The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

High School Sports

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March 21, 2013

Sarcoxie players sign for college football

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer

SARCOXIE, Mo. — Sarcoxie High School seniors Austin Lynch and Adam Snowden signed letters of intent to continue their football careers on Wednesday.

Snowden, a two-way lineman, signed with Central Methodist of Fayette, Mo. Lynch, a two-way performer at tight end and in the secondary, signed with Evangel of Springfield.

Soon, of course, the teammates will become unfriendly on the gridiron with those NAIA schools competing in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.

Lynch (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) and Snowden (6-7, 325)  helped Luke Rader’s Class 2 Bears finish 8-3 overall and second to Miller in the Spring River Valley Conference last fall. The Bears beat Diamond 35-7 in Game 10 before losing 33-30 to visiting Butler.

The futures for Lynch and Snowden offer intrigue. Lynch is projected as a receiver for Brenton Illum’s Crusaders after primarily operating in Rader’s double tight end formation. Snowden, unsure of which side of the ball he’ll play for Jody Ford’s Eagles, had been home-schooled until arriving as a junior at Sarcoxie.

Lynch, a four-year starter for the Bears, and Snowden naturally hope to play varsity next season.

Said Snowden (a tackle-nose tackle for the Bears): “Hopefully, with hard work, I can play some as a freshman.”

Said Lynch: “I plan to work hard in the off-season and maybe earn playing time as a freshman.”

Rader said a strength for both players was a strong work ethic.

“Adam (Snowden) has worked extremely hard to improve,” Rader said. “He has so much potential. He has decent feet. He’s a good kid from a great family. You want him on your team.

“Austin (Lynch) was a good blocker out of our double tight end formation,” Rader said. “He was our main receiver when we did throw the ball.”

Rader said that Zach Staples and Matt Beaver were the position coaches for Snowden. Staples and Russell Ellis worked with Lynch.

Lynch has been a multi-sport stalwart for the Bears. He’s busy in track after playing for Kyle Johnson in basketball.

Track coach Mike Busselman said Wednesday that Lynch, a standout in the long jump, also will compete in the 100 meters and open the 4x100 relay.

Adam, the son of Marilyn and James Snowden, plans to major in physical education and eventually coach.

Austin, the son of Amy and Chad Jasinski, is interested in physical therapy.

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High School Sports