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Jayshawn Richmond yelling in celebration

Football

Cardinal Football Kicks Off 2025 Season at Fort Lewis

THIS WEEK'S ACTION:
at Fort Lewis College Skyhawks (0-0, 0-0 RMAC)
Saturday, August 30
11:00 AM CT/12:00 PM MT • Durango, Colo.

CARDINAL NOTES
  • William Jewell will open the season as part of week 0 action on the road at Fort Lewis College for the second year in a row. After going 5-6 last season, the Cardinals were picked seventh in the Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll, ahead of Southwest Baptist and Lincoln. This is the highest pick since 2018 (with at least nine teams in the league) as Jewell is coming off their best season since 2015. 
  • The Cardinals have named their 2025 captains. On the offensive side, Nash Gagliano returns to his post as a captain after starting every game of his career at center. He is joined by senior Beau Doughty who will be enjoying a homecoming of sorts this week, playing in his home state of Colorado. On the defensive side, it will be Derrick Von Hubbard and Justin Endicott leading the way. The physical and vocal leaders of the Red Swarm, both caused chaos last season along the line, combining for more than 70 yards for loss.    
  • The defense returns a bulk of its stronghold this fall, with six starters back including upperclassmen Von Hubbard and Endicott who joined together for more than eight sacks and 18 tackles for loss last season. Additionally, Caleb Donnell, Jayshawn Richmond, and Max McKenzie are back with a year under their belt after combining for 110 tackles in their rookie season.
  • Offensively, Jewell will have to replace one of the nation's top running backs in All-GLVC first team performer Keaundre McCullough who ran for more than 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago. But the cupboard is far from empty as sophomore MicahJo Barnett will get the call as the No. 1 rusher headed into week zero after picking 91 yards and two scores in limited action as a freshman. On the outside, senior AJ Austene is back after earning All-GLVC honorable mention honors to lead the receiver core and will be aided by the likes of returners Yasir Winston, Xavier Winston, Layne Cavanah, Nate Barnett, and Edmarrion Conteras, among others. 
  • Jake Shaffer has won the starting quarterback spot for the opener, with newcomer Tyler Kubat as the backup. As a rookie, Shaffer started the final four games for the Cardinals last fall, accumulating 603 passing yards with six touchdowns and six picks while also running for 207 yards and two scores. His best game came in the season finale where he went 13-for-20 for 176 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He posted 115-plus passing yards in three of the final four games of the year in 2024. 
  • The Cardinals will be young on the special teams, particularly in the kicking game as homegrown talent Bleu Renfrow takes over after earning All-State honors and winning a state title at nearby Liberty North High School. Carson Forrest will assume the snapping duties while Ronnie Thomas and Isaiah Byrd will join returners Cavanah and Cameron Emmons on the return. 
  • Jewell will be bolstered this year by an influx of new talent included among them are 12 transfers from various institutions. Ronnie Thomas, Reece Thomas (no relation), and Tyler Kubat all made the move across the state from Division I Lindenwood University while Devin Walton joins the Cardinals by way of SIU-Carbondale. The Cardinals also welcome four transplants from the Division II ranks, one from Division III, one from NAIA, and two junior college transfers. 
  • Alongside the transfers are 28 true freshmen, hailing from eight states. The Cardinal staff is comprised of multiple coaches who got their start or spent majority of their career at the high school level, particularly in and around the Kansas City metro. Because of that, of those 28 rookies 17 are natives of Missouri while six come from neighboring states such as Kansas (1), Iowa (2), Arkansas (1), and Illinois (2). In total, 61% of the Cardinal roster are homegrown Missouri natives. 
  • For the first time since 2022, William Jewell enters the football season with the same head coach in consecutive seasons. Jason Ambroson led the Cardinals to the best start since 1983 (3-0), the most wins since 2015 (5) and the most GLVC wins since 2014 (3) in his first season. Jewell has added four assistant coaches in the offseason, including alumnus Mark Thomas, '80 who concluded a career with four state championships which led him into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. 
  • In a small college program such as William Jewell, it is not uncommon to have multiple members of the same family wear the J-Bird over the years and 2025 is no different. The Cardinals will have three sets of brothers on the sideline this fall as Xavier and Yasir Winston and Spencer and Trence Key will all take the field in uniform while freshman linebacker Carson Fatheree will be joined by brother and assistant coach Adam Fatheree. Additionally, Carson Forrest is the second son in his family to wear the Jewell uniform. While among the coaching staff is Mark Faubion who oversees the special teams with his son Bo Faubion among the linebackers. Jake Shaffer is joined by his father Darren Shaffer (safeties) while Jackson Bethany's uncle Corey Bethany, '00 is the offensive coordinator and a former Cardinal wide receiver himself.
  • Along with coaching multiple former players from Smithville High School, Ambroson also has two former players as a member of his staff. Mark Faubion, '98 and Corey Bethany, '00 were both members of the William Jewell football program during his first stint with the Cardinals, from 1997-2000, during which time he served as Special Teams Coordinator.
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Players Mentioned

Keaundre McCullough

#5 Keaundre McCullough

RB
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
AJ Austene

#11 AJ Austene

WR
6' 4"
Senior
MicahJo Barnett

#1 MicahJo Barnett

RB
5' 8"
Sophomore
Nate Barnett

#8 Nate Barnett

WR
6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
Jackson Bethany

#80 Jackson Bethany

WR
5' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
Layne Cavanah

#3 Layne Cavanah

WR
5' 8"
Senior
Caleb Donnell

#32 Caleb Donnell

DB
5' 11"
Sophomore
Beau Doughty

#49 Beau Doughty

TE
6' 3"
Senior
Cameron Emmons

#25 Cameron Emmons

RB
5' 8"
Sophomore
Justin Endicott

#94 Justin Endicott

DL
6' 1"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Keaundre McCullough

#5 Keaundre McCullough

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
RB
AJ Austene

#11 AJ Austene

6' 4"
Senior
WR
MicahJo Barnett

#1 MicahJo Barnett

5' 8"
Sophomore
RB
Nate Barnett

#8 Nate Barnett

6' 2"
Redshirt Junior
WR
Jackson Bethany

#80 Jackson Bethany

5' 7"
Redshirt Freshman
WR
Layne Cavanah

#3 Layne Cavanah

5' 8"
Senior
WR
Caleb Donnell

#32 Caleb Donnell

5' 11"
Sophomore
DB
Beau Doughty

#49 Beau Doughty

6' 3"
Senior
TE
Cameron Emmons

#25 Cameron Emmons

5' 8"
Sophomore
RB
Justin Endicott

#94 Justin Endicott

6' 1"
Senior
DL
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