SENECA, Mo. — The Seneca Indians, returning from a heartbreaking 38-28 loss to Blair Oaks in last year’s Class 3 State Championship, are poised for another deep playoff run as the 2025 season approaches.
Last season, Seneca dominated their path to the state title game, earning a first-round bye before crushing Aurora 41-6 and Forsyth 64-7 in the district playoffs. The Indians continued their rampage with a 55-26 quarterfinal win over Mt. Vernon and a 31-0 semifinal rout of Lift for Life, only to fall short against Blair Oaks in the championship. Seneca has three consecutive (2013, 2023, 2024) state runner-up finishes.
“It was tough,” Seneca coach Cody Hillburn said about the way last season ended. “We don't try to hide that. I was super proud of our kids. And the end result doesn't diminish the rest of the season. … We preach process over outcome and doing things the right way, so you allow yourself a chance to win at the end. And our kids did that.They did everything correct, and it just didn't go our way. That's a good life lesson because you do can everything right and something goes wrong in life. Even though it hurt, we were able to kind of pull ourselves up quickly, and we didn't sit around and pout. We just went right back to work. And that's a credit to this year's senior group. They want to go back. They want another crack at it, and they did everything right in the summer and leading up to Week 1.”
Under head coach Cody Hilburn, who boasts a 45-9 record in four years with three straight trips to the state title game, the Indians return eight starters and 12 lettermen from a team that finished 13-1, claimed the Big 8 West title with a perfect 9-0 conference record, and won the Class 3 District 6 championship before finishing second in the state.
“We're 26 and 2 the last two years, and with our two losses being in the state title game,” Hillburn said. “What that does for your program is, you get essentially another half of a season every year to develop kids. And so our young kids are getting a lot of extra reps each and every year.”
Returning senior Jace Renfro, a state champion wrestler and All-State offensive and defensive lineman, anchors both lines. Roman Miller, who rushed for 1,711 yards and 27 touchdowns while starring on defense, and Brodie Probert, transitioning to full-time QB after rushing for 1,014 yards, headline a veteran backfield. Kye Adams, with 92 tackles and All-State honors, leads a defense that allowed just 14 points per game, bolstered by seven returning starters.
Other returning seniors include Drew Sherwood, a versatile WR/DB/kicker, WR/DB Hunter Hanes. WR/DB Blaze Graham, OL/DE Brock Pendergraft, TE/LB Jude King and OL/DL Gentry Barnes.
“I think we have some really good senior leadership,” Hillburn said. “We have some guys that have played since their sophomore year and have played a lot of football. So, the experience is there. We've had guys that have been through the ups and downs that truly enjoy the grind of a football season, and I think that's transparent with them, and I think that hopefully gets passed on to our young kids.”
Newcomers expected to make an impact include seniors Stone Oilar (WR/DB), Kyden Pettyjohn (OL/DL) and juniors Landyn Hartje (OL/DL), Jeffery Todd (OL/DL), Silas Ball (RB/LB), Easton Hanes (WR/DB), Aiden Crane (TE/DE), Ryder Owens (WR/DB), Kade Finley (WR/DB), Rush Crane (RB/LB), Chris Lopez (OL/DL).
“We're excited as with every new year, you have holes to fill and you're going to have some kids that aren't experienced have to step up for you,” Hillburn said. “And luckily for us, we returned several skill kids, but we're kind of having to rebuild our offensive and defensive lines. And in the Big 8v (Conference), that's scary because it’s such a physical conference with teams that like to run the ball and teams that are historically good at stopping the run. So, that's a work in progress, getting those guys comfortable, playing with each other and trying to gel going into Week 1.”
Seneca opens the season on the road at Cassville on Aug. 29.
INDIANS SCHEDULE
August 29: Cassville (Away)
September 5: Mt. Vernon (Away)
September 12: Nevada (Home)
September 19: Monett (Away)
September 26: Aurora (Home)
October 3: Carl Junction (Home)
October 10: McDonald County (Away)
October 17: East Newton (Home)
October 24: Lamar (Away)