Grandview Football determined for bounce-back year

By Eric Smith

One year ago, Grandview High School football coach Dwayne Darden likened his time coaching football to a sport that shares little with a gridiron.

Darden was “swimming a lot” in an ocean of unfamiliarity, trying to tread water in a headset in his first year at the helm of the Bulldogs’ football program. Among the first things he had to do was rally the team together in the wake of former coach Dan Joiner’s departure for the coaching position at North Kansas City High School.

“(We were) just trying to keep the band together, keep the guys excited, keep motivated,” Darden said.

The band stayed together, but the relentless march of the season took its toll as the Bulldogs would struggle their way to a 2-8 record. Among the chief culprits for the underwhelming win-loss figure was discipline.

Frequent penalties forced bad positions. A sideline altercation added a further unbecoming and unwanted blemish on what had otherwise been a forgettable season. Darden knew he needed to get the team’s focus back on winning the battles within each play and within the confines of field and the field only.

“There were a couple of things that happened and I wanted to make sure that was an emphasis for this (year’s) team.” Darden said. “Play disciplined football. Be disciplined everywhere you go…just be that example of what discipline looks like.”

The players, for their part, aren’t needing to be told to be policed by Darden and the rest of the staff as heavily as this same time last year. Darden said that where before he would have to dole out push-ups or other disciplinary exercises, the players themselves now do them without being told – if they need doing at all.

“I feel like we’re very hungry this season and if we keep that mentality, we should be good,” senior running back Micah Rainey said. “None of us wanted to go 2-8 last season and this year we don’t want that because (last year) does not define us or reflect how we’re going to be this season.”

The Bulldogs get their first opportunity to make up for last season on Friday, playing up a pair of classes facing the larger Class 6 Park Hill South.

The Panthers finished the 2024-2025 season 3-8 record, just one win better than the Bulldogs’. Parkview South’s first victory came in this season-opener last year against Grandview, 38-8.

“It’s going to be a good game,” Junior running back Rian Johnson said. “I feel like we have a lot of film on them and I feel like it’s going to be a good game.”

If Grandview is going to avenge last year’s loss, players like Rainey and Johnson, will need to carry the bulk of the offensive production. The backfield duo form a crucial part of the Bulldogs’ offensive attack, but theirs isn’t the only important role on offense.

Rainey and Johnson will also be flanking sophomore quarterback Chad Shwartz, whom Darden called “Definitely a pretty good dual-threat quarterback,” and tabbed as one of the young players primed to make an impact early.

To pair with the emphasis on discipline, Darden’s philosophy for the program is one that demands it.

“I definitely want to bring a smash-mouth…football team,” Darden said. “We’re going to be very balanced this year. We have the athletes here at Grandview so that if we choose to spread the ball around, we can spread the ball. If we decide we want to pound the rock, we can pound the rock.

“And on defense, just play a stingy defense. We don’t want to give up any yards, we want to take as much as we can.”

For the seniors like Rainey, Friday will be a special moment. The first game of their final season. For many, this marks the final chance to seize the opportunity and unique thrill that can only be found under intensity of stadium lights to the raucous roar of a marching band.

“Me and Rain, we’ve known each other since, like, second grade,” Rainey said. “So, it’s kind of cool to be there with him and share the reps and just play football.”