By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Fort Scott Community College’s march to the NJCAA national championship game paid dividends around southeast Kansas on Wednesday.
“They were No. 2 in the nation, and that was a big part of it,” Columbus wide receiver Matt Crain said.
Crain was one of several area players to sign letters of intent Wednesday with the Greyhounds.
Coach Jeff Sims’ Greyhounds also landed quarterback Damion Tinnin from Columbus, athlete Chase Mead from Riverton, defensive back Alex Evans and tight end Dylan Mjelde from St. Mary’s-Colgan and running back Davey Brown, tight end-linebacker Brannon Green and tackle Jordan Hills from Labette County.
The Greyhounds were ranked No. 1 in the nation but lost to No. 2 Blinn (Texas) 31-26 on an 84-yard punt return with 15 seconds left in the Citizens Bank Bowl at Pittsburg State’s Carnie Smith Stadium.
“That’s crazy. That is unbelievable. That’s nuts,” Crain said. “Their kid made a good play. Even if you’re for Fort Scott, that kid made a good play.”
Columbus’ productive passing combination of Tinnin-to-Crain hopes to continue their success at Fort Scott.
“Coming out of high school, my quarterback and I had two good years together,” Crain said. “He said he was going to go there. I went to a few other schools, and I didn’t know where I wanted to go.
“It’s going to be fun, going to play for a good program and being with my quarterback again, just have fun again. I wanted to keep Damien and my chemistry alive, keep it going two more years.”
Tinnin, however, likely faces an adjustment to a new offense.
“We ran the spread,” he said. “I don’t think they ran the spread very much. I’ve never been under center.”
Nevertheless, Tinnin has known for a long time he wanted to join the Fort Scott program.
“I knew probably halfway through the season because I had a good friend (offensive lineman Cody Moore) go there, and he said he really liked it,” Tinnin said. “I wanted to go to a good program that he was going to.”
And, it doesn’t hurt that Crain will be there.
“That makes it so much better,” Tinnin said. “I thought I was going to be there all by myself. With Matt there, it’s going to be cool.”
Before practice starts in the fall, “I need to get stronger, I do,” Crain said. “And faster. I’m going to be taller (at 6 feet, 5 inches) than most of the corners, but I can’t always outjump people. So I’m going to have to get stronger and faster to be able to fit into college football.”
“I haven’t thrown a ball in a while.” Tinnin said. “I need to work my arm back out, get stronger and definitely faster.”
Mead, who rushed for 740 yards last season and averaged 10 yards per carry, isn’t sure what position he’ll play for the Greyhounds. He also had 61 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries.
“Running back, free safety, outside linebacker, I don’t know right now,” he said. “I’d rather go as a running back, but either way you have to hit somebody.
“They have a great football team,” Mead said. “I really enjoyed the coaches, enjoyed the campus up there.”
