Prep Football Preview: Ladue Rams Reloading, Relying On Chesson

The football team has some formidable challenges ahead in the 2011 season. First up for the Rams is a road game at Parkway Central on Friday, Aug. 26.

“That’s all the further we are willing to look ahead,” new quarterback Brandon Carr said.

Carr, a 6-fooot-4-inch senior takes over from three-year starter Kortland Webb. Webb racked up gaudy statistics at Ladue, including 2,445 all-purpose yards last year. He passed for 1,511 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 935 yards and 18 touchdowns. He is currently a walk-on quarterback for the University of Missouri Tigers.

Carr, who saw limited duty in 2010, clicked on 17 of 36 passes (47.2 percent) for one rushing TD and six passing.

“We’ve stuck together. We’ve been in camp, we did 7-on-7 football and we will be ready. Kortland was a great player for us, but he’s gone and I am ready to take over,” he said.

His favorite target is certainly 6-foot-4-inch senior Jehu Chesson, a receiver with college offers from around the country.

Chesson, who, according to Rivals.com, has scholarship offers from the University of Missouri, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, Iowa, Indiana and Illinois, among others, had 53 catches for 605 yards and 11 touchdowns, with an average of 11.4 yards per catch in 2010.

“I’ve been busy. I just got back from visits to Michigan and Indiana. Now, its time to think about Ladue football. We have a good team. We will be ready for Parkway Central," Chesson said.

A year ago, Ladue closed out Parkway Central, 41-36, in the season opener. The Rams open once again with the Colts.

Ladue will be mostly a road team this year. The coaching staff has had enough of Saturday games and excessive heat. The only home games are Sept. 10 against McCluer South Berkeley and Affton on Oct. 1.

A home game with Clayton on Sept. 21 was flipped to Clayton’s Gay Field, and the Rams close out the regular season on Oct. 27, hosting University City at St. Louis University High School.

The mainstay on defense is Daylen Dean, a lanky defensive back who had 52 solo tackles and 25 assists in 2010.

“I hope to make some noise on defense,” Dean said.

A year ago, Ladue went 11-2, losing to Warrenton, 35-7, in the state playoff quarterfinals. Many players have graduated and moved onto college football, including Fletcher Coats, John Gaskin, Charles Badgett, Dominque Brown, Jeff Fox, Jarid McDonald and Daryel Banks.

There are plenty of jobs up for grabs. The coaches are especially looking for new offensive linemen and linebackers.

WEEK ONE: August 26 at , 7 p.m.