time.

This will be the final year for the Guardians without a league affiliation as they join the Crossroad Conference next year. St. Michaels will play some of the future conference rivals this year but opens with two teams that were in the state rankings last year in Summit Christian Academy and St. Pius X. However, the back part of the schedule appears to be more favorable.

The offense generated 38.1 points per game last year, while rolling up 232.5 yards per game through the air and 169.3 yards on the ground. However, graduation meant the loss of tight end Michael Haggerty, now at Missouri Western, and running back Ellis Edwards, the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards.

The Guardians’ defense gave up 28.1 points per game and about 300 yards per game. With a strong linebacker corps full of returning starters, defensive coordinator Kenny Wachter’s unit will be tough to run on.

COACH SAID

"I think everyone is excited for this team, this year. We are going to focus on fundamentals; blocking, tackling, catching, throwing and kicking. This is a very hard-working group which is committed to the process. We will focus on the process and preparation and let the games take care of themselves." - Andy Pitts