By Patrick MacCoonRecord Sports EditorAfter averaging a mere 15.4 points per game last season, Wright City believes it may have the right pieces on offense to help create a turnaround season.A new quarterback, a breakout candidate at running back, playmaking receivers and an experienced line have first-year Head Coach Jeff Sargent excited about moving the program past a 2-8 finish in 2014.“The most important thing to me is how we start a game,” Sargent said. “I like to start a game fast and we have the offense to do so this year. I have to get creative and find a way for us to jump out on teams. If I can do that, the rest of the game will take care of itself.”Andrew Pfuhl will take over the role behind center after suffering a torn labrum in his right-throwing shoulder last season.While the senior has yet to throw a varsity pass in his career, Pfuhl has appeared poised in preseason scrimmages and also flashed his ability to scramble out of the pocket for positive yardage.“We are seeing leadership qualities from him at quarterback and he has adjusted really well,” Sargent said. “Last season he would have had a chance to start at quarterback, but now he is back and feeling 100 percent.”Lining up behind the signal-caller will be senior DeRenzo Blanks, who took to the scene by storm in limited action last season.In six contests, Blanks averaged 62.7 rushing yards a game as he carried the ball 62 times for 376 yards. In a 36-0 shutout over Montgomery County, the burly back rushed for a season-best 120 yards for the Wildcats on eight carries and added one of his two touchdowns of the 2014 campaign.“DeRenzo has great vision and quick feet,” Sargent said. “He’s not as fast as some of our playmakers on offense, but he is not slow by any means. He can make some big things happen out of the backfield. If he wants to, he is going to be playing on Saturday’s somewhere after this season.”Wright City believes it may have the fastest trio of players in the conference in seniors Tyler Brittain, Troy Muse and Kyle Tuepker.On his way to an Eastern Missouri all-conference selection last season, Brittain used his blazing speed to slip past defensive backs to total 242 receiving yards on 14 catches and a touchdown. Entering his senior season, he has a career average of 20.17 yards per reception.Muse, who was clocked even faster than Brittain in the 40-yard dash this summer at 4.38 seconds by his coaches, returns as the Wildcats’ leader with three receiving touchdowns. He totaled 158 rushing and 132 receiving yards on 34 carries and 11 catches, respectively.Tuepker, who totaled 832 total yards and a 14 touchdowns as the starting quarterback last year, will now see time at running back and wide receiver. He also poses as a threat on special teams as several long kickoff returns helped him earn an all-conference selction at the position as a junior.The three combined for 744 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns in 2014.“We feel as if we have some of the top speed and playmakers in the conference with these three at receiver,” Sargent said. “What’s scary is Trey Saddler and Clayton Sharp are fast too. They are going to contribute and get the ball in their hands to try and make big plays as well. We have speed all over.”Senior Kyle Christopher and Junior David Ortega have several starts under their belts on the offensive line and have helped the younger players, such as 6-foot-5 sophomore Robert Benoist, improve up front in pass protection and run blocking.Ortega also led Wright City with three sacks last season and looks to be a force on the defensive line as well with Jaime Malta.Linebackers Austin Buckhheit and Blanks return as two of the top leading tacklers from last season combined. They made 126 stops and recovered two fumbles.“Austin is smart and is the leader that will line up our defense and make the calls,” Sargent said. “DeRenzo will be playing sort of a hybrid linebacker position and create a force all over the field.”Brittain, Tuepker and Blanks combined for eight interceptions last season.With playmakers on both sides of the ball, Wright City is ready to get back to action.“I’m just hoping and praying everything gets rolling because I have a feeling once we do it’s going to be a lot of fun to watch,” Sargent said. “This could be a really great season if all the pieces come together.”

DeRenzo Blanks will have plenty of opportunities this season to break the long run. The senior tailback for Wright City had three games in 2014 where he rushed for over 80 yards. The Wildcats have a slough of talented athletes on offense looking to make for a strong and fast style of play.

Derrick Forsythe photo.