YATES CENTER — Caleb DeNoon rather enjoyed proving doubters wrong during his senior year.
DeNoon entered the 2013 fall season at Yates Center High with a new position — quarterback — for a team riding a 23-game losing streak.
With DeNoon at the helm, the Wildcats reached levels of success not seen in decades.
The Wildcats ended their losing streak in week 1, then proceeded to cap a 7-4 season on the gridiron, highlighted by the team’s first playoff appearance since 1990.
That’s when things really got special.
Yates Center won its first playoff game since 1983 with a magical, rain-delayed 38-36 win over previously unbeaten West Elk.
“It was probably the greatest thing I’ve ever been a part of, to help lead a team that hadn’t had much success, and nobody expected much of,” DeNoon said Wednesday, shortly after signing a letter of intent to play at Southwestern College in Winfield.
DeNoon led the 7-4 Yates Center squad with 1,625 yards rushing — an average of 8.6 yards per attempt — while throwing for another 698 yards. He rushed for 31 touchdowns and threw for 10 more — both team highs.
DeNoon will shift back to his old position at Southwestern and play running back.
“We really like Caleb’s athleticism,” said Logan Wyrick, an assistant coach at Southwestern. “I’m an old eight-man guy myself, and we got a chance to watch him play a few times. We really think he’ll be a good fit.”
DeNoon, in turn, praised the environment surrounding Southwestern’s football program.
“It just felt right,” DeNoon said. “As soon as I stepped on campus, the coaches and players treated me like I belonged there.”
DeNoon had considered playing at Fort Scott and Independence Community College as well.
He plans to major in biology and study physical therapy.
DeNoon carries a 3.4 GPA.
