Season review: MICDS Rams

When Fred Bouchard was hired as the football coach at MICDS last February, he probably couldn’t have imagined what he was in store for in his first season coaching the Rams. But Bouchard, who has five state championships on his impressive coaching resume, couldn’t have asked for much more in his first year at MICDS. The Rams went 7-1 and finished second in Missouri Class 4, falling to Helias, 35-30, in the state championship game. "It was an outstanding (season)," Bouchard said. "I wish I could’ve coached six points better in the championship game. Other than that it was a wonderful year. I got to coach some awesome young men. They weren’t unlike others who had to over the barriers COVID forced on everyone." St. Louis County’s restrictions that sidelined schools from playing football at the start of the season weren’t easy to deal with for the players and teams involved, but may have helped MICDS in a way as Bouchard had more practice time with his team as a new coach. "We just kept pushing forward with the idea that we were going to have a game at some point in the future," he said. When that time came, the Rams were ready. Bouchard’s bunch reeled off seven straight wins before falling in the state championship game. The veteran coach has won everywhere he’s coached, including stints at Staley and Harrisonville, but he likely exceeded expectations by getting the Rams to the title game in his first season. Now he’s set the bar high and, despite graduating some considerable talent, MICDS looks like a program that will continue to be among the state’s top smaller schools. Here’s a quick look at some of the Rams’ top uncommitted seniors as well as some players to watch in 2021 and beyond... <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95980" first="Jalen" last="Pace"], OLB-TE, 6-2, 210, Class of 2021 </strong> Pace, who racked up 46 tackles, four interceptions and three sacks, has received some walk-on offers from FBS schools and scholarship offers from FCS schools, according to his coach. But as signing day approaches, the son of St. Louis Rams standout Orlando Pace has yet to make a decision on his college destination. "He’s such a hard worker," Bouchard said. "That’s a guy who takes a lot of pride in his work." Bouchard said Pace is likely to play linebacker at the next level but is underrated as an H back. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9842174/5fcd5545d45f8106442993b8" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37262" first="Raphael" last="Sowah"], OL-DT, 6-3, 305, Class of 2021 </strong> Sowah has some college options, Bouchard said, but the Rams’ big right guard could be suffering from the lack of exposure during this unusual recruiting year that limited college coaches ability to see kids at camps and in person. "He’s athletic," Bouchard said. "He’s strong. He’s [player_tooltip player_id="99470" first="a" last="b"]ull in a china shop." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9467967/5fceddbb15f62d09a8e913b7" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96037" first="Grant" last="Purdy"], LB, 5-11, 200, Class of 2021</strong> Purdy has offers from MIT and Washington Universit[player_tooltip player_id="101681" first="y" last="b"]ut has yet to make a college decision. He was all over the field for the Rams this fall, racking up a team-high 95 tackles (in eight games) with two interceptions and one sack. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9842187/5fe250d9ff02381028d3c43e" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="96126" first="Reagan" last="Andrew"], QB, 5-10, 190, Class of 2022</strong> The Rams’ ringleader, Andrew drew effusive praise from his head coach. "His skill set is enormous," Bouchard said. "His accuracy. His arm. He’s just savvy with the game. ... The synergy that permeates from his body to his teammates. It’s phenomenal how he just lifts everybody else on the team. When I grow up I want to be like that kid." Andrew completed 69 percent of his passes for 1,447 yards, with 13 touchdowns against two interceptions, in eight games. He also ran for 308 yards and scored a team-best 12 touchdowns. Bouchard knows schools will be concerned about Andrew’s height, but he has no doubts the quarterback will be successful at the next level. "There’s a winning spirit in this kid," Bouchard said. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/10259557/5fdf040af3266110f46d8443" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>PJ Behan, WR, 6-3, 185, Class of 2022</strong> Behan was the Rams’ leading receiver this fall, catching 26 passes for 533 yards and seven touchdowns. Bouchard said the speedster has recorded electronic 4.5 times in the 40-yar[player_tooltip player_id="101695" first="d" last="d"]ash. Behan has already committed to Brown to play college lacrosse, but Bouchard said "if not, he’s somebody that a lot of people would be interested in at the next level." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11487985/5ff6a40542102d0ae04429b2" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37656" first="Steve" last="Hall"], RB, 5-9, 190, Class of 2023 </strong> Hall was one of the St. Louis area’s most productive running backs this fall, despite being a sophomore. In eight games, he rushed for 901 yards and 10 touchdowns on 110 carries, averaging 8.2 yards per carry. He also caught nine passes for another 145 yards. As a freshman, in 2019, he rushed for 589 yards and scored nine touchdowns. "He is everything you would want in a college running back," Bouchard said. "I think his yards after contact might be his most impressive stat. ... He has this ability to bounce and run through arms and legs. He’s always picking up extra yards." <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11804317/5fbaa1c9f31e3811c84724b3" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37668" first="Winston" last="Moore"], WR-DB, 5-10, 155, Class of 2023</strong> Bouchard said Moore is a phenomenal athlete who makes people miss. Moore’s older brother, Tre, played quarterback at rival John Burroughs and went on to play at Yale. The younger Moore made an impact with limited opportunities during his sophomore season. He caught four passes for 125 yards and a touchdown and ran for 91 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. Bouchard is expecting Moore to surprise people next season. "He’ll be somewhere where it’s like, where did this guy come from?" Bouchard said. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11804335/5fa8695b15f72508d4692a04" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Bjorn Sjogren, S, 6-2, 185, Class of 2022</strong> Bouchard said Sjogren, who recorded 48 tackles this past season, is a player to watch next fall. "He runs really well," the coach said. "He’s another kid who timed in the 4.5’s electronically." Like many of his teammates, Sjorgren is also a lacrosse player and a high-academic achiever, which may dictate his college plans. <strong>Landon Gelven, K, 6-3, 180, Class of 2022</strong> Bouchard said Gelven, who has already committed to Denver University for lacrosse, is an outstanding kicker who would attract interest from colleges if he wasn’t already committed. Gelven kicked two field goals and made 47 point-after kicks this past season. &nbsp;