A nice ring to it

By Will Johnson, Sports Editor
Posted 12/7/22

Ask any football player or coach no matter what level it is and they will more than likely tell you that their dream is winning a championship ring.

For 1995 Owensville High School graduate John …

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A nice ring to it

Posted

Ask any football player or coach no matter what level it is and they will more than likely tell you that their dream is winning a championship ring.

For 1995 Owensville High School graduate John Brune, that dream became a reality Friday night during the Missouri High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 5 Show-Me Bowl between Brune’s Francis Howell Vikings and Fort Osage’s Indians.

Helping turn away the Indians 49-21, Brune helped the Vikings win their first football state championship in program history.

Joining the Viking coaching staff in 2017, Brune just completed his third season as offensive coordinator.

“It always seemed no matter what was going on, he was in a good mood,” former Dutchmen assistant football coach Don Gauzy said. “He worked super hard, gave great effort and rarely got beat. He was one that the coaches enjoyed coaching.”

Gauzy coached defensive backs and receivers during his time at Owensville High School back in the early-to-mid 1990s.

Former defensive teammate Paul Schmanke recalled one win in particular during Brune’s senior season back in 1994.

“Beating Washington for the first time in school history in 1994 was my favorite memory of playing with John Brune,” Schmanke said. “John was an outstanding teammate and is a good friend to this day. I am very happy for him.”

Former Owensville High School Principal Joe Stammers also recalled Brune during his football-playing days in 1994.

“John was a very intelligent and hard-working young man,” Stammers said. “He was a great kid and student.”

After retiring as St. James High School’s Principal, Stammers is now living in the Kansas City area.

Back in 1994, Stammers coached quarterbacks and defensive backs under former head coach Paul Day.

“John was a gifted athlete (especially as a defensive lineman),” Day said via e-mail.

After being Owensville’s head football coach back in the 1990s, Day is now the head football coach for Pacific’s Indians.

Fellow 1994 defensive teammate Casey Fisher also weighed in on remembering Brune.

“(John) Brune was a great teammate,” Fisher said. “I would say my greatest memory of playing football together with him would be winning a Four Rivers Conference (FRC) and district title together.”

Fisher is now the Director of Technology for the Gasconade County R-2 School District.