At its very core, consistency and quality are the two words to describe what Odessa football is all about.
For the better part of the last decade, the Bulldogs have emerged as one of the best programs in Missouri, etching seven-straight winning seasons after going 9-3 in 2023. As the reigning and defending Class 3 District 7 champions – their first district title since going 15-0 in 2019 – the Bulldogs ended last season in the state quarterfinals. They bring back nine overall starters alongside 12th year head coach Mark Thomas.
With four starters back on offense and six on defense, Thomas believes his squad can make another postseason push if they find their stride at the right time.
“We are a very young football team with only six seniors,” Thomas said. “We have some very good players, but they are very young. But early season success could build confidence and we need to stay healthy.”
While not necessarily a new face, sophomore quarterback Michael Scott looks to make Odessa’s playoff dreams come true as the program’s next starting signal caller. Coming in at 6-1 and 170 pounds, Scott replaces now-graduated Douryun D'obron. Scott’s top target is returning junior wide receiver Amaury Powell (6-1, 160), the team’s No. 1 receiver a season ago. He’s joined by senior receiver Mason Rider, who brings considerable size to the outside at 6-1, 175.
Another additional returning boost to the offensive backfield is running back Gabe Studdard, a 5-9, 165-pound senior who snagged Missouri Class 3 all-state third-team honors a year ago. Senior offensive tackle Ayden Agcopra is a returning two-year starter, standing at 6-1, 250. Joining Agcopra in the trenches is freshman tackle Robert Uhrlaub (6-1, 255), junior guard Kade Carroll (6-1, 235), sophomore center Drake King (6-1, 200) and junior guard Zeke Bergen (5-9, 200).
After averaging 38.4 points per game in 2023, Thomas points to the hogs up front to set the tone for Odessa’s offensive output.
“Our O-line needs to stay healthy, and the young players need to keep improving throughout the season,” Thomas stated. “Our starting QB will be a soph who needs to improve throughout the season. Our skill players will need to carry the offense.”
More skill players projected to supplement the offense this season include sophomore running back Cole Westerhold (6-0, 180) and sophomore tight end Garrett Young (6-1, 175).
On the defensive side of the pigskin, Studdard will pull double duty and play cornerback. He is joined in the secondary by Rider at free safety and sophomore strong safety Trey Sanders (6-0, 160), who played all 12 games as a freshman. Powell rounds out the defensive backfield at cornerback.
Another young up-and-comer is linebacker Tate Heitman, a 5-11, 185-pound sophomore who saw action in 12 games during his rookie season. Carson Tilden, a 6-0, 175-pound outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid who showed he can play at varsity level last season. Westerhold and Young will play next to Heitman and Tilden to complete the linebacking corps.
Down in front is Bergen at defensive end and Agcopra at tackle. They’re flanked by Carroll, the anchor of the defense who clinched a Missouri Class 3 all-state second-team accolade to close out his sophomore campaign.
Thomas’ 2023 defensive unit let up 24.3 points per game in, a 10-point improvement from 2022. Even though he’s bringing back over half of last season’s group, Odessa’s head honcho wants his defense to hone in on one key attribute: hustle.
“Our team speed needs to be the strength of our defense,” Thomas said. “We will be pretty athletic but still young.”
Odessa’s 2024 schedule begins on Sept. 30 with a 7 p.m. kickoff vs. Southern Boone. The Bulldogs won a 56-46 dogfight vs. the Eagles at home last season and hold four-straight victories over their soon-to-be Week 1 opponent. Odessa will clash with Class 4 standouts Warrensburg and Pleasant Hill in back-to-back weeks on Oct. 4 and Oct. 11. The Bulldogs’ Week 7 matchup with Pleasant Hill will hold some retributional weight, as the Roosters broke Odessa’s 4-0 record at the time with a 24-21 decision on the Bulldogs’ home turf.
To close out the regular season, Odessa seeks revenge against Class 4’s Harrisonville after falling to the Wildcats in Week 9 of 2023. If everything pans out accordingly for Thomas’ team, the Bulldogs have a chance to hoist their second district title in as many seasons, a feat the program has sought after ever since going back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.