Mark Twain looks to reverse fortunes in new season

Published 10:35 pm Monday, August 10, 2026

CENTER, Mo. – As he starts the second year of his second stint as head coach of the Mark Twain Tigers, Kevin Miles is on a quest to change the culture of the school’s football team, which has been on a four-year slide.

After an opening 30-20 win in 2025 against Highland in 2025, the Tigers lost nine straight games to end a disappointing season with a 1-9 record.

“I think whenever you are trying to build, you have to reach all your players, but it is a process and …last year, our kids did not quite grasp that,” Miles said.

But he thinks the Tigers can turn the corner this year.

“The younger kids are buying in,” he said. “Attendence at weight room sessions this summer has been more than 90% and 100% of our players came to camp. They are doing the things we need to do to make positive changes.”

Miles returned to Mark Twain last year after 12 seasons at Palmyra, where he won 92 games and four district championships. He coached the Tigers from 2000-2006.

This season, he is looking for contributions from several players, including Wyatt Briscoe, who he can lead on both offense and defense. Miles coached Briscoe’s father during his first tour of duty at Mark Twain.

Briscoe is Mark Twain’s starting quarterback and was a first team All-EMO Conference outside linebacker/safety last season.

The Tigers have three seniors this year, including running back and wide receiver Justin Jaspering, and Hunter Cummings, an offensive lineman and outside linebacker.

Miles said the Tigers plan an upbeat style this year, focusing on a power veer attack working to get “downhill and physical” on offense.

He said the Tigers will play a quick, upbeat offense, running no huddle plays and changing formations to keep opposing teams off balance. He says that with a young team, there will be much to learn.

After playing against Highland to open the season, Miles will get to renew his personal rivalry against Monroe City and its coach, David Kirby. Miles and Kirby faced off many times during the annual Monroe City-Palmyra showdown for the Mayor’s Cup.

He hopes fans of both schools appreciate the renewed rivalry between Mark Twain and Monroe City.

“Anytime you get the honor of playing a team like Monroe City, that is great,” Miles said. “David Kirby and I are friends, until we play each other. I talk to him quite a bit.”

However, Miles said he and the Tigers are not looking past Highland.

“We expect Highland to be improved,” he said. “They have a new coaching staff, and they are doing good things to improve on their season. We are lucky that they graduated a lot of players.”

As the season starts, Miles and his coaching staff are working to get their players to focus on fundamentals, working for each player to do his “one-11th on every play.”