Montgomery County’s senior class of Adrian Combs, Colby Ellis, Mac Farrar, Ashton Johnson, Cameron Knapp, Wyatt March, Chase Queathem and Rylan Redditt helped its team get back on the winning track this fall.

After playing on a team that won just three games last year, the seniors helped the Wildcats wrap up their best regular season in 12 years. Now, they’re hoping to enjoy some success in district play.

MCHS finished its season at 7-2 with a 54-21 victory over Louisiana on Oct. 24 at Jim Blacklock Field. The Wildcats extended their winning streak to six games. They haven’t lost since Week 3 against North Callaway.

“Considering the years past haven’t been the best, I’m glad we’re finally winning and seeing what it feels like,” Knapp said. “In my senior year, I like that we’re winning. Now, it’s on to the next and we’re going to districts.”

MCHS will take a bye week before returning to action at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7, when it plays in the Class 2, District 2 semifinals against either Hermann or Cuba at Jim Blacklock Field. It will be the first time the Wildcats will host a district game since 2021, when they lost to Centralia in the district quarterfinals.

Hermann and Cuba will square off in a quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 at Hermann. The Wildcats beat Hermann 26-18 in the season opener for both teams on Aug. 29.

The eight seniors were honored with their parents before the game. All eight players competed with the MCHS program all four years.

“I liked that,” Knapp said. “I had many cousins and family members come through and I got to watch them do all of that. A lot of them came back to watch me, so it was a special moment.”

Knapp, an offensive lineman, started playing football in third grade with the Montgomery County youth program. Football is the only sport he plays.

“My dad got me into it when I was little and I’ve been playing ever since,” Knapp said. “It’s a passion of mine that I had my whole life.”

Johnson, who plays on both the offensive and defensive lines, began playing football in his freshman season after moving to Montgomery County from Mexico.

“Seeing all of the guys around me, they were amazing,” said Johnson, who also competes in track at MCHS. “I just wanted to go out there and be on the field with them.”

Last year, the Wildcats finished with their second losing season in three years. Johnson said he’s happy that his team turned things around after a 1-2 start this fall.

“We worked hard in the off-season, the hardest we ever worked and it’s paying off,” the six-foot, 295-pound senior said. “The job is not finished yet.”

The seniors played under a new head coach in Matt Smith this year after playing under John Klekamp the last three years.

“Coach K had a good relationship with everybody here, but coach Smith has been great,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

The 5-9, 205-pound Knapp said he’s thrilled that he is playing an injury-free senior season.

“I got hurt in my freshman and sophomore year, so that set me back,” said Knapp, who plans to attend State Tech next year. “I came out in my junior year and missed a couple of games. Then, we came out this year and we’re doing good. I played the whole season, so I just want to keep going and keep doing what we’re doing.”

The 54 points marked a season high for the Wildcats. It’s the first time since 2020 that MCHS scored 50 or more points in a game. The Wildcats are averaging nearly 32 points a game, compared to 20 last year.

MCHS got off to a flying start against Louisiana, recovering an onside kick by Redditt and then getting a 41-yard touchdown run by sophomore Jackson Benney with just 55 seconds into the contest to take an 8-0 lead. The Wildcats never trailed the rest of the way.

Junior Dallas Hans scored two touchdowns and Combs, March and Ellis and junior Lafe McCurdy each scored a touchdown for the Wildcats, who won their fourth home game of the season.

Now, they’ll get to play another home game in districts, which is something the seniors definitely look forward to.

“It’s amazing,” said Johnson, who plans to work for the Missouri State Highway Patrol in the future. “It’s definitely a big advantage. I can’t wait. I think we’ll get the job done. We just got to work hard and see how it goes.”