RENEWED OPTIMISM: Joplin football begins fall with clean slate

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Curtis Jasper has been coaching high school football for nearly three decades, but he admitted one thing never gets old — the first day of practice.

“This is my 20th year as a head coach and 26th year coaching at the high school level, and each year and each team is different,” said Jasper, who is in his 12th season leading the Joplin High School football program. “You might think that doing this for almost 30 years it would get redundant, but it doesn’t. Each team’s identity is different, and that’s what makes this day exciting. It’s not just about football, it’s about seeing these kids grow and mature. It’s always nice helping in that process and building those relationships. That’s the exciting part. And you can see the kids’ excitement and their ownership of the program and what they put into it.”

On the first day of fall practices, Jasper’s Eagles hit the field Monday evening at the JHS Athletic Complex in order to avoid the sweltering temperatures of the day.

Jasper noted the opening day of practice always brings a clean slate and a renewed optimism.

“It’s absolutely a new opportunity every year,” said Jasper, who directed the Eagles to a Class 6 runner-up finish in 2019. “And if you don’t have a good team culture, you’re not going to be very successful. If you don’t work at it, it’s not going to be good. That’s why our leadership council and offseason work are so important. We point out to the guys what the standards are and what the core values are. We let them know that these are the things we have to be intentionally working toward if we want to be successful.”

Jasper added the first week of practice will focus on refining fundamentals.

“First, we want to make sure all of our players are safe,” Jasper said. “This week provides an opportunity to go back and review everything. And I think that’s good. Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves in the summer wanting to get so much in. It feels like it’s a race at times. So going back to hitting on the fundamentals is good for the players and the coaches.

“We also want to make sure we resolidify our base core teachings at each position group and within the offense and defense,” Jasper continued. “And we really emphasize special teams. We probably spend more time on special teams than most programs do. It’s not something we hit on a lot during the summer, though. So this week gives us a chance to really get into our special teams.”

The Eagles finished the 2025 season with a 5-6 record.

However, half of those losses came to teams that played for a state championship — a pair of losses to Class 6 runner-up Nixa, including in the district title game, along with a regular season setback to Class 5 runner-up Carthage.

Following the graduation of 30 seniors, the Eagles will have plenty of new faces in big roles this fall, as the team returns just four players with starting experience.

The offense’s returning starters are senior Trenton McCadney (wide receiver) and junior Titus Cole (offensive line), while senior Alexander Flinn and junior Judah Meredith are returning starters on the defensive line.

Jasper noted he’s always interested in seeing how returning varsity performers will handle expanded leadership roles, along with discovering how the program’s newcomers will contribute on Friday nights.

He acknowledged there are plenty of starting positions up for grabs.

“We only return two starters on offense and two on defense,” Jasper said. “There’s been a lot of competition over the summer, and I think that will continue throughout the season. We want that constant competitiveness within our guys. We like to see them competing for playing time throughout the year. It builds depth.”

WHAT’S AHEAD?

The Eagles will hold their annual Red and White intrasquad scrimmage at 7 p.m. Saturday at Junge Field.

Next, Joplin will participate in the Webb City jamboree with Lamar and Class 3 defending state champion Seneca at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Cardinal Stadium.

The Eagles will officially kick off the 2026 season Aug. 28 at Kickapoo in Springfield.

Joplin’s first home game, a date with Nixa, is in Week 2.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos