Season review: Rockwood Summit Falcons

It isn’t hard for Rockwood Summit football coach Eric Stewart to see the positives from the unique and challenging shortened 2020 season. "The pure fact that we got to play was a huge positive," Stewart said. "Our kids were able to play five games and all along we were saying that if we get to play at all that would be blessing. Even when it looked like it wasn’t going to happen, they kept showing up and working hard. Those five games were all huge for us to develop a ton of youn[player_tooltip player_id="96090" first="g" last="g"]uys that we had stepping up into starting roles. We only had eight seniors playing prominent roles for us and played [player_tooltip player_id="96658" first="A" last="b"]unch of sophomores and freshmen." The young Falcons went 2-3 with close losses to Lindbergh and Lafayette. With nine starters returning on defense next season and eight starters returning on offense, Stewart’s Summit squad will definitely be a group to watch in 2021. Here is a look at one Summit senior still looking for a college destination and several players to watch for next season... <strong>Jack Butchko, WR/RB, 5-9, 175, Class of 2021</strong> Stewart said Butchko missed most of his junior season with a shoulder injury, which has hampered his recruitment, but he returned this season to earn first-team all-conference honors as a running back and kick returner. "He runs a low 4.6 40 and is a tireless worker," Stewart said. "The kid loves the game of football." In five games this season, Butchko racked up a team-best 705 total yards (467 rushing, 238 receiving) and six touchdowns. He carried 83 times for 467 yards and four touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 238 yards and two scores. He averaged 38.6 yards on five kickoff returns. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/7559066/5fa9b1b88cd56413c4a91909" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Mason Brown, QB, 6-3, 210, Class of 2022</strong> Brown showed promise in his first year as a starter. He completed 56 percent of his passes for 1,019 yards, with six touchdowns and seven interceptions, and also ran for 127 yards (second on team) and two scores. Blessed with good size and a good arm, don’t be surprised if Brown isn’t one of the breakout performers in the St. Louis area in 2021. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/5002130/5fac4a13bd6bc9094ca584a3" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Drew Krobath, WR/S/K/P, 6-3, 180, Class of 2022</strong> You won’t find many players at the high school level as versatile as Krobath, who was an impactful player on offense, defense and special teams. He was Summit’s leading receiver (25 receptions for 414 yards and four touchdowns), recorded 26 tackles and a team-high two interceptions and kicked four field goals (from 29, 28, 30 34 yards out) and 14 extra points to account for a team-best 51 points. He averaged 36 yards per punt on 17 attempts. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/5504499/5fa9fdb6578dac151842922d" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Samad Mounger, CB, 6-0, 170, Class of 2022</strong> Blessed with good size for his position, Mounger recorded 14 tackles and a fumble recovery in four games. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/7805957/5f7b48375eecc70b94fb07e2" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Brandon Perks, RB/DL, 5-10, 200, Class of 2022</strong> Stewart called Perks a "stud," and a quick look at his junior season stats and highlights backs up the claim. The conference defensive player of the year, Perks racked up 43 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in just five games from his defensive tackle spot. As a part-time running back, he gained 87 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries. Perks will be a handful for opponents next season at either position. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11103482/5fbd633ed45e9c09b448dbfa" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Matthew Mehrhoff, DL/RB, 6-1, 200, Class of 2022</strong> Stewart said Mehrhoff, a defensive end, played through an injury this past season but the coach is expecting big things from him in 2021. Mehrhoff still racked up 19 tackles and three sacks in the five-game season. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11103448/5ffc9e5b9680080b0ca35398" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37615" first="Dareonte" last="Turman"], RB, CB, 5-8, 170, Class of 2022</strong> Turman played just two games this fall because of a season-ending injury, but he’ll be a player to watch in 2021 when he’s healthy. He racked up 63 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries in two games and recorded seven tackles. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/6596827/5f8c5bcc9680360a98cc2d32" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37689" first="Dominic" last="Nenninger"], LB, 6-1, 200, Class of 2023</strong> Only a sophomore, Nenninger showed he has a very bright future when he recorded 40 tackles and a fumble recovery in just five games. He had 16 tackles against Lindbergh. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/7530037/5fb033aa15f5f00a8c452d73" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Kaden Wallace, WR/DB, 5-11, 185, Class of 2023</strong> Another talented sophomore who made significant contributions while gaining valuable experience, Wallace recorded 25 tackles and a fumble recovery in five games. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12806038/5fbece49f31c53105cc85379" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Dominic Bentrup, DE/TE, 6-1, 195, Class of 2024</strong> Only a freshman, Bentrup recorded 24 tackles and six sacks in five games. With his size and his ability to get around the edge and chase down quarterbacks, Bentrup looks like a player to watch for the next three seasons. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/8274630/5fa834e09a917b0abc66d805" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Samuel Vu, CB/WR, 5-9, 155, Class of 2024</strong> Another freshman who contributed on the varsity this fall, Vu recorded 19 tackles in five games. Vu posted impressive numbers at the Prep Redzone Missouri Showcase late last month and was one of the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/prep-redzone-missouri-showcase-class-of-2024-standouts-part-1/">featured standouts we wrote about here</a>. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14340327/5fc67a195b3e300fa8f688d5" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Elijah Stevens, RB/S, 5-11, 175, Class of 2024</strong> Stevens didn't see as much varsity action as his classmates Bentrup and Vu, but <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/prep-redzone-missouri-showcase-class-of-2024-standouts-part-2/">his showing at the Prep Redzone Missouri Showcase last month</a> is proof of his impressive athletic ability. Stewart said Stevens is a very talented player who actually reminds him of Butchko. In limited action this past season, Stevens rushed eight times for 21 yards, caught one pass for 18 yards and was credited with two tackles. &nbsp;