ROCK BRIDGE BRUINS – FOOTBALL 

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Rock Bridge went 5-5 and brings back a defense that allowed just 17 points per game last fall, plus a deep skill group on offense. Head coach Matt Perkins, in his fourth year, writes, “We bring back a lot of talent,” noting that almost everyone returns, including two-time all-stater Bookee Kritza and fellow all-stater Quentin Lea, both future high-major D1 players. He says they “bring back a lot of speed,” have added size with Beckett Bruns and Eric Kyne, and added “one of the best athletes I’ve seen on a football field in Nic Timbrook.” His staff includes Alex Harrell, Cedric Alvis, Donnell Jones, Tony Palmer, Sean Nevills, Chris Stehle, Garrett Mead, Spencer Mead, Keith Jones, Ken Moyers, Travis Craig, Robert Cox, Luke Ochoa, Davion Stockard and Tyler Cates.

Offensively, Rock Bridge returns seven starters and operates out of Empty with tempo. Perkins writes that the staff has spent five months “trying to figure out how to better involve more athletes,” will be “very up tempo,” and will “find ways to involve guys in space.” Junior quarterback Sean Nevills Jr. (5-11, 185) produced “2000+ yards of offense and 24+ TDs,” senior receiver Will Bliss (6-1, 170) scored 10 TDs while averaging 18 yards per catch, and junior lineman Tyler McCubbin (6-3, 265) is a returning all-conference offensive lineman. Junior athlete Eli Morgensen (5-9, 160) has “4.4 lazer 40” speed and ran a 10.6 100 last spring, junior receiver Kingston Jefferson (6-0, 185) returns from injury with breakout potential, and senior receiver Nic Timbrook (6-3, 190) holds Division I offers.

Defensively, nine starters return in a multiple 4-2-5. Kritza (6-2, 195), listed “ANYWHERE” and committed to Lindenwood, is a two-time all-state defensive back. Senior linebacker Quentin Lea (6-2, 235) is all-state and committed to Missouri State, senior defensive lineman Jonathon Ibeawuchi (6-0, 260) is a returning all-conference player who had 8.5 sacks last year, and senior linebacker Andrew Williams (5-10, 200) is a three-year starter and all-conference performer. Junior linemen Mason Palmer (6-2, 270) and Kishan Gordon (5-11, 275) are returning starters. Perkins notes the team is “as athletic as we have ever been in the back end” with the return of Kritza, Parker Bedford and Joe Jackson, plus the additions of Kingston Bush and Cruz Rohde, both of whom hold D1 offers.

Kritza is the MVP nominee. Perkins says he will play both ways and, after 21 years of coaching, calls him “second to no one in work ethic and football IQ.” Sophomore Kingston Bush is the underclassman to watch, expected to be “an all state kid this fall” who is “loaded with talent” and has an “edge that fits the position.”