By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Ahead of Saturday's matchup in Columbia with Adrian, the Bulldogs aren't feeling any pressure about repeating as state champions.
Senior Riley Parker says the team doesn't feel the pressure, because they believe in themselves.
"You know, we really didn't think about what everybody else's expectations are," Parker tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "We know we've been here and we know what it takes to be the top team."
Junior quarterback Gage Busby knows there will be pressure, after taking over this year from last year's quarterback Conner Musser, but Busby knows the talent of his team.
"Stepping in i've just got to do my job and so does everyone else, I mean, not much pressure with that," Busby says.
East Buchanan will face an Adrian team coming off a 32- 16 win over previously undefeated Monroe City. The Bulldogs advanced to Columbia after defeating Duchesne 41-14 in the Class 1 semifinals.
Junior running back Trevor Klein says now that the excitement has worn off it's back to business preparing for the championship game. But still, Klein knows how much it will mean to bring another championship back to Gower
"Another reason I want to win is because that celebration with the town afterwards, just last year it was really fun seeing the whole community come together," Klein emphatically says. "And I'm just really hoping that happens again."
East Buchanan head coach Dan Ritter says it's a great feeling to get back to this point with it being a goal for his team from the beginning of the season
"But, to actually get it done and take care of some really good teams down the stretch, like Mid-Buchanan, Gallatin, and Duchesne, man it's quite an accomplishment," Ritter proudly says. "Now we're not finished, but it's definitely something to hang our hat on so these young men are really excited, they've done this before, and I feel like we're set up for success just because we've been there, done that."
Kickoff between East Buchanan and Adrian from Memorial Stadium at Faurot Field on the campus of Mizzou will take place at 3pm on Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on stjosephpost.com with pregame at 2:30.
