Matt Smith’s head football coaching tenure at Montgomery County High School got off to a blazing start last fall.

The Wildcats finished 9-3 and captured their first district championship in two decades in the 2025 season. With 22 returning players, MCHS is looking to finishing with another winning season under Smith, who took over head coaching duties for John Klekamp last year after working as an assistant for a year.

“I’m just ready to get to work,” Smith said. “I’ve already been thinking about what we need to do to try to be successful and who we need to put where. I’m excited. The rest of the coaches are excited, too. Our attendance has been pretty good.”

The Wildcats have eight seniors on their team. They are Dallas Hans, Owen See, Isaac Hinkel, Conor Mays, Lafe McCurdy, Tyler Rodgers, Troy Quesenberry and Jack Barker. Most of them were on the varsity roster when they were freshmen in the 2023 season.

McCurdy, a 5-foot-7, 152-pound running back/defensive back, was an all-state performer last fall after missing most of the 2024 season to an ankle injury. He was named third-team defensive back on the Class 2 all-state team. McCurdy also was named on the all-district and all-Eastern Missouri Conference teams.

Rodgers, See and Hinkel are the other returning all-conference performers. Rodgers, who is 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds, will play tackle and defensive end. See (5-10, 155) is back at running back, guard and linebacker. Hinkel (5-4, 135) returns as wide receiver and defensive back.
Hans (6-0, 151) will play tight end, linebacker and defensive back, Hays (5-11, 145) will play wide receiver and defensive back, Barker (6-4, 205) will play tackle and defensive end. The 5-10, 165-pound Quesenberry – who wasn’t on the team last year – will play center, guard and linebacker.

It’s the second year in a row the Wildcats have eight seniors on their team.

Returning juniors include Jackson Benney, Lucas Bender, Elake Vance, Marshall Bishop, Luke Farrar, Braydin Finch and Cohen Beattie.

Benney (5-11, 170) was a second-team all-EMO receiver last year. He will share quarterback duties with Bishop and will also play receiver and defensive back.
The returning sophomores are Ben Cobb, Travon Forrest, Hensley Miller, Uriah Poyner, Landon Teson, McCullie Schluss, Dean Fry and Wyatt Danter.

The Wildcats begin their season at 7 p.m. on Friday against Hermann at Jim Blacklock Field. A year ago, MCHS defeated the Bearcats twice, including a 26-18 season-opening win at Hermann.

The Wildcats will play the California Pintos in their Week 2 game on Sept. 4 at home, replacing Monroe City. Last year, California finished 1-9.

“I know California has a new coach (Zach Thomas) right now,” Smith said. “They were actually at Hut-Hut (in Higginsville) and their coach brought his son who is a pretty good football player. A new coach can bring a lot of excitement and a change can be good or it could go the other way. So we’ll have to see. They’re coming here, so that will be a good thing for us.”

The Wildcats also have home games against Mark Twain on Oct. 2 and Wright City on Oct. 16.

MCHS starts its Eastern Missouri Conference season on Sept. 11 with a road game against North Callaway, which is the defending league champion. Last year, the Wildcats finished 5-1 in conference play.

Last year, MCHS tripled its win total from 2024. The Wildcats bounced back from a 1-2 start to win eight games in a row, including a win over Bowling Green in the district finals. Their season ended with a loss to eventual state runner-up St. Pius X of Jefferson County in the state quarterfinals.