Missouri high school football team previews (St. Louis region): Hazelwood East breaking in plenty of new faces after reaching district title game

Spartans to rely heavily on their running game this season.

By Cody Thorn | Photo courtesy of Missouri Helmet Project 

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 Hazelwood East Spartans.

HEAD COACH

Bobby Cole, 2nd season (6-6)

RETURNING STARTERS

3 offense, 3 defense

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall Record: 6-6

League Record: 4-4, 4th in Suburban Green

Playoffs: Beat St. Charles by forfeit; Beat Jennings, 27-22; Lost 42-21 to St. Dominic in district championship game

RETURNING STARTERS

LB/RB Jaquez Everette, 5-11, 215, Jr.; QB CaShawn Love, 5-9, 170, Jr.; RB/DB Andrew Flowers, 5-7, 170, Sr.; DB/RB Quintin Kirby, 5-10, 175, So.; LB/RB Lamont Alexander, 5-9, 170, Sr.; WR/DB Melvin Sledge, 6-0, 165, So.; OL/DL Marquis Harris, 6-6, 250, Sr.; OL/DL Jamorri Reid, 5-11, 230, Sr.; WR/DB Ladarius Williams, 5-10, 170, Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS

OL/DL Tristan Shannon, 5-8, 220, Fr.; OL/DL Oscar Chatman, 6-0, 225, Fr.; LB Tayvon Gregory, 5-9, 180, Fr.; FS/QB Bobby Cole III, 5-8, 160, Fr.; DB/RB Arif Shaker, 5-8, 170, So.; DB/WR Amon Cole, 5-10, 170, Jr.; DB/RB Dion Hentz, 5-10, 165; OL/DL Excell Thomas, 5-10, 220, Fr.; DB/RB Makhi Coleman, 5-8, 160, Fr.

OUTLOOK

In Bobby Cole's debut season coaching at his alma mater, the Spartans reached the district finals for the first time since 2018. The veteran-heavy team lost nine starters and six of the seniors signed to play football at the next level, including all-conference picks RB/DB Armon Hill (Missouri Valley), WR Valonz Powell (Morningside), DB Jeremiah Dorsey (Fontbonne) and OL/LB Javan McClendon (Culver-Stockton), as well as QB Mekhi Holmes (Simpson) and OL Rashaun Lane (Lincoln).

That means there will be plenty of new faces this fall when Spartans open at Parkway North on Aug. 26.

"With our team being so young, we must lock in and focus on consistently executing our assignments," running back/defensive back Andrew Flowers said. "As long as we play our roles, do our jobs, we will finish what we started."

Hazelwood East will rely heavily on a running game that averaged 98 yards per game last year under the play calling of Cole, a 2002 graduate that played in the Class 5 title game in 2001. The offense will have a lot of new faces on the line and in the backfield. He sees the talent; though knows it is unproven on Friday nights.

Defensive coordinator Joe Brown oversaw a unit that allowed less than 100 yards per game on both the air (85) and ground (74), while yielding 23 points per game.

Incidentally, the Spartans' offense also scored 23 points per game.

Flowers and Everette will be the running backs that look to fill the void of Hill. Love will look to replace Holmes at quarterback. The offensive line likely will have a combination of three underclassmen - two freshmen and a sophomore.

Cole, who was an assistant at Lutheran North when they won the Class 2 state title in 2019, notes the secondary will be a key for the defense with two returning lettermen back: Williams and Kirby. Gregory, a freshman, will likely start at linebacker with sophomore Semaj Flowers - Andrew Flowers’ brother - and Everette.

COACH SAID

"Offensively, we will be a downhill, physical team who looks to control the game clock and keep opposing offenses on the sideline. Defensively, we will play disciplined, fast and physical. We are coached to fly around, tackle consistently and cause opposing teams to make mistakes.” - Bobby Cole