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Quarterback clarity: Thorp named starting signal-caller ahead of tonight’s season-opener at Reeds Spring
One important matter has been settled regarding the Nevada Tiger football team.
Second-year Nevada High School head coach Wes Beachler confirmed with the Daily Mail Thursday that junior Matt Thorp will enter the season as Nevada’s starting varsity quarterback.
Thorp, Nevada’s starting junior varsity quarterback last season, had been engaged in a four-way quarterback battle that stretched back to the first day of official practices in early August.
Beachler’s decision comes on the heels of Nevada’s preseason jamboree scrimmages, held last weekend with Carl Junction, Carthage, and Monett.
“Matt Thorp’s going to be the starting quarterback,” said Beachler, shortly before the Tigers’ week one team meal Thursday evening. “That’s a decision we made this week after the jamboree, a couple camps, and a couple weeks of practice. So he will be the starting quarterback this week, and we’ll just see how things go.”
Of the four vying for the quarterback position, Thorp was the only one with previous QB experience at the high school level, but only as a JV signal-caller.
“That was probably the main thing, he got most snaps last year, when you count practice and JV games,” said Beachler of the deciding factor.
Thorp will enter tonight’s season-opener at Reeds Spring looking to fill the void left by three-year varsity starter Braeden Hinton. On the eve of Thorp’s first career varsity start, Beachler discussed his expectations.
“Just for him to relax, distribute the ball, and run the offense, that’s going to be the main thing,” explained Beachler.
Beachler is hopeful that his stable of running backs can chew up major yardage against a stout Reeds Spring defensive unit.
“(Matt) will get the ball in Kaden Denney’s, Jaren Powrie’s, and Justin Guy’s hands, and let them do most of the work,” said Beachler of his ground-heavy double wing attack.
Reeds Spring finished 9-3 overall a season ago, and 6-0 in the Central Ozark (small) Conference. Like Nevada last winter, Reeds Spring was also accepted into the Big 8 Conference.
Chief among Beachler’s concerns, is containing Second-Team All-State middle linebacker Ben Moler. As a junior last season, the 6-2, 210 pound Moler racked up 107 tackles, three interceptions, and a pair of sacks.
“(Moler) is one of the top middle linebackers in Southwest Missouri, so that will be a handful trying to contain him,” noted Beachler. “A linebackers worst enemy is misdirection. So that’s what we’re trying to do, is run a lot of our misdirection game, our power-game, and try to keep them honest.”
Reeds Spring defense is also bolstered by senior defensive back Seth Stamps, a First-Team All-COC selection last season.
Reeds Spring offensive attack is led by senior quarterback Blake Gronvold, a three-year starter. Gronvold had a big junior campaign, racking up nearly 1,500 yards of total offense. The 5-9, 160 pound Gronvold compiled nearly 800 yards on the ground on the way to 15 rushing touchdowns, while passing for 650 yards and eight touchdowns.
Beachler said Gronvold reminds him of Seneca quarterback Gavin Clouse, who Nevada matched up against in last year’s season opener.
“He’s really good, a slick operator of the veer-and midline,” said Beachler, referring to the option-heavy offense. “And so, he will be hard to stop.”
Beachler added that he is pleased with how his squad practiced this week.
“I thought we practiced pretty well,” he said. “Had some things we need to work on, that we’re still not sure are 100 percent fixed. That’s week one for you. Week one is never cut-and-dry, there’s always some mystery things. You’re going to have some sophomores that maybe aren’t ready for Friday night, and you’ve just got to grow with those pains.”
Added Beachler: “We’ll have a lot of sophomores out there who are going to need to grow up fast. It’s a big deal.”
Tonight’s season-opener is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff from Reeds Spring High School.