Throughout the 2025 football season, Wright City football coach Tyler Rickard praised his team for the fact that, to a man, everyone ‘bought in’ when the Friday night lights were dim.

From the preseason to in-week practices when no one was watching the Wildcats, the team earned everything it achieved, the coach said.

That buy-in not only showed itself in the Wildcats (7-4) owning a six-game win streak, but also in their district win to start the postseason.

For their collective effort, 12 members of the football team earned All-Eastern Missouri Conference postseason honors, with three offensive and three defensive starters making the top team.

“Each one of these players has spent countless hours preparing for this season,” Rickard said. “To see their hard work pay off is awesome. I'm extremely proud of each of them and of our entire team. These awards wouldn't be possible without a great supporting cast of teammates.”

On the offensive side of the ball, senior wide receiver Nate Turner, sophomore wide receiver Kaveon Schulte and senior offensive lineman Ayden Dile made the top team.

Turner led the team with 30 receptions for 523 yards and nine scores. Schulte added 31 catches for 451 yards and four scores.

"It honestly means the world to me being first-team all-conference, knowing that a lot of people look up to me because I'm a sophomore,” Schulte said. “I'm really honored and blessed. I couldn't do it without my guys, especially without my line and my QB, and of course, my coaches pushing me to do better."

For Turner, having a talent like senior Dayton Humphreys get him the ball made his job easier and the recognition worthwhile.

"It means a lot that all my hard work didn't go unnoticed,” Turner said. “I want to thank my team, and especially my quarterback, for working out with me all summer and getting me into shape for a great season."

The other first-team selections on the offense were senior lineman Ayden Dile and senior kicker Caleb McCory. McCory converted 32 extra points this season.

The Wildcats’ defense had a first-team selection on each level of the field as senior end Grant Lehmen, linebacker Quinn Schnarre, and defensive back Terrence Love each played their way onto the top team. Love authored a season of 30 tackles, one fumble recovery, and a trio of interceptions.

"It means a lot to me,” Love said. “I have to thank my team for lifting me, making me better and helping me prepare each week."

Schnarre, who lost much of his junior season due to injury, said that rebounding and getting the chance to help the team excel meant everything. 

“After my injury last season, I worked so hard not just to get back onto the field, but to excel on it,” Schnarre said. “Being recognized for that means the world to me."

Throughout the season, he tallied 91 tackles, a fumble recovery and two interceptions.

Lehman echoed his coach’s words about the honor being earned in the weight room as much as it was on the field.

“It is a great recognition to receive, and it makes all the effort during summer workouts, practices, and games feel like it paid off,” Lehman said. “Getting to share the honor alongside so many of my teammates was definitely the best part about it; seeing so many others around me also get recognition for the work they put in was tremendous."

Just as the team found with its first-team success, Wright City placed six players on the All-EMO second team.

In that group are Humphreys as quarterback (1,594 passing yards, 19 touchdowns) and punter (36.0 average, 58 yard long), senior center Omar Ghannoum, senior defensive end Kaiden Pilcher (53 tackles, 14 for loss, four sacks, 25 hurries), sophomore lineman Jayden Henke (43 tackles, seven for loss, two sacks) and senior strong safety/outside linebacker Ben Gomez (50 tackles, five for loss, four interceptions).