Kearney Bulldogs football 2025 season preview
KEARNEY, Mo. —聽
KEARNEY BULLDOGS
Head Coach: Logan Minnick (4th season as head coach.)
Conference: Blue Division of the Suburban Conference
Class: 4
2024 Record: 5-0 in Conference (Champions), 12-1 Overall (Class 4 State Semi-Finalist)
2024 Scoring: Offense 40.7 PPG Defense 8.8 PPG
2025 Returning Starters: Offense: 7 Defense: 6
The Bulldogs continued their regular-season domination of opponents, boasting a 9-0 record, with every game won by 21 points or more in 2024. They have been champions of the Blue Suburban Conference for two of the last three seasons, as well as Class 4 District 8. The Bulldogs had an impressive 21-point win over Class 6 Park Hill (9-3), the Class 6 District 8 Champions. Kearney鈥檚 defense set several team records and gave up the fewest total points since the 2010 season.
Moving on to the college athletic ranks from last season are Ty Smith (Northwest Missouri State 鈥� Track), Grant Noland (North Dakota), Joe Schranz (Mizzou), Theo Grace (North Dakota), Jacob Dillon (Missouri S&T 鈥� Track), Tre Smith (Avila-Basketball), Tristan Williams (NW Oklahoma State)
“Obviously, we have some big holes to fill, but we feel good about the kids we’ve got coming back who will be a year bigger, stronger, and faster–so we’re excited,” says head coach Logan Minnick, who has compiled a 35-4 record since taking over in 2022, including a 24-game winning streak. Kearney’s motto this season is #NextLevel. With eleven All-Conference players back, the Bulldogs appear ready to make another impressive run deep into the playoffs to win in St. Joe in December. Will that next level run include a sixth state title for the Kearney Bulldogs?
鈥淢y number one overall goal is to win state,鈥� says starting Junior quarterback, Carter Temple. 鈥淲e have a good team coming back. We have a great offense, and we are going to be explosive.鈥�
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound dual-threat quarterback is a Fargo Nationals wrestling champion and two-time Missouri high school champion. In football, Temple was a first-team All-Conference, All-District, and semifinalist for the Simone Fontana Award last season, as a sophomore. He combined for over 1,500 yards of offense in 2024, with over 900 yards in the air and 600 on the ground, scoring 22 touchdowns. His passing, rushing, and scoring goals for 2025 greatly exceed those numbers.
In the summer team camp and training, Temple has seen a difference from last season.
鈥淚鈥檓 seeing the defense is so much better this year. I’m making a lot smarter plays. I am faster, bigger, and more accurate than I was last season,鈥� says Temple.
Also returning on offense is senior Corbin Emmons, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound running back, who has seen duty with the Bulldogs for four seasons, appearing in varsity games as a freshman. Emmons is also a winner in the classroom, with a 4.0 GPA. Last season, Emmons had 713 rushing yards, 139 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns, earning All-Conference and All-District honors. He will also play on the defensive side. On the offensive front line, Nyk Belabre, a 6-foot-two 285-pound, offensive lineman, has received several college offers. Strong and explosive, Belabre will be one of the cornerstones of Kearney鈥檚 explosive offense in 2025, along with seniors. 6-foot-5 255-pound Kalan Bomar and 5-foot-11, 250-pound Travis Jarrett. The tradition in strong tight ends continues with senior Drew Nelson, 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, who has seen a lot of playing time. He was First Team All-Conference and has a 4.0 GPA. This agile, strong, and athletic tight end has received several college offers.
Leading the defense will be the Beaver brothers. Mason Beaver is 6-foot-2 and 282 pounds. The top defensive line recruit in the state, Beaver has over ten Division 1 offers and is committed to attending North Dakota after high school. His weight room numbers are staggering, including a 480+ pound bench press. The All-State first teamer will be hungry to add to his accolades in 2025. Isaac Beaver, 6-foot-2 and 285 pounds, a first-team All-State in 2024, also possesses impressive weight room and agility numbers, including a 9-foot-7 broad jump and 34-inch vertical. Along with his brother Mason, Isaac is locked into hunting quarterbacks and run-stopping. He is also committed to D1 North Dakota after high school.
In the defensive backfield is the big-time playmaker, Junior, Aidan Arellano. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound linebacker/defensive back may also see reps as running back. Arellano had some key pick-sixes in 2024 as a sophomore, earning All-Conference and All-District team honors. He is strong in the weight room (bench press 315 pounds), fast (4.57 in the 40), and has a high football IQ, along with being an aggressive and smashing tackler.
The ambition is clear: Kearney is on a quest for its sixth state championship.
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