Kansas Pregame 2012

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Volume 7 • 2012

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ABOUT HISTORIC FORT HAYS

Fort Hays was a place where the traditions and survival of the Plains Indians collided with the goals and dreams of a quickly growing nation. Fort Hays was an important U.S. Army post that was active from 1865 until 1889.

Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant John Denny served at Fort Hays from January 1882 to December 1884. He and other African American “Buffalo Soldiers” are part of the rich Fort Hays history that includes names like Generals George A. Custer, Nelson Miles, and Philip Sheridan; Major Marcus Reno; William “Buffalo Bill” Cody; and James B. “Wild Bill” Hickok.

Established in 1865 in the land of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, the fort protected railroad workers and travelers on the Smoky Hill Trail. See the soldier’s clothing, weapons, and personal items, including George Custer’s dumbbell forged by the fort’s blacksmith. Learn more about the soldiers and the people they were protecting when you visit Fort Hays.

For a complete guide to all there is to see and do in Hays visit www.haysusa.com, or, Like the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau page on Facebook.

K a n sa sPreg a m e,Volu m e 7

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Kansas Pregame Twice as nice for 2012 Welcome to Kansas Pregame 2012, still the most complete preseason football magazine for Kansas, but now with TWO special high school cover features focused on some of the top teams and players across the Sunflower State.

John Baetz Our third annual cover shoot features a top player from each of the seven football classifications in Kansas along with the head coach of emerging 5A power Emporia, Dustin Delaney. Delaney was joined by two of his top players; threeyear o-line starter Sean Ford, and Oklahoma State commit Jerel Morrow.

The cover shoot was hosted by the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce at the historic steam locomotive in Salina’s Kenwood Park. Salina, at the intersection of I-70 and I-135 in Kansas, is a growing community that plays host to the Class 4A State Championship as well as the Women’s National Junior College Basketball Championship Tournament. A different Salina area attraction is profiled with each player feature at the start of individual class sections. For more information about Salina go to www.visitsalina.org, the Chamber’s official website, which features all the great things Salina has to offer.

And, new for 2012, a second special cover feature. The two page flip-out inside cover features a special group photo and introduces our profiles of some emerging powers from western Kansas in our “How the West Was Won!” feature.

Coaches and players from Garden City, Hays High, Scott City, La Crosse, Plainville, Stanton County, Ness City and Otis-Bison made the trip to historic Fort Hays for this special photo shoot. Hosted by the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, the historic Fort made a magnificent backdrop for this unique feature. For more on all that Hays has to offer visit www.haysusa.com.

In addition to these exciting features enjoy our class overviews, preseason rankings, top players, schedules and over 250 high school and college capsules providing the most accurate and complete preview of the 2012 football season.

Publisher Co-owner of Sixteen 60 Publishing Co., Publishers of Kansas Pregame Football Magazine and Kansas Mat Preview. Baetz is a former assistant football coach at Lincoln, Trego and Russell High Schools and Co-Host of the Kansas Pregame Radio Show.

Bree McReynolds-Baetz Publisher Co-owner of Sixteen 60 Publishing Co., publishers of Kansas Pregame Football Magazine and Kansas Mat Preview.

Layout and Design: Kayla Kvacik, Tyler Gier Kansas Pregame Editor: Melanie McGee Sponsorship Sales: John Baetz, Tyler Gier, James Westling Contributing writers: Dean Backes, Harold Bechard, Conor Nicholl, Mark Schremmer, Kenny Titus, James Westling, Tom Witherspoon Contributing photographers: Mark McCoy, Marion McReynolds, Dena Sorensen, Jim Williams Acknowledgments: With a project of this size and scope we can’t

It’s an exciting time for Kansas football fans. Players like Olathe South’s possibly thank all the people that have contributed, but a special thanks Braden Smith, Hiawatha’s Peyton Newell, and Gardner-Edgerton’s Traevohn goes out to the school secretaries, athletic directors, coaches and parents Wrench have the Kansas’ recruiting class of 2014 on the national radar and with who helped us secure team information. Thank you to the advertisers the defending NCAA DII Champs Pittsburg State, high expectations for K-State, who made this possible - without your support this publication would not be a reality. To all those involved with the completion of this two of the top JUCO programs in the country in Butler and Hutch, and the addipublication in any way, thank you. tion of Charlie Weis and Dayne Crist at KU, this may be the most anticipated Kansas college football season in state history.

Let Kansas Pregame get you ready for the 2012 season and use it, and Kpreps.com, as a guide for all things Kansas football from now until the end of November.

And, as always, let the players play, the coaches coach, the officials officiate, and be a great fan of Kansas football in 2012 and beyond.

Sincerely,

Our Mission 1. Promote the sport of football in the state of Kansas.

2. Recognize outstanding coaches, players, programs and fans in the state of Kansas for their contributions to the game of football.

3. Support training programs which develop football fundamentals at all prep levels (youth, jr. high, and high school).

4. Encourage excellent sportsmanship.

5. Encourage safety on both the field of play and in the stands.

John Baetz, Publisher, Kansas Pregame Football Magazine john@kansaspregame.com www.Kpreps.com O N THE C O VER “C a n ’tS top ThisTra in ” -The 2012 K a n sa s Preg a m e cover shoot w a shosted b y the S a lin a Area C ha m b er ofC om m erce a tthe historic stea m locom otive in S a lin a ’s K en w ood Pa rk.S even

ofthe sta te’stop p la yers Pictu red on the cover, a lon g w ith Em p oria fron trow (L-R):Blu e coa ch Du stin Dela n ey Va lley’sC la y Rhod es, a n d key S p a r ta n sJerel Em p oria ’sJerel M orrow, M orrow a n d S ea n Ford Em p oria coa ch a re p rofiled in fea tu res Du stin Dela n ey, in clu d ed a tthe in tro to Em p oria ’sS ea n Ford , ea ch cla ssp review a n d C on w a y S p rin g s’ section .

Ta n n er W ood .Ba ck row : C olon y-C rest’sK yle

6. Embrace our role as the complete information resource for football in the state of Kansas.

Mail inquiries to john@kansaspregame.com or Kansas Pregame, PO Box 186, Lincoln, KS 67455 Publication date: Volume 7, August 10, 2012 Ha m m on d ,La w ren ce’s Bra d S tra u ss,Ba sehorLin w ood ’sBen John son (sea ted ),S ou th Ha ven ’s Au stin S how m a n ,a n d Lyn d on ’sDa kota Jiskra .

(Pho to by D ena So rensen)

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Visit http://kpreps.com/magazine.php to order your copy.

Kansas Pregame Football Magazine was founded by John and Bree Baetz and Tim McGonagle in 2005.

K a n sa sPreg a m e,Vo lu m e 7 Photo by Marion McReynolds

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HIGH SCHOOL Ho w the W est W a sW o n !

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b y Jo hn Ba etz Kansas Pregame

GardenCit y Buf f al oes HaysHighI ndians Scot tCit y Beavers LaCrosseLeopards Pl ainvil l eCardinal s St ant onCount y Trojans NessCit y Eagl es Ot is-BisonCougars

Western Kansas is often characterized by declining populations lost to the eastern cities and flat, wind-swept terrains. What’s lost in these characterizations is the sense of community pride felt by so many in the western half of the state, and nowhere is this more evident than Friday nights in the fall when most any western Kansas community can be found rallied around it’s local football team under the lights of a modest football field.

Western Kansas football programs are built on the backs of hard-nosed farm boys who spend their summer mornings putting up pounds in the weight room and their afternoons putting up hay.

This work ethic and commitment to doing things the “right way” often translates into outstanding football teams, and in 2012 it appears a number of emerging western Kansas programs could challenge for state titles.

This year, Kansas Pregame takes a look at eight different emerging western Kansas powers hoping to breakthrough and win state titles.

Former Garden City Community College offensive coordinator Brian Hill has the Garden City Buffaloes on the verge of something special in Class 6A. Liberal native and former La Crosse Leopard coach Ryan Cornlesen has the Hays High Indians expecting big things in 5A after taking an early exit from the playoffs at the hands of state superpower Hutch last year.

Scott City’s Glenn O’Neil hopes to

finally get the Beavers over the hump this season and find their way to the 3A title game come late November.

La Crosse’s Jon Webster will use the agony of a narrow loss in the 2-1A title game to try and make a return trip, and this time come home with a trophy.

Plainville’s Joe Simon and Stanton County’s Bret Kendrick will be similarly driven after their teams exited the 2-1A playoffs by one touchdown margins.

Fiery young coach Chris Bamberger hopes the lessons of Kevin Ayers and Bill Snyder will help deliver an experienced Ness City team an 8-Man Divison I title while Travis Starr and the Otis-Bison Cougars think a deeper run in 8-Man Division II is imminent, despite the loss of one of the most successful senior classes in Cougar history.

Is this the year that one of these eight teams breaks through and wins a state championship? Read the features that follow, and you decide.

Head coaches and three or four of the top players from these eight programs made the trip to historic Fort Hays in early June to participate in our first ever two page inside cover shot.

Historic Fort Hays, located just south of the Fort Hays State University campus in Hays, was an important U.S. Army Post active from 1865 to 1889 and now is preserved as a museum of Kansas military history.

For more information visit http:// www.kshs.org/p/fort-hays-about/15836.

The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau was host for the special photo shoot. For a complete look at all there is to see and do in Hays, Kansas, visit: www.haysusa.com.

GardenCit y Buf f al oes b y C o n o r N icho ll For Kansas Pregame

Lef tt o right :Tayl orFol ey, BenBl ood, Head CoachBrianHil l , AdresRivas, and Brady Bean. ( Phot o by DenaSorensen)

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Full Service Financial Institution Garden City 1714 E. Kansas Ave. 1-800-825-7661 www.gpcu.org Member NCUA

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In 2010, Brian Hill took over the Garden City High School football program, a team that had posted three straight four-win seasons and hadn’t had a winning record since it reached the Class 6A sub-state championship in ‘05.

That fall, Hill led the Buffs to a 5-5 record, but Garden City probably should have had a winning season. The program had trouble in close games. Garden City lost 16-14 to Scott City, 21-13 to Great Bend, beat Goddard 28-26, but then fell to rival Dodge City in the annual Hatchet Game, 29-26.

Last fall, Garden City split its first two contests and then lost another close game, 14-7, to Great Bend.

“We were just kind of wondering,” Hill said.

The next week, Garden City broke through and started a six-game winning streak with a 24-21 last-minute victory on the road against Hays High, an eventual Class 5A playoff team.

Carlos Chavez kicked the gamewinning field goal with 2:10 left in the game and the Buffs’ defense kept HHS from mounting a drive on the Indians’ final possession. It marked the first time Garden City had beaten Hays High since Continued on page 6

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GardenCit y Buf f al oes Continued from page 5 2007 and just the second win for the Buffs against the Indians since ‘04.

“A game against a really good team and a really good program that we took the punches from them and we’re able to find a way at the end to come out on top,” Hill said. “I think that was really the turning point in our season and that really gave us a feeling like we belong.”

Garden City followed the Hays win with a 52-21 victory versus Liberal, a cancellation because of weather versus Wichita East, a 27-0 win versus Maize and a 26-13 victory against Goddard.

Garden City won its district and earned back the Hatchet with an 18-15 double overtime victory versus Dodge City. It marked Garden City’s first win versus Dodge City since 2007.

The rivalry win clinched a three-way tie for the WAC crown with Great Bend and Hays High, assured the Buffs of a winning season and eventually led to conference coach of the year honors for Hill.

“We were able to win some of the close ones that we lost my first year and really made a difference in our season,” Hill said Garden City collected a 35-7 first round playoff win versus Wichita South before it fell to Wichita Heights, 35-3.

While the margin was slightly better than

the 49-7 first round playoff loss to Heights in 2010, Hill believed last year’s loss was far different.

“There is a learning curve,” Hill said.

“That first year we made the playoffs, we had a fairly average record and then had to go play Heights. It was a pretty eye-opening experience because of the speed of the game, how physical they were with us.”

“Last year, they still handled us,” Hill added. “It was more of our execution rather than the physical nature of the game. I thought we belonged in the game physically last year. Just that we made some mistakes and when you do that against a really good team like Heights, you are going to pay for it and we did dearly.”

This season, Garden City returns four offensive and five defensive starters, including senior linebacker Brady Bean, the lone Buff to earn first team all-WAC honors as a junior. Andres Rivas and Taylor Foley are back after they collected honorable mention all-league.

“As a team, we have continued to gel and get better and improve on every year,” Rivas said. “It’s going to be our third year in Coach Hill’s system.

Instead of having to learn the new concepts for the first time, we are adding and adding upon it and just getting better.”

Garden City outscored opponents 230156 last season, its best scoring offense since 2006. As well, the scoring defense ranked fourth-best in Class 6A, according to preppowerindex.com. The Buffs’ ball control offense and aggressive defense have helped Garden City improve.

This season, the Buffs could contend with 6A’s elite. The program has won one state title, in 1999. As well, Garden City will open a new school and several new facilities in the fall, including a football stadium.

“We have a chance to be a really good team and we should,” Bean said. “For the last few years being in the playoffs‚ the first year just getting used to the playoffs, last year making an impact. I think, going into this year, we should go far.”

The year before Hill took over, Garden City went 4-5 and outscored opponents 178-156. In Hill’s first year, the Buffs tallied 218 points before the 12-point improvement last season. The offense helped in several wins, including versus Hays.

“We have gotten a lot better over the last two years,” Foley said. “Our defense has really improved and our offensive system is just way better since when (Hill) has gotten here.”

In that contest, Garden City ran 59

plays, seven more than the Indians.

Garden City’s four scoring drives were lengthy: 7 plays, 80 yards; 10 plays, 85 yards; 7 plays, 65 yards and a 13-play drive that ended in the field goal.

“We were able to keep the ball away from them,” Hill said. “They didn’t run very many plays in the first half.

Sustained drives and finished them with points. Anytime you can limit a powerful offense like Hays to very few touches, you are going to have a chance.”

Defensively, Hill has worked on forcing more turnovers and scoring off the miscues. He believes Garden City can force more mistakes, but Hill is happy with the Buffs’ unit, especially with forcing three-and-out drives. More improvement this season could produce the Buffs’ best season in more than a decade.

“It’s just the physical nature that our defense brings that we were lacking when I first got here,” Hill said. “We’ve had a lot of kids with a lot of talent, but we weren’t very physical. We can get out there and not let a team run right over the top of us.”

Conor Nicholl is a sports reporter for The Hays Daily News in Hays, Kan.

HaysHighI ndians b y C o n o r N icho ll For Kansas Pregame

Lef tt o right :Em il io Mit chel l , Prest onWeigel , Head CoachRyanCornel sen, JakeSedbrook,and CadeS harp. ( Phot o by DenaSorensen)

Hays High fourth-year coach Ryan Cornelsen, senior lineman Cade Sharp and running back David Cardinal are well-aware of what the perception is surrounding the Indian program. Last season, HHS went 8-2 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 1995.

The Indians were part of a three-way tie for the Western Athletic Conference title and lost by six in the first round to eventual state champion Hutchinson. The contest marked the Salthawks’ closest playoff game.

This season, Hays High graduated its entire offensive line, save for Sharp, the center and two-time first team allconference player.

Senior tight end Chandler Rule will miss most, if not all, of the season with a broken leg suffered in summer baseball.

HHS will start a sophomore, Alex Delton, at quarterback and will likely throw the ball more than the run-oriented attack of Cornelsen’s first three seasons.

Only three starters return on offense, four on defense. Cornelsen said the squad is the “greenest” he has ever had. The Indians’ schedule is toughest since he took over with opening games versus Junction City and McPherson.

Continued on page 8

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HaysHighI ndians Continued from page 7 But the Indians still believe they can maintain among Class 5A’s top teams.

“Everybody is looking down on us,” Cardinal, a senior and the returning WAC Player of the Year, said. “I love people that doubt us. That’s what we thrive off of. We love hearing people who think that we are not going to be as good. Every class that has come through here has been better than the class before them.”

Cornelsen is 75-19 in his head coaching career that spans La Crosse and Hays High. After a terrific six-year run with the Leopards, Cornelsen moved 25 miles north and took over a program that was mired in mediocrity.

HHS went 36-36 under Kent Teeter, now the Goodland coach, and never won more than six games in any season.

A two-year stint by Rick Blosser (6-12 mark) opened the door for Cornelsen, son of legendary former Liberal coach Gary Cornelsen.

In three seasons, Cornelsen has gone 72, 7-2 and 8-2. In track, he has won three straight Class 5A boys’ state titles. He

expects to have success again this fall.

“I expect to be good and I expect to win, whether we are young, whether we are new, it doesn’t matter,” he said. “The amount of pressure I have put on myself and my program hasn’t changed. People might look at us as maybe not going to be as good as we have been, but that’s their opinion.”

“Our opinion is that we are going to be better and we have got to do whatever it takes to be better,” he added. “Right now, we are working awfully hard and we will see how things pan out come district time.

There is no doubt the expectations are to do as well as we have ever been.”

One addition will be Gary Cornelsen, who will join his son’s staff in the fall.

Gary Cornelsen had coached football and track in Texas, but is retired now and will live in Hays during the football season.

Father and son have talked about coaching together for a long time and it nearly materialized in Ryan’s first season with Hays High. Gary Cornelsen will be a varsity assistant and will work with the defensive ends and quarterbacks.

“This year seemed like a good fit,” Ryan Cornelsen said. “We are both excited.”

Another positive change is the Indians’ new weight facility. Previously, Hays High had a weight room that was just 1,300 square feet, similar to weight rooms for some Class 1A and 2A schools. Now, HHS’ facility is 7,200 square feet, which Cornelsen says is on par with other 5A and 6A schools.

“It’s been three years,” Cornelsen said.

“A lot of fundraising, a lot of meetings, a lot of different organizational planning and changes. It took a lot of time and effort, not just by me, but by all involved, so it’s nice to finally get to see kids walk in and use in.”

The facility is equipped with a large meeting area, approximately a 30-yard turf track and plenty of room for various lifts.

Sharp and Cardinal each wore a big grin after they finished a summer workout one morning.

“This allows us to do so many more lifts and get so much more out of our workouts,” Sharp said.

On the field, the offensive line was still in flux entering July. Cornelsen said six or seven athletes will be competing for five spots. HHS could start some sophomores up front. Last year, a senior-laden offensive line opened holes for 412.3 yards and 348.3 rushing yards and 36.4 points per

game. Cardinal collected 1,468 yards and 19 scores. All five marks were the most since 1999, the first year Hays High started to track career and team records.

“They’ll surprise you,” Sharp said with a smile. “Some of these sophomores, it seems like some of them are waiting for their chance to play and have got it down already. You don’t have to do much. They already know what to do.”

Delton, an impressive quarterback in the younger ranks, was the backup last season and saw some varsity time. Cornelsen considers Delton more advanced than the usual sophomore quarterbacks.

“He is the real deal,” Cardinal said. “He is definitely elite for his class. He is above most kids his age. He is going to be a real good QB. He is already making plays that kids his age wouldn’t even see.”

Cardinal is another rarity at running back. One of Kansas’ top players, Cardinal can gain yards in a variety of ways, but always follows assistant coach Steve Sedbrook’s mantra: Look to score every play. It’s a formula that yielded success last season, and, even with a new group, could again this year.

“If it’s in the open field, I will run hard, but I will make you miss, too,” Cardinal said. “I will run you over one play and I will shake you the next.”

Conor Nicholl is a sports reporter for The Hays Daily News in Hays, Kan.

Left to righ t:K yler M eyers,Derek B ixen m a n ,D a vid Ca rd in a l,a n d Ad a m Deterd in g.

(Photo by John Baetz)

Proud to support Hays High football!

A message from Head Coach Ryan Held I’m very excited to write this letter and let each of you know how passionate I am about the “Scottie Nation” and what we have to offer. I feel truly blessed to be the Head Football Coach at Highland Community College. It’s a unique place and a hidden secret that needs to be told. We have a tremendous opportunity at Highland to develop a championship program and a destination for Kansas high school football players.

I’ve been very fortunate to have been a part of four Division I National Championships at the University of Nebraska and University of Tennessee. My mentors over the years have been Hall of Fame Coaches Tom Osborne and Phillip Fulmer, along with current Ohio University Coach Frank Solich. These men are champions and I'm proud to accept the challenge of implementing the championship caliber processes learned from them into the Highland Football program. I was also fortunate to have coached with Troy Morrell at Butler Community College. There’s no better program in the country and I was able to learn many things from the program from a community college perspective that I'm also implementing at Highland as we speak.

We will run a clean, disciplined, organized program at Highland. We will do it the RIGHT WAY! Our program is on the cutting edge and should give us a tremendous advantage, but many people don’t know about it: • Our weight room is the best in the Jayhawk Conference, bar none. As a player, you want to be bigger, stronger, and faster. We take great pride in the strength and conditioning arena.

• We have an unbelievable Wellness Center available for practice and winter conditioning. One of kind in our conference and a unique advantage for the Highland football program.

• I often hear athletes complain about dormitory style living and staying on a floor with 20 guys. You don’t at Highland. We have city like, apartment style living with kitchens, living rooms, and freedom.

Prospective athletes who visit Highland are often taken aback and surprised at what we have. We want to change our culture, change the mindset, and educate Kansas on what we have at Highland and how our program can be a great fit for you and your future.

We’ll take it day by day and get better and better. Give us a chance and check us out. You won’t regret it.

Come be a part of something special and be a part of the “Scottie Nation!”

Head Coach Ryan Held Ph: 785-442-6045 rheld@highlandcc.edu

www.highlandcc.edu facebook.com/ryan.held.3

Scot tCit y Beavers b y C o n o r N icho ll For Kansas Pregame

Lef tt o right :MichaelMcEachern, Col t enYager,Head CoachGl ennO’Neil , Drew Kit e, and Bret tO’Neil . ( Phot o by DenaSorensen)

Scott City coach Glenn O’Neil simply sums up the Beavers’ success since 2005.

“We really feel like three out of the last six years, we were probably the secondbest in 3A,” O’Neil said.

However, Scott City, 49-10 in five seasons under O’Neil, has not reached a substate championship or state title game in that span. The Beavers have lost in the second or third round for six straight years, often to the eventual state champion and nearly always by small margins.

“They are just terrible on me,” senior quarterback Brett O’Neil, Glenn’s son, said. “We are so close every time.”

Scott City has won multiple state championships in several sports in recent years, including cross country, track and the Class 3-2-1A wrestling crown last winter.

O’Neil, also the boys’ basketball coach, has three state titles in the last six winters, including the past two seasons. In football, the Beavers have won three Class 4A titles in 1988, ’90 and ’91.

“That would mean a lot,” senior lineman Michael McEachern, also a top wrestler, said. “That would be the best experience ever – winning a football one.

That’s the one I have been wanting since eighth grade. I have wanted to come up Continued on page 12

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Scot tCit y Beavers Continued from page 11 and be part of a state championship football team for Scott.”

Scott City, known for its stingy 4-4 defense, is again among Class 3A’s favorites this season after falling short last year. The Beavers return five offensive and seven defensive starters from an 11-1 team that lost 39-21 to eventual champion Conway Springs in the third round. It marked Conway Springs’ closest playoff game; Scott City eventually finished second in the final statewide media poll. The Scott City program called the loss to Conway Springs the de facto state championship.

“It’s pretty heartbreaking to get so close and just not get over the hump,” McEachern said. “We have got to work extra hard to go back the next year.”

Scott City received some terrible news in the offseason when two players were involved in different car accidents and will miss the season. Senior defensive tackle Drake Inguanza is in a neck brace for several months. Junior Cole Birney, expected to start at guard, had to be transferred to Lincoln, Neb., for multiple injuries. Coach O’Neil said both players should be “OK in the long run.” The injuries especially affect Scott City’s depth, but the Beavers still retain plenty of stars from a unit that outscored teams 500-112 last season.

Drew Kite, a cousin of former Louisburg standout and Air Force signee Garrett Griffin, returns after he collected 117 tackles last year.

“He is a kid who makes a lot of plays based on instinct,” Coach O’Neil said. “I think that we have some other kids who read their keys better. Drew finds a way to get to the ball as a linebacker. That is just as important, having that natural instinct.”

O’Neil had planned on playing wideout his entire career, but was moved to quarterback in seventh grade and has liked the position ever since. He passed for 1,467 yards and 14 scores last fall and has enjoyed playing for his dad.

“It’s a lot better than it would be for another coach that you don’t know,” Brett said. “He understands school work, that you are going to have problems with it.”

O’Neil is also strong at defensive back with five interceptions and seven pass breakups last year. Scott City’s 4-4 look allowed 9.2 points per game, second-best in the classification.

Coach O’Neil learned the defense when he started his career as an assistant at Frankfort for nine years. After a season at Wellington, O’Neil was an assistant for 10 years with the Beavers before taking over as head coach. When he first came to Scott City, the Beavers ran a 4-3, but had trouble against the inside trap and

sweep that Ulysses and Pratt ran.

“We just feel out of the 4-4 that we can kind of control the inside trap and get to the edges pretty quick with their outside backers and corners,” Coach O’Neil said.

As well, O’Neil called the defense “very flexible” and can work well against any offense, including the spread looks that many teams use today. Two years ago, Scott City allowed 118 points in 11 contests, while the Beavers led Class 3A in scoring defense with 74 points allowed in 2009.

Offensively, Dalton Buehler rushed for 932 yards and 16 scores and is expected to have a heavier load in the backfield this season after Colborn Couchman graduated. Buehler was clocked at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash this summer at the Nebraska camp. Brenner Wells and Paco Banda will also see time as the second back.

Buehler has especially taken the 5-9, 190-pound Banda – “a little fireplug,” Coach O’Neil said – under his wing. The two have become lifting partners this

summer.

The talent could produce a different finish for Scott City. In 2006, the Beavers fell to Garden Plain, 28-14, in the third round. The next year, Scott City posted back-to-back shutouts in the first two rounds of the postseason, but then fell 6-0 to Conway Springs.

In 2008, Scott City lost 20-17 to Garden Plain in the third round. In 2009, the Beavers fell 19-17 to eventual state champion Wichita Collegiate in the third round. It marked Collegiate’s closest playoff game that year.

In 2010, Scott City fell to Smith Center, 42-35, in the second round. However, Coach O’Neil’s father passed away the day before the game. Last year, Conway Springs took a 13-0 lead after the first quarter before Scott City played with Conway Springs the rest of the game.

Brett O’Neil said the team played with a “deer in the headlights” look for the first quarter before settling in. However, the result was another close playoff loss – a trend Scott City looks to change this year.

“Know the difference between having a Bank and being part of one.”

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Lef tt o right :KipKeel ey, Trey Renz, Head CoachJonWebst er,Mat tWagner,and Levi Morss. ( Phot o by DenaSorensen) when the highlight film comes on, always turns away.

“It was just one of those things that just eats you up, because we did so many things to shoot ourselves in the foot and yet, we were still right there and have a chance to win the game,” Webster said.

This season, La Crosse lost many of the key players on last season’s team, including Stull, Webs, Sramek and lineman Dylan Engel. But the Leopards are still on the short list of teams to contend for a state championship. Senior fullback Kip Keeley and senior running back Levi Morss headline a team that also features Basgall, senior defensive back William Storie and senior lineman Trey Renz for a program that has won double-digit games in five of the last six years.

Multiple colleges have already started to recruit Keeley and Morss, a tandem who Webster calls “potentially one of the best backfields in the state.” Morss, a transfer from Rozel-Pawnee Heights, didn’t play on varsity his sophomore year because of transfer rules. Last year, Morss learned the game while he rushed 172 times for 1,302 yards and 17 scores.

“I have learned so much about football, just in the sense of steps and keys and like running the ball,” Morss said. “It’s like I’m being coached. It’s a step up. I don’t have anything against my old coaches, but it’s just good coaches (at La Crosse).”

In the spring, Morss won the long jump title and had three runner-ups in the sprints at state track. He is one of the best athletes to come out of northwest Kansas in several years.

At the 2012 High Plains Sports Medicine Testing Combine that had athletes from more than six schools, Morss

scored 4,245 points in eight events. He won or tied for first in four events and broke the record for 40-yard dash (4.53) and overall athletic score.

“I was in disbelief,” Keeley said when he heard Morss’ score.

Keeley is impressive, too. The son of former La Crosse head coach and current defensive coordinator Bill Keeley, Keeley has started since midway through his freshman year. He has 1,844 total yards, 169 tackles and nine interceptions in his career and won the state javelin crown in track.

“They are big, physical kids with good speed,” Webster said. “Levi gets all the attention with his speed, but beginning of track, Kip was running with Levi and faster and one time I told Levi, I said, ‘You better learn fullback’, because of the way that Kip was running.”

lacrosse leopards lacrosse leopards lacrosse leopards lacrosse lacrosse leopards leopards

fourth year as head coach, said.

“Everybody in the stands said, ‘Oh yeah, he was over.’ There is a photograph by (well-known Northwest Kansas photographer Everett Royer) where it looks like he is in the end zone.”

“It’s just one of those things where I would rather not see or hear what other people say, because you know I am sure from Centralia’s viewpoint he was clearly out,” Webster added. “That photograph only shows one frame. It doesn’t show where his foot was, the frame before, after. It’s one of those things where the official made the call, the call that he thought was right. It shouldn’t have come down to that play.”

On the next play, Stull, a four-year starter and three-year quarterback, and allleague center Kyle Sramek fumbled the exchange. Centralia recovered. The Panthers scored first in overtime and held La Crosse to a short run and three incomplete passes to seal the victory.

La Crosse finished with a 12-1 record, set a school record for wins, advanced to the first state championship game in team history and set the all-time state mark with 34 interceptions. But the Leopards – which later rolled to the Class 1A track title with a record-breaking 84 points with many of the same athletes – couldn’t collect the football title.

“Definitely crushes you on the inside,” Basgall, a starting defensive back and wideout last season and expected to take over as quarterback this year, said. “You work so hard for it. To see them over there celebrating, wishing we could be the ones over there celebrating, it’s the worst feeling.”

Webster still can’t watch the tape and,

La Crosse High School coach Jon Webster believes he will never fully “get over” the Class 2-1A state championship game loss to Centralia last fall at Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field Stadium. The Leopards led nearly all game and outgained Centralia in total yards, but had four turnovers, including three lost fumbles.

Plus, the ending was one that La Crosse and Centralia fans likely will remember for a long time. Centralia won 20-14 in overtime, but the Leopards believed they had taken the lead several times in the final minute of regulation.

First, with the score tied at 14 with 53 seconds left, La Crosse’s Austin Webs tossed an 80-yard halfback pass to Clayton Basgall. Webs believed Basgall was going to score, but Centralia senior Michael Glatczak, a Shrine Bowler and one of Kansas’ top players, raced over and tackled Basgall at the six-yard line.

Then, La Crosse quarterback Tayler Stull rushed left and was downed inches from the goal line. Stull believed he had crossed the plane and some controversy still remains.

“We have got kind of a biased view,” Webster, a Leopard alum and entering his “I think that kind of sparked him to where he wants to be that tailback,” Webster said. “The good thing is that they are both good blockers. They can hit the home run anytime they touch the ball.

They are versatile. They do a lot of stuff and they want to get better than what they are now. That’s huge is that they are never satisfied with where they are at.”

As a team, La Crosse isn’t satisfied with the near-miss from last season. After the defeat, Webster said the team could have the week off. But the Monday after state, the weight room was packed with kids.

“They are going to work, and they are going to battle,” Webster said. “You have got to have a lot of luck to have the run we had last year. We just ran out of some of that luck at the end, and for whatever reason, wasn’t meant to be. We are going to try to make it meant to be this year.”

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The Plainville High School football team had many, many memorable moments last season en route to a 10-2 record, a seven-win improvement from 2010.

After two victories against MidContinent League foes Phillipsburg and Ellis to start the season, Plainville beat Norton, 53-13, in Week 3 for the Cardinals’ first victory versus the Bluejays since 1994.

The next week, Plainville went to Smith Center and won in the final seconds, 3023. The win sealed the Cardinals’ first Mid-Continent League title since 1984 and helped erase the 83-0 first round playoff loss in 2007 to the Redmen.

In that contest, Smith Center earned national attention with its record-breaking 72-point first quarter. After last fall’s victory, fans were honking their horns and cheering when they returned to Plainville.

“That was probably one of the best feelings I’ve had all year, taking down Smith Center after what they had done to us,” fullback Harrison Gilliland said.

The Cardinals rolled through district play and quickly became one of Class 21A’s elite squads. Plainville lost 14-8 to La Crosse in Week 9 and then won two Continued on page 17

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Pl ainvil l eCardinal s Continued from page 15 playoff games. In one of the most highly anticipated playoff games in recent Northwest Kansas history, Plainville hosted La Crosse in the sub-state game, but fell 13-6.

“We had a lot of mistakes tonight,” third-year coach Joe Simon said that night. “Turnovers hurt us, penalties, missed tackles on defense. ... Every time the momentum started to shift our way, they made a big play to steal it right back.”

Still, Simon orchestrated the Cardinals’ best season in 20 years behind a smashmouth running game and aggressive defense.

“I didn’t know if it would progress this fast, but these kids have all put a lot of work in,” Simon said.

In the spring, the town rallied around Simon when the school board didn’t offer him tenure.

Several hundred people showed up at a school board meeting to support Simon and, in a 5-2 vote, the school board granted Simon tenure. Simon teared up after the meeting as he received congratulations from players, assistant coaches and townspeople.

“Very excited, not only for me, but for the community, for the kids, for my assistant coaches, this is a great

feeling,” Simon, the Hays Daily News Coach of the Year, said.

Plainville graduated just four starters who played both ways – including Shrine Bowl selection Andrew Casey and all-state lineman Jameson Klein – but returns seven offensive and defensive starters. Plus, the Cardinals return several players who missed part of, or nearly all, of last season because of injury.

Plainville enters the season 13-3 in its last 16 contests with all three defeats versus La Crosse. Plainville, La Crosse, Meade and Johnson-Stanton County headline the short list of teams in contention for the west’s spot in the state championship game. Plainville, which won the Class 2A track crown in the spring, has won two football titles in school history, in 1980 and ‘85 under Hall of Fame coach Larry Friend.

“He doesn’t baby them,” Jay Friend, Larry’s son and the school board member who started the process at the school board meeting to assign Simon tenure, said. “He is tough with them and as you can see, obviously, it’s working.

Sometimes that’s the price you have to pay to be a winner. You have to work hard, do things sometimes that you don’t like to do.”

Between Friend and Simon’s coach-

ing eras, Plainville enjoyed little success in football. The Cardinals didn’t have a winning season from 1994-2010.

“When I was a seventh grader and an eighth grader, you just look up to the football team and it wasn’t much,” Trevor Axelson, the leading rusher on last year’s squad with 1,323 rushing yards, said. “You just thought, “Wow, am I really going to join a team like that?’ Even my freshman year, even when we weren’t doing that good, it still gave us hope. We still had hope that we were going to turn everything around.”

In Simon’s first season, Plainville went 1-9 and scored a collective 20 points in the first eight games. In 2010, Plainville opened 0-5. The year started with a 50-6 loss to Phillipsburg, a loss Simon called “very humbling.”

“I was starting to wonder if it was going to take a little longer than I thought,” Simon said.

Then, the Cardinals finished the year with three straight victories. Simon pushed the players on the field and in the weight room – the Cardinals won state powerlifting championships this spring. The Plainville booster club raised money for a new weight room.

Attendance improved dramatically.

Axelson said only a handful of players

had better than 90 percent summer weight room attendance in 2009. More than half of the players had 90 percent attendance last summer. “(Coach) pushes us very hard and that’s probably why we are where we are now,” Axelson said.

This season, Axelson, Gilliand (883 yards, 13 scores) and Dalton Werner (793 yards, 10 TDs, Class 2A long jump champion) form a strong backfield. The line should be bolstered with the return of Andy Malin and Alex Wahrman, who were hurt for a significant time last year.

As well, Bradey Chard is a returning first team all-league center for a team that could take another jump and play for a state title.

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St ant onCount y Trojans b y C o n o r N icho ll For Kansas Pregame

Lef tt o right :Kyl eRodriguez, Head CoachBretKendrick,MarquesLogan, QuinnKendrick,and Col

by Overt urf . ( Phot o by DenaSorensen)

Johnson-Stanton County senior running back Marques Logan remembers when the Trojans took the step into Class 21A’s elite. Entering the 2010 season, Stanton County hadn’t won a playoff game in seven years and had collected 46, 4-6 and 3-6 marks the previous three falls.

However, 2010 produced a 10-2 record and a trip to the sub-state championship game. Among 11-man teams in the last five seasons, Stanton County’s seven-win improvement and sub-state championship game appearance tied the state’s largest one season turnaround.

Last fall, Stanton County went 9-2 before it lost to Plainville at home, 6-0, in the second round of the postseason. This summer, Logan and his teammates have discussed the team’s improvement – and yet still falling short in the playoffs.

“That has always been in the back of our heads,” Logan said. “I think that’s what’s pushing us this year in the weight room and everything and how hard we work.”

This fall, the Trojans return 10 offensive and nine defensive starters, including Logan and senior quarterback Quinn Kendrick, the son of coach Bret Kendrick.

Continued on page 20

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St ant onCount y Trojans Continued from page 19 Logan has rushed for more than 2,000 yards and scored more than 45 rushing touchdowns in the last two seasons.

Kendrick, a starter since Day 1 of his freshman year, has suffered injuries the last two years. Still, he has delivered more than 2,700 yards of total offense and 35-plus scores accounted for since 2010.

“The expectations just keep going up as the year is going on,” senior lineman Kyle Rodriguez said. “Everybody says that it’s going to be our year and I feel like every year, we believe it a little more and a little more, so we just hope that this is the year.”

Bret Kendrick is in his 28th year of coaching, including the last 20 at Stanton County. The program hasn’t won a state title since 1983, but Kendrick has continually led the team to the postseason. In 2003, Stanton County defeated Ness City in the first round and then fell to St. Francis in the second round. That started a streak of five straight playoff losses.

In 2009, Stanton County won just three contests, but Coach Kendrick helped lay the foundation for change when he started Quinn in the first game at quarterback.

Before the Week 1 contest against Hugoton, Kendrick heard people saying that he was playing favorites with his son.

Stanton County lost the game, 48-6, but

Quinn proved he could play at the varsity level.

“That was a real, real hard decision,” Coach Kendrick said. “….(After Hugoton), there was no doubt in my mind, and in the staff’s mind or in the fan’s mind, he solidified that spot and there was never anymore (talk).”

In 2010, Stanton County, paced by running back Austin Nairn, a Shrine Bowl selection who collected 1,943 total yards, advanced to sub-state. It marked the team’s deepest playoff run since the ’83 state title. In the first round of the playoffs, Stanton County defeated Ellis, 52-7, the second-worst playoff loss in Railroader history.

“A lot of it is the kids’ desire to be in that position and not satisfied with just the regular season being done,” Coach Kendrick said. “Wanting to go that extra step and developing into a great group of football players. .. They know what to do and they know how to execute it.

Sometimes we don’t execute it, but for the most part, they do a great job.”

Both of the losses that season came to Meade, 46-6 in the regular season and 4426 in the sub-state game. Last year, Stanton County lost to Meade 34-16.

Logan said the “intimidation factor” of playing Meade – the 2010 state champion – may play a part in Stanton County’s struggles.

“Any mistake you make, they capitalize,” Coach Kendrick said. “You can’t have mistakes and expect to beat a team like that.”

“Just nervous,” senior lineman Colby Overturf said. “We know what we have do. It’s just a lot of pressure, ‘Oh we are going to play Meade.’ We end up psyching ourselves out.”

Last year, other than the Meade loss, Stanton County again rolled through the regular season. Quinn Kendrick, who suffered microfractures in his leg as a sophomore, had an ankle injury in practice as a junior. He missed two games against Syracuse and Satanta, both subpar opponents, and played hurt for seven games.

The injury is part of the quarterback/ coach relationship between the Kendricks.

“There are times when I am really proud and happy and there are times that he frustrates me,” Coach Kendrick said.

“Just like that ankle injury last year, I would have wrung his neck. You couldn’t believe how mad I was. I told him to wear ankle braces, get it taped. We are in practice and it gets rolled up on.”

“It’s not the the fact that he was hurt, that’s part of it,” Coach added. “But the fact that I told him to do something and he didn’t do it. But then I got to kind of give him some credit. He sucked it up and toughed it out.”

In a 35-34 road win in the first round of the playoffs against Ellis, Quinn tied the game with 16 seconds left on a two-yard touchdown run. Earlier in the game, he threw a 26-yard touchdown pass on 4thand-15. He finished with 121 passing yards, while Logan collected 122 rushing yards in the victory.

The next week, Stanton County dropped a tough contest to Plainville. In the first half, Stanton County moved to the Cardinal 13, but couldn’t score.

In the third quarter, the Trojans went 65 yards in 15 plays. Stanton County advanced to the four-yard line, then had a five-yard penalty and a two-yard loss.

After that, Kendrick completed a 10-yard pass to the 1-yard line. He tried a quarterback sneak, but the Cardinals stopped him short.

“Plainville was a good team and they deserved to be there, but I thought we also deserved to be there,” Coach Kendrick said. “There were 11 different situations that happened that weren’t favorable for us and you can’t just overcome something like that.”

Since then, Stanton County has thought about the near-miss, a loss it doesn’t want this season.

“We just have that little bit of a drive from last year,” Logan said.

Conor Nicholl is a sports reporter for The Hays Daily News in Hays, Kan.

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NessCit y Eagl es b y C o n o r N icho ll For Kansas Pregame

Lef tt o right :Garret tFl ax, TuckerVonLehe, Head CoachChrisBam berger,and Dal t onGant z. ( Phot o by DenaSorensen)

Chris Bamberger learned from one of the best coaches in Kansas history.

Bamberger, entering his third season at Ness City, grew up in Jetmore and played for coach Kevin Ayers, who led the program to a pair of state championships.

Ayers, now the coach at Sharon Springs, has also won a title with the Wildcats and is believed to be the fastest coach in state history to 100 victories.

Bamberger followed Ayers’ philosophy of playing aggressively and developing players on and off the field.

“I think the world of him as a coach,” Bamberger said. “He taught me how to instill qualities in your players to be proud of, how to be men, how to handle yourself and how to play hard, and it doesn’t really matter athleticism, just get the best out of our kids.”

Before Ayers came to Jetmore, the school had little football success. The same with Sharon Springs. But Ayers quickly turned around those programs, including an eight-win improvement to 11-1 in his first season with Sharon Springs.

Bamberger has enjoyed similar success with the Eagles, a school known more for its dominant cross country and track Continued on page 22

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NessCit y Eagl es Continued from page 21 programs under coach Patrick Younger.

Ness City has won five state championships – four on the boys’ side – in cross country and track since 2007. Ness City has produced several strong football players, including Alex Kuhlman, a recent All-American defensive back at Pittsburg State, but has never won a state crown.

This fall, though, Ness City brings back nearly everyone from an 8-2 squad and is the favorite to reach Newton from the west in Eight-Man Division I. The Eagles return eight offensive and defensive starters, including Dalton Gantz, the KPreps.com District 6 Defensive MVP. “They just look like they are fast and big and that’s something that we are going to have to contend with,” Hill City coach Scott Schulz said.

For several years, Ness City formed a co-operative agreement with Dighton and created an 11-man program that played in Class 2-1A or 3A. The co-op produced little success and just one playoff appearance, a 42-0 first round loss to St. Francis in 2005.

In 2009, Ness City/Dighton finished 54 in the last season of the co-op, but the team lost its final four games by big margins against its stronger opponents, including La Crosse, Norton and Scott

City.

The next season, Ness City formed an Eight-Man Division I team and Dighton went to Eight-Man Division II. Bamberger, after one season as an assistant at Arkansas City, took over as head coach. Ness City started 0-2, including a 30-6 loss to perennial state power Victoria.

A Week 3 victory against Deerfield gave the team confidence and an overtime win versus Montezuma-South Gray helped the team reach the postseason.

After a 1-3 start, Ness City finished 5-5.

“We started believing,” running back and returner Garrett Flax said. “Coach has a lot to do with it. But it’s everyone - it’s a group effort.”

Bamberger, known for his ball control offense that he labeled “kind of vanilla sometimes,” aggressive defense and youthful enthusiasm, continued the turnaround last season.

“I think a lot of guys would have came in here and with the talent level that they had and really tried to spread them out and run a lot of spread offense,” Victoria coach Doug Oberle said. “Coach Bamberger came in and he did what he knows, and that’s to line up in double tight I and play hard every play and not make mistakes, and obviously that’s Coach Ayers right there.”

Last season, Ness City opened with a big win against WaKeeney-Trego, a sub.500 team, before the Eagles earned a big statement win versus the Knights in Week 2. Ness City won, 22-6. At that point, it marked Victoria’s fewest points in a regular season game since an 8-6 defeat to Sylvan Unified in Week 3 of 2002.

“Big win,” Flax said. “Last year, they came out and they hit us pretty hard.

Started off the season good this year and we just want to keep rolling.”

Bamberger showed his typical high energy in that contest. Sometimes, he came onto the field to congratulate or support a player. When Ness City made a key play late, Bamberger lept several feet into the air in celebration.

“When he gets pumped, that just gives me power — he likes what I just did,” defensive end Tucker VonLehe said.

“I just love the game,” Bamberger said. “I guess I just let the emotions get to me a little bit sometimes. I just get real excited – probably a little bit too excited.”

Ness City started 7-0 before it fell to South Gray, the eventual state runner-up, 72-40, in Week 8. Flax suffered a leg injury and eventually missed the rest of football, all of basketball and most of track. He should be healthy for the fall.

The Eagles lost to Macksville, 42-40, in the first round of the playoffs.

This season, Flax, Gantz, VonLehe and junior lineman Collin Foos, a secondyear transfer from Colorado, help form the backbone. Foos and VonLehe push each other in practice and each delivered strong seasons.

“He and I have a lot of competition,” VonLehe said. “He and I try to make each other better everyday in practice when we do hook drills and work on all sorts of d-end stuff. He is fast -- he has got really fast feet. He is not a straight line runner. His feet move really fast for a tall kid and that’s what makes him good.”

“I tell them everyday, they have got to be the toughest players on their defense,” Bamberger added. “Really, they are.

They have got to be selfless and they have got to eat a lot of blocks.”

That experience and talent could help Bamberger reach a goal that his mentor, Ayers, has collected three times – a state championship.

“The guy is an excellent person,” Bamberger said. “He is a better person than he is a coach. … If I could only do what he did, then we would be a tough team.”

Conor Nicholl is a sports reporter for The Hays Daily News in Hays, Kan.

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Lef tt o right :Sam Higgason, Head CoachTravisSt arr,Dyl anWissm an, and Mat tDem el . ( Phot o by DenaSorensen)

AGENCY ONE

Otis-Bison senior running back/linebacker Dylan Wissman has collected 3,076 total yards, 2,488 rushing yards, 55 total TDs and 106.5 tackles in a threeyear career that has produced a 31-4 record and 2010 Eight-Man Division II runner-up finish.

A starter since midway through his freshman year, Wissman has played on three distinctively different Cougar squads.

In 2009, Otis-Bison had an eight-win improvement to 10-1. The Cougars were arguably the state’s surprise and quarterback Kevin Wissman, Dylan’s brother, The Hays Daily News’ Offensive Player of the Year and the Offensive MVP in the Kansas vs. Nebraska all-star game, was the fulcrum.

In 2010, Otis-Bison brought back everyone except for two seniors, Kevin Wissman and lineman Matt Suppes. The Cougars had an outstanding defense and line paced by Robert Kolas, Josh Krom and Dominic Trapp.

Otis-Bison was the preseason favorite from the west to reach Newton. The Cougars did and played Baileyville B&B close in a 50-34 loss at state.

Last year, Otis-Bison graduated the Continued on page 24

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Ot is-BisonCougars Continued from page 23 three linemen and all-state fullback Mike Hlavaty, but returned a core of solid skill players.

Wissman, fullback Patrick Piper, quarterback Trevor Keller and speedy wideout/cornerback Matt Crotinger helped the Cougars advance to the substate championship game and finish 102. Both losses came to eventual state champion Thunder Ridge.

“Other than Thunder Ridge being so powerful, we were able to run the ball well and pass the ball more as the year went along,” senior lineman Sam Higgason said.

This season, Wissman is easily the team’s most experienced player. He, Higgason and Matt Demel are the lone returning starters. Otis-Bison has several question marks, including at quarterback.

Still, Wissman believes the team can better the success from the last three years and capture the program’s first football state title. Higgason, known for his strength, had 41 tackles last season.

Moscow coach Travis Johnson was very impressed with Higgason in the first round of the playoffs, saying the lineman was a “dominant player” and “could probably bench press a school bus.”

“Usually we have more people coming back, but I think what we have coming back is fine,” Wissman said.

“State is going to be our goal every season. That is what we are looking for at the end.”

The offense is expected to run through Wissman, who has already performed well in the spotlight in football and a third and second place state finish in basketball the last two seasons.

Known for his speed, shiftiness and stiff arm, Wissman had 173 yards of total offense and four receiving touchdowns in the state title game two seasons ago.

Then, he rushed for 314 yards and five touchdowns – in one half – in a first round playoff victory against Moscow last year. In the second round, he collected 105 yards and two scores versus Victoria.

“It was amazing,” Johnson said. “If you have ever watched Guy Fullmer from Dighton, that’s who he reminded me of. Just a hard-nosed runner. He is not going to make a lot of cuts. He is just going to get up in the hole and just lower his shoulder and run you over.”

Wissman has played some quarterback at the high school level, but eighth-year coach Travis Starr will keep Wissman at running back this fall.

Wissman has run the ball his entire career and calls running back “more comfortable” and his normal position.

With Piper graduating, fullback is another hole. Starr is uncertain who will start there, but said the Cougars could use some one-back sets with just Wissman.

“He is going to stay at running back,” Starr said. “He is going to have the ball the majority of the time, but he is better served as a running back.”

Starr was uncertain who was going to play quarterback in mid-June, but it could be junior Kole Urban. Urban played sparingly at quarterback last season when he completed two of six passes for 74 yards. Both he and junior Jordan Hoffman had to play some last season because of injuries. Urban finished with 39 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery and Hoffman had 29 stops.

“When they got in there, they did extremely well,” Starr said. “After that I felt real confident.”

Whoever plays quarterback is expected to play up to a high standard.

After Kevin Wissman graduated, Trevor Keller started for the last two seasons.

Known for his intelligence, Keller was one of Kansas’ most efficient quarterbacks. He completed 62.9 percent of

208 passes for 1,988 yards, 39 scores and just 11 interceptions in two seasons.

“Now, if we were slinging it around 50 times a game, we would have different expectations, but he has just got to be a heady player, he has just got to be a good leader,” Starr said. “We don’t have to have the best athlete playing quarterback. Keller was not the best athlete, but he could throw it and run it.

He could do our offense fine. As long as these guys have some leadership about him and do the things we ask, they will be fine.”

Even with the question marks, OtisBison is still considered one of the west’s favorites. Eight-Man Division II in the west is more wide-open than the past few seasons. Thunder Ridge, Ashland, Bird City-Cheylin and Victoria also suffered big losses to graduation. Plus, no player in the west has the resume or experience of Wissman.

“There are a lot of good teams, but some people are losing some of their starters, some will be coming back,” Starr said. “Hopefully we are in that mix when the season shakes out.”

Conor Nicholl is a sports reporter for The Hays Daily News in Hays, Kan.

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K a n sa sPreg a m e,Vo lu m e 7

Pa g e 25

CLASS 6A

12 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gabe Guild [Shawnee Mission South] 5-10, 185, RB, Sr.; 1,641 yards rushing in ‘11

CLASS 6A KPREPS.COM PRESEASON RANKINGS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Hutchinson Derby Olathe South Gardner-Edgerton Wichita Heights

H a r o ld Becha r d For Kansas Pregame

Don’t expect Olathe South to give up the Class 6A throne in 2012 without a fight.

Yes, the state’s largest classification just got that much tougher with the addition of last year’s 5A state champion, Hutchinson, and power Gardner-Edgerton.

Wichita Heights is also back looking for another trip to the title game and the 12school Sunflower League might be as strong as it has been in years.

But, once again, don’t forget about those Falcons from Olathe South.They are the reigning 6A state champs after last year’s stirring 41-37 victory over Wichita Heights in the state title game and they are bound and determined to stay there.

“We are going to try and defend our title – that’s the overall encompassing goal,” South head coach Jeff Gourley said.

“Step-by-step, practice-by-practice, playby-play.”

The Falcons, 12-1 a year ago, return just nine starters, but some of those returnees are considered one of the best at their respective position in the state.

Senior quarterback Frankie Seurer (6-0, 185) is back after throwing for 1,596 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

Those may seem like modest numbers, but Seurer attempted just nine passes a game in the run-oriented South offense.

One of Seurer’s top targets last year – Matt Elliott – returns after catching 24 balls for 561 yards and four scores.

Anchoring things up front will be one of the Midwest’s top linemen in 6-6, 275pound junior Braden Smith, who has already received offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Michigan, Stanford and Oklahoma, among others.

Defensively, the Falcons have five touted returners and will switch to the 3-4. Smith plays nose guard and Elliott returns as a starting cornerback after four interceptions last year. South also returns its three top tacklers in 6-2, 190-pound senior linebacker Remington Whitley (154 tackles, 4 interceptions), 5-11, 170-pound senior safety Dylan Devries (118 tackles) and 510, 180-pound senior safety Chase

Erick Mayo [Lawrence] 5-9, 170, WR/DB, Sr.; 31 catches, 519 yards in ‘11 REM IN G TO N W HITLEY SR.• LB • 6-2 • 190

REN C H TRAEVO HN W JR.• RB • 6-1 • 191

Jordan Darling [Shawnee Mission East] 6-4, 225, QB, Sr.; Univ. of Kansas Commit

Others: Lawrence, Manhattan, Olathe East, Junction City

These twelve players will be ones to watch in Class 6A this fall:

Parker Davis [Dodge City] 6-0, 205, RB, Sr.; Air Force Commit

Matt Plank [Gardner-Edgerton] 6-2, 215, LB, Sr.; 76 solo tackles, 11 for loss in ‘11 Frankie Seurer [Olathe South] 6-0, 185, QB, Sr.; 1,596 yards passing in ‘11 Braden Smith [Olathe South] 6-6, 275, OL/DL, Jr.; Top O-Line Recruit for 2014 Trevor Turner [Hutchinson] 5-9, 150, QB, Sr.; Three-Year Starter

Will Geary [Topeka] 6-1, 295, OL/DL, Sr.; 111 tackles, 5 sacks in ‘11

Remington Whitley [Olathe South] 6-2, 190, LB, Sr.; 154 tackles, 4 interceptions in ‘11

DeAndre Goolsby [Derby] 6-5, 245, TE, Jr.; Offer from K-State

Traevohn Wrench [Gardner-Edgerton] 6-1, 191, RB, Jr.; 2,448 yards rushing in ‘11

Hansen (107 tackles).

“We want to make our defense more aggressive,” Gourley said. “We want to become experts at gap pressure and forcing mistakes. We are going to have to play better defense this season to repeat as champions.”

Wichita Heights has been in the 6A state championship game for the last three years and that goal hasn’t changed for the Falcons in 2012. Head coach Rick Wheeler’s club returns four starters, including All-State defensive lineman Aderio Ammons (6-0, 250), just a junior.

“Everyone is looking forward to the 2012 (season),” Wheeler said. “Our returning players have high expectations and look forward to defending their league and district titles.”

And speaking of expectations, they are out of sight, as usual, at Hutchinson where the Salt Hawks return 17 starters – seven on offense and 10 on defense – from an 11-2 team that won the Class 5A state championship last year.

Senior quarterback Trevor Turner returns after accounting for 1,138 yards rushing and nearly 2,000 yards of offense last fall.

Everyone but first-team All-State lineman Najahaun Tipton-Wylie returns on defense, including 5A All-State free safety Tanner Higgins, who had 98 tackles and five interceptions as a junior. Senior linebacker Blake Simms, who had a teamhigh 113 tackles, also returns.

Olathe East returns 11 starters from a 9-3 team that reached the semifinals of the 6A playoffs before losing to Olathe South.

Division I prospect Nathan Guthrie, a junior linebacker, returns to head a defensive unit that head coach Jeff Meyers is expecting to be improved this fall.

Derby coach Brandon Clark is expecting big things from his offense, which returns eight starters. Five more return on defense for the Panthers, who were 8-4 last year and reached the semifinals of the playoffs.

The entire offensive line is back along with junior tight end DeAndre Goolsby, who was an HM All-State pick last year.The defense allowed 22 points a game last year and junior safety Travis

Young was another honorable mention All-State pick.

Shawnee Mission East, which was 6-5 last year and reached the second round of the 6A playoffs, received a nice offseason gift with the addition of quarterback Jordan Darling to the program. Darling, who has verbally committed to the University of Kansas, helped lead Midway High School from Waco, Texas, to the state championship game as a junior. He is part of a military family and played his sophomore year at Lakota West H.S. in West Chester, Ohio.

The 6-4, 230-pound Darling has already made an impact. In mid-June, he helped Shawnee Mission East take second place in the Greater Kansas City Coaches seven-on-seven competition. There were 32 teams at the tournament.

Gardner-Edgerton has been one of the top programs in Class 5A for years. Now the Trail Blazers will test the 6A division and a loaded District 4 which consists of Olathe South, Olathe North and Olathe Northwest. The four schools combined for a 30-14 record last year.

The Blazers, who were 8-4 last year, feature two of the best players in the state at their respective positions – junior running back Traevohn Wrench and senior linebacker Matt Plank.

The speedy Wrench, who broke Bubba Starling’s single-season school rushing record with 2,448 yards and 34 touchdowns, has beefed up to 190 pounds and has already received scholarship offers from Kansas, Kansas State and Nebraska.

Plank (6-2, 210) has started for two years on defense and led the team with 127 tackles last season.

Shawnee Mission West may be another dark horse on the eastern side of the bracket after posting a 7-4 record in 2011 and reaching the second round of the playoffs. The Vikings have one of the state’s top young prospects in 6-5, 290-pound lineman Austin Chambers, who started at tackle on both offense and defense last year as a sophomore.

Lawrence High features one of the state’s top players in senior Brad Strauss,

who has been a standout at quarterback and defensive back. The Lions reached the playoffs last year, finished with a 6-4 record and return 11 starters for head coach Dirk Wedd. Kharon Brown, a 5-10, 240-pound senior, anchors the line, but the Lions need more of him to make a big push this season.

“We need to find four offensive linemen and two defensive linemen,” Wedd said.

“If we can do that, we have a chance to be pretty good.”

Manhattan has produced three consecutive 10-1 seasons under head coach Joe Schartz, but have been unable to get past the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.The Indians were senior-dominated last year and return just three starters. One of them is senior quarterback Jacob Holloway.

Wichita Northwest has a new head coach in former Wichita Heights assistant Steve Martin, who inherits 11 returning starters from a 7-3 team that finished third in the City League. Martin will bring a hurry-up spread offense to the Northwest program and will look to feature the speed of 5-9, 175-pound junior running back Deron Thompson. Also returning is senior lineman Kyle Lee (6-0, 260), who was honorable mention All-State last year.

Garden City returns 10 starters from a 73 team that reached the playoffs, but the Buffaloes have been placed in a tough district with Hutchinson, Dodge City and Maize. Senior linebacker Brady Bean (510, 200) was HM All-State in 2011.

Junction City was 6-3 overall last year, but lost two of three district games and missed the playoffs. The Blue Jays return 10 starters, including seven on defense.

“We have a very difficult schedule and must get off to a good start for our young kids to gain confidence,” JCHS head coach Randall Zimmerman said. “We should be solid defensively, but it may take us more time to find our strengths on offense.”

Harold Bechard is the editor of Vype Magazine in Wichita. He has over 35 years experience as sports editor and sports writer for The Salina Journal and Hutchinson News.

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K a n sa sPreg a m e,Vo lu m e 7

Pa g e 27

brad strauss lawrence lions H a r o ld Becha r d For Kansas Pregame

There may not be a more important player to a high school football team in Kansas than Brad Strauss is to the Lawrence Lions.

Offense, defense, special teams, you name it, Strauss spends nearly every second of a 48-minute Friday night game on the field for Lawrence High.

“I just love being out there on the field,” said Strauss, the son of Mike and Lisa Strauss. “I’m not too happy with coach when I’m standing next to him on the sidelines.”

Lawrence High head coach Dirk Wedd isn’t too comfortable with it, either.

“I’ve been doing this for 38 years and they say you run into that special player once or twice in your career and in 1981 or ‘82 when I was at Wichita State, we had (quarterback) Prince McJunkins,” Wedd said. “That

was the first one I ever had, and (Strauss) would be the second. He’s pretty special.”

That’s quite a statement from a veteran head coach, but Strauss has backed it up with two sparkling seasons as Lawrence High’s all-everything player. He plays quarterback, defensive back, holds for field goals and extra points and returns punts and kickoffs.

“He would cover punts and cover kickoffs if I asked him to,” Wedd said. “He just doesn’t want to come off the field. And, it’s easier for me to take the heat for playing him too much than for him to stand on the sidelines and get upset with me and giving me dirty looks.”

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Strauss enters the 2012 season as one of the state’s top all-around football players, but mysteriously, he’s not listed as one of the Top 10 senior players in Kansas by the rivals.com recruiting website.

Strauss has received some interest from colleges such

as Army, Harvard and New Mexico State, but the two Division I in-state schools haven’t come calling just yet. There’s also been contact from the likes of Emporia State and Northwest Missouri State at the NCAA Division II level and Hutchinson Community College, among others, at the junior college level.

“I think most schools want to see me play my senior year,” Strauss said.

And, Strauss, who has 4.5 speed, is looking forward to his final year in high school. The Lions were 6-4 a year ago and lost to eventual state champion Olathe South in the playoffs.

“We’re experienced, we have a lot of guys back and we expect to have a good year,” he said. “We’ve got great tradition and we want a state championship to go with that tradition.”

Continued on page 30 Photo by Dena Sorensen

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PANTHERS

RED DEMONS

BUFFALOES

TRAILBLAZERS

Derby enters the 2012 season with a strong junior class, including its entire offensive line of Quentin Cox, Jordan Hill, Devin Jones, Tanner Anderson, Cole Hansen and tight end DeAndre Gooslby. Coach Brandon Clark admits that the expectations are high for this season’s team, but reminds his players nothing will be given to them, as Clark said they were shown at their padded team camp at Tulsa in early June.

In 2010, Dodge City went 11-1 and nearly advanced to the Class 6A state championship game, setting a school record with 12 wins. The Red Demons lost to Wichita Heights in the final seconds in the sub-state championship game.

Grooming quarterbacks has become routine for Garden City head coach Brian Hill.

This year will be no different with a new starter behind center for the third consecutive year.

Gardner-Edgerton coach Marvin Diener knows a thing or two about coaching explosive running backs and quarterbacks, and he believes the Trailblazers have one of each for the 2012 season.

According to Hill, senior Denton Keller and junior Greyson Tempel are both capable of leading the Buffaloes to another successful season.

Juniors Traevohn Wrench and Jared Hobby return to the Gardner-Edgerton backfield after putting up big numbers in 2011.

Wrench, a Kpreps.com All-State selection and first-team All-League running back, ran for 2,434 yards and 34 touchdowns while Hobby completed 91 of 179 passes for 1,175 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season as a starter.

Last season, Dodge City took a big step back. The Red Demons started 3-1 with the lone loss a 14-7 defeat in Week 2 to Wichita Northwest. Then Dodge City won two of its “We had some good days, but the last day final six games and finished 5-5. Two of some things didn’t go our way, and our kids those final four losses came by big margins, got a little down,” said Clark, who empha- a 56-14 defeat to Hays High and a 55-0 first sized leadership will be key to finding suc- round playoff loss to Manhattan. cess this season. “It was probably a good way to end camp, to get humbled a little bit. The stretch also included a tough 18-15 two We definitely have some holes to fill.” overtime loss to rival Garden City in the “Hatchet Game.”

Clark said those holes created by graduation reside on the defensive line, lineback- Dodge City returns running back Parker ers, cornerbacks and offensive line.

Davis, who rushed for 1,002 yards and 21 Tyler West, who first started at the end of scores on 165 carries. He has 35 rushing his freshman season, is a 6-0, 210-pound TDs in two seasons. Taylor Murphy is back junior running back. Buhler transfer after after passing for 1,471 yards with 10 Chandler Shantz will start at quarterback. scores, but he is expected to play wideout this fall. Jordan Doan was the team’s second-leading tackler with 63 stops.

In 2011, Derby earned its third sub-state berth in four seasons, losing to district rival Wichita Heights for the sixth consecutive Coach Dave Foster said the team lacks time since 2008. depth at linebacker and progression at that position will be key.

“It’s pretty thick right now,” said Clark.

“We must get over the hump from a year “We’ve got Heights, Hutch, Manhattan, ago,” Foster said. “Complacency may have Dodge City, Washburn Rural, Garden -there’s some good 6A programs on our side set in following an 11-1 season in 2010 and some players appear to have lost their edge. of the state.”

I look for that to return in the form of 9-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A urgency in 2012.”

Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I Coach: Brandon Clark (7th year, 42-32) Assistants: Caleb Smith, Cade Armstrong, Kevin Davis, Shelby Wehrman, Eric Hendrick, Devin Tarrant, Todd Olmstead, Jared McDaniel, Chris Devore Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 35 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 5 Defense Quentin Cox, OL, 5-10, 245, Jr.; Jordan Hill, OL, 58, 245, Jr.; Devin Jones, OL, 5-10, 270, Jr.; Tanner Anderson, OL, 6-4, 250, Jr.; Cole Hansen, OL, 6-2, 265, Jr.; DeAndre Goolsby, TE, 6-5, 245, Jr.; Tyler West, RB, 6-0, 210, Jr.; Shane Fowler, WR, 6-3, 195, Jr.; Kavan Mark, DE, 6-2, 200, Jr.; Jose Delgado, LB, 5-10, 215, Jr.; Ben Becker, LB, 5-8, 170, Sr.; Reed Trease, S, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Travis Young, S, 6-0, 200, Jr. Tom Witherspoon

5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Western Athletic Conference Coach: Dave Foster (3rd year, 16-6; 15th overall, 88-69) Assistants: Shawn Steiner, Nathan Gaswick, Ross Smith, Steve Rankin, Fred Sims, Mark Sandbo, Kyle Culwell, Ben Hamilton, Dustin Fergerson, Keevin Self Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 23 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Taylor Murphy, WR/DB, Sr.; Dakota Duckett, WR, Sr.; Immanuel Galloway, WR, Jr.; Jordan Doan, WR, Sr.; Dillon Burkhart, K, Jr.; Austin Savage, LB, Jr.; Parker Davis, RB/LB, Sr.; Dylan Vogel, OL/DL, Sr.; Justin Gemaehlich, OL/DL, Sr.; Alfredo Hernandez, OL, Sr.; Bryce Sonday, DL, Sr. Conor Nicholl

Courtesy Photo

Photo by Jeanie Rose

“Denton is maybe more of a cerebral guy and has a great understanding of the game.

Greyson is probably a little more athletic, but needs to work on his decision making.

Whoever can move the chains will be the guy that plays.”

“The success of the offense lies squarely on the shoulders of Hobby and Wrench,” Garden City has made a playoff appearance Diener said in the team’s preseason media guide. He also said the Blazers are looking in each of Hill’s first two seasons and is hoping their experience pays off for a for the passing game to “step up and take some of the pressure off of Traevohn.” deeper run in 2012.

“It’s been huge not just for our team, but for the community,” said Hill. “We’ve played against some great competition and we’ve taken away from it what we need to do to be able to play at that level.”

With the statewide reclassifications, the Buffaloes see a district slate of Maize, Hutchinson, and rival Dodge City. Hill has split against the Red Demons in two games that featured thrilling finishes. Dodge City overcame a 26 point deficit to win 2010’s matchup, while Garden City won an 18-15 slugfest in double overtime last season.

7-3 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 6A Western Athletic Conference Coach: Brian Hill (3rd year, 12-8) Assistants: Dominick Dingle, Frank Bean, Derek Gobel, Marcus James, Chris Barry, Matt Bayer, Erik Base, Alex Riemann, Taylor Freburg Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 6 Defense Mitch Moore, OL, 6-1, 250, Sr.; Ben Blood, OL, 6-5, 265, Sr.; Taylor Foley, TE/DE, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Jonathan Duvall, WR, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Greyson Tempel, CB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Andres Rivas, DE, 6-4, 190, Sr.; Brady Bean, LB, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Logan Dechant, DB, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Kieran Henderson, DE, 5-10, 200, Sr. James Westling

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Diener has been pleased with the development of the team’s receivers and said, “Hobby has looked very good in preseason drills throwing the football.”

Gardner-Edgerton must also replace most of its offensive line as senior Denton Lawrence is the only returning starter.

Diener said he believes the Blazers “have star power in the backfield, but they have to have good line and fullback play to give those players space to make big plays.”

The Blazer defense will be led by senior linebacker Matt Plank, a Kpreps.com AllStater and first-team All-League player who made 76 solo tackles, including 11 for loss, as a junior.

Seniors Conner Knorr and Max Knorr will move from offense to the defensive line this season, while seniors Riley Craig and Dalton Kirk are also returning starters.

8-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Eastern Kansas League Coach: Marvin Diener (7th year, 53-16; 28th year overall, 233-74) Assistants: Kris Henry, David Diener, Joel Bergmann, Kyle Woodall, Stan Watchous, Aaron Stubblefield, Ryan Plankenhorn, Ty Pfannestiel, Matt Kueser, Brian Bechard, John Yockey, John Bass Offense: I Formation Defense: 34 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Matt Plank, LB, 6-2, 215, Sr.; Dalton Kirk, LB, 6-0, 212, Sr.; Riley Craig, DB, 6-2, 182, Sr.; Connor Knorr, DL, 6-2, 230, Sr.; Max Knorr, DL, 6-2, 242, Sr.; Traevohn Wrench, RB, 6-1, 191, Jr.; Jamain Lang, WR, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Jared Hobby, QB, 6-0, 191, Jr.; Denton Lawrence, OG, 5-10, 205, Sr. Melanie McGee

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K a n sa sPreg a m e,Volu m e 7

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Hutchinson won six straight state championships before the run ended with a 21-0 loss to Bishop Carroll in the Class 5A semifinals in 2010. Then, the Salthawks bounced back and won the 5A title with a 33-21 victory against Blue Valley-Stillwell last season.

The Junction City Blue Jays missed the playoffs with a 6-3 record in 2011 and graduated All-State linebacker Dominik White. However, the Blue Jays return a good nucleus of starters to help them compete in Class 6A this season.

The Bulldogs posted a 2-7 record for the second straight season under Eddie Brown, and they’ll look to improve on that mark in 2012. Wyandotte has not made the playoffs since going 5-5 back in 2006.

Junction City brings back seven starters to a defense that pitched two shutouts and kept opponents to less than 14 points in five of nine games last season.

In 2011, both Bulldog wins came against KCAL opponents in September. Wyandotte blasted Washington 46-19 in week three, then made it two straight with a 28-14 win over Sumner the following Friday. All three teams finished 2-7 on the year.

The Lawrence Lions found a variety of ways to win last season, including a victory over Free State with their top three quarterbacks sidelined by injuries. Running back Tyrone Jenkins took the snaps and the Lions went on to win 20-0 and clinch a spot in the playoffs.

SALTHAWKS

BLUE JAYS

The Salthawks have now reached the playoffs in 12 straight seasons and have eight state titles in the last nine years under veteran coach Randy Dreiling. This season, the Interior defensive linemen Damarian Jones Salthawks return seven offensive and 10 defensive starters. and Charles Moore will be joined by defensive end James West to give the Blue Jays a Trevor Turner is back at quarterback after formidable front. Behind them will be outhe earned second team all-league honors side linebackers Justice Rexrode and when he rushed 119 times for 1,138 yards Immanuel Carson and defensive backs with 11 rushing touchdowns.

Andrew Milsap and Sam Cusack.

He completed 34 of 75 passes with 852 yards with 13 passing scores against three interceptions. Senior linemen Trae Boese and Marc Saffle were each second team allleague.

On defense, Tanner Higgins was first team all-league at defensive back after he collected 88 total tackles, five interceptions, a blocked punt, two fumble recoveries, five pass breakups and one forced fumble.

Seniors Blake Simms and Shaquille Henderson were second team all-league at linebacker and defensive back, respectively.

Simms had 113 total tackles, while Henderson collected 54 total tackles and seven pass breakups.

11-2 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I Coach: Randy Dreiling (16th year, 145-31; Overall: 170-70) Assistants: Travis Thurston, David Lee, Sean Harper, Bo Frondorf, David Armbrust, Scott Yantes, Chad McKinnis, Dan Naccarato, Adam Krol, Mike Hein Offense: Flexbone Option Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 51 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 10 Defense Trevor Turner, QB, Sr.; Dakota Brower, RB, Sr.; Tanner Higgins, RB, Sr.; Trae Boese, OL, Sr.; Joe Dower, TE, Sr.; Marc Saffle, OL, Sr.; Chris Starks, OL, Sr.; Colton Blea, DE, Sr.; Tyler Cox, W, Sr.; Jarrod Dawson, C, Sr.; Jarod Gagnebin, DE, Sr.; Shaquille Henderson, C, Sr.; Tanner Higgins, FS, Sr.; Dalton Luce, DL, Jr.; Cody Miller, SS, Sr.; Blake Simms, LB, Sr.; Colby Turner, LB, So.; Turner Wintz, LB, So. Conor Nicholl Photo by Jim Williams

BULLDOGS

LIONS

Jenkins will move back to his running back spot in 2012, as senior Brad Strauss returns to handle the signal calling after throwing for 1,778 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall.

Strauss, the Lawrence Journal-World’s Area Wyandotte, which averaged less than 20 Player of the Year, accounted for 2,501 total points per game while allowing 38 points yards of offense, blocked three kicks, led per contest, must also replace All-League the team in tackles, and returned a kickoff lineman Justin Lockrey, who signed to play for a touchdown. The Lion offense also at Coffeyville Community College this fall. returns senior receivers Drake Hofer and Erick Mayo, and senior guard Kharon The Bulldogs open their season against Van Brown.

Junction City returns only three starters on Horn (Mo.) and Harmon before facing offense, but it’s at three key offensive posi- Sumner in week three.

The main holes in that lineup are up front, tions. Senior Cody Devin returns at quarterwhere coach Dirk Wedd must replace the back, while Jovan Toles is expected to be Home games against Atchison and majority of his offensive line. The front line the team’s primary ball carrier. At 6-4, 270, Schlagle, then a contest at Washington pro- also has holes to fill on defense, and the Jeffrey Clark is a good start for the Blue vide the final tuneups for district play. performance of new linemen will be key for Jays on the offensive line.

Lawrence in 2012.

Wyandotte’s district slate begins with a trip The Blue Jays know they will be tested in a to Lawrence Free State. The Bulldogs host “We need to find four offensive linemen difficult Centennial League.

Lawrence in week eight, then travel to and two defensive linemen,” he said. “If we Leavenworth for the regular season finale. can do that, we have a chance to be pretty “We have a very difficult schedule,” good.”

2-7 in 2011 / 0-6 in district / 6A Junction City head coach Randall Kansas City-Atchison League Zimmerman said. “We must get off to a The Lion defense returns Strauss, Hofer, Coach: Eddite Brown good start, gaining confidence with our Mays and senior Will Thompson in the sec(3rd year, 4-14) young kids. We should be solid defensively ondary along with senior linebackers Jordan Assistants: N/A … Offensively, it may take us a little more Brown and Drew Green. Brown, a firstOffense: N/A Defense: N/A time to find our strengths.” team All-League selection as a junior, is the Returning lettermen: N/A only returning starter on the defensive line.

Returning starters: N/A Offense, N/A Defense

6-3 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 6A Centennial League Coach: Randall Zimmerman (19th year; 26th overall) Assistants: John Davis, Jimmy Goheen, Brian Sturges, Dan Sell, Tyler Manwarren, Carl Laughlin, Edmund Cronn Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 7 Defense Cody Devin, QB, 5-7, 155, Sr.; Jovan Toles, RB, 57, 160, Sr.; Jeffrey Clark, OL, 6-4, 270, Jr.; Andrew Milsap, DB, 5-8, 135, Jr.; Sam Cusack, DB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Justice Rexrode, OLB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Immanuel Carson, OLB, 6-2, 185, Jr.; Damarian Jones, DL, 5-11, 250, Sr.; Charles Moore, DL, 5-11, 270, Sr.; James West, DE, 6-3, 215, Sr. Mark Schremmer Photo by Yee Mar, Courtesy Kpreps.com

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6-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Sunflower League Coach: Dirk Wedd (13th year, 67-62) Assistants: Adam Green, Chris Johnson, Mike Cobb, John Reed, Matt Stiles, Jeff Belcher, Brad Page, Chuck Holley Offense: Spread Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 7 Defense Brad Strauss, QB/DB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Kharon Brown, OG/DL, 5-10, 240, Sr.; Drake Hofer, WR/DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Erick Mayo, WR/DB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Drew Green, LB, 5-10, 205, Jr.; Will Thompson, DB, 5-9, 10, Sr.; Jordan Brown, LB, 5-10, 195, Sr.; Tyrone Jenkins, RB, 6-1, 210, Sr. Melanie McGee

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FIREBIRDS

PIONEERS

Free State returns 11 total starters from a team that went 6-3 and narrowly missed the playoffs in 2011. The Firebirds bring back two first-team All-League performers in senior defensive back Kyle Mcfarland and senior defensive lineman Cody Stanclift.

Senior linebacker Corban Schmidt also earned honorable mention All-League honors. The Free State defense also returns junior linebackers Stan Skwarlo and Blake Winslow, junior defensive back Joe Dineen and senior defensive lineman Riley Buller.

Never mind the fact that Leavenworth struggled through an 0-6 start on its way to a 2-8 record in 2011. It’s the final four games that Pioneer coach Kevin Kopecky will more than likely look back on in preparation for the 2012 season.

Offensively, the Firebirds bring back honorable mention All-League receiver Tye Hughes, a senior, as well as Stanclift and junior Fred Wyatt on the offensive line.

Mcfarland also returns at quarterback.

Veteran coach Bob Lisher said the team’s goal is to “get better every day so we play our best ball toward the end of the season.”

Even with 28 lettermen returning, Lisher said health is critical to his team’s success.

“We can be competitive with anyone as long as we stay healthy,” he said.

The Firebirds will open the season at Olathe Northwest and Shawnee Mission West before hosting Olathe South in week three.

Their district includes Kansas CityWyandotte, Leavenworth and city rival Lawrence.

6-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Sunflower League Coach: Bob Lisher (16th year, 84-68; 19th year overall, 98-72) Assistants: N/A Offense: Spread – zone read Defense: 3-5-3 Returning lettermen: 24 Returning starters: 4 offense, 7 defense Kyle Mcfarland, QB/DB, 6-3, 195, Sr.; Cody Stanclift, OL/DL, 6-2, 250, Sr.; Fred Wyatt, OL, 6-4, 255, Jr.; Tye Hughes, WR, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Corban Schmidt, LB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Joe Dineen, DB, 6-2, 180, Jr.; Stan Skwarlo, LB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Blake Winslow, LB, 6-0, 205, Jr.; Riley Buller, DL, 6-0, 225, Sr. Melanie McGee

M aize

EAGLES

Four seniors return to anchor the offensive line for Maize, which is looking to improve on a 3-6 record from 2011. Spencer Baalman, Blaise Fountain, Joseph Hamer and second-team All-League selection Colin Nitcher will form a veteran group in front of sophomore QB Conner Lungwitz After 31 years of falling short of the Kansas and junior running back Chase White.

State Football Playoffs, Kopecky and the Pioneers played on following district The Eagles’ offense also returns senior action. receiver Jordan Schultz, and coach Gary Guzman expects big things from senior Kopecky returns eight starters on each side receivers Dane Byfield and Zach McGuire of the ball and is looking to set the bar a lit- this fall. Maize averaged just under 18 tle higher in 2012. With a lot of hard work points per game last fall, and will need to and a little faith, the third-year coach and step up the offensive production to keep his young program may net some early pace with its league and district opponents. wins and get back into the playoffs.

Maize will play in a district with 2011 Class Outstanding heavyweight wrestler and 5A Champion Hutchinson and 6A playoff Pioneer center Nathan Butler and running teams Garden City and Dodge City, teams back Jason Randall are back to lead that combined to go 23-10 a year ago.

Kopecky’s spread offense after landing on the Sunflower League’s second team at The Eagle defense returns five starters, those respective positions in 2011. Jesse including first-team All-League defensive Colver joins Butler up front following an back Landon Lemuz and honorable menhonorable mention season. tion linebacker Ethan Stallbaumer.

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M anhattan INDIANS

The Manhattan Indians will be without a wealth of talent entering the 2012 season.

From last year’s 10-1 team, the Indians will be without five All-State players, including running back Ty Suggs, wide receiver Deante Burton, lineman Ben Stegeman, linebacker Trey Campbell and kicker Keaton Barrager. Burton signed to continue his football career at Kansas State.

“We are only returning three starters, so obviously we will have an almost entirely new team,” Schartz said. “On top of that, we have some very talented players to replace. The good news is that the players we will put out there know what it means to play Manhattan football. Our success will depend on how well we can come together as a team and how well we respond to the challenge of competing in the Centennial League. It is always one of the toughest leagues in the state.”

The Indians do bring back senior quarterback and defensive back Jacob Holloway (6-1, 175), as well as senior running back and defensive lineman Brandon Velez (6-2, 210) and junior tight end and defensive Senior quarterback Judson Cole will operSeniors Matt Mar and Brayden Wood return lineman Winston Dimel (6-0, 190).

Those players will be key in implementing ate behind Colver, Butler and senior guard to anchor the defensive line, and senior Foi Malaki. Cole will have a trio of expeAlex McNew joins Stallbaumer as a return- changes to the offense and defense.

Manhattan is switching to the flexbone on rienced receivers to get the ball to in seniors ing starter at linebacker.

Eli Keppler and Jeff George as well as offense and the a 4-2-5 defense after listing sophomore Isiah Ross. the I-formation and the 5-2 as its base sets “We have to execute and play fast and the past three seasons. aggressive on both sides of the ball,” Returning honorable mention all-league Guzman said, adding that senior leadership outside linebacker Josh Ammel will lead With the changes to personnel and their will be a strength for the Eagles in 2012.

Kopecky’s 4-2-5 defense. game plan, the Indians will focus on week 3-6 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 6A to week improvements.

2-8 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Sunflower League Coach: Kevin Kopecky (3rd year, 3-18; 26th year overall, 168-98) Assistants: Joe Allison, Erik Yoakum, Steve Short, Andy Pinnell, Mark Forman, Brad Egger, Clayton Pritchard, Lucas Yarnell Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Jesse Colver, OT/DT, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Nathan Butler, C/DE, 6-5, 245, Sr.; Foi Malaki, OG, 6-0, 305, Sr.; Isiah Ross, WR/CB, 5-11, 165, So.; Judson Cole, QB/CB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Jason Randall, RB/CB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Eli Keppler, WR/CB, 5-7, 150, Sr.; Jeff George, WR, 6-3, 165, Sr.; Josh Ammel, OLB, 6-3, 210, Sr.; Da’Quan Blake, DT, 6-0, 270, Sr. Dean Backes

Strauss / from 27 Photo by Jeanie Rose

Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I Coach: Gary Guzman (2nd year, 3-6; 21st year overall, 103-93) Assistants: Chris Davis, Rob Helm, Rocky Helm, Victor Mercado, JJ Milanovich, Fred Rosas, Travis Self, David Walker, Wade Watkins Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2 Returning lettermen: 25 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense Spencer Baalman, OL, 6-3, 234, Sr.; Blaise Fountain, OL, 6-2, 271, Sr.; Joseph Hamer, OL, 6-0, 225, Sr. Colin Nitcher, OL, 5-8, 200, Sr.; Jordan Schultz, WR, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Chase White, RB, 5-11, 82, Jr.; Landon Lemuz, DB, 5-11, 178, Sr.; Matt Mar, DL, 5-10, 213, Sr.; Alex McNew, LB, 5-9, 195, Sr.; Ethan Stallbaumer, LB, 6-1, 215, Sr.; Brayden Wood, DL, 5-11, 212, Sr. Melanie McGee

against Shawnee Mission East and returned a kickoff return for touchdown in Week 6 against Shawnee Mission South.

Strauss has been a two-year starter at which signifies the top high school player Strauss also started as a sophomore quarterback, safety and kick-returner for in the Kansas City metro area. He finished quarterback during the 2010 season and the Lions and was the only junior listed on with 1,596 yards passing and 626 rushing played basketball during the 2010-11 the all-state first- or second-team for all - accounting for 24 touchdowns - and was school year. But, a badly sprained thumb classes. He was a first-team all-league averaging nearly 295 yards of total in that sport helped him make football his pick as a quarterback and defensive back offense per game before the injury. top and only priority. in the 12-school Sunflower League and a “I truly believe in your best football Strauss has been helped along during Class 6A all-state selection as a defensive player playing and doing a lot of different the offseason by former Kansas quarterback - all this despite missing nearly two things,” Wedd said. “He plays both ways back Jordan Webb, who has emphasized and a half games at the end of the season for us. I feel like he’s the best defensive the importance of footwork. because of an ankle injury. back in the state. They can talk all they “He’s helped out a lot. I throw with him Through the first seven games of his want about quarterback, whether he is or two or three times a week and he really junior season, Strauss was leading the not, but I know he is the best defensive emphasizes footwork and how important Sunflower League in passing and was back.” it is,” Strauss said. “A lot of people don’t fifth in rushing before injuring an ankle on Strauss’ versatility produced some eye- realize that. They think it’s all arm the second possession of the eighth game opening numbers a year ago. He threw for strength. But, you’ve got to be able to of the season against Olathe Northwest.

298 yards during the second game of the move around in the pocket and especially Despite the injury, Strauss was the only season against No. 4-ranked Olathe South; for a shorter quarterback. He’s got to be junior semifinalist for the Simone Award, rushed for 193 yards in the fifth game able to create throwing lanes to get the

“Our goal is to get better each week and to be at our best as we enter district play,” Schartz said. “And our ultimate goal is to make it to the state championship game.”

10-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 6A Centennial League Coach: Joe Schartz (4th year, 30-3 overall) Assistants: Greg Marn, Pat McKiney, Jason Kazar, Jesse Woodard, Chris McNabb Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 2 Offense, 1 Defense Brandon Velez, RB/DL, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Jacob Holloway, QB/DB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Winston Dimel, TE/ DL, 6-0, 190, Jr. Mark Schremmer Photo by

Jeanie Rosereceiver.” ball to the Strauss has done plenty of that during the last two years, throwing for 2,845 yards and 23 touchdowns. Those are some eye-opening numbers for the groundoriented, tradition-rich Lawrence program, which won 10 state championships from 1979-95.

Strauss wants to play quarterback in college, but that decision can wait. Right now, his thoughts are making his senior year, and that of his teammates, the best it can be. And that includes honing more than just physical skills, but also being more of a vocal leader.

“I feel like I handle that pretty well. I try not to get too high or too low during a game,” he said. “I think it gives my teammates confidence in me, knowing that I’m solid and will always be there for them. I think I’m more of a quiet leader. I’ve tried to be more vocal this spring. It’s not really

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O lathe E ast

O lathe N orth

Olathe East coach Jeff Meyers doesn’t seem to be too concerned with how well his offense will perform this fall. Keeping opposing offenses from scoring points, however, is going to be key to how well the Hawks perform in 2012.

Changes are plenty at Olathe North for the 2012 season. The Eagles return just two starters from last year’s 5-4 team and they have a new head coach, sort of.

HAWKS

“We’re going to be able to put points on the board, and I believe we’ll be able to control the ball,” Meyers said. “A real key for us, defensively, is going to be keeping people out of the end zone. I think we averaged about 28 points a game a year ago, but we also gave up 22 points. Keeping other people’s scoring down will be key.”

EAGLES

Gene Wier brings 30 years of experience back to the Olathe North sidelines after nine years coaching in Texas. Wier is one of the most successful coaches in Kansas history coaching the Eagles to six state championships in seven seasons from 1996 to 2002.

Wier coached Olathe North for 22 seasons beginning in 1981.

Senior tackle Ryan Garrett is the lone returning offensive starter, while junior defensive back Kai Rowden is the only starter back on the Eagle defense for veteran coach Wier.

Hawk senior quarterback John Blazevic returns for a second straight season of calling the shots offensively. Operating behind an offensive line that returns a pair of starters in Matt Gorby and Zach Williams, The Olathe North JV squad went 7-1 in Blazevic will attempt to get the football into 2011, and many of those players will have the hands of Hayden Frazier, who rushed to step up on Friday nights this fall. for nearly 500 yards a year ago.

“Our goal is to perform at our highest level On defense, Olathe East will be led by D-1 and fulfill our potential,” Wier said. “The prospect Nathan Guthrie – a junior inside keys will be how quickly we adapt to linebacker – Ryan Ahlgren on the line and coaching changes and how quickly our new Frazier at cornerback. players adapt to varsity football.”

“We always want to be competitive and we made the playoffs 10 straight seasons now,” Meyers said of a couple of Hawk team goals. “That would be expected again.”

9-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Sunflower League Coach: Jeff Meyers (21st year, 148-56) Assistants: Mike Wallace, Mike Stephens, Matt Wood, Ken Stohs, Steve Tidd, Lee Meyers, Randy Luangamath, Lance Larson, Josh Umphrey, Len Hoke Offense: Slot-I Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 45 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 6 Defense Matt Gorby, RG, 6-1, 220, Sr.; Zach Williams, OT, 64, 255, Sr.; John Blazevic, QB/OLB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Spencer Taylor, FB, 6-1, 215, Sr.; Hayden Frazier, RB/CB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Nathan Guthrie, LB, 6-0, 195, Jr.; Ryan Woodson, LB/FB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Trenton Clark, LB, 5-10, 185, Jr.; Ryan Ahlgren, LG/K/DL, 60, 210, Sr. Dean Backes

my personality, but I know it’s something I need to work on.”

Strauss has been around athletics all his life. His father, Mike, worked in the sports information field at Oklahoma State (1988-96), Utah State (1996-2007) and Kansas (2007-11).

“I think it has helped me a lot, just being around football practices, seeing how everything works,” Brad said. “It was really cool to be able to do that.”

“One of first questions he asked when he was signed up for t-ball was, ‘Will we fly to our road games?’” Mike Strauss said with a laugh. “He’d been around athletics so long he thought we flew to road games.”

Flying to road games will be the next step for Strauss after high school. Wedd said some college program will be getting a special player.

“I was a college coach for 11 years and I

The Eagles open the season with back-toback road games at Shawnee Mission Northwest and Shawnee Mission East before hosting Shawnee Mission West in the home opener Sept. 14. Olathe North’s Sunflower League contests continue with a trip to Lawrence Free State, a home game against Leavenworth and a game at Olathe East. District play begins with home games against Olathe Northwest and GardnerEdgerton, and the Eagles will wrap up the regular season Oct. 26 at Olathe South.

O lathe N orthw est RAVENS

O lathe S outh FALCONS

The Ravens qualified for the school’s third playoff appearance a year ago, before falling to Olathe East 40-23 in first round action. Northwest, however, has never made back-to-back playoff appearances.

Two first-team All-State players and the 6A Coach of the Year will lead Olathe South’s title defense in 2012. The Falcons went 121 in 2011, capping the season with a 41-37 win over Wichita Heights in the title game.

With six starters back on each side of the ball, and 32 lettermen, Olathe Northwest coach Todd Dain has a good mix of talent and could break that streak in 2012.

South returns All-State d-lineman Braden Smith and All-State linebacker Remington Whitley, plus senior quarterback Frankie Seurer, who threw for 1,596 yards in 2011.

“Hopefully a combination of experienced size up front, and energetic youth at the skill positions will culminate in success for the Ravens in 2012,” Dain said.

Smith, Whitley, and senior safeties Chase Hansen and Dylan DeVries will return to anchor the Falcon defense. Whitley led South with 154 tackles and four interceptions, while DeVries had 118 tackles and three sacks last season. Hanson was the team’s leader with five sacks and senior corner Matt Elliott had four interceptions.

Four senior starters return on the offensive line this fall, including honorable mention All-Sunflower League selections Cole Bouwens and Brock Droescher. The skill positions could be filled by four juniors and three sophomores, including junior returning starters Cody Sestrich at running back and Nathan Power at slot receiver.

“Last year, we were real big, real athletic and real fast and now we’re back to reality,” coach Jeff Gourley said. “This year we’re changing to a 3-4 and want to make our defense more aggressive. We want to Second team all-league senior Connor become experts at gap pressure and forcing Holsinger returns to the defensive line for mistakes. We are going to have to play bethis final season under Dain, while senior ter defense this year to repeat as Alex Durr returns at linebacker after receiv- champions.” ing all-league honors a season ago.

In addition to Seurer, the offense brings While Dain appears to have the talent to back tight end Justin Maggot, who averaged make a postseason run, his schedule may 23.2 yards per reception in 2011, Elliott at not cooperate. The Ravens will have to deal wingback (5.89 yards per carry and four with Olathe North, Olathe South and receiving TDs), plus Smith on the line.

Gardner-Edgerton in district play.

“Our goal every play is five yards. If we 5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A can do that consistently, we’ll win,” Sunflower League Gourley said. “Our ultimate goal is just to Coach: Todd Dain get a little bit better every day.”

(10th year, 23-39; 14th year overall, 43-58) Assistants: Pat Butler, Justin Slaven, Lorne Clark, Mark Mahoney, Court Allam, Eddie Crupper, Mike McLaughlin, David Ewers, Tyler Rodden, Blake 5-4 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 6A Revelle, Greg Morgan Sunflower League Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Coach: Gene Wier Returning lettermen: 32 (22nd year, 189-36; 31st year overall, 231-85) Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Assistants: Chris McCartney, Jesse Owen, Doug Cole Bouwens, OL, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Brock Droescher, Catloh, Scott Calder, Phil Simons, Josh Carroll, OL, 6-1, 265, Sr.; Tyler Moffat, OL, 5-11, 250, Sr.; Sean Richardson, Eniak Mpwo, Travis Greer, Jordan Johnson, OL, 5-11, 260, Sr.; Connor Spencer Webb Holsinger, DL, 5-11, 230, Sr.; Trevor Bowley, DL, 6Offense: Pistol Defense: 3-4 Stack 1, 175, Jr.; Brian Goines, DL, 6-1, 220, Jr.; Luke Returning lettermen: N/A Knight, LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Alex Durr, LB, 5-10, 180, Returning starters: 1 Offense, 1 Defense Ryan Garrett, OT, 6-3, 195, Sr.; Kai Rowden, DB, 6- Sr.; Jacob Phillippi, LB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Riley Adams, 1, 180, Jr. Melanie McGee K, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Nathan Power, WR, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Cody Sestrich, RB, 5-10, 175, Jr. Dean Backes

12-1 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Sunflower League Coach: Jeff Gourley (5th year, 26-16; 25th year overall, 126-100) Assistants: Graham Rees, Mike Jasicek, Dylan Brown, Kenyon Thornburg, Nathan Harrison, Josh Perkins, Chad McFarland, Bob Ginavan, Justin Howe, Greg Wheeler, Andy Strong Offense: Wing T Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Braden Smith, OL/NG, 6-6, 275, Jr.; Frankie Seurer, QB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Justin Maggot, TE, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Matt Elliott, WB/C, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Remington Whitley, LB, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Chase Hansen, S, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Dylan Devries, S, 5-11, 170, Sr. Melanie McGee

Photo by

Jeanie know theyRose make some serious money evaluating kids and I’m sure they do a great job,” Wedd said. “But, he’s just a special kid. He’s got a big heart, he’s a winner and I don’t think you can have enough of those. He’s a 3.8 student. He’s going to find a place.”

The recruiting process slowed a bit in June when Strauss was “banged up,” according to Wedd, in the Emporia State contact camp and had to miss a couple weeks of one-day camps.

“I think the other thing is he really hasn’t decided whether he’s a defensive back or a quarterback at the next level and I think some of those people would take him as a defensive back and probably not as a quarterback,” Wedd said. “But, he’s such a great leader. He’s going to find a way to get on the field whatever level he’s at. I can promise you that. He’s a great football player, but he’s even a better kid.”

Photo courtesy PrepsKC.com

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LANCERS

INDIANS

Mike Zegunis’ Huskies finished in a threeway tie for a district title a year ago – but were the odd team out of the postseason because of the tiebreaker. That disappointment may serve as motivation for the seventh-year coach in the 2012 season.

In spite of staying just one game above .500 in 2011, Shawnee Mission East coach Chip Sherman continued building the program, guiding the Lancers to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.

Shawnee Mission North’s ability to run the football and to eliminate the mistakes that handcuffed the Indians a year ago, will go a long way towards an improvement on last season’s 2-7 record and lower tier finish in the Sunflower League standings.

While winning an Eastern Kansas League title and making a deep run into the Kansas 6A playoffs are typical goals for the Huskies, Zegunis realizes just how important it will be for returning players to have prepared themselves in the off-season.

In 2010 Sherman and the Lancers set a school record with eight wins, but they were upended in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year. Winning a playoff game was one of Sherman’s goals last preseason.

The return of all five offensive line regulars and running backs Henry Bell and Jesse Patterson should help fuel much needed success in the run game. Repetition and hard work should take care of the rest.

“We return some experienced players,” Zegunis said. “But how much they improved themselves athletically this past off-season will determine how successful they can be in 2012.”

“We want to win a playoff game,” Sherman told Kansas Pregame last year. “Shawnee Mission East is a school that’s been around for 54 years and eight wins is the most they’ve ever had. ... Now we want to win postseason games and go farther into the playoffs.”

Zegunis is in search of a replacement for second team All-Eastern Kansas League quarterback Garrett Fugate. But, whomever Zegunis plugs in as his signal caller, will have a pair of standout receivers to throw to in Austin Moses and Bailey Strohl.

A testament to the program’s development is the margin in the team’s five losses last season. Of their five losses, three were by eight points or less, including a 35-27 week two loss to semi-finalist Olathe East, a 2921 week four loss to eventual state chamMoses returns for his senior season after being selected as a second team all-league pion Olathe South and a 30-25 district loss to a Shawnee Mission West team that performer a year ago, as does Strohl who earned honorable mention honors. would finish 7-4. The Lancers dropped a rematch with Olathe South 55-42 in the The Husky offense returns a pair of linemen playoffs and, in the only lopsided loss of they season they were blanked in a prein senior tackle Brian Ramsey and junior Antonio Bennett, who should be capable of district contest with Lawrence 31-0. giving Zegunis’ ball carriers plenty of time to operate and gaping holes to run through. The Lancers will be without blue-chip wide receiver/tigth end prospect Elliot Faerber, Defensive lineman Carter Tierney and defensive back Josh Cowell will anchor the who was lost to graduation, but Sherman received a nice off-season gift with the Husky defense. addition of quarterback Jordan Darling to 5-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A the program.

Eastern Kansas League Coach: Mike Zegunis (8th year, 34-34) Assistants: John Reichart, Tenny Dewey, Andy Walter, Zack Orrick, Tobin Sample, Steven Fee, Rich Troxel, Adam Bien, Tim Serbousek, Darren Masten, Damon Brooks Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 2 Defense Bailey Strohl, WR, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Austin Moses, WR, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Josh Cowell, DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Brian Ramsey, OT, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Carter Tierney, DL, 6-2, 220, Jr.; Antonio Bennett, OL, 6-3, 260, Jr. Dean Backes

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6-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A / Sunflower League Coach: Chip Sherman (4th year, 20-11, 25th overall, 227-44) Assistants: N/A Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A

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Two-way starters Will Carter, Harley Ludwig and Maceo Mitchell return to the Indian defensive line in 2012. The linebacking corp will be led by Armando Contreras, Anthony Naylor and Bell, while Patterson will start at free safety. Andrew Nichols returns up front on the offensive line.

The Indians open the season at home against Leavenworth before banging heads with defending Class 6A state champion Olathe South in week two.

2-7 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 6A Sunflower League Coach: Dennis Grayless Darling, who has verbally committed to the (3rd year, 4-15) University of Kansas, helped lead Midway Assistants: Dave Reichart, Nick McGrain, Ben High School from Waco, Texas, to the state Bartlett, Conan McCormack, Scott Babcock, Tim Crough, Anthony Davis, Landon Murrell, Jim Coate championship game as a junior. He is part Offense: Wing-T Defense: 4-2-5 of a military family and played his sophoReturning lettermen: 12 more year at Lakota West H.S. in West Returning starters: 7 Offense, 4 Defense Chester, Ohio.

Will Carter, OL/DL, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Armando Contreras, TE/LB, 6-2, 215, Sr.; Andrew Nichols, The 6-4, 230-pound Darling has already OL, 6-4, 307, Sr.; Harley Ludwig, OL/DL, 6-3, 276, made an impact. In mid-June, he helped Sr.; Anthony Naylor, OL/LB, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Maceo Shawnee Mission East take second place in Mitchell, OL/DL, 6-0, 275, Jr.; Henry Bell, RB/LB, 511, 175, Sr.; Jesse Patterson, RB/FS, 6-0, 165, Jr. the Greater Kansas City Coaches Dean Backes Association 7-on-7 competition. There were

32 teams at the tournament.

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“Our goals are to get faster and stronger over the summer and then take the hard work from the summer and carry that over into success on Friday nights,” Shawnee Mission North third-year coach Dennis Grayless said. “We need to get better every day as football players and as young men. If we can do that, we will be successful. If we can do those things then we can tackle the goals of being the best school in the Shawnee Mission School District, win our district and compete for a state championship.”

CLASS • PO S.• H T • W T

John Baetz

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Shawnee Mission South has not been to the 6A playoffs since 2007 when the Raiders were bumped 41-9 by rival Shawnee Mission Northwest in the first round. But second-year coach Ryan Lonergan has his squad thinking playoffs once again despite finishing the 2011 season with a 2-7 mark.

Despite boasting one of the more consistent programs in the Sunflower League, Shawnee Mission West had struggled as of late in advancing past the first round of the playoffs.

The Topeka High Trojans may have been only 4-5 last season, but they have plenty of things going for them.

In all, eight offensive starters return to play for Lonergan, as do seven regulars on the defensive side of the ball. Twenty-eight lettermen are set to return as well. Eight of the 15 Raider starters returning earned AllSunflower League honors of one kind or another a year ago – including lone firstteamer Gabe Guild.

In just nine games in 2011, Guild ran the ball for 1,641 yards – a whopping 182 yards per game. Back to create space for Guild are 2011 honorable mention all-league selectees Jeramie Fischer, Dametrius Berry and Dominique Berry. Junior Stephen Erickson returns up front as well.

If Lonergan has his way, he will put a physical and aggressive Raider defense – with the ability to stifle opposing offenses before they even get started – onto the football field. Shawnee Mission South will play keep away on offense with its ball control style as the Raiders try to pound their way into the playoffs.

2-7 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 6A Sunflower League Coach: Ryan Lonergan (2nd year, 2-7) Assistants: Mark Frase, Pat St. Louis, Brandon McAnderson, Devin McAnderson, David Hillmon, Brandon May Offense: I Formation Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 28 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Gabe Guild, RB/DB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Evan O’Brien, WR, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Ian Roberts, WR, 6-3, 175, Sr.; Jeramie Fischer, OL/LB, 5-11, 220, Sr.; Dametrius Berry, OL/DL, 6-3, 260, Jr.; Dominique Berry, OL, 63, 265, Jr.; Stephen Erickson, OL, 6-1, 215, Jr.; Nick Oliver, TE, 6-5, 210, Jr.; Jordan Andrews, DL, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Joe Harvey, DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; John Eric Kelley, DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Alterick Buchanan, DB, 63, 185, Sr.; Ra’Keim Abdul, DB, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Dainan Swoope, K/P, 6-0, 175, So. Dean Backes

Courtesy Photo

Heading into the postseason a year ago, Shawnee Mission West had not played in a second round game since 2006.

But that unwanted string ended a year ago when Viking coach Tim Callaghan guided Shawnee Mission West past Leavenworth and into the second round. The Viking run stopped there, but an even deeper run could be in store in 2012.

Callaghan loses quarterback Armani Williams, but returns nine starters on each side of the ball in 2012, including honorable mention All-Sunflower League running back Brett Sterbach, who rushed for over 900 yards a year ago.

Whoever Callaghan picks as Williams’ replacement will have plenty of experienced receivers to get the ball to, including Andre Maloney, Joel Spiller and tight end Alec Dinges.

Topeka has the elements that all teams like to start with.

A dominant offensive lineman? Check. A linebacker to key the defense? Check. A returning starter at quarterback? Check.

Experienced ball carriers? Check.

Senior Will Geary, a 6-1, 295-pound twoway starter on the line, earned Top 33 AllState status last year. Next, the Trojans return an All-State linebacker in junior Austin Tillman (6-1, 195). Senior quarterback Raymond Solis (6-2, 220) is back to direct the offense. Tillman and Eli Weinbrecht (5-9, 180) form an experienced backfield.

“We want to play hard and be competitive in a great league,” Topeka head coach Walt Alexander said. “We have a lot of experience back and hope to have a good year.”

Topeka has a total of nine returning starters on offense. In addition to Geary, Dalton Clayburg (5-9, 280, Sr.), Derek Gomez (6Second-team all-league lineman Austin 2, 285, Jr.) and Jared Bagby (5-10, 220, Sr.) Chambers is back to provide protection up return to the offensive line. Jared Butler (6front.

1, 185, Sr.), Danny Christopher (5-9, 150, Sr.) and Alex Beatty (6-0, 165, So.) give Lee Spight, returns to harass opposing quar- Solis plenty of options in the passing game. terbacks once again and is the leader on a The Trojans bring back a total of eight startstrong Viking defense. ers on defense.

“The team is committed to each other and has worked hard in the off season to increase their chances of success,” Callaghan said.

7-4 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 6A Sunflower League Coach: Tim Callaghan (10th year, 68-27) Assistants: Tommie Davis, Scott Diebold, Steve Stanhope, John Stonner, Steve Szczygiel, Don Perkins, Todd Reed, Ken Benson, Kurt Webster, Willie Young Offense: Pro I Defense: 3-3 Stack Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 9 Defense Tory Powell, RB, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Brett Sterbach, RB, 5-7, 165, Sr.; Tanner Clark, OL, 5-9, 185, Sr.; Aaron Brown, OL, 6-4, 250, Sr.; Andre Maloney, WR/DB, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Alec Dinges, TE/DL, 6-7, 205, Sr.; Steffon Ward, FB, 5-11, 205, Sr.; Joel Spiller, WR/ OLB, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Austin Chambers, OL, 6-5, 275, Jr.; Robert Rice, DB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Jordan Neff, OLB, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Marquan Osbey, LB, 5-11, 190, Jr.; Rashawn Owens, LB, 5-11, 195, Jr.; Kez Demby, DB/WR, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Cooper Arner, OLB, 6-1, 185, Jr.; Lincoln Benson, DL, 6-4, 225, Sr.; Lee Spight, DL, 6-0, 210, Jr.; Max Bullard, LB, 6-0, 210, Sr. Dean Backes

4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 6A Centennial League Coach: Walt Alexander (7th year, 25-30; 21st year overall) Assistants: Rod Hasenbank, Tony Canacari, Luke Coffman, Tevyn Harmon, Jason Nichol, Daniel Voth Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 19 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 8 Defense Raymond Solis, QB, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Will Geary, OL/ DL, 6-1, 295, Sr.; Austin Tillman, RB/LB, 6-1, 195, Jr.; Dalton Clayburg, OL/DL, 5-9, 280, Sr.; Eli Weinbrecht, RB/SS, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Derek Gomez, OL, 6-2, 285, Jr.; Jared Bagby, OL, 5-10, 220, Sr.; Jared Butler, WR/LB, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Brandon Courville, LB, 6-1, 235, Sr.; Marcus Reece, DB, 5-6, 140, Sr.; Danny Christopher, WR/FS, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Alex Beatty, WR, 6-0, 165, So.; Ja’Juan Smith, DB, 5-9, 155, Sr. Mark Schremmer File Photo

G ABE G UILD

W ALT ALEX AN DER

SR.• RB/DB • 5-10 • 185

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T opeka-W ashburn R ural W ichita-H aysville C am pus W ichita H eights JUNIOR BLUES

Washburn Rural overcame a daunting district slate to make the playoffs for the first time since 1992. The Junior Blues have had four consecutive winning seasons under head coach Derick Hammes, but must find a way to replace 24 seniors.

COLTS

FALCONS

After not making a state championship game in program history, Wichita Heights is coming off three consecutive appearances in the title game. With the graduation of “We had a very disappointing year last year Matt Reed, the starting quarterback for all with only one win,” said coach Mike three title games, and 11 other senior startSchartz. A Week 2 win over Maize ers, Heights will have a different look this Gone are all-league players Skylar Curtis, assuaged the pain from a 60-28 Week 1 loss season. Chris Reed is the leading candidate Brandon Dozier, John Schmank, and Jeddy to Salina South, but Campus could gain no to play quarterback this fall.

Tuiloma. Washburn Rural returns Earl momentum. “We felt really good (after Mariner and Adam Klecan along the offen- Maize), especially when we just fell apart “It’s become a two-guy race,” said coach sive line, providing the Junior Blues with a against Salina South -- wasn’t even a ballRick Wheeler. “Reed played wide receiver solid foundation. Mariner is the brother of game. Against Maize the defense pitches a last year, and is an incredibly good receiver Kansas State lineman Tomasi Mariner and shutout, but they scored 20 points on three and had a great run for us through districts is a high level college prospect. turnovers, two pick-sixes, and a fumble and playoffs. He was our JV quarterback, recovery for six. and played some running back in varsity It’s a three man race at quarterback to games.” replace Curtis with juniors Michael Singer “Then we just started losing seniors to injuand Conner Swope, along with sophomore ries. Injuries hurt us tremendously. We had Printence Byrd is slated to be the fullback Blake Peterson all competing for the starteight seniors out for the year by the time we and Toma King will play the slot back posiing nod. Singer is also a candidate to start at played Wichita South.” tion in the flexbone offense. running back and averaged over five yards per carry in 2011.

Schartz said the team led at halftime against Despite the fact Heights returns just four Andover Central, Northwest and South, but total starters the Falcons intend to contend Defensively, coach Hammes has high praise turnovers continued to hurt them. for the City League and make the postseafor junior linebackers Brodie Cronister and “The turnover problem continued through- son once again.

Chandler Kayser, stating that he feels these out the season -- very much so. Holding on two players can be the best pair of lineback- to the football will be key (this season).”

The Falcons will be presented plenty of ers in his tenure. challenges in the first four weeks of the seaAfter five consecutive losing seasons, son, starting as usual with Bishop Carroll, Despite the Junior Blues facing arguably Schartz is excited about this year’s team, followed by Dodge City in Week 3 and the most competitive district in football, which includes a sophomore quarterback Kapaun Mount Carmel in Week 4.

Hammes sees the potential in his talented with lots of potential. and young squad.

“We’ve played three times in the last six “I really feel good,” said Schartz. “I feel years in the playoffs,” said Wheeler refer“If we can have some growth within our good about the young kids we have in our ring to Dodge City. “We’ve developed a litprogram, I don’t see any reason why we can program. It’s a senior class, and they’ve tle bit of a rivalry.” again challenge for the league title and won more ballgames than any of our kids in compete to win our district.” freshman and JV. We’ve got a good mix, a Despite a lack of experience and a lack of lot of first-year starters, but they’ve been size at the line of scrimmage, Wheeler is 6-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 6A working hard and have a great attitude.” confident that Heights once again has athCentennial League leticism and a new sense of tradition that Coach: Derick Hammes 1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 6A will propel them to compete at a high level.

(7th year, 23-32; 9th year overall, 25-50) Assistants: Carlos Kelly, Todd Reeves, Danny Ackerman, Robert Ebenstein, Pat McCollim, Dustin McDysan, Tod Peters, Jeremy Stephenson, Jerry Cavitte, Cody Witte Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 26 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Earl Mariner, OL/DL, 6-4, 300, Jr.; Adam Klecan, OL, 6-0, 320, Sr.; Domingo Lopez, OL, 5-10, 220, Sr.; Tyler Palmer, WR/DB, 5-8, 155, Jr.; Brodie Cronister, LB, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Chandler Kayser, LB, 60, 205, Jr.; Hayden Jenkins, DB, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Chaise James, DB, 5-9, 155, Sr. James Westling

Campus is coming off a 1-8 season in which it was plagued by injuries and turnovers.

W ichita N orth REDSKINS

Kelley Sayahnejad has set lofty expectations for his team entering the 2012 season, to win more than half of its games and make the playoffs.

Sayahnejad hopes to fuel the turnaround with increased depth on both lines and at the receiver position, which is key to the North High spread offense. North returns William Strickland, Jose Chavarria, Jonathan Villanueva and Daniel Mathiasen on the o-line and Nathan Muci at tight end.

“We’ve got four offensive linemen back, and three will be three-year starters,” said Sayahnejad. “They are playing well as a group, and with our top running back back, (Leon) Williams — he does a good job seeing the inside zone.

“The majority of the defense last year were sophomores, and some started all nine games. They’ve been here all summer doing seven on seven and team camp.

We’ve 60 plus kids at weights, and we’ve never had more than 40 before.”

North High’s two-year starter at quarterback, Danny Jones, transferred to Wichita West. The Redskins have two experienced players who will compete for the starting quarterback job.

“Josh Bryan is a junior, a good, solid kid who throws the ball well. Sean Bernard is a starting linebacker for us, and is more of a running threat than throwing the ball. It will be an open competition between those two guys,” said Sayahnejad.

1-8 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 6A Greater Wichita Athletic League Coach: Kelley Sayahnejad (3rd year, 1-17 overall) Assistants: Joe Belden, Branden Patterson, Art Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I Torrez, Tyrone Galbreath, Sean McGinnis, Derrick Coach: Mike Schartz 12-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 6A Heckman, Mitch Kucera (4th year, 5-20; 12th year overall) Greater Wichita Athletic League Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Assistants: Bryan Kaplan, Jeremy Scheulfler, Coach: Rick Wheeler Returning lettermen: 19 Morgan Ballard, Justin Bloomer, Antwain Banks, Bill (14th year, 103-34; 18th year overall) Returning starters: 8 Offense, 9 Defense Stenson Assistants: Terry Harrison, Matt Kelly, Zach Nathan Muci, TE/DE, 5-11, 215, Sr.; William Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-2-5 Poague, Jeff Topping, Heath Henderson, Todd Strickland, OT, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Jose Chavarria, OG, 5Returning lettermen: 22 Sacquitne, Scott Kinderknecht, Les Zoch 11, 275, Sr.; Jonathan Villanueva, OG/DT, 6-1, 260, Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-3 Sr.; Daniel Mathiasen, OT/DT, 6-8, 310, Jr.; Torian Josh Englert, OL, 6-0, 280, Sr.; J.T. Harlmon, WR, Returning lettermen: 15 Gonzalez, WR/DB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Leon Williams, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Jordan Morrow, RB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Returning starters: 2 Offense, 2 Defense RB/DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Kaelen Elliot, DE, 6-3, 210, Kaiden Ivy, RB, 5-9, 175, So. Chris Reed, WR, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Justus Moreland, Tom Witherspoon FS, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Aderio Ammons, DL, 6-0, 250, Jr.; Jr.; Sean Bernard, LB/RB, 6-3, 200, Jr.; Caleb Tom Witherspoon Ricardo Gonzales, OL, 6-2, 245, Sr. Witherspoon Franklin, LB/FB, 6-2, 205, Jr.

File Photo

RIC K W HEELER H EAD CO ACH

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W ichita N orthw est GRIZZLIES

W ichita S outh TITANS

After 10 seasons under Weston Schartz, Wichita Northwest enters its first season under former Wichita Heights defensive coordinator Steve Martin.

Wichita South returns 25 seniors and 16 starters who contributed to last season’s district runner-up finish, the Titans’ second such finish in three seasons.

“It’s the only place in city I would go,” said Martin of getting the job. “They have great parent support and staff, and they have a great tradition.”

First-year coach Kevin Steiner, an assistant at South for three of the last four seasons, steps in for outgoing coach Cory Brack, who took the head coaching job at Cheney.

Martin intends to install a hurry-up spread offense tailored to the high degree of athleticism he feels he has on his team. Chris Hughes is a leading candidate to play quarterback, followed by Erin Gaither. Daron Thompson will be the featured running back, followed by Christian Sanders.

Brothers Kyle and Alex Lee, Bryce Morgan and Isaiah Wattree return on the o-line.

“The kids know my expectations,” said Steiner, who was on staff for both playoff berths in Brack’s tenure. “I know where they’ve been, the different things they’ve gone through. I know that they’ve bought in. We need to continue to work on that and improve and raise those standards, and progress as a program.”

“It’s actually going to be the strength of our team,” said Martin of the offensive line.

“Right now what we’re looking for is receivers. We’re putting the word out that we need wide receivers, recruiting some wide receivers in the building, trying to get some basketball players out.”

On defense, Martin brings with him from Heights the same defensive system that relies more on speed than size.

“When you put in a new defense and whole new philosophy change, there are flashes of us being very good and flashes of us being very bad in our new schemes,” said Martin.

“We’re going to have an attack-style defense.”

Steiner is confident that South has a chance to make its third playoff appearance in four seasons with so many seniors returning.

“A lot of them we relied on last year, and they played an important part in our 4-5 season last season, winning district and making the playoffs,” said Steiner. “We don’t want to make wholesale changes. We want to make sure we rep fundamentals and rep base concepts, so that by August, September, things are clicking.”

“Anytime you have a big senior class and they’ve bought in and put in the time and effort in, I want to see them have success.”

4-6 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 6A Greater Wichita Athletic League Coach: Kevin Steiner Martin also will platoon at Northwest, split- (1st year) Assistants: Manny Martinez, Kyle Haught, Omar ting time between players on both sides of Martin, Bryant Richards the football.

Offense: Base I Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 20 Wichita Northwest earned a playoff berth Returning starters: annually under Schartz but has not won 10 Omar Martin, RB/WR/DB, 5-7, 150, Sr.; Davontae games since 2005. Martin hopes to build on Harris, DB/WR, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Kyle Eliott, DB/WR, 6the Grizzlies’ prior success.

0, 170, Sr.; Dillon Young, DL, 6-3, 290, Sr.; Seth Birkes, OL, 6-1, 250, Sr.; Elijah Morrison, OL, 6-2, “I think this could be a very special season 260, Sr.; Isaac Stump, OL, 6-4, 280, Sr.; Kaale McCulloch, QB/TE, 6-3, 200, Sr.; DeAndre Tipton, for Northwest, or a rebuilding year,” said LB/FB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Malik Adkins, WR, 6-11, 160, Martin.

Sr.; Bradley Payne, DL, 6-2, 240, Jr.; Kyle Wilson, LB, 6-1, 190, Jr.; Darius Taylor, RB/WR/DB, 5-8, 7-3 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 6A 165, Jr.; Grayson Work-Fields, DL, 6-3, 275, Jr.; Greater Wichita Athletic League Devon Payne, DL/TE, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Ben Padilla, Coach: Steve Martin DB, 5-10, 165, Jr. (1st year; 5th year overall) Tom Witherspoon Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A N o free co pies in yo u r co m m u n ity?

Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense N o spo n so rs fo r yo u r tea m ?

Chris Hughes, QB, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Daron Thompson, RB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Kyle Lee, OL, 6-0, 260, Sr.; Alex Lee, OL, 6-0, 260, Sr.; Bryce Morgan, OL, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Isaiah Wattree, OL, 5-11, 240, Sr.; A.J. Collier, DL, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Cory Barbour, LB, 5-9, 205, Sr.; Businesses,clubs,churches,schools - anyone can Dakota Dilsaver, LB, 5-11, 215, Sr. Tom Witherspoon be a team sponsor and provide free copies to

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Pa g e 3 6

CLASS 5A

12 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brad Ivey [Bishop Miege] 6-2, 210, LB, Jr., Kpreps.com Class 5A All-State

CLASS 5A KPREPS.COM PRESEASON RANKINGS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Bishop Carroll Blue Valley Bishop Miege Emporia Hays

H a r o ld Becha r d For Kansas Pregame

Some would say the window has been left ajar in Class 5A. Others might venture that it’s more than just a window, but in fact, the double-doors to the state championship game have been left wide open.

Regardless of the perceived opening, one fact is clear – Class 5A football in Kansas looks a lot different than it has over the last few years.

Gone are the Hutchinson Salt Hawks and Gardner-Edgerton Trail Blazers to Class 6A and the McPherson Bullpups to Class 4A. Each program has been a major player in 5A in recent years.

Hutchinson won the 5A state championship in 2009 and ’11; Gardener-Edgerton reached the state title game in 2009 and the semifinals the last two years, and McPherson’s program has received a significant boost under one of the state’s top coaches in Tom Young.

But, those three are now in other classes, leaving the likes of Blue Valley, Bishop Carroll, Bishop Miege, Emporia, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, St. Thomas Aquinas, Hays, Salina Central and Salina South, among others, battling for 5A supremacy.

Not that some of these schools needed the help. Blue Valley won the 5A title in 2010 and finished second last year. But, the Tigers, who have won five titles overall, including in 2006 and ’03, return just six starters from last year’s 11-2 team and face a difficult schedule, which starts with a game at Gardner-Edgerton to open the season.

Blue Valley is also locked into another difficult district with Blue Valley Southwest, Pittsburg and Blue Valley West, the 2007 state champ in 5A. Southwest reached the third round of the 4A playoffs last year before losing to Paola.

Eric Driskell is starting his third year as the head coach at Blue Valley and has posted a 23-3 record after spending 14 years at the school as an assistant coach.

His philosophy for the 2012 season is simple and to the point.

“We hope to be the best football team

Coleman McCann [Mill Valley] 6-3, 270, OL/DL, Sr., Rivals.com Preseason Top 10 J’VEY O N BRO W N IN G SR.• RB • 5-11 • 185

K EM EY ER AN DREW REIN 215 SR.•TE/W R • 6-4 •

J’veyon Browning [KC Schlagle] 5-11, 185, RB, Sr., 1,466 yards rushing in ‘11

Others: Blue Valley Southwest, Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Mill Valley, Salina Central, Salina South

These twelve players will be ones to watch in Class 5A this fall:

Cody Busby [Salina South] 5-6, 205, RB, Sr., 126.7 yards rushing per game in ‘11

Dan Morin [St. Thomas Aquinas] 6-3, 280, OL, Sr., Offer from North Dakota Zeke Palmer [Bishop Carroll] 6-1, 205, QB, Sr., 2,173 yards passing in ‘11 Aaron Ramsey [Blue Valley Southwest] 6-3, 220, QB, Sr., All Metro Hon. Mention Andrew Reinkemeyer [Blue Valley] 6-4, 215, TE/WR, Sr., Hon. Mention All EKL

David Cardinal [Hays] 5-9, 207, RB, Sr., 1,464 yards rushing in ‘11

Malik Veal [Salina Central] 5-9, 180, RB/K, Jr., All AVCTL

Montell Cozart [Bishop Miege] 6-2, 175, QB, Sr., Univ. of Kansas Commit

Skyler Windmiller [Mill Valley] 6-3, 185, QB, Sr., 2,128 yards passing in ‘11

that we can possibly be,” Driskell said.

“We strive to give each opponent our best effort and hope to get better every day.”

As far as his team’s keys to success this season, Driskell said senior leadership and how the newcomers fit in with the veterans are the answers. One of those seniors is 6-foot-6, 270-pound tackle Clay Rhodes, who has verbally committed to the University of Missouri.

Southwest, the newest school in the Blue Valley school district, will look to challenge for a District 4 title with 18 returning starters and a strong senior class. Head coach Bill Lowe, now in his third year at the school, has taken three different schools to state championship games and six different schools to the playoffs. The Timberwolves will be led on offense by 64, 220-pound senior quarterback Aaron Ramsey, who was an honorable mention All-State selection last year. Another allstate HM returnee is 6-5, 250-pound senior tight end/defensive lineman Anthony Miller.

Pittsburg, which has a new coach in Tom Nickelson, has 10 starters returning from a 6-3 team that has struggled to make the playoffs after putting together good, solid records prior to district play. Spencer Bernhardt (6-1, 180) will move from receiver to quarterback.

“We must stay away from major injuries,” Nickelson said. “We must trust one another to do their jobs and be more concerned with team goals than personal ones.”

Miege and Aquinas will continue their rivalry on the football field. Both have been placed in District 3 and will be the favorites to qualify for the playoffs.

Miege has a new coach in Jon Holmes after Tim Grunhard left to become an assistant coach at the University of Kansas. Holmes welcomes back 12 starters from a 9-2 team that reached the second round of the 5A playoffs before losing a 24-21 decision to Blue Valley.

The Stags have a good one in 6-2, 180pound quarterback Montell Cozart, who verbally committed to Kansas in late March, but still received later offers from

Kansas State and Illinois, among others.

Cozart didn’t play football as a freshman and has played quarterback just one year, but enters the season as the No. 5-rated senior in the state by rivals.com.

“The one thing about him is he can get under center and take a snap but he can also get in the gun and do the same things,” Holmes told rivals.com. “A lot of these guys get to college and they don’t even know how to take a snap under center. That’s one thing we do because there are going to be certain situations where he is going to be under center. We’ll give him the option to run it or throw it. He can do both of those things.”

Aquinas could have a special season on the offensive side of the ball with eight starters returning there for head coach Mike Thomas. The Saints struggled to a 45 record last year, but everyone expects things to be much better in 2012 with a large class of seniors and juniors on the roster.

“We have a very good group coming back – a nice mix of juniors and seniors, with the possibility of a couple sophomores breaking into the starting lineup,” Thomas said. “For us to be successful, we must stay healthy and come together as a team early.”

Mill Valley could be the top team coming out of Districts 1 or 2 in Class 5A. Seventeen starters return for head coach Joel Applebee from a team that went 7-3 a year ago. The Jaguars have a blue-chip prospect in 6-3, 185-pound senior quarterback Skyler Windmiller. He, along with lineman Coleman McCann (6-3, 275), was named honorable mention All-State in 2011. Windmiller is listed by rivals.com as the No. 7-rated high school senior in Kansas after passing for 2,128 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. McCann is listed No. 9 in the state by the recruiting website.

“Both our offensive and defensive fronts will be the key to our success,” Applebee said.

The kingpin on the western side of the bracket in 5A could be Bishop Carroll.

The Eagles have been the second best

team in the City League to 6A’s Wichita Heights for the last few years. Could this be the season Carroll breaks through for a league and state title?

Veteran head coach Alan Schuckman has one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Zeke Palmer, a 6-1, 205-pound senior. Palmer threw for 2,173 yards and 15 touchdowns last year and rushed for 523 yards and 13 more scores. But, Palmer is just one of eight starters returning on what should be a high-powered offense for Carroll. Senior running back Jalen Hernandez rushed for 708 yards and receivers Bryce Harvey and Matt Denning caught 40 and 28 passes, respectively, for over 1,000 yards. Bryce Barrientos (6-3, 250) anchors the line up front. Sophomore back Denzel Goolsby will also be a threat.

Schuckman expects his roster to number over 100 players, including 37 of them as seniors. Senior lineman Zach Befort (6-3, 250) is one of just three starters returning on defense.

“Our major concern is our lack of experience on the defensive side of the ball,” Schuckman said. “This is the second straight season the defense has taken a major hit to graduation.”

One team that can match Carroll’s offensive firepower is Emporia. The Spartans of third-year head coach Dustin Delaney return nearly all of their skill players, including junior quarterback Braxton Marstall and senior receiver Jerel Morrow, one of the state’s top track athletes.

Marstall and Morrow were honorable mention All-State selections last year, as were junior lineman Parker Bass (6-3, 230) and junior running back Cody Campbell (5-9, 165). Emporia scored over 40 points seven times last year, including 66 in a memorable 66-63 victory over McPherson.

Delaney said his team’s goals are twofold – advancing deeper into the 5A playoffs and developing players on the offensive and defensive lines.

Look for the Crusaders from Kapaun Mt. Carmel to challenge once again for a firstdivision finish in the Wichita City League.

Continued on page 50

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 37

Jerel morrow

Sean ford

DUSTIN DELANEY EMPORIA SPARTANS H a r o ld Becha r d For Kansas Pregame

Dustin Delaney has no illusions of turning Emporia into a football town like Randy Dreiling has done at Hutchinson.

But, the 32-year-old Delaney, who spent four years as an assistant under Dreiling, is making the once doormat football program at Emporia High School relevant in Class 5A. After back-to-back 7-4 seasons and a pair of playoffs victories – Emporia had gone the previous 23 seasons with just two playoff wins – Delaney and his Spartans are ready to take another proverbial step up the playoff ladder.

“Emporia has actually had a big drought in football for the past 25 years,” said Delaney, a 1998 graduate of Marion High School. “I think we’ve won four playoff games in the last 25 years, and so, we’ve gone from winning a playoff game and being excited about that to where we expect to win playoff games and go deeper in the playoffs than we did the year before.

“We’re sitting here shooting for something higher (in 2012) and quite honestly, we should have a better team this next year. The kids understand our schemes and the coaches all understand our schemes. We’re going to set high expectations and hopefully achieve those.”

This could be the year it all happens. Delaney is

starting his third season at Emporia and the Spartans return 13 starters – seven on offense and six on defense. One of those is the state’s No. 1-rated senior recruit – 5-foot-11, 185-pound senior wide receiver Jerel Morrow.

The Spartans have some of the top skill players in the state, led by Morrow and junior quarterback Braxton Marstall, the son of assistant coach P.J. Marstall. It’s that kind of talent that could push Emporia toward a possible spot in the 5A state championship game, which just happens to be played at Emporia State University’s Welch Stadium.

There are many who believe Class 5A could be down a notch or two because of the loss of Hutchinson and Gardner-Edgerton to 6A and McPherson to 4A. But, Delaney isn’t buying it.

“You’ve still got (Bishop) Carroll, you’ve still got Salina South who is loaded and Hays has great athletes,” Delaney said. “Kapaun is going to be tough …

Great Bend and Salina Central will be good.

Obviously, you lose a juggernaut (Hutchinson), but in 5A-West, there’s still a deep pool of quality teams.

“It’s a battle. To get where you want to be, you’re going to have to beat some teams that are really good.”

Spartan fans hope they are that team. Emporia High is expected to score a bunch of points once again with its spread flex-bone offense. The Spartans averaged 37.8 points a game and scored over 40 points in

seven games. But, the defense also allowed 28.4 points a game. There were also three memorable shootouts – a 66-63 win over McPherson, a 52-43 loss to Washburn Rural and a 40-35 victory over Newton.

Delaney expects the defense will be much improved in 2012 simply because there won’t be three sophomores playing at three of the key positions on the unit. Those sophomores are now juniors.

Emporia is expected to start “seven or eight” juniors on the defensive side of the ball and no sophomores on offense or defense.

“We’ve spent the majority of our time on defense,” Delaney said. “Two years ago, we played pretty good defense. Last year, we started five sophomores and three of them were on defense. We started them at defensive tackle, strong-side linebacker and free safety, which in the defense we were running, was probably the three most important spots.

“The kids were all good players, but any time you are playing sophomores, you’re going to have to be patient. Playing sophomores is not a good thing in Kansas 5A football at the top level.”

Other defensive issues – a lack of speed and tackling – have also been addressed.

“This year, we have more of an emphasis on speed and our kids that are going to be juniors are by far the Continued on page 39 Photo by Dena Sorensen

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 38

clay rhodes blue valley tigers H a r o ld Becha r d For Kansas Pregame

Call it whatever you want – the proverbial monkey off the back or weight off the shoulders – but one thing is certain, Blue Valley all-state lineman Clay Rhodes is excited to enter his senior season with nothing but one goal on his mind.

The goal for the 6-foot-6, 270-pound Rhodes is playing in a third consecutive Class 5A state championship game in November. That is, and has been, the No. 1 priority for him, especially since he has already taken care of his other goal of committing to an NCAA Division I football program.

That commitment came in early May when Rhodes cast his lot with the Missouri Tigers. Although he can’t sign a national letter of intent until February and other schools continue to recruit him, Rhodes was emphatic when asked how sure he is of signing with the SEC-

bound Tigers in seven months.

“One hundred percent,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes chose the Tigers over Oklahoma State. More than 10 other schools, including Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska and Oklahoma, also offered, but Missouri was the first to offer Rhodes and the big lineman is happy with his choice.

After all, once a Tiger always a Tiger.

“Playing in the SEC was definitely a factor,” Rhodes said. “I wanted to play against the best competition and the highest level I could. I want go against the best defensive ends in the country and hopefully that will help me get to the next level after college.”

The recruiting process exploded for Rhodes following the 2011 season after he and his Blue Valley teammates finished second to Hutchinson in the Class 5A state playoffs. Missouri started the ball rolling and many others followed. Rhodes had received around a dozen

offers before making the decision to commit to Missouri.

“The whole recruiting process was kind of out of nowhere,” Rhodes said. “I really wasn’t expecting all of this to happen. Right after football season, all of a sudden, all these coaches started talking to me. I’d been getting a lot of letters, but when they were personally contacting me, that wasn’t something I was expecting.”

The first offer came from Gary Pinkel’s staff at Missouri, and then “10 or 11 more.”

“I really wanted to see every school and just wanted to make the decision for me as a student and an athlete,” Rhodes said. “After seeing the schools and talking to everyone, I just felt like Missouri was my home and where I’d be the most successful.”

Rhodes was just happy to get that decision out of the Continued on page 39 Photo by Dena Sorensen

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 39 The son of Randy and Debbie Rhodes, his father played NCAA Division II basketball at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. His older sister, Courtney, runs cross player he is, he’s still one of the hardest country at Iowa State and his younger sisworkers. ter, Brittany, also competes in cross coun“I think that’s a combination you have try. His free time is spent working out, to have. If you’re going to be a great hunting and fishing, and taking care of an player, you have to be a hard worker. aquarium at home.

He’s a special kid.”

“Coaches have kept me on a level keel.

How special?

I’m not cocky, but confident in my “We always talk about, there are some ability,” Rhodes said. “When I’m watchkids who may play football for you, but ing a lot of film, I’m not looking at the you’d never let them watch your highlights, but at my mistakes instead. I children,” Driskell said. “He’s one of try to focus on what I need to get better at those you love to play football for you and and not what I do good. I feel like I’m a you’d be just as comfortable letting him stronger pass blocker than run blocker, so watch your kids. He’s just one of those I’m working on that.” good kids.

Rhodes said he ended the 2011 season “As an athlete, he’s got tremendous weighing around 230 pounds. He’s 40 flexibility, tremendous foot speed and he’s pounds heavier than that right now and it gained so much strength over the last happy where he’s at. year.”

“All the college coaches I’ve talked to Rhodes comes from an athletic family. think I need to get up to around 300, but

Rhodes / from 38 way.

“All the recruiting process was pretty fun for a while and getting some offers, but then every school comes into the picture and it gets annoying,” said Rhodes, who received a scholarship offer from Nebraska a couple days after committing to Missouri. Oklahoma and Alabama also expressed interest after his decision.

Regardless where he attends college, Blue Valley coach Eric Driskell knows his has one of the state’s top players for one more season.

“He’s the whole package. He’s a great student, he’s a great person and he’s a great athlete. He’s all three things,” said Driskell, who is 23-3 in two seasons at Blue Valley. “We’ve got a good offensive line and he’s definitely the anchor of that offensive line. But, you know, as the great

Delaney / from 37 fastest class we’ve had. It’s not even close,” Delaney said. “I think you’ll see an improved defense with improved speed on our team.”

Delaney learned his craft from two of the best. He attended Wichita West High School through his sophomore year before the family moved to Marion.

Delaney played two years for Grant Thierolf, who will be starting his 26th year as the Warriors head coach this fall.

Thierolf, a no-nonsense type of coach, learned the game from another nononsense coach (Clayton Williams) during his high school days as an all-state lineman at Beloit.

“I learned a ton from him, about discipline,” Delaney said. “Probably the biggest thing I learned, and I still say this today, is he never would accept excuses from us or let us make excuses.

He wanted things to get done and didn’t

want excuses, and if you did mess up, you man up and own up to it. I learned a lot about that from him.”

After graduating from Marion High, Delaney attended Emporia State and played football for the Hornets. He spent two years on the coaching staff at Clearwater before he and his wife, Heidi, moved to Hutchinson in 2006.

“I always had a goal of being a head coach and when the Hutchinson (assistant’s ) job opened up – they actually had an opening for (wife Heidi in the school system), but not for me at the

Randall L. Rhodes, Esq. DOUTHIT FRETS ROUSE GENTILE & RHODES, LLC 5250 W. 116th Place, Suite 400 Leawood, Kansas 66211 816-941-7600 www.dfrglaw.com www.bvhstigers.info

they’re also pretty happy with me being at 260 to 270 right now,” he said.

Rhodes will also play on both sides of the ball this season. He was a part-time starter on the Tigers’ 5A state title team in 2010 and a full-time starter last year. He will also play defensive end this fall.

“I haven’t played defense in a couple years. We had a team camp at Pitt State and I got to play both ways,” Rhodes said.

“It’s more tiring, but I did pretty well and I’m excited to get on the defensive side also.”

And then, there are the expectations.

Rhodes will face them individually, as will Blue Valley as a team. The Tigers have won five state championships and placed runner-up five more times in the last two decades.

“At Blue Valley, the expectations are that we are going to go as far as we can and hopefully state is in the big picture,” he said. “Hopefully we can get back there again this year, but win the whole thing.”

time – I said, ‘Hey, we’ve got to go to Hutch because I want to learn how to be a head coach,’” Delaney said. “ I’d never met Coach Dreiling, I’d never seen him or heard him. I just knew they won all the time and they were going to keep on winning. And so, we made it a point to move to Hutchinson to learn from him and it paid off.

“My goal was to be a head coach by the time I was 30 and I got the Emporia job right after I turned 30. I credit all Continued on page 43

Randy and Debbie Rhodes proudly support BVHS and the Tiger football program!

2010 Class 5A State Champions 2011 Class 5A State Runner-up

GO TIGERS!

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A nd over

TROJANS The question for Andover is obvious: two years into the jump to Class 5A from Class 4A, can the Trojans find a way to get more wins? After two 9-2 seasons in Class 4A, Andover has gone 2-7 and 1-8 in Class 5A. “I think we’ve got a chance to be decent,” says coach Mike Lee. “These seniors have been playing since they were sophomores.

Seniors are different from juniors and sophomores.”

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G od d ard

Central will start new players at every skill position this fall, but coach Tom Audley said the team’s goals haven’t changed after heavy graduation losses.

The Emporia Spartans look like a team that could be on the verge of something special.

After posting 7-4 records in each of Dustin Delaney’s first two seasons as Emporia head coach, the Spartans look for big things in 2012.

“Win the state championship,” Delaney wrote as his team’s goal for the year.

There’s good news and bad news for Goddard new head coach Scott Vang heading into the season. The good is that Goddard moves from 6A to 5A and has a new district, which should ultimately give the Lions a better opportunity for the playoffs. The bad is that a chunk of last year’s team is gone, and will be attending the new Goddard Eisenhower.

Yes, it’s a lofty goal. However, there is reason for optimism. The Spartans return a talented group of players, including four athletes who earned All-State honorable mentions last season.

“Because we split into two high schools we will have more opportunities for kids to play,” said Vang. “However, it has diluted our experience so we’re going to have to play hard on every down to be successful.”

Senior receiver Jerel Morrow (5-11, 185) gives Emporia a target with speed to stretch the field. Morrow verbally committed to Oklahoma State earlier this spring.

The Lions return 15 starters from last season’s two win team and boast good size for 2012. The team welcomes back five offensive linemen weighing an average of 245 pounds. Towering behind this veteran group in the pistol will be 6-3, 200 pound senior quarterback Collin Nevil.

“Our goals are the same every year. We expect to get better every week, to contend for a league championship and to qualify for the playoffs,” he said.

The Jaguars have posted winning records seven of the past eight years and made Andover went through a drought on offense back-to-back playoff appearances. mid-season, failing to score a point against Maize, Derby and Goddard.

This year’s squad will be led by five returning starters – seniors Corbin Niemtschk and “That’s going to be a better situation this Jay Page on the defensive line, senior year,” Lee said of the offense, headed up by Derek Honeywell and junior Jameson Nick Hess. “Our junior quarterback will O’Conner on the offensive line, and senior wind up being a three-year starter. He took kicker/punter Kolton Holinde. his lumps last year. He runs the show real well, throws the ball with confidence, is Honeywell and O’Conner paved the way athletic, can run, very cool-headed, doesn’t for a rushing attack that averaged 213 yards get rattled. I think he’s going to be a good per game last fall, but the top three rushers one.” from that offense are gone. Junior Lucas Milner, with 18 carries for 52 yards and a Andover played solid defense at times last touchdown, is one of six returners who got season, and it returns three defensive linea taste of varsity action last year. men and two offensive linemen.

Defensively, Niemtschk finished with 55 The Trojans enter a new district this season tackles and a team-high four sacks on his that gives them the opportunity to make the way to second-team All-League honors. playoffs for the first time since their return Page added 39 tackles and three sacks. to Class 5A in 2010. Last season, Andover defeated Valley Center, 28-8, and though it Holinde connected on 27 extra points and has lost two straight to Newton, it was com- landed three punts inside the 20-yard line as petitive with the Railers two years ago in a a junior, earning second-team All-League wild, rain-delayed game that ended at mid- honors as a punter and kicker. night after a Newton comeback. The third team in its district is Emporia.

“We have a lot of positions to replace this season, but we feel good about our athletic “Our schedule has been tough the last two ability and think that we will have a good years,” says Lee. “Our schedule is a little squad,” Audley said. more realistic this year. Our district is going 6-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 5A to be tough -- Emporia is very good, and Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II we’ve played Newton the last two years, Coach: Tom Audley and they always play us tough. I think (11th year, 76-30; 25th year overall, 138-95) Valley Center is getting it turned around Assistants: Aaron Frey, Derek Tuttle, Dean Taylor, here as well. It’s challenging but it’s reaGary Merritt, Cory Cox, Chris Saferite, Doug Snyder sonable.”

1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 5A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II Coach: Mike Lee (6th year, 26-23; 12th year overall) Assistants: Ken Dusenbury, Ernie Hager, Brent Riedy, Chris Weidert, Steve Siebuhr, Dustin Murray Offense: Wing T Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Mason Biberstein, RB/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Chase Ogden, RB/DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; A.J. Scholfield, OL, 6-1, 240, Jr.; Conner White, TE/DL, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Jared Rogers, OL, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Noah Harkness, DL, 5-10, 230, Sr.; Dee Davis, DE, 6-4, 230, Sr. Tom Witherspoon

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Junior quarterback Braxton Marstall (6-0, 165), a Class 5A All-State honorable mention pick, will look Morrow’s way often.

When the Spartans go to the ground, AllState running back Cody Campbell (5-9, 155) should get a bulk of the carries.

Seniors Garin Vandiver (6-6, 300) and Sean Ford (6-1, 230) will anchor the o-line.

The defense will be led by All-State defensive end Parker Bass (6-3, 230, Jr.). Bass will be joined by five other returning starters with Morrow, Campbell and Trent Appling (5-10, 165, Sr.) as defensive backs, and Logan Highley (5-11, 195, Jr.) and Nick Nelson (5-11, 190, Jr.) at linebacker.

7-4 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 5A Centennial League Coach: Dustin Delaney (3rd year, 14-8 overall) Assistants: Jay Adkins, Randy Wells, PJ Marstall, Mike Sauer, Travis Lee, Phil Thornton, Jared Anderson, Cameron Gee, Terry Taylor,Mitchell Garrett, Tyler Bosilijevic Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 7 Offense, 6 Defense Braxton Marstall, QB, 6-0, 165, Jr.; Dylan Jackson, RB, 5-9,170, Sr.; RJ Kuhn, RB, 5-9, 155, Sr.; Cody Offense: I-formation Defense: 4-3 Campbell, RB/FS, 5-9, 155, Jr.; Jerel Morrow, WR/ Returning lettermen: 18 CB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Garin Vandiver, OL, 6-6, 300, Sr.; Returning starters: 2 Offense, 2 Defense Sean Ford, OL, 6-1, 230, Sr.; Parker Bass, DL, 6-3, Jameson O’Conner, C, 5-10, 220, Jr.; Derek 230, Jr.; Logan Highley, LB,5-11, 195, Jr.; Nick Honeywell, OG, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Kolton Holinde, P/K, Nelson, LB, 5-11, 190, Jr.; Trent Appling, CB, 5-10, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Jay Page, DL, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Corbin Mark Schremmer Niemtschk, DL, 5-10, 180, Sr. Melanie McGee 165, Sr.

LIONS

Defensively, Goddard looks equally as big.

All five offensive linemen play on both sides of the ball, rotating along the four man front.

With a new district featuring Liberal, Bishop Carroll, and Goddard Eisenhower, coach Vang sees potential for his group to make a splash.

“Our biggest key to success will be taking care of the little things,” he said.

2-7 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II Coach: Scott Vang (1st year, 6th year overall, 13-39) Assistants: Bobby Rehse, John Burkhart, Tom Beason, Todd Miller, Matt Gilmour, Chris Westfal Offense: Pistol Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Collin Nevil, QB, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Jake Vang, OL/DL, 61, 220, Sr.; Trey Douglas, WR/DB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Mason Swann, OL/DL, 5-10, 260, Sr.; Gavin Craig, OL/DL, 5-10, 260, Jr.; Jonah Hall, OL/DL, 5-10, 245, Sr.; Brendan Hutson, OL/DL, 5-8, 240, Sr.; Dane King, WR/DB, 6-0, 185, Sr. James Westling

Photo by Laura Schwinn

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Great Bend tied for first in the WAC with Garden City and Hays High last season, but narrowly missed the playoffs. This fall, the Panthers return 31 seniors and 28 lettermen for veteran coach Bo Black.

Few have experienced such immediate success as Ryan Cornelsen at Hays High. In three years, Cornelsen led an Indian football team that had long been a .500 program to records of 7-2, 7-2 and 8-2. Last year, HHS reached the playoffs for the first time since 1995 before a heartbreaking first round loss to eventual state champion Hutchinson in the first round. In track, Cornelsen has won three straight Class 5A state crowns — the first three track titles in school history.

“Our ability to consistently run the ball is and will be our No. 1 key to our success,” Black said. “That will be a direct reflection of our o-line.”

This year, Cornelsen’s dad, Gary, is expected to join the Hays High staff. Gary had been coaching in Texas and is legThe Panthers went 5-4 in 2008, 8-3 in 2007 endary in Kansas for his work at Liberal and 11-2 and a Class 5A runner-up finish in where he set a Kansas record with 14 2006. Great Bend has continually played a straight track crowns at Liberal and four tough schedule. From 2006-11, the Panthers football titles. ranked 2, 1, 8, 3, 1 and 8 in Class 5A strength of schedule, according to This year, Hays High has just three offenpreppowerindex.com. sive and four defensive starters returning, but three of those are running back David Last year, Great Bend could have won the Cardinal, lineman Cade Sharp and lineWAC outright and advanced to the playoffs, backer Kyler Meyers. Cardinal is the but had three losses by a combined 13 returning WAC Player of the Year, while points. That included a 43-42 loss in a clas- Sharp is a two-time all-WAC performer. sic game to rival Hays High in Week 7, a contest where the Indians scored on a two- Cardinal rushed for 1,464 yards and 19 point conversion to win. The Panthers also scores, while Sharp had 51 tackles, six tackearned a seven-point victory versus Garden les for loss and four sacks. Meyers led the City, a victory that helped form the 3-way team with 126 tackles. tie in the WAC. Great Bend has one playoff appearance in the last four seasons and has “We have a lot to replace from last year’s eight playoff appearances under Black. senior class, but we have worked hard and Chris Burley returns after he was a first will have high expectations,” Cornelsen team all-WAC performer. said.

4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A Western Athletic Conference Coach: Bo Black (11th year, 74-38) Assistants: Brian Hesta, Kelly Brack, Erin Beck, Jay Black, Randy Beck, Doug Black, Chad Friess, Brandon Wells, Bryce Wells Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 28 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 7 Defense Josh Lopez, RB, 5-8, 215, Sr.; Jon Allende, RB, 511, 175, Jr.; Wyatt Bayless, T, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Braden Jones, G, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Lucas Westhoff, G, 6-3, 240, Sr.; Chad Touslee, DE, 6-4, 200, Sr.; Jayce Brack, DT, 6-3, 265, Soph.; Matt Marshall, LB, 5-10, 215, Sr.; Hunter Harrison, LB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Chris Burley, C, 5-8, 140, Sr.; Greg Burley, SS, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Brock Ibarra, C, 5-10, 165, Sr. Conor Nicholl

The Indians were dealt a blow when tight end Chandler Rule broke his leg in a baseball game in June and is done for the year.

8-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 5A Western Athletic Conference Coach: Ryan Cornelsen (4th year, 22-6; 10th year, 75-19) Assistants: Steve Sedbrook, Art Schoenthaler, Chris Walters, Mitch Harris, Nathan Weigel, Brandon Maska, John Hafliger, Gary Cornelsen Offense: I Formation Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 4 Defense David Cardinal, RB/LB, Sr.; Cade Sharp, C/NG, Sr.; Jake Sedbrook, DB, Sr.; Adam Deterding, WR/DB, Sr.; Chandler Rule, TE, Sr.; Kyler Meyers, LB, Sr.; Emilio Mitchell, LB, Sr. Conor Nicholl Photo by Marion Marion McReynolds

Photo by Jeanie Rose

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PANTHERS

Black said the team’s goals are to win their conference and the state championship.

Another goal is to play with great execution, effort and enthusiasm.

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K C -F L S chlagle K C -J C H arm on STALLIONS

HAWKS

A year ago, Schlagle raced to a 6-0 start before stumbling in district games at Bonner Springs and Lansing, the second of which knocked the Stallions out of postseason contention.

Close losses kept Harmon from posting a winning record in Steven Jackson’s first year, as the Hawks lost three straight games by two points, and later lost their district opener 28-22. Harmon finished 3-6, but was just 12 points from being 7-2.

This year, Schlagle graduate Martez Wesley takes over a team that returns four AllLeague players and 20 total lettermen.

Offensively, tackle Tyler Wallace will anchor the line after earning a spot on the KCAL All-League team a year ago. The 65, 350-pound Wallace and junior center Jamal Wooten will help open holes for AllLeague running back J’veyon Browning, who ran for 1,466 yards and 20 touchdowns last season and is considered one of the top college prospects in the KCAL. Senior Devante Sayles returns at quarterback after completing 26 of 60 passes for 564 yards and six scores last fall. Senior Keyaun Burke ran for five touchdowns in 2011, and the Stallions will also get a boost from Washington transfer DeAnte Ambler, one of the fastest athletes in the metro area.

Wesley’s team also returns seven defensive starters, including All-League linebacker Trevon Wallace, the team’s leading tackler with 77 stops, and Sayles, an All-League defensive back last year.

Ambler, Browning and Burke could also see time in the secondary, while Schlagle’s defensive line will be anchored by Tyler Wallace and junior defensive end/linebacker Derrick Gibbs, who recorded five sacks and caused two fumbles as a sophomore.

Wesley, who graduated from Schlagle in 1995 and played for Bill Snyder at Kansas State, said the playoffs and a 3.0 grade point average are among team goals for the Stallions.

7-2 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A Kansas City-Atchison League Coach: Martez Wesley (1st year) Assistants: Sam Simmons, Lamar Chapman, Dariss Lomax, Taylor Wallace, Ben Scott Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense J’veyon Browning, RB/DB, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Devante Sayles, QB/DB, 5-9, 190, Sr.; Trevon Wallace, FB/ LB, 5-8, 255, Sr.; Keyaun Burke, ATH, 5-9, 170, Sr.; DeAnte Ambler, DB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Tyler Wallace, OT/DT, 6-5, 350, Sr.; Derrick Gibbs, DE/LB, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Jamal Wooten, C, 5-9, 245, Jr. Melanie McGee

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The Hawks return nine starters on both sides of the ball, but Jackson and his staff must replace six players who will be suiting up in college – five of which signed with Highland Community College.

Harmon returns four members of its offensive line – seniors Aaron Baska, Kevin Fajardo and Hugh Smith and junior Jose Lazono – who all weigh in over 200 pounds. Seniors Gage Peters and Darryl Williams are back as running backs and linebackers, while tight ends Daniel Ortiz and Kamile Gardner also return for their senior season.

On defense, Harmon brings back Baska, Fajardo, Gardner, Lazono and Smith on the line. Three linebackers – Ortiz, Peters and Williams – return as well. The only returner in the secondary is senior Willis Garner, who will also start as a wideout for the Harmon offense.

The Hawks went 3-2 in Kansas CityAtchison League contests in 2011, finishing in a tie for second place with Atchison with both the league losses coming by a combined eight points. Jackson said his team’s goal for 2012 is to win the KCAL. 3-6 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 5A Kansas City-Atchison League Coach: Steven Jackson (2nd year, 3-6) Assistants: Jermaine Slay, Danny Long, Rick Malone, Ashley Letcher, America Patton, Myles Shaddox Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 9 Defense Hugh Smith, OL/TE/DL, 6-3, 250, Sr.; Darryl Williams, RB/LB, 5-9, 200, Sr.; Aaron Baska, OL/DL, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Willis Garner, WR/DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Gage Peters, RB/LB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Daniel Ortiz, TE/ LB, 5-9, 200, Sr.; Kevin Fajardo, OL/DL, 5-9, 220, Sr.; Kamile Gardner, TE/DL, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Jose Lazono, OL/DL, 6-0, 200, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Delaney / from 39

that to being on Dreiling’s staff.”

Delaney said he learned more than just X’s and O’s from Dreiling. There was also plenty of winning. He was on the staff at Hutchinson when the Salt Hawks won two state titles in 6A (2006 and ’07) and the same number in 5A (2008 and ‘09), posting a record of 50-2 during those four years.

“I learned so much from Randy Dreiling,’ Delaney said. “He has as bright a football mind as anyone around, but I also learned how to run a whole program at all levels; how to manage the staff, how to deal with kids from different backgrounds and how to treat them with equality. Basically, just about everything I learned about being a head coach, I learned from Randy Dreiling.”

Delaney isn’t sure where the future will lead. He and his wife have two daughters – five-year-old Brynn, an avid football fan who attends practice on a regular basis, and one-year-old Hadley – and his father-in-law is also a former football assistant. Right now, his only thoughts are on the current Spartan players and making them the best they can be.

Considering Delaney’s teachers, that could be pretty darn good in 2012.

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L ansing LIONS

REDSKINS

The Golden Bears have a rising star in junior quarterback/running back Paul Berry, and Turner figures to rely heavily on him in Jeremy Milne’s first season at the helm.

After three years of struggles, change is in the air at Washington. Bryan Salsgiver takes over a team that went 2-7 in 2011 and must replace most of its key players but has reason for optimism.

The Lions will seek a third straight trip to the Class 5A playoffs in 2012, but there are plenty of holes to fill for coach Bill Pekarek and his staff.

Cliff Abbott’s squad enters 2012 with a 15game league losing streak, but the Redskins return 22 lettermen who will lead the turnaround effort.

Lansing graduated its top four tacklers and top two running backs from a squad that went 5-5 and earned a district runner-up finish a year ago. The Lions were ousted from the playoffs 56-7 by eventual state runner-up Blue Valley.

Liberal ended the 2011 season with a 42-40 win over Wichita West, and three honorable mention All-League performers will be back in the starting lineup.

GOLDEN BEARS

Berry ran for 507 yards and five touchdowns on just 104 carries as a sophomore, but exploded late in the season with an 18carry, 155-yard effort in a 35-15 seasonending loss to Mill Valley. He also gained 76 yards on just eight carries in a midseason loss to Basehor-Linwood.

WILDCATS

Sophomore Kalem Harrison impressed fans during the summer 7-on-7 league and appears poised for a move from wide receiver to quarterback this fall. He was a quarterback in middle school before moving to receiver as a freshman, catching seven passes for 159 yards on the season.

Turner went 4-5 a year ago, and averaged just 17 points per game. They were shut out twice and scored 20 points or less in five contests. When the Golden Bears limited opponents to 25 points or less, they were 40.

The Wildcats also return first-team AllLeague offensive lineman Isaiah Smith and first-team defensive back De’Ante Ambler, who also has experience in the backfield.

Ambler gained 470 yards and five touchdowns on 84 carries, plus caught 10 passes Senior offensive lineman Sam Worthy for 113 yards and a score last season. Junior returns after earning first-team All-League Shakir Love returns at free safety and eight honors, and senior defensive lineman Drake other Wildcats also got a taste of varsity Leger, a second-team All-Leaguer, is com- football in 2011. ing off a season in which he had six sacks and 67 tackles (third on the team).

Salsgiver’s squad will open the season against Blue Valley Southwest and Topeka The Golden Bears also return several other West before traveling to Atchison and players with varsity experience, including Harmon in weeks three and four. The sophomore receiver/defensive back William Wildcats will host Sumner and Wyandotte McKnight and junior defensive lineman to round out the non-district schedule.

Marquez Williams, who had three sacks last season.

Washington’s Class 5A district schedule opens with games at Lansing and Mill Turner will open the season against Bonner Valley before the Wildcats host Schlagle in Springs before traveling to Mill Valley. The week nine.

Golden Bears host Lansing in week three, 2-7 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 5A then play at Bishop Ward and BasehorKansas City-Atchison League Linwood to finish September. Their final Coach: Bryan Salsgiver non-district game is against Tonganoxie, (1st year) and Turner will play district games at Assistants: N/A Bishop Miege, against Saint Thomas Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Aquinas, and at Harmon.

Returning lettermen: N/A 4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A Kaw Valley League Coach: Jeremy Milne (1st year) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A Paul Berry, QB/RB, Jr.; Sam Worthy, OL, Sr.; Drake Leger, DL, Sr.

Returning starters: N/A Isaiah Smith, OL, Sr.; De’Ante Ambler, RB/DB, Sr.; Shakir Love, FS, Jr.; Kalem Harrison, QB/WR, So.

L iberal

Pekarek’s team will have a returning starter at quarterback in junior Joe Schneider. He completed 57 of 113 passes for seven touchdowns as a sophomore, plus ran the ball 95 times for 414 yards and six more scores.

One of his favorite targets also returns.

Senior Lucas Mein hauled in 23 passes for 409 yards and four touchdowns.

Junior kick returner Khalil Bailey and senior kicker Brad Brown are also back in the lineup. Bailey returned 12 kicks for 290 yards last season. Brown earned secondteam All-League honors after nailing 27 PATs and three field goals for the Lions.

Defensively, the top returner is junior linebacker Christian Porter, who was fifth on the team with 30 tackles in 2011, plus had two sacks.

Lansing opens the season with two home games against Tonganoxie and Bonner Springs. The schedule also includes a trip to Turner, home games against BasehorLinwood and Piper, and a trip to Bishop Ward in week six. District play opens with the Lions hosting Washington, and their final two games are at Schlagle and Mill Valley.

Junior Britton Abbott, the team’s Most Valuable Player, will return under center.

Junior receiver Trent Hammond and senior offensive lineman Michael Begley are also back after earning All-League honors in 2011.

Redskin football has a rich tradition that Abbott and his staff, which includes a number of Liberal graduates, are aiming to revive. Abbott said that running the ball will be key to the team’s success in 2012.

The Redskins will open with two nonleague games against Ulysses and Guymon, Okla., before getting into the Western Athletic Conference schedule with contests against Hays, Dodge City, Garden City and Great Bend. Liberal’s Class 5A district opponents this year will be GoddardEisenhower, Goddard and Bishop Carroll.

2-7 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A Western Athletic Conference Coach: Cliff Abbott (2nd year, 2-7) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 22 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 9 Defense Britton Abbott, QB, Jr.; Michael Begley, OL, Sr.; Trent Hammond, WR, Jr. Melanie McGee

5-5 in 2011 / 2+1 in district / 5A Kaw Valley League Melanie McGee Coach: Bill Pekarek Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A Melanie McGee

Melanie McGee

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RAILERS

TIMBERWOLVES

With a lot of young players coming up through the ranks, Newton has found themselves in a transition phase the past two seasons. Despite winning only two games in 2010 and three games in 2011, the Railers believe they have the depth to get back to the playoffs.

Southwest, the newest school in the Blue Valley school district, will look to challenge for a District 4 title with 18 returning starters and a strong senior class.

Head coach Bill Lowe, now in his third year at the school, has taken three different schools to state championship games and six different schools to the playoffs.

O P -B lue V alley W est O P -S t. T hom as A quinas JAGUARS

SAINTS

With the return of 17 Jaguars that started at some point a year ago – and 23 letter winners – Scott Wright finds his 2012 Jaguar team in good shape to improve on last season’s 3-6 record. Even though the Jaguars drop to 5A, in 2012, playing in the Eastern Kansas League is always a chore.

Playing in arguably the toughest 5A district a year ago, the Saints failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year after banging heads with Blue Valley, GardnerEdgerton and Pittsburg.

The scheduling gods eased up a bit in 2012, and the Saints could well snap that streak.

“Our goal is to make the playoffs,” said “Getting back to 5A is both a great opporAquinas coach Mike Thomas said the suchead coach Brent Glann. “We’ve made tunity and a difficult task,” Wright said. cess of Saint football this fall will depend gains over the past two seasons in our divi- The Timberwolves will be led on offense by “The EKL will continue to be one of the top on the health of his squad, as well as it’s sion, and are hoping to continue that pro6-4, 220-pound senior quarterback Aaron football leagues in the state. Each week is a ability to come together as a team. gress.”

Ramsey, who was an honorable mention tough test. We look forward to competing All-State selection last year. Another alland improving with the opportunity to “We have a very good group coming back – A familiar face returns under center in sen- state HM returnee is 6-5, 250-pound senior make our school, parents and community a nice mix of juniors and seniors – with a ior quarterback Coleman Kingsley. The 5tight end/defensive lineman Anthony proud.” possibility of a couple of sophomores 10 signal caller is entering year three as the Miller. breaking into the starting lineup,” Thomas starter running the spread option attack.

Quarterback Ryan Ralston returns to lead said. “As of now we have 32 seniors and 28 However, his protection up front will be Some may question the Timberwolves abil- Wright’s Multiple 1-Back set after starting juniors, all of them are doing a great job youthful. The Railers return only one senior ity to take the step up to Class 5A this year, as a sophomore a year ago. Ralston will working in this off season.” offensive lineman. but a close look at last year’s schedule hand off to Conley Wilkens behind an shows Southwest progressing against large offensive line that returns five starters.

Dan Morin is the leader of this year’s ediDefensively, Newton welcomes back three class competition as the season went along. Senior Nadir Yayyad and junior Mike tion of Saints football after landing on the linebackers in Jacob Bartel, Jacob Wright, Fairchild will lead the way up front.

All-Eastern Kansas League second team on and Joseph McConnell. The Railers’ 4-4 After opening the season with lopsided the line of scrimmage on both sides of the base allowed 33 points per game last season losses (but not blowouts) to 5A powers ball. Offensive linemen Paul Hoffman and Senior defensive tackle Davis Clark and against a schedule filled with ground and Bishop Miege and Blue Valley, the defensive back Connor Faust spearhead John Thesing were awarded for fine 2011 pound offenses.

Timberwolves dropped tough 16 point another fierce Jaguar defense. The addition seasons by earning honorable mention alllosses to Blue Valley Northwest and of senior linebacker Alex Norris, a transfer conference accolades, as did Nick Williams as a receiver.

“The biggest thing we need to have happen Gardner-Edgerton, then a four-point loss to out of Lee’s Summit High School (Lee’s is for our overall defense to play better,” Blue Valley West was followed by a 35-28 Summit, Mo.) in the off-season should said Glann. win over Blue Valley North that would lead make Wright’s 4-2-5 defense even stouter.

Austin Scherzer could replace the departed into a five game winning streak against fel- Norris earned second-team All-Suburban Paul Heit at quarterback, but is listed at runWith McPherson’s departure to 4A, low 4A foes.

Big 6 honors in 2011 for the Tigers. ning back and wide receiver as well. On Newton’s new district will feature Emporia, defense he could play at defensive back or 3-6 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 5A Valley Center, and Andover.

Battle tested from a tough Eastern Kansas outside linebacker or both.

Eastern Kansas League League schedule and driven by proven and Coach: Scott Wright 3-6 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A experienced coaching from Bill Lowe, Thomas also returns senior receivers Devon (2nd year, 3-6; 12th year overall, 58-52) Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I Southwest could post a special season in Vickers, Joe Pyle and Will McDonald and Assistants: Trent Stern, Pat Fitzgerald, Don Coach: Brent Glann their first year of large class football. junior lineman Andrew Hagemann.

(13th year, 49-57, 14th year overall, 61-64) Assistants: Tad Remsberg, Tony Hein, Pete Anderson, Jeff Davis, Steve Webb, Derek Webb Offense: Spread Option Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 22 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 5 Defense Jacob Bartel, OL/LB, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Coleman Kingsley, QB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Derrick Garnica, RB, 511, 185, Sr.; Jacob Wright, LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Jordan Johnson, WR, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Dylan Moore, WR, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Braeden Morrison, DB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Joseph McConnell, LB, 6-2, 205, Jr.; Seth Hill, RB, 5-9, 155, Jr.; Justin Mosiman, OL, 6-0, 250, Jr.; Cory Martens, TE/DE, 6-2, 210, Jr. James Westling

6-6 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 5A Eastern Kansas League Coach: Bill Lowe (3rd year, 9-16, 31st year overall, 179-120) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A John Baetz

Alpaugh, Kevin Colwell, Josh Koerkenmeier, Aaron Anderson, Les Page, Kevin Bandy Offense: Multiple 1-Back Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 23 Returning starters: 14 Conley Wilkens, RB/DB, 6-0, 181, Sr.; Nadir Yayyad, OL/DT, 6-0, 251, Sr.; Ryan Cipriani, OL/DE, 6-4, 231, Sr.; Ryan Ralston, QB/LB, 6-4, 220, Jr.; Mike Fairchild, OL/DE, 6-5, 228, Jr.; Davis Clark, DT/TE, 6-1, 231, Sr.; Cale McMakin, FS/WR, 6-1, 185, Jr.; Grant Garcia, RB/DB, 5-8, 161, Jr.; Jack Owens, C, 6-2, 215, Sr.; Sterling Williams, OL, 6-1, 253, Jr.; Spencer Johannesman, WR, 5-9, 173, Jr.; Troy Burgett, K, 6-1, 210, Jr.; Alex Craven, TE, 6-3, 195, Sr.; Connor Faust, DB, 5-11, 161, Sr.; Brett Kaiser, DB/WR, 5-9, 168, Sr.; Hayden Chauvin, DL, 6-0, 243, Sr.; Dom Adinolfi, DL, 5-10, 256, Sr. Dean Backes

4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A Eastern Kansas League Coach: Mike Thomas (4th year, 20-10; 7th year overall, 29-30) Assistants: Tim Lillis, Sean Thompson, Dylan Slaven, Chris Johnson, Justin Gore, Tom Cretors, Kyle Hill Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 19 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 2 Defense Andrew Hagemann, OL, 6-2, 245, Jr.; Paul Hoffman, OL/TE/DE, 6-4, 230, Sr.; Will McDonald, S/WR, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Dan Morin, OL/DL, 6-3, 280, Sr.; Joe Pyle, WR, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Austin Scherzer, QB/RB/WR/DB/OLB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; John Thesing, OL, 6-0, 215, Jr.; Devon Vickers, WR, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Nick Williams, RB/WR/DB, 5-7, 165, Sr. Backes

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

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In recent years, the Pittsburg Purple Dragons have had an uphill battle in districts. A traditionally strong team in the Southeast Kansas League, Pittsburg has had to battle some of the best Class 5A schools in the state as St. Thomas Aquinas, Blue Valley-Stilwell and Gardner-Edgerton filled out their district.

A great deal of experience coupled with a brutal schedule should have Salina Central more than ready for district play in October.

PURPLE DRAGONS

This season, the Purple Dragons will still have to travel north to face Kansas City schools. However, Gardner-Edgerton has moved to Class 6A and Aquinas is in a new district. Pittsburg will match up with Blue Valley-Stilwell, Blue Valley West and Blue Valley Southwest.

While it shouldn’t be as much of an uphill battle for the Dragons to make the 5A playoffs, the Dragons know it will take plenty of hard work.

MUSTANGS

The Mustangs will rely on their aggressive defense and dangerous running game. The three headed monster of Malik Veal, Matt Cookson, and Clint Ryan combined for 218 carries and over 1,300 yards last season.

“They are all very capable of carrying the ball, but I think the best attribute they bring to the table are their blocking abilities,” said coach Mike Hall.

JW Maldaner takes over at quarterback after leading the team with five touchdown receptions as a wide receiver. Maldaner was the Mustangs junior varisty quarterback last season so the transition should be minimal.

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S alina S outh COUGARS

Salina South returned to the playoffs last season with a 2-1 district record that included a thrilling 44-41 win over rival Salina Central. Close losses were the Cougars achilles’ heel, with three defeats coming by five or less points. In order to win those nail biters, head coach Sam Sellers will count on senior leadership.

“Our biggest keys are developing leadership throughout our team, and creating quality depth at all positions.”

Offensively, the Cougars will lean heavily on senior running back Cody Busby, who rushed for 126.7 yards per game on 6.4 yards per carry. Seniors Tyler Rhea, Cameron Weishaar, and Zach Lowers all return along the offensive line. Fullback Mike Shirk and tight end Ethan Mitchell will also provide protection.

“His gains should come in being able to read defenses and make on-the-fly decisions for Defensively, South welcomes back Zach our offense,” said Hall.

Nachbar in the secondary where he recorded 51 tackles and two interceptions.

Defensively, the Mustangs return four three- Chase Turner will lead a solid group of year starters in Kade True, Mark Vaughn, linebackers with his 58 tackles and forced fumble from a year ago. Linebacker Andy Will Oaks, and Nathan Garlow.

Jewell also had over 50 tackles. Cole Smith, “Having three linebackers be three year start- Grant Flemming, and Turner Vogan return Spencer Bernhardt (6-1, 180), who started ers is going to have a great effect on our along the defensive line. last season at wide receiver, will take over defense as a whole,” said Hall. “Each player under center for his senior season. Three is very equipped with leadership qualities This veteran squad will do a lot of traveling good-size linemen will be blocking up front and is providing great leadership for our this season with five road games. Four of for Bernhardt in seniors Skylar McGuire (6- entire team.” the Cougars last five contests will be played 2, 225), Dakota Taylor (6-3, 255) and Chris away from Salina Stadium.

5-4 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 5A Huyett (6-2, 215).

“The goals for this year are the same as last year,” Pittsburg head coach Tom Nickelson said. “To improve every day at practice and to give nothing but our absolute best effort on every repetition, every drill and every play. If we are able to do that, everything else will take care of itself.”

The Dragons return five starters on each side of the ball.

6-3 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A Southeast Kansas League Coach: Tom Nickelson (2nd year, 6-3) Assistants: Merle Clark, Ben Bernhardt, John Kotzman, Darin Kelley, Mike Wilbert, Jeremy Moss, LeRoy O’Bray, Trevor Elliott Offense: Multiple I Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Skylar McGuire, OL, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Dakota Taylor, OL, 6-3, 255, Sr.; Chris Huyett, OL, 6-2, 215, Sr.; Anthony McNeely, FB/LB, 6-0, 198, Sr.; Spencer Bernhardt, QB/CB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Nick Vacca, OLB, 6-0, 182, Sr.; Zack Woods, OLB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Alex Barnes, LB, 5-11, 198, So. Mark Schremmer Photo by Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com

Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I Coach: Mike Hall (7th year, 36-25) Assistants: Travis Benoist, Rick O’Neill, Ernest Ballenger, Alan English, Tony Slothower, Charles Black, Alan Shuler, Darryl Hill Offense: I-Formation Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 25 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 8 Defense Nathan Garlow, LB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Kade True, LB, 62, 225, Sr.; Mark Vaughn, LB, 6-1, 220, Sr.; Will Oaks, DB, 5-8, 155, Sr.; Austin Palmateer, DB, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Todd Humistion, DL, 5-10, 220, Sr.; Quintavian Hill, DL, 5-10, 255, Jr.; Jayreece Jones, DL, 5-9, 220, Jr.; Ethan Casey, TE, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Malik Veal, RB, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Matt Cookson, RB, 510, 195, Sr.; JW Maldaner, QB, 6-2, 195, Jr.; Cordell Wilcome, OL, 6-2, 270, Sr.; Kaleb Speilman, OL, 510, 195, Sr.; Dajon Samuels, WR, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Dillon Hopkins, OL, 6-0, 220, Jr.; Grant Dodge, OL, 62, 290, Jr. James Westling Photo by Marion McReynolds

4-6 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 5A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division I Coach: Sam Sellers (3rd year, 12-15 overall) Assistants: Chris Barkley, Jason Hooper, Dan Smith, Gary Seibel, Jim Wittman, Justin Ebert, Kanean Wendell, Steve Rivers Offense: Pro Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 32 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 9 Defense Cody Busby, RB, 5-6, 205, Sr.; Mike Shirk, FB/LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Ethan Mitchell, TE, 6-3, 210, Jr.; Tyler Rhea, OL, 5-10, 205, Sr.; Cameron Weishaar, OL, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Zach Lowers, OL, 5-10, 245, Sr.; Grant Flemming, DT, 5-11, 230, Sr.; Kole Smith, DT, 6-0, 255, Jr.; Turner Vogan, DE, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Chase Turner, LB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Andy Jewell, LB, 510, 210, Sr.; Aaron Mar, CB, 5-9, 155, Jr.; Zach Nachbar, CB, 6-2, 160, Jr.; Cade Calvert, FS, 5-11, 150, Jr. James Westling

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S M -B ishop M iege STAGS

As Bishop Miege’s offensive coordinator the last five seasons, Jon Holmes has been responsible for one of the Kansas City area’s more explosive offenses. Now he will try his hand at running one of the area’s powerhouse programs.

Taking over for Tim Grunhard, who was hired on by Charlie Weis at Kansas, Holmes will attempt to extend the Eastern Kansas League school’s string of six successive postseason berths, which includes a 4A title in 2009.

The return of senior quarterback and ‘Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year’ Montell Cozart should help make Holmes rookie season a success. Cozart, who guided the Stags to a 9-2 record and to the second round of the 5A playoffs, a year ago, will operate behind an offensive line that features senior second-team all conference lineman Mitch Wille.

First-team all league linebacker junior Bradley Ivey will headline the Stag defense.

If Bishop Miege is to achieve it’s team goals of winning an EKL championship and the 5A title this fall, Holmes will need to develop more depth on both lines and find another offensive playmaker.

“The development of our young players, who will be first time varsity starters, will determine how successful we will be this season,” Holmes said.

9-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 5A Eastern Kansas League Coach: Jon Holmes (1st year) Assistants: Justin Hoover, Jim Giokaris, Bob Tavenaro, Travis Grosdidier, Dave Eller, Steve Koesterer, Mike Galvin, Matt Eshelbrenner, Kevin Mulvany, Joe Kobilarcsik Offense: Pro Set Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 26 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Montell Cozart, QB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; McKinley Johnson, WR/DB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Luke Taylor, FB, 59, 185, Jr.; Joey Fisher, OL, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Ryan Sinkler, OL, 6-2, 270, Sr.; Mitch Wille, OL, 6-2, 275, Sr.; Blake Schnieders, OLB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Greg Orrick, DB, 5-8, 170, Jr.; Alec Friesen, SS, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Jack Wirtz, DB, 5-10, 165, Jr.; Bradley Ivey, LB, 6-1, 225, Jr. Dean Backes

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JAGUARS

TIGERS

THUNDERBIRDS

Following early exits in the Kansas Class 5A State Football Playoffs in 2010 and 2011, the Jaguars appear to be ready for a huge year in Joel Applebee’s third season at the helm of the program.

At the conclusion of his first two seasons at the helm of the Blue Valley football program – Eric Driskell has delivered.

Shawnee Heights is a perfect example of what playing in a competitive league can do for your team. The T-Birds have had losing records in Centennial League play the past two seasons. However, they have gone on to go unbeaten in districts and win a playoff game in each of those two seasons.

Mill Valley, who finished the 2011 season with a 7-3 mark, returns 17 starters collectively on offense and defense as well as 33 letter-winners from a year ago. Four offensive line regulars return in 2012.

The third year coach guided Blue Valley to the Class 5A finals a year ago, before falling to Hutchinson 33-21, and took the Tigers to the 5A title his rookie season in 2010. So what’s next for Driskell and one of the Eastern Kansas League’s top teams?

Could be more of the same.

“Both our offensive and defensive fronts will be very key to our success,” Applebee said, “as will our focus on improving with every repetition.”

The Tigers return just four offensive starters and only a pair of regulars on defense, but 42 2011 lettermen are back to see if the Tigers can reach the 5A championship game for the third straight season.

First team All-Kaw Valley offensive line selection Coleman McCann will join forces up front with second team selections Knute Holden and Coltyn Gatton. Joe Jerome joins the trio up front after receiving honorable mention recognition a year ago.

Driskell said success in 2012 will depend on how well the new Tiger regulars mesh with his returning group of starters, and senior leadership.

Returning senior signal caller Skyler Windmiller returns to operate Applebee’s Multiple set offense after throwing for over 2,000 yards a year ago. He will hand off to Kendall Short and play catch with LJ Hatch and Alec Donn.

Senior defensive back Staton Rebeck is the lone postseason award winner returning to Applebee’s 4-3 defense. But seven other regulars return to the defense in 2012.

7-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 5A Kaw Valley League Coach: Joel Applebee (3rd year, 13-7) Assistants: TJ O’Neill, Mike Strack, Rick Pollard, Alex Houlton, Jaimie Resseguie, Andrew Hudgins, Geoff White Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 33 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 8 Defense Skyler Windmiller, QB, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Kendall Short, RB, 6-3, 205, Sr.; LJ Hatch, WR/DB, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Alec Donn, WR, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Henry Midyett, WR, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Coleman McCann, OL, 6-3, 275, Sr.; Joe Jerome, OL, 6-1, 250, Sr.; Knute Holden, OL, 511, 205, Sr.; Coltyn Gatton, OL, 6-1, 220, Jr.; Tim Thomas, DL, 5-10, 215, Sr.; Ryan Smith, DL, 6-0, 255, Jr.; Blake Miles, LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; TJ Phillips, LB, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Micah Clark, LB, 5-9, 185, Jr.; Ryan Bath, DB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Staton Rebeck, DB, 60, 170, Sr. Dean Backes Photo by Melanie McGee

“We hope to be the best football team that we possibly can be,” Driskell said. “We strive to give each opponent our best effort and get better every day.”

Talented senior offensive tackle Clay Rhodes, a second team All-EKL selection a year ago, is more than capable of clearing monstrous paths for any Tiger ball carrier in 2012. Andrew Reinkemeyer returns after earning honorable mention all conference honors as a tight end/receiver as a junior.

The defense will be anchored by senior free safety Cole Combes and fellow senior cornerback Ryan McNerlin both honorable mention All-EKL selections a year ago.

11-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 5A Eastern Kansas League Coach: Eric Driskell (3rd year, 23-3) Assistants: Rick McNerlin, Paul Brown, Lew Rowe, Brandon Olney, Dan Cromer, Adam Kinzer, Don Hanna, Mario Felix, Allen Terrell, Larry Lindsay, Pat McRoberts, Geno Waters, Denny Brand, Matt Shipley Offense: Spread Pistol Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 42 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 2 Defense Clay Rhodes, OT, 6-6, 267, Sr.; Ryan McNerlin, CB/ RB, 5-9, 176, Sr.; Austin Hickman, G, 6-0, 238, Sr.; Andrew Reinkemeyer, WR/TE, 6-4, 215, Sr.; Cole Combes, FS, 6-2, 183, Sr. Dean Backes

This season, Shawnee Heights coach Jason Swift hopes a balanced T-Birds team can have similar success.

“This year’s group of players may be one of the most well balanced teams at Shawnee Heights,” Swift said. “Our strengths are in the number of players that can contribute successfully on a Friday night. Instead of relying on specific players or sides of the ball, we will be strong in all phases of the game by using a bunch of different players.

We will have so many players make an impact, especially in our special teams play and depth. With high expectations in the weight room, we could have more one-way starters than ever before. Our schedule is always tough, but we feel that the Centennial League has prepared our team for postseason success (three regional playoff wins in three straight years). This group of seniors love playing and are so enjoyable to be around.”

The T-Birds should be strong up front with seniors Ben Taliaferro, Jordan Floyd and Braden Werner all returning as starters on the offensive line. Defensively, they also should be good up front with Stephen Bell returning at defensive tackle, Shannon Meck coming back at defensive end and Wyatt Sicard, Marshall Hall and Werner returning as linebackers.

5-6 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 5A Centennial League Coach: Jason Swift (10th year¸45-47) Assistants: Brad Nicks, Doug Holmes, Michael Werner, Ryan Smith, John Oshel, Bob Phillips Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 3 Offense, 6 Defense Ben Taliaferro, OL, Sr.; Jordan Floyd, OL, Sr.; Braden Werner, OL/LB, Sr.; Stephen Bell, DT, Sr.; Shannon Meck, DE, Sr.; Austin Smith, DB, Sr.; Wyatt Sicard, OLB, Sr.; Marshall Hall, LB, Sr.; Dakota Weaver, K, Sr. Mark Schremmer Photo by Melanie McGee

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SR.• Q B • 6-3 • 185

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SR.• O L/LB • 6-0 • 210

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T opeka W est

CHARGERS Goals are simple for the Chargers as John Tetuan takes over a team that was winless in 2011. He said the squad’s goals are “to come out with a winning attitude and win our district and get to the playoffs.”

A total of 31 lettermen return for Topeka West, but as of late June, Tetuan, a former All-State quarterback that led Topeka Hayden to the 1998 4A state title, said all the starting spots were up for grabs.

“A new coach means everyone earns their spots,” he said. “We have a new defense and offense, so people fit in different spots.”

The Chargers must improve both defensively and offensively after scoring just 78 points last season and allowing 512, an average of nearly 57 points per game.

Topeka West will begin the season by hosting Kansas City-Schlagle. The Chargers’ next three games are on the road at Kansas City-Washington, Topeka High and Washburn Rural.

Centennial League rivals Manhattan and Junction City round out the non-district schedule for Topeka West, which is assigned to Class 5A District 1 with Seaman, Shawnee Heights and Highland Park.

0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 5A Centennial League Coach: John Tetuan (1st year) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 31 Returning starters: 0 offense, 0 defense Melanie McGee

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T opeka-S eam an VIKINGS

The Seaman Vikings finished with a 2-7 record last season, but they may not be far from taking the next step.

Four of Seaman’s losses last season were by 12 points or fewer and the difference was less than a touchdown in two of those.

“We will continue to work to be competitive in the tough Centennial League,” Seaman head coach Blake Pierce said. “We want to build on experience gained last season and improve in all areas of the game.”

The Vikings have a great deal of experience with eight starters returning on offense and nine on defense.

V alley C enter HORNETS

The Hornets went 1-8 in 2011, but were just two points away from being 3-6, as they lost 21-20 to both Ark City and Goddard.

Third-year coach Pat Haxton hopes a big group of returning lettermen will lead Valley Center to more wins in 2012.

“We want to be more competitive in our league and start winning games,” he said.

“The kids have put a lot of time and effort into it and we return a lot of kids, so we hope that translates into wins. We have made great gains the last two years physically. Now we have to make those same gains mentally.”

The offense all starts with senior quarterback Butch Rea (5-11, 170). Rea will have a lot of help with running backs Justus Sharples (5-9, 175, Sr.) and Nathan Stanley (6-1, 215, Sr.), wide receiver Sean Higley (6-2, 185, Sr.) and offensive linemen Kaleb Palmer (6-0, 245, Sr.), Brad Applehanz (59, 210, Jr.), Dylan Hall (6-5, 290, Sr.) and Malcolm Mikkelsen (6-4, 265, So.). Hall earned All-State honors last year.

Valley Center returns first-team All-League receiver Braden Tormey, who caught 19 passes for 281 yards a year ago, and fellow senior wideouts Ryan Scheibmeir, who hauled in 27 receptions for 254 yards and a touchdown, Miles Balthazor and Dylan Johnson. Balthazor and senior Keaton Canaday saw action as backup quarterbacks in 2011 and could be among the leading candidates to take over under center.

The defense returns Stanley and Reid Fehr (5-11, 180, So.) at linebacker, Palmer, Hall, Higley, Hayden Kramer (6-2, 195, Sr.) and Wyatt Hendrix (6-4, 220, So.) on the defensive line and Tyler Bushnell (5-9, 160,Sr.) and Alex Sumner (5-9, 180, Sr.) in the secondary.

Up front, the Hornets return seniors Dakota Hoffine and Zac Sander, while senior Tony Bluml anchors the d-line. Four senior linebackers are back, and the Valley Center secondary should be experienced with Canaday, Scheibmeir and Tormey back.

2-7 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 5A Centennial League Coach: Blake Pierce (9th year, 40-42) Assistants: Mike Lincoln, Jay Monhollon, Travis Brown, Tim Hebert, Steve Bushnell, Michael Ragsdale, Jerrick Jorgensen Offense: Flexbone Option Defense: 50 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 9 Defense Butch Rea, QB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Justus Sharples, RB, 5-9,175, Sr.; Nathan Stanley, FB/LB, 6-1, 215, Sr.; Kaleb Palmer, OL/DL, 6-0, 245,Sr.; Brad Appelhanz, OL, 5-9, 210, Jr.; Dylan Hall¸OL/DL, 6-5, 290, Sr.; Malcolm Mikkelsen, OL, 6-4, 265, So.; Sean Higley, WR/DL, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Tyler Bushnell, DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Hayden Kramer, DE, 6-2, 195, Sr.; Alex Sumner, DB,5-9, 180, Sr.; Wyatt Hendrix, DL, 6-4, 220, So.; Reid Fehr, LB, 5-11, 180, So. Mark Schremmer

The Hornets’ top four tacklers – Jon Elliott, Canaday, Garrett Reeves and Justin Holdaway - are back in the lineup, along with interception (Tormey with three) and sack leaders (Holdaway with three).

1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 5A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II Coach: Pat Haxton (3rd year, 1-17; 13th year overall, 73-57) Assistants: Terry Harrison, Ron Barry, Fred Winter, Jeff Sells, Matt Regier, Ben Niggeman, Taylor Haxton Offense: Spread Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 22 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Zac Sander, OL, 6-3, 280, Sr.; Dakota Hoffine, OL, 6-2, 230, Sr.; Braden Tormey, WR/DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Keaton Canaday, RB/DB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Miles Balthazor, WR/RB/LB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Ryan Scheibmeir, WR/DB, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Dylan Johnson, WR, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Tony Bluml, DL, 5-9, 185, Sr.; Jon Elliott, LB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Justin Holdaway, LB, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Garrett Reeves, LB, 6-0, 185, Sr. McGee

W ichita-B ishop C arroll GOLDEN EAGLES

Bishop Carroll returns a core of players on the offensive side of the ball to once again contend for its first state championship since 1978.

Last season, Zeke Palmer, a 6-1, 205-pound quarterback, passed for 2,173 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 523 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“He can throw it and run it,” said coach Alan Schuckman. “He’s able to make all the throws. He’s a little different as far as dual threat. He’s a real physical runner, not slow, but probably would rather run over you than around you -- a fullback in a quarterback’s body.”

Carroll returns two running backs, led by Jalen Hernandez, who rushed for 708 yards and 16 touchdowns, and sophomore running back Denzel Goolsby, who rushed for 275 yards and 13 touchdowns. “(Hernandez) had a great off-season. He is primed to have a great senior year,” said Schuckman.

Though their leading returner at wide receiver, Bryce Harvey, tore his ACL at camp this summer, Carroll is deep at the wide receiver position, as usual.

Carroll returns Zach Befort and Patrick Dugan on the defensive line and John Buchanan at free safety.

“It’s the same as last year where we were,” said Schuckman. “We lost eight starters the year before. We started out slow and came on and had a pretty good defensive year.”

Three senior starters return on the offensive line, including Bryce Barrientos, Matt Johnson and Joseph Frangenberg.

“We’ve got a chance as long as you protect the football,” said Schuckman. “They better (protect the ball), or they won’t be in there.

But it’s not like we’re putting a slug back there at running back.”

10-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 5A Greater Wichita Athletic League Coach: Alan Schuckman (17th year, 139-40; 18th year overall) Assistants: Jim Nance, Dusty Trail, Jimmy Allen, Matt Bye, Mike Laubhan, Chris Jaax, Dave Armagost, Brad Carey, George Palmer, Kyle Molina, Mike Hecht Offense: Multiple Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 25 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 3 Defense Zeke Palmer, QB, 6-1, 205, Sr.; Jalen Hernandez, RB; Denzel Goolsby, RB, So.; Zach Befort, DL; Patrick Dugan, DL; John Buchanan, FS; Bryce Barrientos, OL, Sr.; Matt Johnson, OL, Sr.; Joseph Frangenberg, OL, Sr. Tom Witherspoon

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

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W ichita-K apaun M t. C arm el

W ichita W est

Last season, Kapaun swept its district, scoring 151 points, and upset McPherson, 3231, to win a first-round playoff game for the first time since 2005. Kapaun hopes to achieve more success this season by keeping intact its power running game.

Following a decade as the head football coach at Wichita Northwest, Weston Schartz returns to his roots at Wichita West, where he was head coach from 1987 to 2001.

CRUSADERS

“Every time for us it starts up front with the offensive line,” said coach Dan Adelhardt.

“We’re expecting another solid performance from those guys.”

Seniors Roc Cyphert, who is 6-4 and 290 pounds and will be a three-year starter, and 6-1, 235-pound Alex Lutz will try to pave the way for senior running back Nick Heiland, who is 5-11 and 195 pounds. Craig Lantz, 6-3 and 310 pounds, and Huy Ho, 60 and 250, also return on the offensive line.

“We will continue to run the option,” said Adelhardt, who installed the flexbone offense last season, “and we’ve got some really good guys to catch the ball. Toby Baxter has some really phenomenal hands.”

Baxter is a six-foot senior wideout.

PIONEERS

“It’s the place I wanted to end my coaching career,” said Schartz. “I’ve got approximately 10 more years, and it was a situation that was perfect for me, with a new principal who think athletics is important, and I missed the neighborhood, the kids, and school. The job was open and I thought why not.”

Schartz compiled an 84-58 record at West the first time around, leading the Pioneers to the Class 6A state championship game in 1997, losing 27-26 to Olathe North. Can West be resurrected again?

“To the level where we were at? Time will tell,” said Schartz. “We were pretty good for a while. You will definitely see improvement in two or three years.”

This summer, Schartz used his Facebook page to invite back West High alumni from the football team when he was coach. Tens of players came to the high school, put on their old jerseys and took a photo in the “We only had 13 seniors last year, and 12 of grandstand by the football field. “They 13 started, some both ways. We’re hoping want to bring it back,” said Schartz. we’ll have about 20 juniors this year,” said He brings with him some of the same Adelhardt. “I say they’re newcomers, coaches who were with him at Wichita because this is the first time they’ll have Northwest, including Idris Elias and Earl varsity starting positions.”

Henry, two of the best Pioneer football 8-3 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 5A players during Schartz’ first tenure as Greater Wichita Athletic League coach.

Fifteen junior newcomers will be responsible for giving Kapaun depth across the field on both sides of the ball.

Coach: Dan Adelhardt (8th year, 44-28, 15th year overall) Assistants: David Roberts, Chris Bloomer, Ryan Burr, Shane Pope, Nick Howell, Ross Puritty, Dan Conrad, Luke Westerman, Chris Thompson Offense: Flexbone Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Roc Cyphert, OL, 6-4, 290, Sr.; Nick Heiland, RB, 511, 195, Sr.; Alex Lutz, OL, 6-1, 235, Sr.; Timmy Hamilton, DE, 6-3, 240, Sr.; Josh Wondra, OLB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Alex Schutz, DB, 5-9, 165, Sr. Tom Witherspoon

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Schartz is realistic about the job he faces at West, which was 1-8 last season and has not won very many games since Schartz left after the 2001 season. However, Schartz built up the program once before, and it took time. He had several losing seasons at West before they began winning in the early 1990s.

“They haven’t had a winning season since we left,” said Schartz. “I think we can have a winning season. That’s our goal the first year, but we know we’re going to have to fight for everything we get.”

1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 5A Great Wichita Athletic League Coach: Weston Schartz (1st year; 26th year overall) Assistants: Matt Riddle, Adam Rosenstiel, Jacob Henning, Idris Elias, Earl Henry, Dwight Goodman, Corby Milleson, Jarvis Love, Mike Wares Offense: I Formation Defense: 4-2 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Tom Witherspoon

5A / continued from page 36 Twenty lettermen, including six starters, are back from an 8-3 team for head coach Dan Adelhardt. Kapaun averaged over 50 points a game in district play and edged McPherson, 32-31, in the first round of the playoffs.

Three-year starter Roc Cyphert (6-4, 290) anchors the Crusaders up front.

Nick Heiland (5-11, 195) returns in the backfield.

Ryan Cornelson starts his fourth season at Hays and has 22 victories to his credit in three years. The Indians return seven starters, including lineman Cade Sharp and senior back David Cardinal, who were honorable mention All-State picks last year. Cornelson said the key to his team’s success is how fast the offensive and defensive lines can play at a high level.

A possible darkhorse in 5A could be the Great Bend Panthers of head coach Bo Black. The Panthers were 4-4 a year ago, but lost three games by a combined 13 points. Black welcomes back 12 starters and has 31 seniors on his roster.

“Our ability to consistently run the ball is, and will be, our No. 1 key to success,” Black said. “That will be a direct reflection of our offensive line.”

Both Salina Central and Salina South return some talented individuals for the 2012 season. It was a wild 2011 season for Central, which averaged 33 points a game, but allowed nearly 31 a contest during a 5-4 season. Senior linebacker Nathan Garlow was a first-team All-State pick, while junior running back/kicker Malik Veal was honorable mention All-State, as was junior lineman Quintavian Hill.

Salina South was just 4-5 during the regular season, but lost three games by a total of 11 points before qualifying for the playoffs. Senior running back Cody Busby could have a big year after being named All-State honorable mention last year.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 51

CLASS 4A

12 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gabe Cleveland [Eudora] 6-2, 205, RB/LB, Sr., 1,110 yards rushing, 97 tackles

CLASS 4A KPREPS.COM PRESEASON RANKINGS 1.

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3.

4.

5.

Topeka Hayden Holton McPherson Mulvane Buhler

M a r k S chr em m er For Kansas Pregame

Class 4A seems open for the taking.

Take a quick look at the top finishers from last season, and you will see there is no clear cut favorite to repeat that success in 2012. None of the teams that reached the state semifinals return its starting quarterback, and none return more than a handful of starters.

Last year’s state champion Rose Hill Rockets graduated seven All-State players, including Top 22 quarterback and defensive back Derrick Decker. The 6-5, 220-pound quarterback rushed for 1,526 yards and passed for 1,123 yards to lead Rose Hill to the school’s first state championship in football. The Rockets will also miss Decker in the secondary as he was named the 4A defensive player of the year by Kpreps.com. Decker recorded 132 tackles, helping Rose Hill pitch four shutouts on the season.

Decker, tight end Kyle Anderson, wide receiver Caleb Braddy and defensive back Cody Carlson all signed to continue their football careers for the Division II national champion Pittsburg State Gorillas.

Eudora, the 4A state runner-up in 2011, returns only nine lettermen from last year’s team.

Offensively, the Cardinals do return All-State running back Gabe Cleveland (6-2, 205) to their power running attack.

The offense, however, will have many holes to fill, including many quality linemen, All-State running back Chris Pyle and All-State quarterback Derek Webb.

“We lost some really talented linemen and skill kids and will have to find a fullback if we plan on running Pro-I or Power-I football,” Eudora head coach Gregg Webb said. “We have huge holes to fill and will have challenges in a lot of positions.”

Perennial 4A contender Topeka-Hayden may get the nod as favorite, but the Wildcats have their fair share of holes as well.

Brock Gilmore [Chanute] 6-4, 215, QB, Sr., Hon. Mention All-State ND G ABE C LEVELA SR.• RB/LB • 6-2 • 205

G ABE BERG M AN N SR.•TE/DE • 6-4 • 235

Gabe Bergmann [Concordia] 6-4, 235, TE/DE, Sr., All NCKL

Others: Abilene, Andale, Chanute, Coffeyville, Eudora, Fort Scott, Frontenac, Rose Hill, Wichita Collegiate

These twelve players will be ones to watch in Class 4A this fall:

John Birch [Hesston] 6-1, 210, OL/DE, Sr., Hon. Mention Wichita Eagle All 4A

Austin O’Bannon [McPherson] 5-10, 189, RB, Sr., 1,354 yards rushing in ‘11 Markus Phox [Wichita Collegiate] 6-0, 185, QB/DB, Sr., 4-year Starter Jonny Pearson [Rose Hill] 5-11, 155, RB, Sr., 1,696 yards rushing in ‘11 Ty Redington [Mulvane] 6-1, 165, QB, Sr., 2,296 yards passing in ‘11

Brogan Barry [Topeka Hayden] 6-2, 185, WR/DB, Sr., Hon. Mention All City League

Trent Tanking [Holton] 6-3, 210, LB, Sr., 108 tackles, 4 interceptions in ‘11

Wesley “Bo” Collins [Coffeyville] 5-9, 175, RB, Sr., All SEK

Jake Wittman [St. James Academy] 6-6, 265, OL/TE/DL, Sr., Hon. Mention All-State

Hayden returns only four starters on each side of the ball. The offense will be without quarterback Grant Arnold, who started since his sophomore season, as well as All-State tight end Collin Strobel.

The defense will look to replace two first-team All-4A players in defensive lineman Thomas Wittman and linebacker Zach Weekley.

Senior Jacob Tetuan (5-11, 175) is expected to take over for Arnold at quarterback. He will have talented wide receiver Brogan Barry as a throwing option. The 6-3, 185-pound target has received interest from Kansas, Kansas State, Princeton and Yale, according to Rivals.com.

Hayden is hoping its team can come together to win the school’s first state championship since 2008.

“We’re looking forward to an exciting league race, as well as getting into the playoffs,” Hayden head coach Bill Arnold said. “The keys are to stay away from the injury bug and the blending in of our underclassmen with our seniors.”

Buhler, which finished 11-1 last season and advanced to the state quarterfinals, will be without All-State Top 11 running back Tanner Fisher. The Butler Community College recruit rushed for 5,075 yards and 85 touchdowns in his career, including 2,282 yards and 37 touchdowns his senior season.

In addition to Fisher, the Crusaders graduated five other seniors who signed to play football in college. Buhler will bring back only three starters on offense and four on defense, and will miss starting quarterback Chandler Shantz who transferred to Derby.

Still, the Crusaders are aiming high. “(Our goals are to) reload and win a state championship,” Buhler head coach Steve Warner said.

The story remains the same for Paola, a 4A semifinalist last year.

The Panthers finished 11-2 in 2011 but return only one starter on offense and three on defense. All-League lineman

Joe Pomatto (6-2, 250) is Paola’s only returning starter on offense, meaning the Panthers will have an entirely new group of skill players.

“The key will be the improvement of our underclassmen through the summer to the start of the camp,” Paola head coach Mike Dumpert said.

Holton, 8-2 last season, will have to replace three players who have signed to play college football, including linebacker Rob Riederer, who inked with Tulsa. However, the Wildcats do return All-State honorable mention Trent Tanking at linebacker. Holton kept opponents to 7 points or fewer five times last season.

With so many of last year’s top teams facing rebuilding years, there is plenty of opportunity for a school to take the next step in 2012.

The Chanute Blue Comets, 8-4 in 2011, return one of the top quarterbacks in the classification with senior Brock Gilmore.

The 6-4, 215-pound quarterback threw for almost 2,100 yards and earned AllState honorable mention last year.

Chanute head coach Don Simmons said Gilmore is a good fit for the team’s spread offense.

“In our offense, we have to have a trigger man to do what we want to do,” Simmons said. “And he’s a good trigger man to have.”

Another Southeast Kansas League team that deserves some attention is Fort Scott. The Tigers finished 8-2 last season and have been on the winning path since Bob Campbell rejoined the team as head coach in 2010. One of the most successful coaches in the state, Campbell led the Tigers to a 124-34 record and two state championships in his first 14 seasons before leaving for other business opportunities in 2005.

He took over a Fort Scott team that finished 1-8 in 2009. Campbell has led the Tigers to a 14-6 record and two consecutive trips to the playoffs since his return.

Hesston returns six starters on each

side of the ball from last year’s 8-3 team.

Marc Marinelli has directed the Swathers to a 16-6 record in his two years as head coach. Hesston is hoping 6-foot-6 quarterback Wyatt McKinney and a new group of playmakers can take the team to the next level.

Concordia, 8-2 last season, is the only team to return a player from The Topeka Capital-Journal’s All-4A first team. The Panthers will be led by All-State defensive lineman Gabe Bergmann (6-4, 235).

Concordia returns four starters on each side of the ball in addition to Bergmann.

Contenders for 4A also may come from schools switching to the classification this season.

McPherson, which finished 7-3 and advanced to the 5A playoffs last season, moves down to 4A. Wichita Collegiate, a perennial 3A contender, moves up to 4A this season.

The Frontenac Raiders also will play their first season at the 4A level. Leading the way will be first-year head coach Mark Smith, a former All-American quarterback at Division II Pittsburg State. Smith also won four consecutive state championships in high school for the St. Mary’s Colgan Panthers, Frontenac’s main rival.

In Week 4, Mark Smith will lead the Raiders against Colgan -- the team coached by his father, Chuck Smith, for more than 30 seasons.

“I’m looking forward to playing against Colgan and my Dad in week 4,” Mark Smith said. “The atmosphere will be exceptional that night, and we are very fortunate to have that game televised across the state of Kansas. I am most excited for the kids to show how hard they have worked and how good of a team they can be. We have three very important games before that, so our main focus right now is preparing to face Riverton on Aug. 31.”

Mark Schremmer is a journalist for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He has covered sports in Kansas since 2000.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 52

Ben Johnson Basehor-Linwood bobcats M a r k S chr em m er For Kansas Pregame

Ben Johnson will be watching Rob Gronkowski and the New England Patriots offense every chance he gets this fall.

Johnson, an All-State tight end for the BasehorLinwood Bobcats, will soon be running the same offense that has helped the Patriots tight end flourish.

Johnson has verbally committed to play for the Kansas Jayhawks, who are coached by former New England offensive coordinator Charlie Weis.

“I watched almost all the Patriots games,” Johnson said. “I like how Gronkowski plays and fits into the offense.”

At 6-5, 240 pounds, Johnson has the size and speed to do similar things in KU’s offensive attack, as he can block, serve as a possession receiver and catch the deep ball.

“They’d like him to be like Gronkowski with the Patriots,” Basehor-Linwood head coach Steve Hopkins said. “The offense is the same. They will use him to block, but they also will use him for routes that go up the seam. He has enough speed that he will surprise you.”

Johnson’s catches last season certainly weren’t all tight end dumps as he made 56 catches for 954 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior for the Bobcats. In fact, Johnson said that more than 300 of his 954 yards came via the deep ball.

“If there’s one guy you just can’t afford to leave the field, it’s him,” Hopkins said. “I don’t know if people appreciate how much we run toward his side and depend on his blocks. He’s a complete tight end. That’s probably why we’ve been able to do so many things.

He can line up anywhere and be effective. He’s more than a traditional tight end, because we can also split

him out. He’s big for us in the play-action passing game.”

Johnson’s role in the Basehor-Linwood offense may become even larger in 2012 after receiving All-State honorable mention as a junior.

The Bobcats graduated some quality seniors, including twin brothers in quarterback Colin Murphy and tight end Ryan Murphy. Both earned first-team Class 4A All-State honors at their respective positions.

The absence of Ryan, a 6-foot-6 target, will allow opposing defenses to focus more on Johnson and use more double teams.

“Last season, a lot of defenses set up to stop Ryan, and Ben took advantage,” Hopkins said. “If a team loads up to stop the pass, then we’ll run the ball. We’d prefer to run the ball three out of four plays.”

Johnson also won’t have 6-foot-6 Colin Murphy throwing the ball to him anymore.

Photo by Dena Sorensen

Johnson / from 52 Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

The Bobcats will look to either Tanner Garver or Zach Hebel to direct the offense this season. Both are seniors.

Johnson said he is confident in the ability of both quarterbacks.

“We’ve been in the same class,” Johnson said. “They know how I play.

We’ve played in the backyard and know how each other cut and move.”

Hopkins also said that both quarterbacks will benefit from having a tight end like Johnson.

“They both can throw it well and run it well,” Hopkins said. “Whichever one is at quarterback, we are still going to throw the ball. And regardless of who the quarterback is, Ben is a matchup issue. It’s nice to know that you have a receiver with that type of reach and those type of hands as your first read. There’s a chance for him to be open even when he doesn’t look open.”

Johnson’s ability to jump up and snag the ball shouldn’t be all that surprising.

For a long time, basketball was his first love.

He even teamed up with the Murphy twins this past season to give BasehorLinwood a Class 4A state championship on the hardwood. Johnson, an All-State honorable mention selection, guarded Ottawa’s best player, Semilore Ojeleye, in the state title game. It was quite a task as Ojeleye is considered the 37th best player in the nation for the 2013 recruiting class.

The 6-7 forward from Ottawa has received interest from the likes of Duke,

Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Stanford, UCLA and Wisconsin.

“I knew he was going to get his points, but you could tell I wore him out,” Johnson said. “It was a really fun season.

State champs.”

A three-sport star, Johnson also took third place in the discus at the 4A state track and field championships in May. He had a throw of 161-5 at the state meet.

As successful as he has been in basketball and track, he has gained the most attention for his play on the football field.

“He comes up with key catches, key blocks and key tackles against the better teams,” Hopkins said. “He’s had a lot of key moments on defense. He makes big plays against the most prominent players and teams.”

His size, speed and ability to succeed in the big moments created quite a buzz among college recruiters.

Along with KU, Johnson drew interest from Stanford, Kansas State and Missouri. A strong student, Johnson also received calls from the likes of Yale and Harvard.

However, Johnson said he really likes the direction Weis and assistant coach Tim Grunhard have the Jayhawks program going in. Weis and Grunhard have both earned a high level of prestige. Weis is a Super Bowl winner with the Patriots and led Notre Dame to BCS games.

Grunhard, a former Pro Bowl offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs, had

RESPECT ALL; FEAR NONE!

Page 53

coached at the high school level and directed Bishop Miege to the state championship.

“With the coaches they have up there and how interested they were, I couldn’t really say no to that,” Johnson said. “The offense is a great fit for me.”

And Hopkins said Johnson may have only scratched the surface of his potential as a tight end.

“He’s a tremendous student,” Hopkins said. “He has a great work ethic. He really does have the whole package. Once he focuses only on football, the sky is the limit for him. I really believe that.”

Mark Schremmer is a journalist for The Topeka Capital-Journal. He has covered sports in Kansas since 2000.

Follow Kansas Pregame for the latest updates on the Sunflower State’s top football teams and players.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

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The past three years have seen Abilene compile a 29-4 record, and coach Jeff Geist expects the success to continue even as the Cowboys break in a new group of starters after losing 14 seniors from the 2011 team.

After an incredible run of years in which it did not lose more than two games, Andale ended the 2011 season with a losing record at 5-6.

With the return of 15 starters from a year ago, including eight on offense, Atchison coach Jim Smith is hoping for nothing short of a Kansas City-Atchison League championship and a district title in 2012.

“Part of (the slow start) was we didn’t play “I want our kids to continue the path of suc- very well early,” said coach Gary O’Hair, cess,” he said. “This season will have one “and we had a killer schedule early. of the most difficult schedules we have had for a while. Opening with Scott City and “Some of it was just confidence,” said Rossville will challenge our group early O’Hair. “It was the first time I’ve had that and with difficult games early, it should happen, where the team lost games and lost prepare us for the difficult task of league confidence in themselves. Then we won and district play.” some games and they felt better, and we put in some young kids that made us better.”

The Cowboys return senior quarterback Andy Wilson, who threw for over 2,100 Quarterback Jared Smarsh returned fullyards and 22 touchdowns in 2011 and time from injury in Week 5, helping solidify earned first-team All-League honors plus the offense. was an honorable mention All-Stater.

Andale returns its starting quarterback, run“Andy will be our offensive leader,” Geist ning back and two offensive linemen. said. “We are looking for another great year for him.”

“We don’t return all that much,” said O’Hair. “We lost a lot of seniors. Some of Offensive linemen Nolan Berry, Noah these young kids that started getting more Callis and Jacob Harms – all seniors – also playing time are coming back and that will return as starters for Geist’s team. make us better.”

Should both team goals come to fruition, the Redmen will be staring down the barrel of their first playoff appearance since 2008.

But first things first. Smith and his coaching staff will be working hard to see to it that Atchison earns a reputation in 2012 for playing fundamental football.

“Our offense needs to execute better and eliminate mistakes on both sides of the ball,” Smith said of the upcoming season.

Returning for his second season under center is junior quarterback Tanner Huntington.

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound signal caller will operate Smith’s option offense behind the protection of 2011 regulars junior Richard Groshong and seniors Tylar Hunt and Steven Butler.

Returning All-Kansas City-Atchison League linebacker Patrick Boos is the highlight of seven returning starters on Smith’s “Defensively, we are led by Dathan Parks,” On defense, the Indians return three starting 3-4 defense.

Geist said. “He is a hard-nosed performer linebackers and two starting defensive linewho is relentless.” men.

The Redmen will open the 2012 season with road games at Pleasant Ridge and Senior nose guard Nick Ward and junior After opening 2011 0-5, during which the Tonganoxie before hosting Kansas Citycorner Keil Kelly also return as defensive Indians’ 14-game winning streak against Washington Sept. 14. starters, which means that a number of Rose Hill ended, it lost 41-0 to Wichita underclassmen will need to step into varsity Collegiate, and it lost to Clearwater for the 3-6 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Kansas City-Atchison League roles this season. first time in years, Andale won five in a row, including an undefeated district cham- Coach: Jim Smith “Losing 14 seniors leaves a lot of openings pionship and reassertion of itself in the first (14th year, 71-66) Assistants: Charley Harris, Lee Supple, Bill Norris, for some of our young guys,” Geist said. round of the playoffs in a rematch with Sam Funk Clearwater, 42-7.

10-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A North Central Kansas League Coach: Jeff Geist (8th year, 49-23) Assistants: Casey Callis, Nathan Howard, Cory Casteel, Brad Hartman, CJ Korf Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 4 Offense, 3 Defense Andy Wilson, QB, 6-3, 175, Sr.; Jacob Harms, RT, 6-7, 210, Sr.; Nolan Berry, LT, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Noah Callis, C, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Dathan Parks, DE, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Nick Ward, NG, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Keil Kelly, CB, 63, 185, Jr. Melanie McGee Photo by Marion McReynolds

Andale’s season ended in the second round of the playoffs at Rose Hill, losing 41-14 to the eventual state champions.

“I hope we pick up where left off,” said O’Hair. “There are a lot of question marks, a lot of kids that haven’t played yet. It’s impossible to predict right now.”

5-6 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division IV Coach: Gary O’Hair (11th year, 100-22; 22nd year overall) Assistants: Tim Fairchild, Clay Urbanek, Ted Easter, Derek Deegan, Greg Smarsh, Dylan Schmidt, Jordan Ungles Offense: Offset I Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 23 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 6 Defense Jake Brand, OL/LB, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Daniel Carney, OL, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Jake May, RB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Jared Smarsh, QB, 6-2, 170, Jr.; Kyle Armstrong, DL, 511, 175, Sr.; Levi Eck, LB, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Gabe Probst, LB, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Tyler Bugner, DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Michael Maus, DL, 5-8, 210, Jr. Tom Witherspoon

Offense: Option Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Tanner Huntington, QB/DB, 6-2, 170, Jr.; Patrick Boos, FB/LB, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Michael Vaughn, WR/ OLB, 6-5, 185, Sr.; Geoffrey Vaughn, DT, 6-2, 195, Sr.; Richard Groshong, OT, 6-2, 235, Jr.; Tylar Hunt, OG, 5-9, 220, Sr.; Steven Butler, OG, 5-10, 210, Sr.; Trevon Anderson, DB, 6-2, 170, Sr.; Austin Housh, SB/OLB, 5-8, 175, Jr.; Bennie Smith, WR/DB, 5-8, 155, Jr.; Wade Gassmann, SB/DB, 5-8, 150, Jr. Dean Backes

Kansas Pregame | @KansasPregame

B ald w in

BULLDOGS Four All-League players are back to lead the Bulldogs in 2012, including honorable mention All-State quarterback Chad Berg.

Baldwin has 24 total lettermen returning from a squad that went 6-4 and finished as Class 4A district runner-up in 2011. Among those lettermen are five returning starters on both sides of the ball.

Senior tight end Dayton Valentine earned second-team All-League honors as a junior, and senior Austin Chavez returns at the center position after being named honorable mention All-League in 2011.

Coach Mike Berg said replacing graduated offensive linemen will be one of his team’s main tasks.

“We will have a new offensive line, and they need to learn our system,” he said in May. On defense, the Bulldogs bring back second-team All-Leaguers Coltin Stark and Berg from a group that surrendered just 22.5 points per game a year ago.

After a 1-2 start last season, Baldwin reeled off five straight wins to earn a spot in the Class 4A playoffs. To reach the playoffs this year, the Bulldogs will battle a district that includes Santa Fe Trail, 2011 state runnerup Eudora, and Ottawa.

6-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Frontier League Coach: Mike Berg (15th year, 88-57) Assistants: Scott Hall, Brian Turk, Jay King Offense: Pistol Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 24 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Dayton Valentine, TE, 6-4, 240, Sr.; Chad Berg, QB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Christian Gaylord, 6-5, 250, So.; Coltin Stark, LB, 5-10, 200, Jr.; Austin Chavez, C, 6-1, 230, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Three first team All-Kaw Valley football players return for Steve Hopkins, as he heads into his ninth year with the Bobcats, led by tight end and defensive lineman Ben Johnson.

Baxter Springs coach Donnie Bigby is pretty clear about what his Lions need to do this season. When asked about his team’s goals and keys to success for the 2012 season, Bigby listed the same two responses for each question.

Through three games a year ago, Bonner Springs stood 1-2 and averaged a mediocre 20 points a game. Desiring more firepower from his offense, first year coach Lucas Aslin inserted sophomore quarterback Jordan Jackson into the lineup.

BOBCATS

Drew Potter is back after landing on the first team from the Bobcat defensive line last year as a junior, while fellow senior Tanner Garver, who is expected to take over as signal caller this fall, made it at defensive back. Potter was tabbed as one of the league’s second team running backs and Johnson made the second team as a punter.

LIONS

BRAVES

From there the Braves finished the season with five wins in seven games, and earned a playoff berth, while averaging an explosive 42 points per outing. During district action Jackson tossed 11 touchdowns to no interBixby is working to develop a program that ceptions. For the year he finished with understands the season doesn’t start in 1,393 yards passing in just seven games.

August. The real work begins well before That trio forms a terrific nucleus for that. The Lions will use that philosophy to After seeing Jackson perform at such a high Hopkins to build around this fall – espeimprove from last season’s 1-8 record. level a year ago, Aslin is upping the ante on cially on defense – as the 4A power tries to his honorable mention All-Kaw Valley improve on last year’s 10-1 record.

Baxter Springs returns a young group of League signal caller in 2012. Aslin listed players with seven starters on offense. The outstanding senior leadership, limiting injuThe Bobcats do have to replace significant Lions bring back all five offensive linemen ries and the play of Jackson as the keys to with center Hunter Cox (5-11, 180, Jr.), the Braves being successful this fall. talent in the form of twins Colin and Ryan Murphy, and Jesse Hiss. The Murphys were guards Jacob Bowles (5-11, 290, Jr.) and two of the most prolific offensive players in Alex Turner (5-10, 170, So.) and tackles “(We want to) compete every game, Bobcat history fueling the offense from Brody Houston (6-3, 215, Jr.) and Mason improve every week and win our district,” Williams (6-4, 190, Jr.). their quarterback and wide receiver posiAslin said. tions respectively, while Hiss, a punishing linebacker, was a leader for the Bobcat The defense returns eight starters, but the Three starters return on the offensive line to defense and is headed to the University of Lions are hoping for vast improvement. protect Jackson, including 2011-second Colorado as a preferred walk-on this fall.

Baxter Springs allowed an average of 49.4 team all-league selection Kyle Dumler – a points last season. In fact, the Lions didn’t senior. Back to play catch with Jackson is have a game where they allowed fewer than senior wide out Mason Roberts.

Hopkins’ program will be attempting to fight its way into the playoffs for the sixth 42 points all season. straight season, and begins its 2012 run Second team all-conference linebacker Matt with a home game against Bishop Ward.

Cox, Williams and Mark Turcotte (5-10, Call returns to limit the production of 205, Jr.) return on the defensive line. Amos opposing offenses, as does junior Darian 10-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Bindel (5-11, 175, Sr.), Trey Price (5-8, Neal and senior Aaron Puckett. Massive Kaw Valley League 160, Sr.) and Julius Rikat (5-10, 170, Jr.) senior Tyler Howell is the strength of Coach: Steve Hopkins form an experienced linebacker corps.

Aslin’s defensive front.

(9th year, 46-34; 14th year overall, 88-47) Assistants: Brian Lohafer, Joe Merino, Joe Booth, Travis Inlow, Don Mecum Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-3 Stack Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 6 Offense, N/A Defense Ben Johnson, TE/DL/P, 6-6, 213, Sr.; Drew Potter, RB/DL, 6-4, 217, Sr.; Tanner Garver, DB/WR, 6-1, 171, Sr. Dean Backes

First, he notes a need for strength and conditioning. His second request reiterates the first with a commitment to the summer program.

1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coach: Donnie Bigby (2nd year, 1-8; 8th year overall, 38-38) Assistants: Brett Hartley, J.C. Dawes Offense: One Back Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Derek Barnes, WR, 6-0, 170, Jr.; Amos Bindel, TE/ LB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Jacob Bowles, OG, 5-11, 290, Jr.; Hunter Cox, C/DE, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Harley Davis, SS, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Brody Houston, OT, 6-3, 215, Jr.; Trey Price, OLB, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Julius Rikat, OLB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Cody Rowe, WR/DB, 5-10, 160, So.; Mark Turcotte, DL, 5-10, 205, Jr.; Alex Turner, OG, 5-10, 170, So.; Mason Williams, OT/DE, 6-4, 190, Jr. Mark Schremmer

6-4 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Kaw Valley League Coach: Lucas Aslin (2nd year, 6-4; 7th year overall, 32-26) Assistants: John Hilton, Kyle Razak, LaDrew Murrell, Steve Cline, Monty Bechard, Eric Kinney Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Jordan Jackson, QB, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Jonathan Blackwell, DB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Darian Neal, LB, 6-2, 200, Jr.; Aaron Puckett, LB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Matt Call, LB, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Kyle Dumler, OL, 6-4, 275, Jr.; Shawn Bryant, OL, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Tyler Howell, DL, 6-8, 265, Sr.; Les Wessel, OL, 6-3, 265, Jr.; Mason Roberts, WR, 6-1, 185, Sr. Dean Backes

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CRUSADERS Sixteen seniors have graduated, leaving plenty of spots in the starting lineup available for Buhler’s underclassmen, but the goal of a state championship remains the same for the Crusaders.

Buhler went 11-1 in 2011 and reached the state quarterfinals. To make another deep playoff run, coach Steve Warner and staff will need to replace eight starters from the offense and seven off the defense.

Last year, the Crusaders averaged 317 rushing yards per game, but that entire backfield has graduated, and starting quarterback Chandler Shantz, a D-I prospect, has transferred to Derby.

Coach Warner looks for big things from junior tailback Riley Allen. The 6-0, 170 pounder spent the last two seasons behind star running back Tanner Fisher. Allen was the state runner-up in the 4A 100 meter dash with a time of 10.9, and also picked up a fifth place finish in the long jump, and most likely will be the focal point of the Crusaders’ ground game.

Seniors Brandon Keeler and Quenton Gould are back on the offensive line after earning All-League honors as juniors, and junior tight end Luke Berblinger was an honorable mention All-Leaguer last season after catching a pair of TD passes.

Buhler’s defense has a pair of All-League players back to lead the way in senior linebacker Logan Ahrens and sophomore tackle Heath Davidson. Ahrens finished with 63 tackles and a sack last year, while Davidson made an immediate impact with 72 tackles and six sacks during his freshman season.

Keeler led the Crusaders with nine sacks while junior defensive end Brendan Martens had four sacks a year ago.

Buhler opens the season against Rose Hill, the 2011 Class 4A champion, then faces a pair of teams coming off 8-3 seasons in Collegiate and Mulvane. The Crusaders’ first four opponents all won at least seven games in 2011, but Buhler will finish the season with games against five opponents who posted losing records last year.

11-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail III Coach: Steve Warner (6th year, 57-15; 25th year overall, 179-75) Assistants: Jason Kohls, John Neill, Jason Williams, Kevin Ruda, Brian Moler, Willie Adkins, Mike Zeyen, Garrett Hotmar Offense: I Formation Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 4 Defense Brandon Keeler, OL/DL, 6-0, 220, Sr.; Luke Berblinger, TE, 6-0, 205, Jr.; Brendan Martens, DE, 6-0, 205, Jr.; Quenton Gould, C, 5-10, 225, Sr.; Logan Ahrens, LB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Heath Davidson, DT, 6-0, 240, So. Melanie McGee

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Improving the defense is goal number one for Santa Fe Trail, which is coming off an 0-9 season and gave up an average of 44 points per game.

Five starters return to the Charger defense, including linebacker Garrett Abel, who was third on the team with 58 tackles in 2011.

Fellow senior Tyler Shaffer recovered two fumbles and caused another last season.

He’ll be back in the secondary along with senior safety TJ Kemble. Other returning starters on the Santa Fe Trail defense are tackles Lane Clark and Mason Tillman, both seniors.

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Chanute head coach Don Simmons likes to throw the football. With 6-foot-4, 215pound senior quarterback Brock Gilmore running the show, expect the Blue Comets to do that a lot this season. Gilmore passed for almost 2,100 yards last season, earning All-State honorable mention and leading his team to the Class 4A quarterfinals.

Chapman has been through back-to-back winless seasons, and the Irish will face another tough schedule in 2012. Secondyear coach Trevor Williams said that the summer workouts are very important for his team, which does return 17 lettermen, 11 of whom have experience in the starting lineup.

“Brock Gilmore is going to be a good one,” Simmons said. “We threw a lot last season, and we still didn’t throw as much as we would like. He really matured a lot over the course of the season. In our offense, we have to have a trigger man to do what we want to do. And he’s a good trigger man to have.”

Williams said that the “amount of quality time we as a team put in this summer” will go a long way towards determining how successful the 2012 season will be. He also said the Irish need to “build our confidence going into the fall” while working hard and playing as a team.

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C heney

CARDINALS Veteran coach Cory Brack takes over a senior-laden Cheney squad that looks to reach the playoffs for the first time since a 9-2 season in 2006.

Brack spent time at Pratt-Skyline before he coached at Wichita South for the last three seasons. In 2009, South went 5-5, a threewin improvement, and Brack earned City League Coach of the Year. After a 1-8 season in 2010, South went 4-6 last fall. Brack becomes Cheney’s third coach in as many seasons.

“We want to get back into the winner’s circle,” he said.

Since the playoff season, Cheney has posted marks of 5-4, 6-3, 5-4, 4-5 and 4-5.

Last season, Cheney saw its scoring offense Chapman returns four offensive linemen – dip again to 18.1 points per contest.

Gilmore will need to find new targets as all seniors Kyle Anderson, Mitchell Battishill Cheney’s offense has dropped in each of the last six seasons. The Cardinals have of last year’s starting receivers have gradu- and Nic Bledsoe and junior Adam ated. However, Simmons says he feels con- Hildebrand – as well as senior running back always had a very difficult schedule that includes Conway Springs, Garden Plains fidence in the options Gilmore will have in Jerrad Gillen, tight end Zach Heiman and the spread passing game. receivers Logan Lehmkuhl and Tyler and Andale. This year, Buhler and Andale Williams. are also in Cheney’s district. In 2010, Plus, the Blue Comets have a good alterCheney lost to Conway Springs, Garden On defense, the Irish bring back Bledsoe on Plains and Andale by at least 31 points. native in the running game with tailback Blake Kisner. The 6-0, 195-pound running the line, seniors Alex Canfield and Logan Lexow at linebacker and Lehmkuhl and Last season, Cheney lost big to Garden back rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2011. sophomore Thomas Meuli in the secondary. Plain and Conway Springs (combined score 97-12), but played Andale close (22-19 Kisner was quite a success story for Chanute as he stepped up after All-State Chapman will face Class 3A playoff teams loss). This season, every one of Cheney’s returning starters is a senior. running back Jared McComb announced he Rossville and Southeast of Saline before would be leaving the school right before the diving into the North Central Kansas League schedule Sept. 14 at Marysville.

“Our seniors will be the key to our success; start of the 2011 season. Kisner was No. 6 League rival Abilene is one of Chapman’s they have to become the leaders we need,” on the depth chart at the time. district opponents, along with Smoky Brack said. “This is a great class to step into “He played JV as a sophomore,” Simmons Valley and McPherson, who made the Class with as a coach. We must stay healthy and 5A playoffs in 2011. to do that our kids will have to be in great said. “We had hopes, but he didn’t really condition, both mentally and physically.” step up and show us what he could do. It 0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A was a very pleasant surprise. He did what North Central Kansas League 4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A we thought he had the potential to do.”

0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A Big Seven League Coach: Jayson Duncan (3rd year, 1-17) Assistants: Bob Hug, Keith Johnson, Regan Erickson Offense: Wing T Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Garrett Abel, TE/LB, 6-2, 195, Sr.; Tyler Shaffer, WR/CB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Mason Tillman, C/DT, 5-9, 215, Sr.; Lane Clark, OG/DT, 6-2, 215, Sr.; TJ Kemble, RB/S, 5-9, 150, Sr. Melanie McGee

8-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Southeast Kansas League Coach: Don Simmons (8th year, 58-27; 28th overall, 187-90) Assistants: N/A Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Brock Gilmore, QB, 6-4, 215, Sr.; Blake Kisner, TB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Cody Howell, RT/MLB, 6-2, 215, Sr.; Jack Martin, C, 5-11, 195, Sr.; Josh Smeed, DE, 61, 200, Sr.; Seb Fairchild, OLB, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Christian Wiltse, CB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Evan Hale, FS, 5-9, 165, Sr. Mark Schremmer

All that experience will be key as the Chargers look to do a better job keeping opponents out of the end zone.

“We have had big troubles defensively,” said coach Jayson Duncan. “We need to be able to stop someone on the defensive side of the ball.”

Santa Fe Trail’s offense has five starters back as well. Abel earned first-team AllLeague honors as a tight end last year after catching 25 passes for 237 yards, and Shaffer returns after hauling in 15 passes for 365 yards and four scores in 2011.

Clark and Tillman are back on the front line, and Kemble is a returning starter at running back.

Duncan said that continued improvement is among his team’s goals for 2012.

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Coach: Trevor Williams (2nd year, 0-9; 14th year overall, 64-66) Assistants: Tom Smith, Mark Mayberry, Brian Sweet, Lyn Langvardt Offense: Split Back Defense: 3-5-3 Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 6 Defense Tyler Williams, WR, Sr.; Thomas Meuli, DB, So.; Logan Lehmkuhl, WR/DB, Sr.; Alex Canfield, LB, Sr.; Logan Lexow, LB, Jr.; Jerrad Gillen, RB/DB, Sr.; Kyle Anderson, OL, Sr.; Nic Bledsoe, OL/DL, Sr.; Mitchell Battishill, OL, Sr.; Adam Hildebrand, OL, Jr.; Zach Heiman, TE, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Central Plains League Coach: Cory Brack (1st year; 7th year overall, 2036) Assistants: Justin Bearley, Jon Hester, Layton Nance, Darren San Romani Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 7 Defense Chad Harbour-Nordahl, WR/DB, 5-9 155, Sr.; Turner Beilman, WR/DB, 5-11, 150, Sr.; Mason Schell, WR/DB, 5-10, 145, Sr.; Tommy Hill, RB/LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Clayton Huffard, OL/DL, 6-2, 295, Sr.; Tanner Wulf, OL/DL ,6-3, 270, Sr.; Gabe Schomacker, OL/DL, 6-3, 300, Sr.; Layne Higgins, WR/LB, 5-9, 155, Sr.; Miles Craig, WR/DB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Jared Giefer, WR/DB, 5-8, 140, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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Clay Center went 4-6 last season, but gained valuable experience that should benefit the Tigers in 2012. Twenty lettermen return to lead coach Todd Rice’s squad. The Tigers started last season 0-4 but a week five win over Chapman was the first of four straight victories for Clay Center, which won its first two district games and made the playoffs.

The Indian defense has seven returning starters from a squad that went 8-2 and reached the playoffs a year ago, and they’ll lean on those veterans in 2012. Clearwater opened the season 7-0 in 2011 and lost only to Mulvane and Andale, teams that reached the second round of the state playoffs.

When you have three returning All-State players, expectations are going to be high.

That is the case for the Coffeyville, which has quarterback Cory Turner, running back Wesley Collins and wide receiver James Newton coming back to lead the Tornado offense in 2012. All three players received Class 4A honorable mention last season.

Chris Gardner has made ample improvement in his five years with Colby — but the Eagles have dropped back some since they entered the Great Western Athletic Conference two years ago.

Senior linebacker Trynt Dunnegan and dlineman Dakota Vaughn both earned firstSenior Caleb Carson returns to lead the team All-League honors a year ago while Tigers on both sides of the ball. At quarter- Colin Frickey was an honorable mention back, the 6-2 Carson completed 103 of 182 All-Leaguer at defensive end. Defensive passes for 1,058 yards plus ran for 703 backs Johnny Becker and Austin Campbell yards and 12 touchdowns. He made a team- are also back, along with linebacker Cody high 93 tackles plus two interceptions from Hamilton. his spot in the secondary and earned firstteam All-League honors at both positions.

The Indian offense graduated two first-team All-League performers, but five starters Seniors Jacobi Anderson (12 receptions for return. Frickey earned second-team All139 yards) and Dalton Haist return as wide League honors at tight end and Clearwater receivers, while linemen Tyler Bisnette, also returns Hamilton at the other tight end Lody Black, Caleb Cott, Austin Fleming, spot, Becker and Vaughn in the backfield Rett Girton and Braden Richter are also and senior Brett Lukert on the offensive returning starters. line.

“Our goals are to win the SEK, three-peat as district champs, win the first-round playoff game and win the state championship,” Coffeyville head coach Murray Zogg said.

In 2009, Colby played the No. 64 strength of schedule out of 64 Class 4A teams, according to preppowerindex.com. The last two years, Colby has had to play larger GWAC schools, such as Scott City, Holcomb, Colby and Hugoton.

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C olby

In 2006-07, the last two years before Gardner, Colby went 1-8 and 3-6. In 2008, Gardner led Colby back to the playoffs with And not only does Coffeyville return the a 6-4 record and a 56-6 first round loss to high-octane offensive trio of Turner, Collins state power Andale. In 2009, he bumped and Newton, the Nado also has eight start- Colby to a 7-3 mark that included a 65-19 ers returning on offense and nine on first round loss to Buhler, another perennidefense overall. ally elite team.

In order to reach those goals Coffeyville must improve on defense. The Tornado allowed 27.5 points per game last season.

The Eagles have played the No. 51 and No. 33 strength of schedules and went 4-5 and “The key will be the continual development 2-7. Last year, Colby had only two offensive starters back. It defeated Class 2-1A St. of our defense and our ability to stop peoThe Tiger defense returns Carson, defensive Coach Dirk Ankerholz said his team’s goals ple,” Zogg said. “If our defense can hold Francis in Week 1 and then lost seven straight games, with only one contest within end Jordan Bosch and linebacker Austin include winning the league and making a people to 14 points or less each game, we Ebert, both honorable mention All-League second straight trip to the playoffs, though should have a great chance to win all of our 23 points. Colby ended the year with a victory against Russell. Speedy running back selections, linebacker Ryan Blake, defenthose things are contingent upon varsity games. Defense has not been very good in sive linemen Bisnette and Fleming, and newcomers growing up in a hurry. the past, and it is now our focus so we must Beau Brown (1,201 rushing yards, nine rushing TDs) leads a more experienced sophomore defensive back Ricky Huse. stop people to win a championship.”

“The younger players have to season unit.

Rice said his team’s goal is to “build on Turner, Collins and Newton also return on quickly,” he said. “The offense has to gel experience from a young team in 2011” defense, while linebackers James Jones III “To play tough defense, and not turn the quickly and we must improve the passing while also playing more physical. and Elijah Jones, d-linemen Chris Gibbs, ball over this year,” Gardner said of the game.”

Jeromy Marshall and Hunter Wright and d- team’s keys. “We will need a great summer 4-6 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A back Blayne Kimmel provide experience. of preparation to make sure we are competiClearwater will compete with Mulvane, North Central Kansas League tive every week of the season.”

Wellington and Winfield in Class 4A Coach: Todd Rice 6-4 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A District 12.

(4th year, 15-15; 19th year overall, 96-83) Assistants: JD Lane, Marc Henry, Zac Malcolm, Ben Last, Tom Debauche Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Jacobi Anderson, WR, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Ryan Blake, LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Jordan Bosch, DE, 5-11, 200, Sr.; Caleb Carson, QB/DB, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Caleb Cott, OL, 5-10, 230, Sr.; Austin Ebert, LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Rett Girton, OL, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Dalton Haist, WR, 65, 195, Sr.; Braden Richter, OL, 6-1, 230, Sr.; Tyler Bisnette, OL/DL, 5-10, 235, Jr.; Lody Black, OL, 5-9, 205, Jr.; Austin Fleming, OL/DL, 5-10, 200, Jr.; Ricky Huse, DB, 5-9, 165, So. Melanie McGee

8-2 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division IV Coach: Dirk Ankerholz (4th year, 16-14) Assistants: Jim Frickey, Jeff Cornwell, Chuck Schrader Offense: Double Wing Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 5 Offense, 7 Defense Colin Frickey, TE/DE, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Cody Hamilton, TE/LB, Sr.; Dakota Vaughn, RB/DL, 5-7, 195, Sr.; Johnny Becker, RB/DB, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Brett Lukert, OL, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Trynt Dunnegan, LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Chad Reibenspies, DB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Austin Campbell, DB, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Southeast Kansas League Coach: Murray Zogg (3rd year, 10-10; 6th year overall, 24-32) Assistants: Frank Sills, Mike O’Connor, Mark Andrews, Ford Hall, Kevin Coker Offense: Multiple I Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 9 Defense Cory Turner, QB/SS, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Wesley Collins, RB/LB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; James Jones III, FB/LB, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Chris Gibbs, OL/DL, 6-1, 295, Sr.; Blayne Kimmel, DB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Austin Ryder, OL, 6-1, 285, Sr.; Jeromy Marshall, DE, 5-9, 155, Sr.; Hunter Wright, OL/DL, 6-1, 270, Jr.; Elijah Jones, TE/LB, 511, 180, Jr.; James Newton, WR/FS, 5-10, 150, Jr. Mark Schremmer

2-7 in 2011 / 1-2in district / 4A Great West Activities Conference Coach: Chris Gardner (6th year, 22-21; 11th overall) Assistants: Matt Sims, Ed Schmitt, Brad Wildeman, Thomas Wieland Offense: Pro I Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 26 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Beau Brown, RB/LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Zell Bierble, OT/N, 6-1, 260, Sr.; Troy Quenzer, G/LB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Trek Keck, TE/DE, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Macen Shull, S, 5-6, 140, Sr.; Quade Woofter, LB, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Zane Winger, CB, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Austin Rogers, OT, 5-10, 150, Sr.; Andrew Taylor, FB/LB, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Luke Cox, QB/CB, 5-9, 145, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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The Columbus Titans may not be happy with their 4-7 record from last season, but they can feel good about the improvement made from the beginning of the season.

Columbus opened the season with an 0-3 record but ended up making the second round of the Class 4A playoffs and winning three of its final five games.

A good way to measure the Titans’ improvement is to look at their first game of the season against the Parsons Vikings.

The Titans fell 20-12 in the opener. When the two teams met again in the first round of the playoffs, Columbus earned a dominating 41-13 victory.

One of the reasons for the improvement was the development of some quality freshmen. Running back Zane Roard (5-9, 180, So.) rushed for 803 yards and 13 TDs on only 133 carries. Linebackers Taylor Watkins (5-7, 160, So.) and Garrett Britain (5-11, 170, So.) recorded 90 and 46 tackles, respectively.

The young trio will be mixed in with a group of quality seniors, including All-State tight end and defensive end Gavin Houser, who recorded 101 tackles last season.

Columbus will have several new teams on its schedule as it left the Southeast Kansas League to join the Crawford-NeoshoCherokee League. The Titans go from being one of the smallest schools in the SEK to one of the biggest in the CNC. “It’s exciting anytime you change opponents,” Columbus head coach Dan Grundy said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

4-7 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coach: Dan Grundy (5th year, 26-17) Assistants: Scott Quinly, Chris Endress, Troy Haraughty, Heath Perry Offense: Spread Defense: 3-3 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 6 Offense, 3 Defense Zane Roark, RB, 5-8, 180, So.; Wyatt Johnston, OL, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Gavin Houser, TE/DE, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Lance King, OL, 5-11, 220, Sr.; Dillon Danner, WR, 5-6, 140, Sr.; Aaron Napier, OL, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Taylor Watkins, LB, 5-7, 160, So.; Garrett Britain, OLB, 5-11, 170, So. Mark Schremmer Photo by Scott Quinly

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PANTHERS Six senior starters return for Concordia, a team coming off back-to-back 8-2 seasons with consecutive district championships.

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D e S oto

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Should he want to extend De Soto’s string of four straight seasons ending with a playoff berth, Tom Byers will have to find the replacements for 11 players that graduated after earning All-Frontier League honors of one kind or another a year ago.

Continued improvement is the focus at El Dorado, which returns nine starters on each side of the ball and looks to improve on a 18 record from 2011.

6-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Frontier League Coach: Tom Byers (4th year, 17-15) Assistants: Joel Thaemert, Brian King, Tod Hessong, Mark Gastelum, Jack Vassar Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 21 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 6 Defense Noah Cardiff, DB, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Corbin Clark, QB/ DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Zack Griffiths, DB, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Brent Johnson, DB, 5-11, 160, sr.; Jake Price, DL, 5-11, 200, Sr.; Caleb Ray, OL/LB, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Austin Reinertsen, DL, 5-11, 195, Sr.; Christian Sweeney, OL, 5-11, 190, Sr. Dean Backes

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First-team All-League defensive end Gabe Bergmann is one of five defensive starters back for Tim Lambert’s team. A year ago, Bergmann was fifth on the team with 47 The fourth-year coach, however, will have a tackles and was one of 10 different Panthers solid nucleus of 21 returning lettermen to record at least one sack. from which to build around beginning with honorable mention all-conference dSenior safety Brentin Hake, senior safety lineman Austin Reinertsen, the only returnJosh Pounds and senior linebacker Trevor ing Wildcat to earn post season honors.

Nordell also earned All-League honors for their part in a defense that surrendered just Senior Jake Price joins Reinertsen up front 10.3 points per game. on Byers’ 4-4 defense, while seniors Noah Cardiff, Corbin Clark, Zack Griffiths and The Panther offense also returns five start- Brent Johnson all return in the defensive ers, including three honorable mention All- backfield. Linebacker Caleb Ray will Leaguers. Pounds is back after running for anchor the middle of the Wildcat defense.

741 yards and 13 touchdowns while Bergmann and junior tackle Skyler Hittle Clark returns as Byers’ signal caller, as were also honored for their efforts in 2011. well, and will operate behind the protection of Ray and senior Christian Sweeney.

Senior Logan Whitney returns at fullback and Nordell is a returning starter at tight Byers said the development of the Wildcat end. Concordia must replace four first-team underclassmen was crucial if the Wildcats All-League players from an offense that want to win a district title and make another averaged 38 points per night, including last postseason run – especially along the offenyear’s quarterback, leading rusher and two sive and defensive lines. offensive linemen.

“We have to build depth, stay healthy and The Panthers open the season with a pair of improve each week throughout the season,” home games against Beloit and Wellington Byers said. before taking on Wamego and Abilene on the road. League foes Marysville and The Wildcats open the season at 4A power Chapman will provide the two final tuneups Holton, host Ottawa and then travel to 2011 for district competition, which begins Oct. 4A runner-up Eudora. De Soto then contin12 at Colby. ues its assault on a tough 2012 schedule during a three-game stretch in which the 4A 8-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A power battles Louisburg and Baldwin at North Central Kansas League home before traveling to Paola.

Coach: Tim Lambert (4th year, 18-12; 19th year overall, 147-58) Assistants: Bryce Wachs, Ken Meyer, Michael Roe Offense: Wishbone Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Trevor Nordell, TE/LB, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Josh Pounds, RB/FS, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Gabe Bergmann, TE/DE, 64, 235, Sr.; Skyler Hittle, OT, 6-1, 205, Jr.; Logan Whitney, FB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Alan Garcia, CB, 5-10, 150, Sr.; Brentin Hake, SS, 6-0, 190, Sr. Melanie McGee

Fu n k Pha rm a cy

Third-year coach Dustin Dooley has 22 lettermen back, including junior quarterback Travis House and the Wildcats’ leading rusher and receiver.

House completed 123 of 234 passes for 1,397 yards and seven scores, plus ran for three touchdowns. Senior tight end Trevor Crain hauled in 57 passes for 729 yards and a trio of touchdowns, and senior running back Tyson Jones led the team with 357 rushing yards and three touchdowns. El Dorado also returns senior wideouts Kyle Macy, who caught 19 passes for 219 yards and three scores in 2011, and Austin Hughey.

House, Jones and senior fullback Seth Head will work behind an experienced offensive line led by seniors Quentin Cluster, Marcus Walker and Manny Martinez.

On defense, the Wildcats figure to be paced by linemen Andrew Campos, Cluster, Walker and sophomore Zack Ruff. Juniors Matt Harvey and Tucker Sherman will join Head at linebacker, while Crain, Hughey and Macy lead the secondary.

If Dooley and his staff can find another six or seven players ready for varsity reps, the number of two-way players should drop dramatically this season.

“We feel that we will have the capability to platoon offensive and defensive squads, with the exception of three to four players,” Dooley said. “We feel that we will not have much of a drop off on either side of the ball by going this route.”

1-8 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division III Coach: Dustin Dooley (3rd year, 1-17) Assistants: Bob Risch, Brent Schneider Offense: I Formation Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 22 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 9 Defense Travis House, QB, 6-0, 195, Jr.; Trevor Crain, TE/ FS, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Kyle Macy, WR/CB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Austin Hughey, WR/CB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Tyson Jones, RB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Seth Head, FB/ILB, 5-10, 190, Jr.; Quentin Cluster, OT/DT, 6-2, 285, Sr.; Marcus Walker, OG/DE, 6-3, 215, Sr. Manny Martinez, OG, 5-11, 225, Sr.; Zack Ruff, DE, 6-0, 220, So.; Andrew Campos, DT, 5-10, 270, Jr.; Matt Harvey, OLB, 6-0, 165, Jr.; Tucker Sherman, OLB, 5-10, 175, Jr. Melanie McGee

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The challenge for Eudora coach Gregg Webb in each of the last 25 football seasons has been to push all of the right buttons in order to get the most out of each of his players and each of his football teams.

The Fort Scott Tigers graduated some talented running backs in All-Staters Dane Cummings and Jason Thorpe. That doesn’t mean the Tigers aren’t expecting to have success running the ball in 2012, however.

But when you look at what the 11th-year Cardinal coach has been able to accomplish during that time span, Webb hardly ever appeared to be challenged in calling the shots. Owning a sterling 236-52 career coaching record during the last quarter century, Webb has led Eudora to nine postseason runs in 10 seasons, and a 84-28 record.

Fort Scott returns three starters to its offensive line and has some quality athletes to fill in as the primary ball carriers. Plus, the offense will return its starting quarterback in senior Johnathan Stark.

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RAIDERS

BULLDOGS

The son of legendary St. Mary’s Colgan Panthers head coach Chuck Smith is extremely familiar with the Frontenac Raiders football program. As Mark grew up in the Smith household, Colgan played Frontenac every season and the Raiders were the Panthers’ fiercest rival. Now, as the first year head coach of the Raiders, Mark Smith will get to see that rivalry from a different perspective.

A year ago, Anderson County quarterback Jack Rickabaugh completed 52 percent of his passes while helping the Bulldogs earn a spot in the Class 4A playoffs. With Rickabaugh back under center and 14 other returning lettermen on the roster, Anderson County will aim to make another appearance in the postseason.

Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Bryce Burdette, RB/DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Tanner Craig, WR/DB, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Ross Edge, RB/LB, 510, 175, Sr.; Taylor Johnson, TE/DE, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Devon Keith, QB/DB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Cody Lindbloom, OL/DL, 6-2, 220, Sr.; John Murray, OL/ DE, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Nick Zafuta, TE/DE, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Kylor McCartney, OL/DL, 6-1, 220, Sr.; Brett Macary, TE/LB, 6-0, 180, Jr.; Garret Tackkett, OL/ DL, 6-1, 200, Jr. Mark Schremmer

Coach: Don Hilliard (13th year) Assistants: Brad Burkdoll, Eric Sayler, Marty Alley, Brad Huber, Tim Bremerman Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Jack Rickabaugh, QB, Sr.; Cale Hedges, RB, Sr.; Zach Hilliard, RB/DB, Jr.; Weston Gilbreth, LB, Sr.; David Ball, OL/DL, Sr. Melanie McGee

The Bulldogs will need to replace their top two running backs, but senior Cale Hedges While Colgan has been one of the state’s and junior Zach Hilliard gained valuable most dominant programs over the past dec- experience last year and appear ready for “He’s extremely bright and an excellent leader for us,” Fort Scott head coach Bob ade, Frontenac has struggled in recent larger roles in 2012. Hedges carried the ball Campbell said. “He’s a first-class young years. Once one of the state’s best rivalries, 42 times for 381 yards – an average of nine In 2011, Webb posted his fifth career state man. He runs the option very well, and he the series is now lopsided as the Raiders yards per carry – and scored three touchrunner-up finish when the Cardinals lost to throws the ball extremely well. He comhaven’t beaten Colgan since 1997. As a for- downs, while Hilliard has five touchdowns Rose Hill 21-0 in the 4A title game. Four of pleted over 50 percent of his passes and had mer All-State quarterback who was 54-0 to his name after gaining more than seven those title game losses were at Claflin, a TD to interception ratio of 3 to 1.” with four state championships in his four yards per carry as a sophomore. where Webb also won five titles in the ‘90s. seasons at Colgan, the younger Smith wants The Tigers have several options at running to help build the Raiders back into a winner. Coach Don Hilliard said his team’s goals Just nine lettermen and seven starters return back with senior Marques Floyd (5-9, 180) include winning the Pioneer League, qualion offense and defense collectively in 2012, and juniors Jacob Durossette (5-8, 160), The Raiders seem to be headed in the right fying for the playoffs and most importantly, but Webb has a solid foundation from Jash Pytlowany (5-10, 160) and Race Kastl direction, going 5-5 last season after wingetting better every day. He said the which to build in an attempt to keep (5-10, 155). ning only eight games in the previous three. Bulldogs will need to stay healthy, adjust to Eudora’s string of three straight playoff Frontenac has eight starters returning on a very different schedule, and find new appearances alive.

Fort Scott’s offensive line should be strong offense and seven on defense, including players to “fill the void left by a large senior with the return of seniors John Metcalf and All-State running back Bryce Burdette and class.”

“I want our kids to be tough physically and Ackland Milton and junior Brendan All-State lineman Kylor McCartney. mentally and to play with great pride and Blackburn. In addition to the returning Anderson County’s defense returns four determination,” Webb said. “I want us to starters, the Tigers should have some depth “The key to our success will be senior lead- starters, including senior linebacker Weston attack and be physically brutal on offense. on the offensive line with Nick Allen (6-8, ership and experience,” Smith said. “I am Gilbreth and senior lineman David Ball.

We need to limit our mistakes and not beat 285), Grant Hill (5-9, 200) and Dane also looking forward to seeing several new- Gilbreth made 52 tackles last season, regourselves.”

Ramsey (6-2, 220). comers give us added depth in all positions. istered two sacks and picked off three We have high expectations of this football passes while Ball finished with 49 tackles Focused on returning to the playoffs, sen“I think we will have some quality competi- team, and the kids are proving their dediand Hedges had 49 stops on the season. iors Gabe Cleveland and Nick Becker and tion on the offensive line,” Campbell said. cation by working hard to achieve their junior Andrew Ballock return after earning “We have nine or 10 kids who are ready to goals.”

The Bulldogs will open the season at first team All-Frontier League honors a year play.”

Burlington before hosting Prairie View in 5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A ago. Honorable mention all-conference senweek two. A week three trip to St. Marys ior linebacker Markis Hill gives Webb four Those players will also provide depth to the Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Colgan will be a challenge for Hilliard’s Coach: Mark Smith solid athletes with which to build around in defensive line that returns Metcalf and team as well.

(1st year) 2012.

Blackburn as starters. Stark returns at free 5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A safety and Straton Hunziker will be back as Assistants: James Hartzfeld, Jason Lee, John Palumbo, Bill Sullivan Pioneer League 12-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A an outside linebacker.

Frontier League Coach: Gregg Webb (11th year, 84-28; 26th year overall, 236-52) Assistants: Jason Tharp, Dave Coopman, Ty Pattison, Phil Katzenmeir Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3/3-3 Stack Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 4 Defense Gabe Cleveland, RB/LB, 6-2, 205, Sr.; Nick Becker, TE/DE, 6-3, 220, Sr.; Andrew Ballock, WR/S, 6-3, 165, Jr.; Markis Hill, LB, 6-0, 190, Sr. Dean Backes

8-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Southeast Kansas League Coach: Bob Campbell (17th year, 138-40) Assistants: N/A Offense: Splitback Veer Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Johnathan Stark, QB/FS, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Straton Hunziker, TE/OLB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; John Metcalf, C/ DT, 5-10, 200; Brendan Blackburn, OT/DT, 6-1, 260, Jr.; Ackland Milton, OT, 6-2, 270, Sr. Schremmer

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The Girard Trojans fell short of making the Class 4A playoffs last season. But what really stings is that the deciding factor was a one-point loss to the Independence Bulldogs.

Goodland suffered some big losses to state powers last year, including 27-0 to Ulysses and 50-3 and 52-7 to Scott City, but won key games when it mattered most.

A year ago, Holton lost to the eventual state champions, Rose Hill, in the playoff opener, but the 2012 roster is loaded with veteran players looking for more.

Girard opened district play with a convincing 42-26 win against the Parsons Vikings.

However, a 28-27 loss to Independence followed by a 28-6 loss to the Chanute Blue Comets kept the Trojans from the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

The Cowboys defeated Norton, 17-0, in the first round of districts, then lost to Phillipsburg, 35-21. In a Week 9 home game that would decide a playoff berth, Goodland defeated Thomas More PrepMarian, 35-19. Goodland advanced to the playoffs for the second straight year under Kent Teeter.

Hesston has been one of Class 4A’s better programs with a playoff win in six of the last eight years. In the last two years, the Swathers have followed the same pattern with a close first round victory against Concordia (19-16 last year, 21-14 two years ago) and then losses to Ulysses (26-19 and 47-21).

The good news for the Trojans is that they posted their first winning record since Leon After starting out 4-5 and 3-6 in his first Miller took over as head coach in 2008. two years, Goodland has gone 6-4 and 5-5 in the last two seasons with Teeter. Both “We need to improve on our success from times, the Cowboys lost to Scott City in the 2011 and continue to improve each day,” first round of the playoffs, a team Goodland Miller said. “We need to be a team that is 0-4 against in the last two years. plays hard for four quarters and is disciplined. We want to finish games and win This fall, the Cowboys will have to replace the close ones. If we do those things, the quarterback Reed Bellamy, who passed for W’s will take care of themselves.”

2,590 yards with 18 touchdowns against 18 interceptions in the last two years.

The Trojans will switch from the Iformation to the wishbone and return runTeeter used the spread for several years, but ning backs Anthony Scholes (6-0, 180, Sr.) ran the I formation last season. and Nick George (5-10, 175, Sr.), as well as offensive linemen Jalen Merrell (6-0, 215, Dax Ruhs rushed for 878 yards and 10 Sr.), Logan Franklin (6-0, 180, Sr.), Kevin scores last year and is expected to be a key Rowe (6-0, 175, Jr.) and Devin Vail (5-10, part of the offense.

210, Jr.). Scholes earned All-State honorable mention last season.

“We felt like coming in we had some good running backs, and we just didn’t feel like Defensively, the Trojans return Nick we had the speed we had the last couple George, Nate George (5-10, 175) and Tyler years to do the spread,” Teeter said. “They Gray (6-1, 170, Sr.) as linebackers, and always say you got to adapt to your kids, Merrell, Franklin, Rowe and Vail to the and that’s what we’ve done. We said if defensive line. we’re going to win games we got to be able to run the ball. Total change from the last 5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A few years -- it’s been interesting.”

Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coach: Leon Miller (5th year, 16-20; 24th year overall) Assistants: Craig Siebert, Jeremiah Hudson, Keith Matlock, Tyronne Armstrong Offense: Wishbone Defense: 50 Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Jalen Merrell, OL/DL, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Trenton Stolte, TE, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Nick George, FB/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Nate George, LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Logan Franklin, OL/DE, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Anthony Scholes, RB/DB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Tyler Gray, OLB, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Kevin Rowe, OL/DL, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Devin Vail, OL/ DE, 5-10, 210, Jr. Mark Schremmer

Senior Cy Paxton stepped up at the end of the year and rushed for 267 yards and four scores in the last four games, including 150 yards against Norton and 85 yards versus TMP. 5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Great West Activities Conference Coach: Kent Teeter (4th year, 18-18; 12th year overall, 59-49) Assistants: Dev Mull, Donald Raymer, Mike Rush, Joe Sramek, Jeremy Steffen, Chase Topliff Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Dax Ruhs, RB/DB, 5-8, 165, Jr.; Gage Ihrig, LB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Tyler Gastineau, LB/DE, 6-1, 200, Jr.; Drew Dautel, TE/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Garrett Taylor, RB/LB, 5-11, 175, Jr.; John Peden, DL, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Colton Cooper, OL/DE, 6-1, 190, Jr.; Ian Bonsall, OL/LB, 6-0, 180, Jr.; Gunner Helton, OL, 6-0, 190, Sr.; John Whisnant, OL/DL, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Taylen Smith, TE, 6-3, 210, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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However, Hesston has not advanced past the second round since 2005 when the Swathers reached the third round before losing to Garden Plain. This year, the top goals are to repeat as Central Kansas League champions and win district.

Hesston returns six offensive and defensive starters from a defense that ranked fifth in 4A in fewest points allowed (138, including four shutouts). Coach Marc Marinelli listed several keys to the team’s success this year.

Among them is senior linebacker Trent Tanking, an honorable mention All-Stater in 2011. Tanking, who coach Brooks Barta says is “one of the best returning linebackers in the state,” was second on the team with 108 tackles and led the Wildcats with four interceptions. Holton also returns four defensive backs with varsity experience.

Offensively, the Wildcats should be loaded up front with six linemen that started at some point in 2011. “We could potentially have a lot of depth on the offensive line,” Barta said. “This may allow us to platoon players to keep them fresh and develop our younger players at a faster rate.”

“Develop depth along the offensive and defensive lines,” Marinelli said. “On offense, limit turnovers, and develop new playmakers at the receiver position. On defense, we must find new players in the secondary. We are excited at the chance to see what Wyatt McKinney (6-foot-6 junior) will be able to do at the quarterback position.”

Senior Brandon Schumann is coming off an All-League campaign, while Grant Mercer, Shelby Stovall, Isaac Bohnenekemper, Cooper Zeller and Bradley Hooper are also veteran linemen.

8-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Central Kansas League Coach: Marc Marinelli (3rd year, 16-6) Assistants: Doug Broadfoot, Clint Stoppel, Jeff Schultz, Brian Schultz, Phil Unruh, Al Green Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Bryan Medina, OL/DL, Sr., 5-9, 220; Braden Weber, OL, 5-9, 230, So.; Clayton Spencer, OL/DE, 6-1, 185, Sr.; John Birch, TE/FB, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Chance Gehrer, TE, 6-3, 205, Sr.; Marcos Duran, FB, 5-10, 195, Sr.; Ryan Shadler, DB, 5-11, 170, Jr.; Wyatt McKinney, LB, 6-6, 210, Jr. Conor Nicholl

Wright, “an explosive option quarterback who was slowed by injury last year,” according to Barta, completed half his passes and threw for four touchdowns a year ago while Burdiek was the leading receiver with four scores and 132 yards.

Photo by Marion McReynolds

Senior QB Jaxon Wright returns along with tight ends Tyler Burdiek and Ryan Haefke and three experienced running backs.

8-2 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Big Seven League Coach: Brooks Barta(16th year, 159-30) Assistants: Joe Purcell, Mark Middlemist, Alex Bartel, Brian Meerpohl, Matt Hundley Offense: Wishbone Defense: Odd Front Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 10 Offense, 5 Defense Jaxon Wright, QB/DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Trent Tanking, RB/LB, 6-3, 210, Sr.; Tyler Burdiek, TE, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Ryan Haefke, TE, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Brandon Schumann, OL, 5-10, 240, Sr.; Grant Mercer, OL, 61, 185, Sr.; Shelby Stovall, OL, 6-2, 240, Sr.; Isaac Bohnenekemper, OL, 6-1, 270, Sr.; Cooper Zeller, OL, 6-1, 275, Jr.; Bradley Hooper, OL, 6-0, 250, Jr.; Cameron Karn, RB/DB, 6-3, 195, Sr. Chase Wilson, DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Ethan Holiday, DB, 5-9, 165, Jr. Melanie McGee File Photo

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Royal Valley coach Jason Grider expects his team to compete well at the line of scrimmage thanks to a big, experienced group of returning starters on both lines.

“The strength of the Panther offense should be up front,” Grider said, noting that senior Craig Thurber is a three-year starter, while senior Ben Riffey and juniors Zerul Kutina and Josh Tessendorf are also returning starters.

Junior Chase Eck became a starter at tailback midway through the 2011 season, and senior tight end Tanner Ogden also returns to the starting lineup.

On defense, the Panthers have Ogden back at outside linebacker and Kutina at inside linebacker. Eck and junior Austin Hodison have experience in the secondary while Thurber is a returning starter at defensive end. Royal Valley also has a dozen other players battling for playing time on the defensive line.

“We should have good overall team speed and size with a solid group of starters and lettermen from a season ago,” Grider said, adding that depth, size and experience at the linebacker positions should also be strengths for his team.

The Panthers have a brutal district schedule with trips to Hayden and Wamego on the schedule before the regular season finale against Holton.

5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Big Seven League Coach: Jason Grider (7th year, 29-25; 12th year overall) Assistants: Dave Barta, Russell Hodison, Nate McAlister, Jesse Kutina Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense Craig Thurber, OL/DE, 6-3, 235, Sr.; Tanner Ogden, TE/SS, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Zerul Kutina, OL/ILB, 5-10, 225, Jr.; Austin Hodison, DB, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Gary Smith, NG, 6-2, 215, Jr.; Ben Riffey, C, 5-01, 215, Sr.; Josh Tessendorf, OL, 6-3, 230, Jr.; Chase Eck, RB, 5-10, 175, Jr. Melanie McGee

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EAGLES

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A year ago, the Eagle defense included five sophomore starters, but coach Clint Merritt expects that experience to pay off in 2012.

With only two starters back on offense and five on defense,the Independence Bulldogs know they will have to work hard to improve each week.

It will be a season of new beginnings for the Iola Mustangs. New head coach Doug Kerr will lead the Mustangs into their first year in the Pioneer League.

“We need to improve daily,” Independence head coach Carl Boldra said. “We must survive the first part of our season and give ourselves a chance in district. We need to get bigger, faster and stronger before August arrives. The kids need to play together and trust their teammates.”

Kerr takes over for Rick Horton, and Iola is joining the Pioneer after spending many years in the Southeast Kansas League.

The Mustangs also will see a lot of changes on the field. They will be switching from the spread offense to the single wing. Iola also will have a lot of new players on the field with only two starters returning on each side of the ball.

Hugoton finished 4-5 last season and allowed more than 27 points per game, but another year of experience should help the Eagles improve defensively.

“We must be better defensively,” Merritt said. “We had several sophomores start on that side of the ball last season. They need to find ways to make plays for us on the defensive side of the ball.”

Junior Bradley Campbell was second on the team with 80 tackles a year ago, and fellow junior linebacker Reid Davis finished with 71 tackles and a pair of sacks.

Junior safeties Ross Davis and Mitchell Persinger, along with junior linebacker Cordell Barnes and senior linebacker Garrett Walker will also return to the starting lineup.

Independence would like to get to the playoffs after missing by such a narrow margin last year. The Bulldogs opened district play with an 18-14 loss to the Chanute Blue Comets, then edged the Girard Trojans 2827 in overtime. All four teams in the district entered the final week with 1-1 records, so it was a win and you’re in situation.

However, it was the Bulldogs who came up one-point short this time around, falling 4140 to the Parsons Vikings.

Offensively, Hugoton has four returning starters, including a pair of backs who combined for more than 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. Barnes is back at the fullback spot after gaining 843 yards and scoring six touchdowns in 2011, while Ross Davis returns to his tailback position. As a sophomore, Davis ran the ball 60 times for 508 yards and six scores.

With a district that includes Girard, Frontenac and Parsons,the young Bulldogs will try to return to the playoffs in 2012.

Offensively, the only returning starters are a pair of sophomores in running back Courtlan Hayes (5-11, 175) and lineman Clay Sears(5-10, 230).

The Bulldogs are switching their base offensive formation from the offset I to the spread.

The Eagles, who went 1-4 against Greater West Activities Conference opponents in 2012, will face three non-league teams Pratt, Larned and Ulysses - in District 14 play.

On defense, Independence brings back Sears on the d-line and Junior Geldenhuys (6-1, 180, Jr.), Dalton Coda (6-1, 170, Jr.), Aaron Schwenker (5-11, 185, Jr.) and Alex Wright (6-1, 175, So.) as linebackers.

4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Greater West Activities Conference Coach: Clint Merritt (7th year, 27-30; 10th year overall, 39-46) Assistants: Jan Kilbourne, Lance Cornelson, Brian Campbell, Todd Fulton, Andy Gwennap Offense: Split Back Veer Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 6 Defense Alfredo Licon, LG, 6-2, 280, Sr.; Michael McCormack, RT, 5-10, 250, Sr.; Cordell Barnes, FB/ LB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Ross Davis, RB/S, 6-2, 180, Jr.; Garrett Walker, LB, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Reid Davis, LB, 62, 180, Jr.; Bradley Campbell, LB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Mitchell Persinger, S, 6-1, 165, Jr. Melanie McGee

5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Southeast Kansas League Coach: Carl Boldra (7th year, 29-40) Assistants: Luke Claar, Dave Harlin, Al Speicher and BoWatters Offense: Spread Defense: 3-3 Stack Returning lettermen: 19 Returning starters: 2 Offense, 5 Defense Courtlan Hayes, RB, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Clay Sears, OL/ DL, 5-10,230, Jr.; Junior Geldenhuys, LB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Dalton Coda, LB, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Aaron Schwenker, LB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Alex Wright, LB, 6-1, 175, Jr. Mark Schremmer

MUSTANGS

Quarterback Mason Coons and offensive lineman Eli Grover return to the offense, while defensive back Jacob Rhoads and Trey Colburn return to the defense. The Mustangs also return senior linebacker Stephen McDonald, who was injured early in the 2011 season.

“Our goals are to become competitive every Friday night, to become a great tackling team, to compete in the new Pioneer League and make a run at a district title,” Kerr said.

Iola, which will try to improve on last year’s 2-7 record, will see several new opponents in Cherryvalle, Osawatomie, Central Heights and Wellsville. But the Mustangs also will face some former foes from the Southeast Kansas League in Coffeyville, Chanute and Fort Scott.

“The keys to the season will be how well we grasp the new offense and defense by the time districts come around,” Kerr said.

“Players will have to accept and excel in their designed role in the program. We also will have to stay healthy and take advantage of the opportunities for success during the games.”

2-7 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A Pioneer League Coach: Doug Kerr (1st year; 6th year overall, 17-33) Assistants: Mark Percy, Cody Hager, Dana Dougherty Offense: Single Wing Defense: 3-6 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 2 Offense, 2 Defense Mason Coons, QB, Sr.; Eli Grover, OL, Sr.; Jacob Rhoads, DB, Jr.; Trey Colburn, DL, So. Schremmer

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As the 2012 football season approaches first-year Bishop Ward coach Tim Dorian knows just how crucial a strong running game is if his new squad is going to rebound from 0-9 records in each of the last two seasons.

Chris Brindle’s first season as Piper’s head coach was a successful one, and goals have been set high for the 2012 Pirates.

K C -S um ner A cadem y L aC ygne-P rairie V iew SABRES

Expectations were high for the 2011 Sabres, but injuries piled up and Sumner struggled to a 2-7 record. The Sabres did have four seniors sign to continue their careers in colBrindle said the team’s goals are “to repeat lege, including receiver Vernon Vaughn as district and bi-district champions for the with Kansas State. Lineman James third year in a row and to advance farther in Williams is a Coffeyville Red Raven, lineWith the return of second-team All-Kaw the playoffs.” backer Nicholas Nuessen signed with Valley senior offensive linemen Jesus Dodge City and receiver Marcus Allen will Monarca and Andrew Kump, Dorian won’t The 2011 Pirates mixed running and passsuit up for Hutchinson, giving Wassman have to search far to find experience up ing quite well, and that is Brindle’s plan three former players in the Kansas Jayhawk front. again in year two. “We spread the ball Community College Conference this fall. around a lot so it is hard for opponents to The return of senior wideout Angel key on one weapon, but none of our players Back at Sumner, Wassman and his staff will Rodriguez will help out in the passing game get huge stats either,” he said. “We had four need to rebuild after going 0-3 in district as Dorian attempts to right the Cyclone ship varsity rushers with over 200 yards and six games and 1-4 against Kansas Cityin 2012. receivers with 173 yards or more.”

Atchison League foes. The Sabres struggled to score, averaging just 15.77 points per The Cyclones begin the 2012 campaign Piper returns junior quarterback Tanner game last season while giving up nearly 31 with a tough road contest when they travel Eikenbary, who threw for 1,455 yards and points per contest. When the defense was to Basehor-Linwood August 31. Then they 13 touchdowns, second-team All-League able to limit opponents to 25 points or less, host St. James Academy before traveling to running back Matt McDonald (975 yards Sumner went 2-0 but the Sabre offense 2011 Class 5A playoff participant Bonner and 11 touchdowns), speedy return man scored 20 or more points just three times all Springs in week three. In all, the Cyclones Paul Jones, and three offensive linemen. season. will battle four state playoff qualifiers from a year ago.

Sumner’s season kicks off with a trip to On defense, the Pirates return sophomore linebacker Colton Beebe, a second-team Leavenworth to face Immaculata. The Hoping to get their first win in more than All-Leaguer who led Piper in tackles and is Sabres will host Spring Hill and Wyandotte two seasons, Bishop Ward battles a regular considered a Division I prospect. Brindle’s before traveling to Schlagle and season schedule that collectively achieved a squad also brings back senior safety Dalton Washington in consecutive weeks. A home 42-45 record a year ago.

Hays, senior d-back Keaton Cofield, and game against Harmon provides the final senior linebackers Blake Martin, Josh Hall tuneup for district play, where Sumner will 0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A and Sean Eskina. travel to Bishop Ward, host Piper and conKaw Valley League clude the regular season at Atchison.

Coach: Tim Dorian (1st year; 4th year overall, 15-13) Assistants: TJ Dorian, Kameron Ridley, Shae Grosdidere, Mike Aleksaites Offense: I Formation Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A Offense, N/A Defense Jesus Monarca, OL, Sr.; Andrew Kump, OL, Sr.; Angel Rodriguez, WR, Sr. Dean Backes

7-4 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Kaw Valley League Coach: Chris Brindle (2nd year, 7-4; 16th year overall, 149-108) Assistants: Larry Beashore, Brian Gray, Curtis Hamilton, Tim Cottrell, Steve Wallace Offense: Pistol Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: 19 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 8 Defense Matt McDonald, RB/DB, 5-10, 172, Sr.; Paul Jones, RB/DB/KR, 5-7, 165, Sr.; Tanner Eikenbary, QB, 61, 176, Jr.; Keaton Cofield, WR/DB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Colton Beebe, HB/TE/LB, 6-2, 235, So.; Blake Martin, C/LB, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Blake Knetter, G, 6-1, 240, Sr.; Sean Eskina, WR/LB, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Josh Hall, G/LB, 5-11, 195, Sr.; Dalton Hays, WR/S, 6-1, 175, Sr. Melanie McGee

2-7 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A Kansas City-Atchison League Coach: Todd Wassman (5th year) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A

BUFFALOES

A tough schedule awaits Prairie View in 2012, but third-year coach Doug Whitcraft believes his team will be up to the challenge. The Buffaloes return nine starters on offense and seven on defense from a squad that went 4-5 in 2011.

Senior defensive end Matt Kellerman earned first-team All-Pioneer League honors while senior Jake Bradley was a secondteam All-League kicker. Seniors Landin Dalsing, Luke Miller, Brad Owens and Preston Roedel, and juniors Kelton Baker, Levi Clark, Sam Engert, Austin Gulotta and Shey Spears are also returning starters.

Baker, Dalsin, Kellerman, Owens and Rodel figure to anchor the offensive and defensive lines while Clark and Spears are both listed as quarterbacks. Other candidates for playing time in the backfield and at linebacker include Bradley, Engert and Gulotta.

Whitcraft said his team’s goals are to “win league and make it to the playoffs.”

Prairie View will open the season against Ottawa, Anderson County and Wellsville before traveling to Iola and Labette County in consecutive weeks. A home game against Central Heights is the final tuneup for district play, which will begin with a trip to Louisburg. The Buffaloes host Paola and Osawatomie in the final two regular season district contests.

4-5 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A Pioneer League Coach: Doug Whitcraft (3rd year, 9-9) Assistants: N/A Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-2 Returning lettermen: 11 Melanie McGee Returning starters: 9 Offense, 7 Defense Kelton Baker, OL/DL, Jr.; Jake Bradley, RB/LB/K, Sr.; Levi Clark, QB/DL, Jr.; Landin Dalsing, OL/DL, Sr.; Sam Engert, RB/LB, Jr.; Austin Gulotta, RB/LB, Jr.; Matt Kellerman, OL/DE, Sr.; Luke Miller, R/DB, Sr.; Brad Owens, OL/DL, Sr.; Preston Roedel, OL/ DL, Sr.; Shey Spears, QB/LB, Jr. Melanie McGee

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INDIANS Fundamentals are the focus at Larned, which is looking for a turnaround under new coach AB Stokes.

“We have to learn to master the basic fundamentals of blocking and tackling,” Stokes said. “The key to success will be doing the little things right. Play fundamental, mistake-free football as much as we can, and let the chips fall where they may.”

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With a focus on improving every day and finishing every play, second-year Thunder coach Tom Radke is hoping to turn an injury riddled 2011 campaign into a plethora of success in 2012.

While the Vikings will make only minor changes schematically, Smoky Valley will have a much different look than its fan base has been accustomed to.

For the eighth year in a row, Louisburg won a playoff game in 2011, but the Wildcats were knocked out in the second round and finished 5-6 on the season.

After a strong 3-0 start in his first season, including wins over 2010 Class 4A champion Louisburg and 2011 runner-up Eudora, the injury bug crept up and disrupted Radke’s plans for major success.

“Our kids have really worked their tails off in the weight room and we’re going to be very physical”, said head coach Chris Hattabaugh. “The kids are buying into what we do as we continue to emphasis big plays in the fourth quarter.”

Coach Gary Griffin has 24 lettermen back from that team, but he’ll need to replace most of the backfield, including All-State running back Garrett Griffin.

“He’s very strong at 190 pounds and really understands defenses,” said Hattabaugh.

“He’s a physical runner and an accurate passer.”

Griffin said his team needs to “find a QB to run our offense and some running backs to carry the football” in order to achieve its goals. Those goals include winning close games, battling for the Frontier League championship and making yet another run in the Class 4A playoffs.

4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Independent Coach: Tom Radke (2nd year, 4-5; 7th year overall, 26-32) Assistants: Dick Tatro, Mike Consiglio, Jared Herzet, Matt Joshi, Brian Bucklin, Dick Hinderliter, Matt Woolley, Chris Walters Offense: Pistol Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 9 Defense Jake Wittman, OL/TE/DL, 6-6, 265, Sr.; Darin Feist, OL/DL, 6-1, 255, Sr.; Tom Huppe, SS/WR, 6-0, 155, Sr.; Cole Orrick, LB/OL, 5-11, 230, Sr.; Jacob Bade, TB, 6-1, 195, Jr.; Alex King, WR/QB, 6-3, 188, Jr.; Chris Gomez, DL/OL, 6-3, 304, Sr.; Tanner Hinderliter, CB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Jansen Keyes, QB, 63, 175, Sr.; Matt Bierbaum, FS, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Keith Winger, OLB, 6-2, 195, Jr.; David Feist, OL, 6-2, 240, Jr. Dean Backes

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But the experience his young players gained in a 4-5 campaign should prove valuable in 2012. Radke returns nine startIn the backfield, Larned returns junior quar- ers on each side of the line of scrimmage, terback Easton Palmer, senior running back and 18 lettermen from a season ago.

Brady Keith and junior running back Jamil Shoemaker. Up front, seniors Wyatt Plenty of experience and talent returns for Haberman and Cody Keenan are entering Radke on the offensive line, including a their second season as starters, while junpair of Division-I prospects in Jake iors Brayden Smith and Grant Unruh are Wittman and Chris Gomez – both two-way returning starters at the receiver positions. starters in each of the last two seasons.

Darin Feist also returns for a third straight The Indian defense returns junior Kaiden season of starting on both lines.

Reed on the line, seniors Nolan Allison and Jacob Hardiman at outside linebacker, jun- Radke described returning signal caller ior Taylor Thomas as an inside linebacker Jansen Keyes as smart, elusive and accuand senior Dalton Hoch at strong safety. rate. Keyes will hand off to Jacob Bade and 2011 backup quarterback Alex King will Stokes also expects to get a boost from sen- serve as Keyes’ favorite target. ior cornerback Jesse Martinez, sophomore corner Gage Stude, sophomore linebacker Last year’s leading tackler and pass interTy O’Neil and sophomore running back cepter Matt Bierbaum will lead the Thunder Jeromy Bartz. defense once again. Cole Orrick finished with 74 tackles a year ago from his lineLarned opens the season against Ellsworth backer position. and four of the first six games will be at home.

“On defense we will have more experience and size at the LB position,” Radke said.

0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A “We will also lean on our senior defensive Mid-Central Activities Association backs Matt Bierbaum, Tom Huppe and Coach: AB Stokes (1st year) Tanner Hinderliter.”

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The Indians were winless in 2011, but 15 lettermen are back with another year of experience under their belts.

Assistants: Austin Kingsbury, Quinton Burgess, Matt Barton, Tad Remy, Michael Shea Offense: Multiple I Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 5 Defense Brady Keith, RB, 5-7, 145, Sr.; Cody Keenan, OL, 61, 220, Sr.; Easton Palmer, QB, 5-11, 160, Jr.; Jamil Shoemaker, RB, 5-9, 170, Jr.; Wyatt Haberman, OL, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Grant Unruh, WR, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Brayden Smith, WR, 5-10, 150, Jr.; Kaiden Reed, DL, 6-2, 230, Jr.; Jacob Hardiman, OLB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Taylor Thomas, ILB, 6-0, 215, Jr.; Nolan Allison, OLB, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Dalton Hoch, SS, 5-8, 155, Sr. Melanie McGee

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The Wildcats’ offensive line is loaded with experienced players such as senior Matt Filling the shoes of departed quarterback Jenkins and junior Ty McKiernan, both AllNick Deterding and running back Greyson League performers last season. Kade Pihl will be Ethan Loder and Curtis Larson and Wayne Carlson are also returnCarlson. Loder models himself after Kansas ing starters up front, and Kyle McLellan State’s Collin Klein and has a knack for returns at tight end. Chris Case and Will moving the chains.

Garza are a pair of experienced receivers.

Carlson also checks in at 190 pounds and moves to running back from wide receiver.

Hattabaugh praises the senior’s vision and ability to find a crease in the defense.

Defensively, the Vikings return nine starters including a group of linebackers that are all entering their third year as starters. Spencer Bird headlines this unit and was an allleague player a year ago.

“We feel this group is good enough to carry Louisburg will play three of its first four us until our new guys on offense get comgames and the final two regular season confortable,” said Hattabaugh. tests on the road.

4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Central Kansas League Coach: Chris Hattabaugh (3rd year, 9-18) Assistants: Fred VanRanken, Chris McClure, James Henderson, Bill Nelson, John Bellah Offense: Spread Option Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 9 Defense Spencer Bird, OL/LB, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Mark Klaasen, DE, 6-4, 215, Sr.; Jake Rogers, WR/LB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Curtis Carlson, RB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Trevor Whittaker, LB, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Weston Loder, OL, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Cody Hopkins, OL, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Holden Hendricks, WR, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Stephen Klaasen, DE, 6-3, 225, So.; Kyle Ryan, LB, 6-2, 170, Sr.; Christian Hansen, DB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Mason Weis, DB, 5-9, 150, Jr.; Hunter Lawless, DL, 6-2, 205, Sr. James Westling File Photo

5-6 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Frontier League Coach: Gary Griffin (10th year, 86-26) Assistants: Wayne Whiting, Kyle Littrell, Jeff Lohse, Billy Neff, Larry Aylor, Greg Darrington Offense: Pro Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 24 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Kade Larson, OL/DL, 6-4, 265, Sr.; Matt Jenkins, OL, 6-3, 220, Sr.; Ty McKiernan, OL/LB, 6-1, 210, Jr.; Wayne Carlson, OL, 5-10, 210, Sr.; Kyle McLellan, TE/DL, 6-4, 220, Sr.; Jacob Berglund, DL, 5-9, 200, Sr.; Konnor Cook, DL, 6-2, 240, Sr.; Daniel O’Connor, DB, 5-9, 145, Sr.; Chris Chase, WR/DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Will Garza, WR/DB, 6-3, 190, Jr.; Wyatt Sanders, LB, 6-3, 175, Jr. Melanie McGee File Photo

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Louisburg’s defense has eight returning starters, including Larson, who earned AllLeague honors last season, as well as Jacob Berglund, Konnor Cook and McLellan on the defensive line. The Wildcat secondary has three returning starters in Chase, Garza and Daniel O’Connor, while Wyatt Sanders and McKiernan are back at linebacker.

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MAVERICKS The four-year-old football program at Maize South confronts a new hurdle this season, the move up to Division II of the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League.

“It feels like we’re starting over again,” said coach Brent Pfeifer. “For me, I was just getting to know the other coaches and other staffs, and getting to know what we need to prepare on offense and defense for what we’d be up against. It’s kind of like it’s the unknown again. But it’s fun, and we’re used to it.”

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It will be a season of change for the McPherson Bullpus after losing their star quarterback, their top receiver and top two offensive linemen to graduation and also making the move down to class 4A.

A five-game skid in the middle of the 2011 season knocked the Tigers out of playoff contention, but they rebounded with a 46-0 spanking of Tonganoxie in the season finale and will look to build on that in 2012.

Mulvane has swept through its district two years in a row and hopes to do so again this season before making a deep playoff run.

Quarterback Tyler Matthews has moved on to TCU where he hopes to start a fruitful career as a Big 12 signal caller, talented wide receiver Jordan Hart is now a part of the Washburn program and big offensive lineman Zach Lanning will be playing for Ottawa and coach Kent Kessinger this fall.

Jefferson West returns nearly all its starters from that 4-5 team, including junior quarterback Ian Mullins and running backs Josh Becker, Wyatt Miller and Cylus Tichenor.

Steve Johnson’s squad also brings back five starters from the offensive line – Tanner Flint, Brad Kahler, Jordan Korb, Justin Scott and Branson Vaught. Korb earned first-team All-League honors last season while Mullins was an honorable mention All-League performer.

BULLPUPS

The Mavericks remain in Class 4A for district play and the playoffs, so the regularseason schedule against Class 5A schools will serve as strong preparation for district.

But veteran coach Tom Young has been doing this for a long time - over four decades as a matter of fact - and replacing talented players is nothing new to him. Young has tallied 320 wins in his 40 plus year head Pfeifer enters his fourth season as coach of coaching career and he’s taken three differMaize South and has been the coach since ent Kansas teams to football titles, but he’s hoping he can get the Bullpups to a 4A title the school came into in existence in 2009.

Pfeifer’s hope for the Maize South program game this fall. is that everyone continues to buy in and believe in the future.

To do so he’ll count on speedy running back Austin O’Bannon. O’Bannon, one of “The biggest hurdle we have program-wise the state’s fastest sprinters who has posted a 10.4 second 100 meter dash, rushed for is finding leadership, trying to figure out where that’s going to come from. We had a nearly 1,400 yards a year ago. The 5-9, 189 pound speed demon is not just a breakaway really strong group when we started (three years ago). I leaned on those guys pretty threat though, he can also pound the ball inside the tackles often putting defenders on heavily, and with them now gone, the young kids have never really had that role.” their backs.

The Mavericks return a core of players on defense, including Nevada Harlan and Jessi Rogers at linebacker, and Wes Phillips, DeSean Washington and Mac Evans at defensive back. In the absence of veteran returning play at quarterback and running back, the team will depend on the defense.

5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division II Coach: Brent Pfeifer (4th year, 11-28) Assistants: Steve Rasmussen, Tom O’Connor, Kip Schultz, Brent Randolph, Rick Craig, Layne Carter Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 21 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Wes Phillips, WR/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Nevada Harlan, LB, 5-9, 205, Sr.; Jessi Rogers, RB/LB, 5-8, 195, Sr.; Alex Orth, RB, 5-9, 190, Sr.; Ridge McDonald, WR, 6-0, 170, Sr.; DeSean Washington, DB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Mac Evans, DB, 5-7, 150, Jr.; Andy Galliher, PK, 5-10, 165, So. Tom Witherspoon

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Defensively, nine starters are back for the Tigers, including Korb and Scott at the tackle positions and juniors Bret Ricklefs and Drew Slimmer in the secondary. Vaught returns at defensive end and Tichenor is entering his second year as a starting linebacker.

Johnson said his team’s goals are to “compete for a league title and earn a playoff berth.” He also said the Tigers will need to develop depth on both offensive and defensive lines and replace last year’s wide receivers.

Jefferson West’s district opponents will be O’Bannon will also be joined on offense by Basehor-Linwood, Tonganoxie and Perryreturning wideout Marcus Houghton who Lecompton again this season. caught 38 passes for 667 yards last season, an impressive 17.6 average yards per catch. 4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A While O’Bannon and Houghton will help the offense try and match the incredible 43.6 points per game the team averaged a year ago, it’s the development of the defense that will set the stage for a title run.

The Bullpup defense allowed 26.8 points per game last year including 41, 66 and 32 points in their three losses on the season.

7-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Coach: Tom Young (7th year, 49-15, 42nd year overall, 320-101) Assistants: N/A Offense: I/Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A John Baetz Photo by Jim Williams

M ulvane

“The offensive line is the key to our success, and we have a couple people to replace up there,” said coach Dave Fennewald. “Second, we have to avoid injuries. You never know what’s going to happen in a season.”

Mulvane’s spread attack will depend on quarterback Ty Redington and four returning starters on the offensive line – Taylor Flin, Jace Caldwell, Isaiah Evans and Logan Adams. Nolan Smith and Alex Evans return at wideout.

“Ty is a special athlete,” said Fennewald.

“We need the ball in his hands as much as possible to be successful. He has great feel and is outstanding at making his reads.”

Mulvane returns three linebackers, Cole Williams, Zach Haydes and Tanner Cusick, three on the defensive line, Cornelius Ukene, Nick Christian and Jarrett Price, and free safety Kolby Fennewald.

“We have a great schedule this year, with McPherson dropping down into our division, and Chanute has won six of last eight years in their league,” Fennewald said. “It’s a hard schedule, but that’s what I want because it will prepare us for districts.”

8-3 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division III Coach: Dave Fennewald Big Seven League (21st year, 104-88, 25th year overall) Coach: Steve Johnson Assistants: Scott Swaney, Daniel Myears, Dustin (6th year, 27-29; 13th year overall) Rhodes, Steve Nelson, Randy Fox, Scott Young Assistants: Doug Sidener, Dan Hypse, Jake Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Farrant, Pat Eland Returning lettermen: 23 Offense: Offset I Defense: 4-4 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 6 Defense Returning lettermen: 26 Ty Redington, QB, 6-1, 165, Sr.; Taylor Flin, C, 6-2, Returning starters: 8 Offense, 9 Defense Ian Mullins, QB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Wyatt Miller, RB, 5-8, 200, Sr.; Jace Caldwell, T, 6-2, 190, Sr.; Isaiah Evans, T, 6-2, 240, Jr.; Logan Adams, G, 5-9, 200, 165, Jr.; Cylus Tichenor, FB/LB, 5-11, 215, Sr.; Jordan Korb, OT/DT, 6-4, 220, Sr.; Branson Vaught, Jr.; Nolan Smith, WR, 6-0, 165, Sr.; Alex Evans, WR, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Cornelius Ukene, NG, 5-9, 235, C/DE, 6-0, 215, Jr.; Justin Scott, OT/DT, 6-0, 220, Jr.; Tanner Flint, OG, 5-9, 215, Sr.; Brad Kahler, OG, Sr.; Nick Christian, E, 5-9, 215, Sr.; Jarrett Price, E, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Cole Williams, LB, 5-8, 180, Sr.; Zach 6-0, 190, Jr.; Josh Becker, FB, 5-10, 165, Jr.; Bret Haynes, LB, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Tanner Cusick, LB, 5-8, Ricklefs, DB, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Drew Slimmer, DB, 5-9, 185, Sr.; Kolby Fennewald, FS, 6-1, 175, Sr. 160, Jr. Melanie McGee Tom Witherspoon

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Four All-League performers return to lead the Nickerson Panthers in 2012. Senior fullback Isaac Warman earned first-team honors a year ago, and senior running back Tyler Owen was a second-team All-League honoree. Senior quarterback Ryan O’Toole and senior running back Sean Rodriguez also give the Panthers experience.

A trio of All-League players return to lead Ottawa in 2012. The Cyclones are coming off a 2-7 season in which they averaged just 13.7 points per game while allowing an average of 28 points per contest.

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For the past three years, Paola has played in a Class 4A Sub-State Championship game.

The Panthers will look to make yet another deep playoff run in 2012, but they’ll need to replace nearly the entire first-string offense and eight members of the starting defense.

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VIKINGS The Parsons Vikings will field a young squad after graduating loads of starters from last year’s 7-3 team that advanced to the Class 4A playoffs.

Parsons graduated a lot of speed and experience, including All-State wide receiver Senior lineman Joe Pomatto earned second- Ivory Kelly. team All-League honors on both sides of Add in junior guards Nate Hiatt, a secondthe ball last year, but he is the only offen“Our team goal is to improve week to team All-League selection, and Cade sive starter back this season. Senior lineweek,” Parsons head coach David Pitts Hawver, senior center Duncan Ensminger backer Nevin McCracken, junior safety said. “We are going to be a very young and senior tackle Austin Goldberry and On offense, senior running back Taylor Mitchell Sloan and junior cornerback team, bur our expectations are still very Nickerson’s offensive line is also loaded Graf, also an honorable mention AllAndrew Henn return to the Paola defense. high. Our key to success will be how with experience.

Leaguer, headlines the list of returners. quickly the young kids buy into us as a Henn was one of the Panthers taking snaps coaching staff and what we’re teaching Senior receiver Jalen Karber is also a Ottawa must replace a two-year starter at at quarterback during their June camp, them.” returning starter for the Panther offense. quarterback, as well as All-League defenwhile McCracken took turns with Josiah sive lineman James Peoples.

Handle, Jeremy Criddle and Matt Petelin at Parsons returns three starters, who played running back. Jake Robison also worked On defense, Nickerson returns second-team both ways. Craig Beachner (5-9, 150, Jr.) All-League performer Bailey Zulkoski, The Cyclones’ two wins last season were a out at quarterback, while Eric Dunbar returns at quarterback and defensive back, Tanner Vick and Ensminger at linebacker, 16-9 victory over Prairie View and a 46-20 joined Pomatto on the line. while Blake Smith (5-9, 170, So.) returns at Owen and Rodriguez at safety and blasting of winless Santa Fe Trail in week offensive line and defensive end and Dustin Goldberry at defensive tackle. nine. Both those teams are on the schedule Veteran coach Mike Dumpert said his team Dishman (5-9, 160, Jr.) returns on the offenagain for 2012, and Ottawa will travel to must “improve every day at practice and sive line and as a linebacker. hopefully be playing our best football by Coach Max Heinlein said his team’s goal is Prairie View in the season opener. “to improve from last year’s record” and to districts.” He noted that a key component of Even though Parsons returns only three the Panthers’ success will be the develdo that, the Panthers must become “more Following that contest, the Cyclones must starters on each side of the ball, the Vikings consistent on the offensive side of the ball” travel to DeSoto, host Louisburg and travel opment of younger players. do have some experience to rely on with 23 and “not give up the big plays on defense.” to St. James Academy. returning lettermen.

In 2011, both of Paola’s losses came against Staying healthy and finding young players Ottawa’s schedule also includes a Sept. 28 state runner-up Eudora. The Panthers lost The Vikings will seek more consistent play to replace last year’s seniors will also be game against Paola and an Oct. 5 trip to 18-10 in the regular season and 13-10 in the in Pitts’ second year as head coach. All important for Nickerson, which opens the Spring Hill. In district action, the Cyclones sub-state playoffs. Paola hosts Eudora on three of Parsons’ losses from last season Sept. 21. season at Pratt before facing Hesston and travel to Baldwin before hosting Eudora were by big margins, falling 61-12 to Fort Hillsboro. Those three teams all qualified and Santa Fe Trail in the final two weeks of Scott, 42-26 to Girard and 41-13 to The Panthers will play their first two games Columbus. for the postseason in 2011. In district the regular season. of the season at home before traveling to games, the Panthers will face Cheney, Spring Hill. After the Eudora contest, Paola Parsons will have some schedule changes in Andale and Buhler, teams that went 20-12 a 2-7 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Frontier League travels to Ottawa and hosts De Soto and year ago.

2012 with Iola and Columbus departing the Coach: Marc Bergan opens district play at Osawatomie and Southeast Kansas League and this year’s (4th year, 6-30) 4-5 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A Prairie View. A home game against newly-formed districts.

Assistants: N/A Central Kansas League Louisburg rounds out the regular season.

Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Coach: Max Heinlein The Vikings will face Riverton of the Returning lettermen: N/A (6th year, 19-38) 11-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League in Assistants: Rich Krol, Mike McLemore, Eddie Koon Returning starters: N/A Frontier League Week 6, and their district opponents will be Offense: Flexbone Defense: 3-4 Coach: Mike Dumpert Frontenac, Girard and Independence.

Melanie McGee Coach Marc Bergan will have an experienced pair of linebackers to lead the defense. Senior Kaden Shaffer and junior Cory Peoples both earned honorable mention All-League honors in 2011.

Returning lettermen: 19 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 8 Defense Austin Goldberry, OT/DT, 6-1, 260, Sr.; Jalen Karber, WR, 5-6, 150, Sr.; Ryan O’Toole, QB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Tyler Owen, RB/S, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Sean Rodriguez, RB/S, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Tanner Vick, LB, 62, 165, Sr.; Issac Warman, FB, 5-8, 165, Sr.; Bailey Zulkoski, LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Cade Hawver, OG, 6-0, 220, Jr.; Nate Hiatt, OG, 6-2, 210, Jr.; Duncan Ensminger, C/OLB, 5-10, 165, Sr. Melanie McGee Photo by Linda Owen

(15th year, 117-46) Assistants: Mike Smith, Todd Weaver, David Kane, Steve Gorsuch, Russ Hermreck, Ryan Oshel Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 1 Offense, 3 Defense Joe Pomatto, OL/DL, 6-2, 250, Sr.; Nevin McCracken, LB, 5-10, 180, Sr. Mitchell Sloan, SS, 6-0, 170, Jr.; Andrew Henn, CB, 5-10, 170, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Despite having a young team, the Vikings are focused on returning to the playoffs in 2012.

7-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Southeast Kansas League Coach: David Pitts (2nd year, 7-3; 4th year overall, 13-17) Assistants: Dennis Dodd, Chris Durkin, LaShawn Taylor, Mark Pound Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 23 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Craig Beachner, QB/DB, 5-9, 150, Jr.; Blake Smith, OL/DE, 5-9, 170, So.; Dustin Dishman, OL/LB, 5-9, 160, Jr. Mark Schremmer

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 67

803 N. Main Pratt, KS 67124 620-672-9444

P erry-L ecom pton KAWS

Perry-Lecompton went 7-3 in 2011 and returns six starters on each side of the ball from that squad. Among the starters lost to graduation were a quarterback and running back that accounted for more than 3,500 yards of offense, which leaves a big void on the Kaws’ offense.

“We graduated our QB and running back that accounted for over 2,000 rushing yards and nearly 1,700 yards passing, so replacing them will be critical,” said coach Mike Paramore.

Senior receiver Riley Davis earned firstteam All-League honors last year after catching 30 passes for 413 yards and four touchdowns, and senior guard Tyler Andrew was an honorable mention AllLeaguer.

“Our new QB and running back will be surrounded by good skill receivers and a good returning core up front as they make the adjustment to playing varsity,” Paramore said. “The rate of their improvement will determine how quickly we get our offense up to speed. During this time, we may have some growing pains and will need our defense to step up and make plays.”

The Kaws return six starters on defense, including second-team All-League corner Brady Carver and honorable mention AllLeague linebacker Matt Logan. At safety, Davis was third on the team with 70 tackles plus had three interceptions last year, while Carver had 69 tackles and senior defensive tackle Bobby Brandenburg made three sacks.

7-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Big Seven League Coach: Mike Paramore (11th year, 59-49; 22nd year overall, 111-102) Assistants: Mark Armstrong, Thomas Cooprider, Justin Smith, Jared Swafford Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Riley Davis, WR/FS, 6-3, 175, Sr.; Tyler Andrew, G/ LB, 6-1, 220, Sr.; Matt Logan, OLB, 6-3, 195, Sr.; Brady Carver, CB, 5-7, 155, Sr.; Trevor Dark, WR, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Zach Turpin, G, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Bobby Brandenburg, DT, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Conner Harden, HB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Brendon Neal, NG, 6-2, 180, Jr.; RJ Whitaker, FB, 5-8, 180, Jr. Melanie McGee Photo by Paulette Ogilivie

P ratt

GREENBACKS Consistency was a problem for the 2011 Greenbacks, and it’s one that second-year coach Forrest Mazey aims to correct this fall.

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R ose H ill

ROCKETS After a season opening loss to Buhler, the Rockets reeled off 13 straight victories and won the 4A championship with a 21-0 blanking of Eudora.

“We were good at times and we were bad at Following a 28-12 win over perennial times,” he said. “We have to be more conpower Holton in the first round of the playsistent.” offs the Rockets cruised into the final scoring at least 40 points in each of the three Pratt has six starters back on both sides of games prior to the championship. And the ball, including multi-talented senior when the Rocket offense was finally slowed Skyler Dean. He saw action as a quarterby Eudora in the title game, the Rocket D back, receiver and defensive back in 2011, came alive to deliver the 21-0 shut-out. and was the Greenbacks’ main kick and punt returner. Dean caught three touchdown The Rockets averaged a whopping 44 passes and threw for two others, plus aver- points a game in their 13 wins last season aged over 24 yards per punt return and and scored more than 40 points nine times. nearly 18 yards per kickoff return. In the Their defense was no slouch either, allowprocess, he earned first-team All-League ing 20 or more points only twice all season honors as a receiver. and pitching four shut-outs.

Senior running back Anthony Cannata also returns after running for 214 yards in 2011, which was second on the team behind quarterback B.J. Dean, who graduated. Cannata also caught 19 passes for 155 yards.

Pratt’s offensive line includes returning starters Brett Forshee, Jarod Gilmore and Jordan Wells, while seniors Mitch Baird and Robby Eggleston are back at receiver along with junior Shawn Ramos.

On defense, the Greenbacks will be paced

by Gilmore, a first-team All-League linebacker and the team’s second-leading tackler in 2011. He also recovered three fumbles, caused two fumbles and picked off a pass.

Senior Weston Riner, Eggleston, Forshee and Wells return on the defensive line, while Dean, Ramos and senior Shane McEachern are back in the secondary.

Juniors Bryson Cruz and Cesar Regalado join Gilmore at the linebacker positions.

The Rockets graduated eight players who will continue their football career at the next level including one of the state’s top quarterbacks in Derrick Decker who is headed to Pittsburg State. Talented fullback Eastin Dockers and huge offensive lineman Parker Whitney are also gone just down the road to play for Troy Morrell at Butler Co.

S pring H ill

BRONCOS

Improvement has been the goal for Spring Hill for the past seven years, and the 2011 Broncos doubled their win total. They’ll look for continued improvement and a winning record this fall, with 22 lettermen returning from last year’s 4-5 team.

“Last season marked the first time in six years we had won four games,” coach Anthony Orrick said. “Our goal this year is to be better than last year – above .500 – and earn a state playoff berth.”

The Broncos have six starters back on both offense and defense, including four offensive linemen. Senior Austin Pittman and juniors Kainon Clark, C.J. Dyhouse and Dylan Thompson will anchor the front line, with senior running backs Mike Epp and Jacob McDade in the backfield. Epp ran for 532 yards and five touchdowns last year, while McDade gained 322 yards and three touchdowns on 68 carries.

Defensively, Spring Hill returns two of its four leading tacklers – senior linebacker Conner Jones and Clark at defensive end – plus senior defensive tackle Garett Belcher, who recorded 1.5 sacks as a junior. Seniors Lake Johnson and Hunter Stuart return to the secondary, and senior Cole Lillich is a returning starter at defensive end.

While those eight players provided the bulk of Rose Hill’s offensive and defensive production a year ago, the Rockets do return explosive running back Jonny Pearson, who 4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Frontier League rushed for over 1,600 yards last year, and Coach: Anthony Orrick three huge offensive lineman.

“We are going to need our seniors and underclassmen to step in and fill some voids in our line-up,” veteran Rocket coach Greg Slade said.

13-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division III Coach: Greg Slade (15th year, 92-56) Assistants: Ray Boese, Jarrod Foster, Bill Wright, Ryan Hill, Rob Curtis, Michael Allard 4-6 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Offense: One-Back Spread Defense: 4-3 Central Kansas League Returning lettermen: 13 Coach: Forrest Mazey Returning starters: 5 Offense, 1 Defense (2nd year, 4-6; 5th year overall, 20-31) Jonny Pearson, RB, 6-0, 165, Sr.; Cody Walther, Assistants: Jason Gallagher, Tyler Strong, Bill Petterson, Lucas Weigert, Bob Smith, Steve Landry OT, 6-3, 255, Sr.; Connor Campbell, OG, 6-3, 245, Sr.; Michael Cleveland, C, 6-2, 235, Sr.; T.J. Slade, Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 FS, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Bret Waddel, WR, 6-4, 190, Jr. Returning lettermen: 15 John Baetz Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Skyler Dean, ATH/DB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Robby Eggleston, WR/DE, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Brett Forshee, OL/ DL, 5-10, 255, Jr.; Jordan Wells, OL/DL, 6-3, 250, Photo by Sr.; Jarod Gilmore, OL/LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Shawn Marion Ramos, WR/DB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Mitch Baird, WR, 6-0, McReynolds 170, Sr.; Cesar Regalado, LB, 5-7, 155, Jr.; Shane McEachern, DB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Anthony Cannata, RB, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Weston Riner, DE, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Bryson Cruz, LB, 5-10, 210, Jr. Melanie McGee

RILEY DAVIS

JO N N Y PEARS O N

SR.•W R/FS • 6-3 • 175

SR.• RB • 6-0 • 165

(4th year, 9-18) Assistants: Nic Madelen, Dustin Barnes, Darvin Willard, Jerry Hunsaker, Tucker Woofter, Hakeem Young Offense: Full House Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 22 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Kainon Clark, C/DE, 6-2, 220, Jr.; Dylan Thompson, OG, 6-3, 215, Jr.; C.J. Dyhouse, OT, 6-0, 220, Jr.; Austin Pittman, OG, 6-1, 260, Sr.; Mike Epp, RB, 510, 180, Sr.; Jacob McDade, FB, 5-8, 200, Sr.; Cole Lillich, DE, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Conner Jones, LB, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Lake Johnson, CB, 6-2, 160, Sr.; Garett Belcher, DT, 5-9, 200, Sr.; Hunter Stuart, FS, 5-11, 165, Sr. Melanie McGee

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WILDCATS

THUNDERBIRDS

TIGERS

The Hayden Wildcats return only four starters each on offense and defense. However, there is plenty of reason to expect the Wildcats to be a contender in Class 4A.

Coming off a district runner-up finish to eventual state champion Rose Hill, coach Bob Pool has set goals for his team to win the district and double the team’s win total.

Ulysses delivered another strong season under veteran coach Jason Kenney last fall.

The Tigers went 10-2 and won double-digit games for the first time since 2007.

The 2011 season was rough on the Red Raiders, who had just eight seniors on the roster and fielded a very young, inexperienced team.

Hayden is 53-12 in five seasons with Bill Arnold as head coach, winning the state championship in 2008 and advancing to at least the quarterfinals in all five seasons.

The Wildcats are hopeful for a similar type of run in 2012.

“We’re being realistic with ourselves because we’re still a young program,” said Pool. “We’re going to play a lot of sophomores, and they’re talented, but you know how that goes. We feel like we’re going in right direction.”

Ulysses scored 482 points, 16 more than it scored in 2010 and the most for the program since a 604-point performance in an 11-2 season in 2006. This fall, the Tigers return six offensive and five defensive starters.

“We’re looking forward to an exciting league race, as well as getting into the playoffs,” Arnold said. “The keys are to stay away from the injury bug and the blending in of our underclassmen with our seniors.”

The Thunderbirds return four starting offensive linemen, all over 200 pounds, Drew Daharsh, Ben Griffis, Bruin Hayden and Chris White, as well as tight end Stewart Dennison.

“We want to improve each week and put ourselves in a position to make another deep run in the playoffs,” Kenney said.

“Early in the year, we will have to rely on our defense to give us a chance to win until our offense gains some experience.”

“At best, were were a good JV team on Friday nights,” coach Dale Burkholder said.

“The 2012 squad will be a stronger varsity squad with 14 seniors and some strong underclassmen to fight for starting spots.

Our schedule is still a meat grinder with six of our nine opponents making it to postseason play.”

A key returner for the Wildcats will be senior wide receiver and defensive back Brogan Barry. The 6-3, 185-pound receiver brings a lot of speed and athleticism to the Wildcats attack. Barry, who earned a 29 on his ACT, is receiving some interest from Kansas, Kansas State, Princeton and Yale, according to Rivals.com.

“The seniors (last year) had to take their lumps,” said Pool. “They were under-sized.

Now we have the size we need on them it’s good weight. They’re not slow and sluggish.”

Ulysses faces Great Bend, a consistently strong 5A program, in Week 2 and plays at Scott City, a terrific Class 3A program, in Week 4.

Hayden will rely on Barry to be a key target as senior Jacob Tetuan (5-11, 175) takes over the starting quarterback job. Tetuan will replace Grant Arnold, who had started since his sophomore season.

Dennison moved from quarterback to tight end for the second half of last season.

Photo by Melanie McGee

Wamego returns 10 offensive starters, including 6-3 senior quarterback Marshall Wethington, who threw for 1,241 yards and eight touchdowns in just six games.

Leading receiver Matt Webb (31 catches for 341 yards) and All-League wideout Dakota Turner (26 catches for 431 yards) return, as does leading rusher John TenEych. The Red Raider offense also returns seniors Dan Jensen, Nathan Pageler and Ryan Vance on the line and receivers Brandon Ebert and Trenton York.

“We must survive our tough early season schedule and get our offensive skill players some varsity experience to make plays,” “He’s a big target and runs well, right Kenney said. “I really like the possibility on The emphasis for Burkholder’s team, howaround 4.9, high 4.8s,” said Pool. “He’s had defense of our playmakers. They will have ever, is improving on defense. Nine returning starters, including Pageler, an Alla late growth spurt. Tulsa came to talk to to carry us early on.” him, and Pitt State has shown interest in League linebacker who made 121 tackles last year, should help that cause. Logan him as well.”

The Tigers open the season against Class 5A Liberal and Great Bend. GWAC conStoddard also returns at linebacker after finSophomore quarterback Garrett Hutson tests against Colby and Scott City will fol- ishing with 70 tackles in 2011. started the last five games last season. low. Ulysses then travels to Goodland and hosts Holcomb before starting Class 4A dis- “I anticipate fielding a much more competiOn defense, Jordan Moore returns at nose tive squad,” Burkholder said, adding that trict play against Larned, Pratt and guard, and Kyler Ehm returns at defensive Hugoton. Two of the Tigers’ three district improving special teams is also one of end.

Wamego’s goals. games (Larned and Hugoton) will be at home.

Other key returners to the offense are offensive linemen Andy Otting and Thomas O’Grady and running backs Zach Dodd and Reily Martin. Defensively, Barry and Otting will be joined by linebackers Dylan Broxterman and Philip Rineberg, defensive back Gage Stevens, and defensive linemen 2-8 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 4A Bryan Sheern and Nick Gonzales.

11-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Centennial League Coach: Bill Arnold (6th year, 53-12; 109-29 overall) Assistants: Wes Meier, Howard Tush, Curt Massey, Doug Roach, John Meyers, Charles Thompson, Eddie Kidd, John Hesse, Troy Slusser.

Offense: Wing-T Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 44 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Brogan Barry, WR/DB¸6-3, 185, Sr.; Andy Otting¸OL/DE, 6-3, 235, Sr.; Thomas O’Grady, OL, 6-3, 275, Sr.; Zach Dodd, RB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Dylan Broxterman, LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Gage Stevens, DB, 5-10, 170, Sr. Mark Schremmer

RED RAIDERS

Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division IV Coach: Bob Pool (2nd year, 2-8, 6th year overall) Assistants: Todd Chrisman, John Coslett, Brent Ehm, Brad Jonker, Jeff Slane Offense: Multiple I Defense: 3-4 Eagle Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Drew Daharsh, OL, 6-2, 245, Sr.; Jordan Moore, NG, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Ben Griffis, OL, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Bruin Hayden, OL, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Kyler Ehm, DE, 62, 235, So.; Chris White, OL, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Stewart Dennison, TE/OLB, 6-6, 210, Sr.; Garrett Hutson, QB, 5-11, 170, So.; Justin Wright, DB, 6-0, 170, So.; Jake Smith, S, 5-10, 160, S, Jr.; Paul Richard, WR, 6-2, 175, Jr.; Drake Fox, FB/LB, 5-10, 180, Sr. TW

10-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Greater West Activities Conference Coach: Jason Kenney (13th year, 101-34) Assistants: Rocky Meyer, Jack Wolf, Kyle Shryock, Adam Wighton, Robert Bledsoe Offense: Wing-T Defense: 5-3 Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense Tate Annis, SE/DB, 6-3, 175, Sr.; Armando Sandoval, RB/LB, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Kiano Sosa, G/DT, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Steven Degallado, C, 5-11, 220, Sr.; Michael Brollier, T, 6-4, 230, Sr.; Chase Rudzik, LB, 6-0, 210, Jr.; Otto Orosco, DT, 6-0, 235, Jr. Conor Nicholl

1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A North Central Kansas League Coach: Dale Burkholder (2nd year, 1-8) Assistants: John Scoggins, Curtis Eckart, Nick Johnson, Shane Neel, Bob Ray Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4-3 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 10 Offense, 9 Defense Marshall Wethington, QB, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Dan Jensen, OL/DT, 6-4, 250, Sr.; Brandon Ebert, WR/ LB, 5-11, 155, Sr.; Nathan Pageler, OG/LB, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Dakota Turner, WR/DB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Ryan Vance, OG, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Matt Webb, WR/DB, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Logan Stoddard, RB/LB, 6-0, 200, Jr.; John TenEych, WR/DB, 6-0, 155, Jr.; Trenton York, WR/ DB, 5-8, 155, Jr.; Brian McCarty, LB, 5-10, 170, Jr. Melanie McGee

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W ellington

W ichita-C ollegiate SPARTANS

VIKINGS

For nearly two decades one thing could be counted on in Wellington, as the leaves began to turn and the temperatures turned cold, the Crusader football team would find their way into the playoffs. That all changed last year as the 3-6 Wellington team missed the playoffs for the first time in 20 years.

Bill Messamore resigned as the Spartans head coach shortly after completing an 8-3 season that ended with a three-point loss to Garden Plain in the second round of the playoffs. In seven seasons as the head coach of the Spartans Messamore was 62-15 and led Collegiate to the 2009 3A state championship.

The Vikings gained experience in 2011 that will benefit them this season as 11 players return with starting experience. Those veterans – nine of whom earned All-League honors in 2011 – will be looking to build on a 4-5 record from a year ago.

In the spring of 2011 long-time head coach Linn Hibbs stepped down after 15 seasons with the Crusaders. Hibbs, the new head coach at Shawnee Mission Northwest, posted a 116-54 record in that span and led Wellington to three consecutive state title games from 2000-2002, winning two of those. He also led the Crusaders to a state record 19 consecutive playoff appearances.

Messamore, who spent 16 total seasons as a coach with the Spartans, told the Wichita Eagle, “...it’s the right time for the program.” Adding, “It’s very important to me that the program is, when I leave the program, it’s as strong as when I got it.”

CRUSADERS

The Spartans didn’t have to look far for their new coach, as former head coach While first year coach Dylan Schmidt Mike Gehrer, who left the school in 2005 to helped the Crusaders to a one-win improve- begin his athletic training business, was ment in 2011 the string of playoff appearback on staff as an assistant the past three seasons. ances would end, and in a surprising announcement, Schmidt resigned in the spring to take an assistant coaching gig with Gehrer, who led the program to a 126-32 his home town of Andale. record with two state championships from 1990-2004 has accepted the challenge of He told The Wellington Daily News, “It leading the Spartans in 4A after years as a was the toughest professional decision I’ve 3A program. ever had to make.”

Gehrer’s staff will have a similar look as in The Crusaders welcome their third coach in recent years with Troy Black, Phil Keys, as many seasons as former Wichita Trinity and even Messamore to continue as assiscoach Tyler Ryan accepted the Wellington tants. job this spring.

If the Spartans are going to make a long playoff run in 4A they will have to find In two seasons as head coach at Trinity he replacements for Oklahoma State commit led the Knights to 5-4 and 4-5 seasons.

Trace Clark, a force on the defensive line, Trinity opened the 2011 season 4-1 before and four year starter at linebacker, Myles dropping their final four games of the seaCopeland. Both players were also anchors son. They were outscored 180-41 in those of the Spartan o-line. losses.

Ryan served as an assistant at Wichita East before taking the head coaching position at Wichita Trinity.

3-6 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division IV Coach: Tyler Ryan (1st year, 3rd year overall, 9-9) Assistants: N/A Offense: Flexbone/Wishbone Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A

One spot that won’t have Gehrer worried though is quarterback, where athletic Markus Phox returns for his third season as a starter. Phox is also a key component of the defense, starting in the secondary since his freshman year.

Phox will also have one of the top wide receivers in the state to throw to in 6-2, 170 pound senior Spenser Schooler. Schooler is a two-time All AVCTL wide receiver selection and is also an excellent defensive back John Baetz and returner on special teams.

Isaiah Franklin is the team’s top rushing threat and will combine with Phox, Schooler and Forrest Short to give Collegiate possibly the most experienced and talented secondary in all of 4A.

W infield

Senior Josh Horn and junior Elijah Muldrow both earned second-team honors as defensive linemen, while senior linebacker Travis Allender, senior defensive end/linebacker Trevor Richardson and defensive backs Anthony Soto, Aubrey Herlocker and Sam Camp were honorable mention All-League selections.

The inform ation source for Kansas H igh School Football

Winfield also returns senior Ryan Minton and juniors Logan Mays and Brandon Rolo in the secondary.

The goals for the Viking defense are to create turnovers and not allow big plays, coach Justin Price said.

N EW S

Winfield’s spread offense will have a new signal caller in 2012, but he’ll operate behind an experienced offensive line anchored by Richardson, Allender and Muldrow, all honorable mention AllLeaguers a season ago.

Soto and Mays both earned All-League honorable mention as receivers while junior Jordan Johnson was recognized as one of the league’s top running backs and Camp was honored as a tight end.

“We will come into the season still young but pretty experienced,” Price said. “We must mature and improve week after week, and figure out our roles offensively and defensively.”

4-5 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division III Coach: Justin Price (6th year, 21-34) Assistants: Todd Randall, Briant Osborn, Andrew Brenn, Richard See, Brandon Sams, George Lowe, Adolphus Denson, Ade Manga Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 9 Defense Anthony Soto, WR/DB, 5-8, 140, Sr.; Trevor Richardson, OL/LB, 6-1, 205, Sr.; Ryan Minton, WR/ DB, 5-8, 155, Sr.; Sam Camp, WR/LB, 5-10, 165, Jr.; Logan Mays, WR/DB, 6-1, 165, Jr.; Jordan Johnson, RB/DE, 5-9, 200, Jr.; Brandon Rolo, RB/ DB, 5-8, 140, Jr.; Aubrey Herlocker, WR/DB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Travis Allender, OL/LB, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Josh Horn, OL/DL, 5-11, 260, Sr.; Elijah Muldrow, OL/DL, 5-11, 225, Jr. Melanie McGee

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If the Spartans can develop new talent on their offensive and defensive lines the transition to 4A could reap huge rewards.

8-3 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 4A Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division IV Coach: Mike Gehrer (1st year, 16th year overall, 126-32) Assistants: Troy Black, Phil Keys, Bill Messamore Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A John Baetz

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

CLASS 3A

Page 70

12 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Stanten Krone [Beloit] 6-0, 220, FB/LB, Sr.; Second Team All-League

CLASS 3A KPREPS.COM PRESEASON RANKINGS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Silver Lake Scott City Conway Springs Garden Plain Beloit

Others: Caney Valley, Galena, Phillipsburg, Riverton, Rossville, St. Mary’s Colgan

M a r k S chr em m er

Brady Moore [Marysville] 6-6, 212, TE, Sr.; Offer from San Diego State BRY C E C HAVIS SR.• Q B • 5-9 • 175

NE S TA N TEN K RO SR.• FB/LB • 6-0 • 220

Austin Budke [Beloit] 6-5, 193, TE/OLB, Sr.; All-League TE/LB Bryce Chavis [Riley County] 5-9, 175, QB, Sr.; Three-Year Starter

Peyton Newell [Hiawatha] 6-3, 270, TE/DE, Jr.; 13 Big 10, Big 12, Pac 12 Offers Sean Newlan [Phillipsburg] 6-2, 195, QB, Sr.; Three-Year Starter Pete Pfannenstiel [Silver Lake] 5-11, 170, RB/S, Sr.; 123 tackles, 796 yards rushing Greyson Spriggs [Riverton] 6-0, 161, QB/LB, Sr.; Three-Year Starter

Denver Doyle [Garden Plain] 6-2, 200, RB/LB, Sr.; Hon. Mention All State

Cody Stetler [Hoisington] 6-8, 230, TE/DE, Sr.; All-League

Drew Kite [Scott City] 6-4, 190, TE/LB, Sr.; 117 tackles in ‘11

Garrison Wright [Marysville] 6-4, 270, OL/DL, Sr.; 52 tackles, 4.5 sacks in ‘11

Eagles have won seven state championships (1981, 1984, 1989, 1991, 1997, 2006, 2010) and have finished second In many ways, the Conway Springs nine more times (1980, 1995, 2002, 2003, Cardinals have been Kansas high school 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011). football’s forgotten dynasty.

Silver Lake head coach C.J. Hamilton, Conway Springs isn’t a big school with loads of players who have gone on to play who captured the record for most wins in Kansas high school football history last at the Division I level like Olathe North season, produced one of his most impresand Hutchinson. The Cardinals didn’t go on any ridiculous winning streaks like the sive coaching efforts in his 36th season Smith Center Redmen and the St. Mary’s for the Eagles.

Coming off a 2010 state title, the Eagles Colgan Panthers.

Yet the Cardinals’ success can’t be ques- entered the 2011 season with only one starter returning on offense and two on tioned. defense. Silver Lake was able to improve Conway Springs has advanced to the through the course of the season, beating playoffs 12 times since 1998, winning Council Grove, Riley County, Galena and seven state championships (1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2011) during that Rock Creek in the playoffs.

Hamilton finished the season with a time.

The school’s seventh title came this past career record of 344-83. Entering his 37th fall when the Cardinals finished 13-1 and season, Hamilton will have a lot more dominated the Silver Lake Eagles 49-7 in experience to work with.

The Eagles return eight starters on the Class 3A state championship at offense and seven on defense. Senior Hutchinson.

Evan Burdiek (5-9, 130) and junior Dailin The Cardinals enter the 2012 season Kruger (5-8, 150) will compete for time at minus All-State Top 11 lineman Matt Seiwert, as well as five others who earned quarterback after sharing the starting role last season. The pair combined to throw All-State recognition.

Conway Springs returns only four start- for more than 1,800 yards last season. The Eagles also return All-State defensive ers on offense and three on defense, back Pete Pfannenstiel (5-11, 170). graduating key skill position players, as Scott City returns 25 lettermen from last well as offensive linemen. year’s 11-1 team that cruised until falling Don’t count out Conway Springs’ 39-21 to Conway Springs in the state chances of making a run at another 3A quarterfinals. title, however. Teams like the Cardinals Beavers quarterback Brett O’Neil (6-1, tend to reload rather than rebuild.

160) earned All-State honors after throw“Conway Springs will be young for the ing for 1,467 yards and 14 touchdowns as 2012 season,” said coach Matt Biehler, who has led the Cardinals to a 36-3 record a junior. O’Neil will be joined by a couple over the past three seasons. “We will have more All-State players in lineman Michael McEachern (6-0, 250) and running back good depth at the skill positions.

Dalton Buehler (5-10, 205). Buehler ran Replacing veteran linemen will be a key.

The junior varsity was undefeated during for 932 yards and 16 TDs last season.

“Our goals are to represent the comthe 2011 season. Early season varsity munity of Scott City the best we can,” experience will be important.”

Scott City head coach Glenn O’Neil said.

All-State linebacker Tanner Wood (6-5, “To accomplish these goals we will play 235) will lead a defense that held oppowith class, play as hard as we can, and nents to 14 points or fewer in 11 of 14 games. Wood could move to fullback after keep sportsmanship at the top of our priority list.” two years as the starting quarterback.

After having a 10-1 record in 2011, the Silver Lake, last year’s state runner-up, Sedgwick Cardinals will try to rebound is another perennial 3A contender. The For Kansas Pregame

These twelve players will be ones to watch in Class 3A this fall:

from the graduation of a talented senior class.

“We have to replace an outstanding 2011 senior class,” Sedgwick head coach Jeff Werner said. “How well players step into new roles on the team will be key. We will have to keep evolving as a program and improving each week.”

All-State linebacker Logan Thompson (6-2, 225) will lead the Sedgwick defense.

Garden Plain, the only team to defeat Conway Springs last season, returns AllState lineman Tyler Puetz. Brad McCormick, an assistant for nine seasons, takes over as head coach of the Owls.

Rock Creek returns one of the best linemen in the classification with All-State senior Jordan Ebert (6-0, 265). In addition to Ebert, the Mustangs return seven other starters on offense and four others on defense. Silver Lake edged Rock Creek 14-13 in last year’s 3A semifinals.

Beloit returns eight starters on each side of the ball from last year’s 9-3 squad. AllState tight end Austin Budke (6-5, 205) gives Trojans quarterback Payton Vetter (6-3, 190) a good target in the passing game.

Senior quarterback Greyson Spriggs will direct the Riverton Rams offense for the third consecutive season. The Rams started strong last season with a 4-0 record, but then lost four of their next five games and missed the playoffs.

The Galena Bulldogs are hoping their offense can flourish against better competition this season. The Bulldogs aver-

aged 38 points during their eight wins but scored only 7.5 points per game in their four losses. Galena will look to junior quarterback Nick Sievert and senior running backs Tyler VanCleave, JJ Helton and Trenton Little to provide the team more offensive consistency.

With it being the first year of a two-year classification cycle, several traditional powers move up to 3A this season.

St. Mary’s Colgan, which won seven state titles at the 2-1A level, enters the program’s first season in 3A. However, the Panthers will be without 20 seniors , including All-State running backs and linebackers Zach and Christian Smith and All-State kicker Austin Barone. Despite the obstacles, Colgan still has one of the most successful coaches in state history leading the troops. Chuck Smith is 303-63 in his career as a head coach.

Riverside finished 9-2 last season, but the Cyclones will have to deal with the loss of 13 seniors and moving up to Class 3A. Salina-Sacred Heart moves up to 3A after finishing 6-4 last season and falling to Plainville in the first round of the 2-1A playoffs. The Knights return nine starters on each side of the ball.

The St. Marys Bears, 4-6 in 2011, return to 3A after going 0-4 against 3A teams last season.

A pair of great programs also are leaving 3A, as Wichita Collegiate moves up to 4A and Smith Center goes back down to 21A.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 71

tanner wood CONWAY SPRINGS CARDINALS To m W ither sp o o n For Kansas Pregame

At first, it would seem like a good question to ask a small-town football player who will get the opportunity to play next year for nationally reemergent Kansas State on scholarship: What does it feel like to be Rivals.com’s third-ranked Kansas prospect in a high school of 223 students?

“Everybody in the town knows about it,” said Tanner Wood, the middle linebacker for Class 3A state champion Conway Springs, “because everything spreads real quick.”

But then, the small town of Conway Springs consistently has produced talented football players for over 15 years now. Wood is the latest football player from the Sumner County town to have a legitimate chance at success at the Division I football level. The pictures and plaques in the high school weight room give ode to the

players of the past who have gone from farm to football repute.

Good luck finding proof that Wood is deserving of the Rivals rank and K-State scholarship on the basis of what shows up in the headlines, game stories and box scores.

As the Conway quarterback the last two seasons, Wood blocked more than ran the ball, deferring to Brian Doffing and Cory Misak, graduates who combined for over 3,000 rushing yards last season. Wood did not gain a yard rushing or passing in last year’s 49-7 state-title win over Silver Lake. On the season, Wood rushed for 180 yards and seven touchdowns and passed for 530 and eight touchdowns.

Wood expects to play middle linebacker again this season, while adding some fullback duties, instead of quarterback.

“I think they’re moving me. So far that’s what it looks like,” Wood said in the mid-June during pre-season

workouts. “I’m looking forward to the chance to run the ball. Last year I was lead blocker, and this year I’ll get to run the ball. Last year, if we ever threw, I’d get a hand off from Cory or Brian and drop back and throw.”

In Conway Springs’ single-wing offense, on most of the snaps, the quarterback is a lead blocker, and the snap goes to the fullback. “I’ll miss (quarterback) because I was pretty good at it, throwing my weight around and hitting people.”

How’s that for a unique quote from a quarterback?

Wood did not throw or carry the ball in the state title game against Silver Lake because he broke his hand in the state quarterfinal against Scott City. “I just ledblock,” Wood said. “It’s doing really good (now).

“I don’t know (how I broke it). I didn’t feel it because my adrenaline was pumping so much. After the game,

Continued on page 74 Photo by Dena Sorensen

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 72

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A good group of seniors will lead the way for Chaparral, which struggled to a 1-8 record in 2011, but hopes to be significantly improved this fall.

Brian Seba enters his fourth season at Belle Plaine coming off a winning season in which they were a win away against Douglass from making the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

Paced by its offense, Beloit has become one of 3A’s top programs. The Trojans have won at least seven contests in each of the last five years, including two 10-win seasons. In the last four falls, Beloit has won at least one playoff game. Last year, Beloit tallied 544 points, second-most in Class 3A.

The Wildcats began the 2011 season with high expectations after winning a district title in 2010, but were decimated by injuries during district play and missed the playoffs with a 5-4 record. Just four players return with full-time starting experience, though Burlington has a number of others who saw action in the final two games.

It marked the fifth straight season Beloit ranked in the top-seven in the classification in scoring offense. Conway Springs and Beloit have ranked 1-2 in each of the last two years in 3A, according to preppowerindex.com.

“We lost six starters in the last two games last year,” coach Rusty Emling said.

“That’s just part of football, but we didn’t have the younger kids ready to step up and they’re going to have to this year.”

ROAD RUNNERS

“Experience will be abundant with a very solid senior class leading the way,” said coach Justin Burke. “If quarterback Zach Duwe can have a big year, with All-CPL receiver Major Weiss, Conner Dickey and Justin Struble in the backfield and a big, solid, experienced line led by Clay Wilcox, a great season could be on the horizon.”

“I took this job over three years ago, coming off an 0-9 season, and we had probably 25 kids our first year,” said Seba. “I think we’ll be a solid 47-48 (this year). I tried to be real positive with the kids and give them an opportunity, and we’ve gotten better, and they’re more interested in being part of something that’s more productive.”

Duwe threw for over 1,000 yards last season while Wilcox was a first-team All-CPL pick on the line. Seniors Jeremy Gaug, Cade Stierwalt and Tevin Walker return to the line, as does sophomore Eric Hurt.

Belle Plaine returns most of its experience at the line of scrimmage, with returning starters Ryan Willms, Sebastian Brown, Austin Johnson and Tone Heath.

Defensively, the Roadrunners simply must improve in order to be competitive in the Central Plains League.

“This is a season of unknowns for us,” said Seba. “We have kids who are waiting their turn, chomping at the bit, ready to take advantage of their opportunities.”

“The defensive unit was picked apart last year and is a huge concern for this season,” Burke said. “However, experience among the front seven will be key and our young, talented defensive backs must be ready to go this year.”

Chaparral returns five defensive linemen in addition to Dickey and Struble at linebacker. Duwe, Weiss and junior Nick Shaw are back to lead the secondary.

The Roadrunners open with back-to-back home games against Wichita Trinity and Garden Plain, which both posted winning records in 2011, before finishing with six opponents who finished at or below .500.

1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A Central Plains League Coach: Justin Burke (3rd year, 8-11; 16th year overall, 69-45) Assistants: Taylor Zeka, Mike Reed, Britt Whealy Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 9 Defense Clay Wilcox, OL/DL, 6-1, 295, Sr.; Zack Duwe, QB/ DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Major Weiss, WR/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Conner Dickey, RB/LB, 6-1, 220, Jr.; Jeremy Gaug, OL/DL, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Nick Shaw, DB, 6-1, 165, Jr.; Cade Stierwalt, OL/DL, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Justin Struble, RB/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Tevin Walker, OL/DL, 6-1, 215, Sr.; Eric Hurt, OL/DL, 6-1, 260, So. Melanie McGee

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Conway Springs, Wichita Collegiate and Garden Plain overwhelmed Belle Plaine last season, but Seba felt like his team contended in every other game. “We were better,” he said. “The other six we felt like we should have won. We came up an extra point short against Douglass.”

Seba intends for the team to be more consistent than last season and to be tough physically and mentally.

“All indications are these guys have put themselves through the grinder in the weight room,” said Seba. “We brought in a speed camp and had 30 guys involved in that. We averaged over 40 kids at camp and at the weight room they stepped up, so I hope all hard work pays off like the coaches have been telling them.”

5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Central Plains League Coach: Brian Seba (4th year, 8-19; 6th year overall, 21-25) Assistants: Jason Jinkens, Dave Balsters, Dave Martin, Kevin Jerrick Offense: Flex Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 6 Defense Ryan Wilms, OL/DL, 6-0, 235, Sr.; Sebastian Brown, OL/DE, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Austin Johnson, OL/ DE, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Dalin Mead, WR/DB, 5-7, 170, Sr.; Quay Hervey, WR/LB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Zach Thornbrugh, RB/LB, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Bryson Gann, WR/DB, 6-3, 165, Sr.; Tone Heath, OL/DL, 5-9, 210, Jr.; Chase Curl, RB/LB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Harry Busick, WR/LB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Brett Gooch, LS, 5-11, 166, So. Tom Witherspoon

B eloit

Beloit graduated lineman Jacob English, a University of Wyoming signee, but does return senior Jake Barrett and junior Bryce Black, each first team all-league players.

Other returners include senior Bowe Behymer, first team all-league defensive lineman, and senior Austin Budke, a first team all-league linebacker.

16 74 K a n sa s14 Hw y,Belo it 785 -73 8-25 5 1

The Wildcats do return quarterback Korbin Ratzlaff for his third season under center.

The senior completed 25 of 66 passes for five touchdowns, plus ran for three scores and an average of 4.1 yards per carry in Burlington’s first five games.

“We have to stay healthy, develop depth, and get better all season long,” coach Greg Koenig said.

Two members of the offensive line are back after paving the way for a 1,300 yard rusher last fall. Alec Smith and Bryan Parra will have some new backs behind them, but many underclassmen got a taste of running the ball late last season.

Beloit, long-known for its size in its double-wing offense, will bring back eight starters on each side of the ball. Six starters weigh at least 200 pounds, including the 6foot-1, 265-pound Barrett and the 5-11, 265-pound Black.

On defense, Burlington brings back Parra, Smith and fellow senior Chase Beyer on the line. The entire linebacking corps is gone, and Ratzlaff is the lone returner in the secondary.

Payton Vetter returns as the starting quarter- “We lost a lot of kids, so we’ve got to keep back for the third straight year. working and take one game at a time,” Emling said. “We need to play together as a 9-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A / Enrollment team and keep working toward one goal – North Central Activities Association making every play perfect. We’ve got our Coach: Greg Koenig work cut out for us but they’re getting after (7th year, 49-18; 14th overall, 75-67) it in the weight room and hopefully that Assistants: Casey Seyfert, Ryan Isbell, Andy translates to the field.”

Niemczyk, Brandon Cox Offense: Double Wing Defense: 10-1 Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Hunter Post, DL, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Caleb Marshall, DL, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Austin Budke, TE/LB, 6-5, 205, Sr.; Stanten Krone, LB/FB, 6-0, 220, Sr.; Jake Barrett, OL, 6-1, 265, Sr.; Dylan Heidrick, OL, 6-3, 215, Sr.; Cadyn Carter, OL/DL, 6-3, 195, Sr.; Bowe Behymer, RB/LB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Brandon Boeckman, DL, 6-0, 200, Jr.; Bryce Black, OL, 5-11, 265, Jr.; Payton Vetter, QB/DB, 6-3, 190, Jr. Conor Nicholl

Photo by Marion McReynolds

5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Tri Valley League Coach: Rusty Emling (10th year, 60-38) Assistants: Tim Johnson, Doug Stewart, Dave Gilman Offense: I Formation Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 4 Defense Korbin Ratzlaff, QB/S, Sr.; Alec Smith, OT/DT, Sr.; Bryan Parra, OT/NG, Sr.; Chase Beyer, DT, Sr. Melanie McGee File Photo

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C aney V alley

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BULLPUPS

LANCERS

Two years in a row, Caney Valley has If the Southeast Lancers struggle in 2012, reached the state quarterfinals, and the main lack of experience won’t be a valid excuse. goal for the 2012 Bullpups is to get past that round.

Southeast graduated only one senior from last year’s 1-8 team and returns all 11 start“We’d like to get another step. We have ers on each side of the ball. made it to the same round of the playoffs the last two years,” veteran coach Criss “The experience factor carrying over from Davis said. “Our first goal is to win the last year will be a huge benefit,” Southeast league, and our second goal is to make it head coach Clint Rider said. “Having a betfarther than we’ve been in the playoffs.” ter understanding of our new schemes implemented last season will allow us to Caney Valley returns seven offensive start- progress to a more competitive level ers and eight members of the first-team throughout the summer and into the defense from last year’s 11-1 team. season.”

Center Kenny Brown, tackle Levi Wyrick and guards Derek Bayless and Ethan Augustus will form a veteran offensive line.

Junior Johnny Estes returns at one end, while seniors Brian Dixon and Anthony Camper are back in the backfield.

Dixon was Caney Valley’s fullback a year ago, but Davis said he “will probably move to halfback this year.”

The Bullpup defense, which opened the 2011 playoffs with back-to-back shutouts, brings back Bayless, Brown, Wyrick and sophomore Jacob Matthews on the line.

Dixon and junior Dillon Shamblin return at linebacker and senior cornerback Brandon Barlow is also back in the lineup.

“Staying healthy is always a key, especially at our size when you don’t have a lot of subs,” Davis said. “The last two years, we’ve stayed pretty healthy. The second thing is taking care of the ball.”

Rider, in his second year as head coach, will have the Lancers running the pistol spread offense for the second season.

906 E Aven u e A • PO Box 228 Cim arron • 620-855-2874 Good Luck to the Bluejays!

C herryvale

BLUEJAYS

An injury-riddled 2011 campaign provided ample playing opportunities for Cherryvale’s younger players, and 15 Chargers with starting experience are back for coach Harry Hester.

Cimarron returns 12 lettermen from last year’s 2-7 squad and those players will be looking to lead their team to a better record in 2012.

“2011 was a unique season as we battled through four season-ending injuries, three of those being two-way starters,” he said.

“We started 22 different players on offense and 18 on defense. The positive side of that is our younger players had an opportunity to experience Friday night football. I felt as our lineup was able to become consistent, our younger players improved week to week against quality competition, which will only help us in 2012.”

Cherryvale brings back senior Jake Hammer and junior Zach Trim with starting Senior Josh Thompson will direct the experience under center, as well as senior offense at quarterback. He will have his Drew Housel and junior Tristan Thornton, main targets back with Daniel Peak, Ryan who each started four games at running Rakestraw and Caleb Biancarelli at receiver back. Housel was averaging nine yards per and Jason Reed at tight end. Peak earned carry when he sustained a season-ending All-State honorable mention last season. injury in week four.

Shaughnessy earned second-team AllLeague honors in 2011 and will be back to anchor the offensive line along with Cervantes and senior Austin Flores.

“Success early will be big,” Minneman Cherryvale’s schedule includes four playoff said. “We will be playing several players teams from 2011, plus a perennial playoff who don’t have a lot of varsity experience. team from Oklahoma and Class 4A Iola.

Our success will depend on if we can find some balance on offense. Our offensive line 2-7 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A has a chance to be very solid and we will Tri-Valley League have some speed on the field so we need to Coach: Harry Hester be able to spread the field.”

(5th year, 26-13; 10th year overall, 44-42 overall) Assistants: Casey Lickteig, David Smedley, Josh Pfeiffer, Jared Han, Rodney Vigil, Chad Knight, Josh Addis, Aaron Rehmert Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 13 Offense, 11 Defense Drew Housel, RB, 5-10, 168, RB/DE, Sr; Jake Hammer, WR/QB/CB, 5-11, 141, Sr.; Jeremy Goodwin, OT/OLB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Curtis Hodges, OT, 6-0, 184, Sr.; Zach Trim, QB/WR/CB/P/K, 5-10, 151, Jr.; Tristan Thornton, RB/DT/LB/PK, 5-6, 188, Jr.; Cole Wenino, LB/DL, 5-7, 161, Jr; Hunter Robinson, WR, 5-9, 158, Jr.; Cody Hockett, OL/RB/ DT/LB, 5-6, 204, Jr.; Grant Robinson, OG, 5-7, 258, Jr.; Jesse John, WR/FS, 6-0, 179, So.; Jordan Ellis, OT, 5-8, 173, So.; J.D. Gastineau, LB, 5-7, 152, So.; Kaden Housel, DE, 5-10, 162, So.; Dalton Menzer, DT, 5-10, 237, So. Melanie McGee

2-7 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A Hi-Plains League Coach: Doug Minneman (4th year, 10-27) Assistants: Van Keaton Offense: Pistol Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Aidan Shaughnessy, OL/DL, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Alex Neuschafer, RB/LB, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Austin Flores, OL, 5-10, 230, Sr.; Pancho Cervantes, OL/LB, 6-0, 240, Sr.; Isaac Stanley, DB, 5-10, 150, Jr.; Josh Meis, DE, 6-0, 180, Sr. Melanie McGee

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On offense, Doug Minneman’s squad returns four starters. Neuschafer is coming off a second-team All-League season at running back. He ran the ball 156 times for 737 yards and seven touchdowns last year.

“Our key component has been the offseason progression our players have made in the weight room,” Rider said. “Their work ethic and the gains they have made in the offseason have been outstanding.”

2012 Schedule

Pla in ville a t O berlin -Deca tu rCo .

O a kley a t Sm ith Cen ter a t Ho isin gto n

Junior defensive back Isaac Stanley is also back in the lineup after picking off two passes during the 2011 season. Senior linebacker/safety Josh Meis and and senior linebacker Pancho Cervantes also have varsity experience under their belts.

Six offensive and defensive linemen are back with starting experience, including honorable mention All-League selection Jeremy Goodwin.

PHILLIPSBURG PANTHERS 31 07 14 21 28

The Bluejays bring back first-team AllLeague defensive lineman Aidan Shaughnessy, who made 58 tackles and five sacks as a junior. Senior linebacker Alex Neuschafer, the team’s leader with 77 tackles last season, also returns after earning second-team All-League honors.

Many of the same players from offense will lead the Lancer defense. Jarrod Watson, Phillip Underwood, Avi Sharma and Biancarelli will lead the secondary.

1-8 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coach: Clint Rider (2nd year, 1-8) Assistants: Frank Pittman, Nick Cheney, David Caney Valley’s district opponents are Cherryvale, Erie and Neodesha, three teams Dainty Offense: Pistol Spread Defense: 4-3 they beat last year by an average of 47-9.

Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 11 Offense, 11 Defense 11-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Josh Thompson, QB/MLB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Colten Tri-Valley League Charlton, RB,5-8, 165, So.; Daniel Peak, WR, 6-0, Coach: Criss Davis Sr.; Ryan Rakestraw, WR/OLB, 6-1,165, So.; Assistants: Kyle Cost, Jeff Wyrick, Robert Osborn 160, Caleb Biancarelli, WR/S, 5-9, 162, So.; Jason Reed, Offense: Wishbone Defense: 5-2 TE/DE, 6-0, 185,Sr.; Justin Galloway, RT/DT, 5-11, Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Sr.; Bryce Blockburger, RG, 5-10, 235,So.; Kenny Brown, C/DT, Jr.; Derek Bayless, G/NG, Sr.; 237, Bryan Horgan, C/OLB, 5-11, 163, Sr.; Joseph Smith, Ethan Augustus, G, So.; Levi Wyrick, T/DE, So.; LG, 5-9, 146, Sr.;Cameron Clark, LT/DT, 6-1, 233, Johnny Estes, E, Jr.; Brian Dixon, FB/LB, Sr.; Riley Ulery, DE, 6-2, 177, So.; JarodWatson, Anthony Camper, HB, Sr.; Jacob Matthews, DT, So.; Jr.; CB, 5-6, 130, So.; Phillip Underwood, CB, 5-10, Dillon Shamblin, LB, Jr.; Brandon Barlow, CB, Sr. 170, So.; Avi Sharma,S, 5-8, 139, Sr. Melanie McGee Mark Schremmer

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The defending 3A champions will be young in 2012, but if a few young players step up, Conway Springs could be in the mix for a second straight state title.

The Braves return 14 lettermen from the 2011 team that finished as district runner-up and they’ll look to build on that playoff berth this season.

The goal is simple for Douglass this year: Get better every day. Third-year coach Jeff Ast said improved blocking and tackling will be critical to his team’s success.

Senior Tanner Wood returns after starting the past two seasons at quarterback in coach Matt Biehler’s single wing offense. He’ll figure to get more carries with the Cardinals’ top two running backs lost to graduation and that may involve a move to the fullback position – the main ball carrier in the single wing.

Eight seniors – including two-year starters Cale Buchman and Tyler Stone – return to lead Council Grove. The Braves started last season 0-3 before beating Mission Valley 35-14 in week four.

“We have to get better every day if we are going to compete,” he said. “We will be young and hope to get better every day at the fundamentals.”

CARDINALS

Ryan Pauly, another senior, also returns to the backfield and looks to see his role increase. Add in junior Brady Bodine and its easy to see why Biehler said his team has good depth at the skill positions.

They went into district play with a 1-5 record but won the final two games of the regular season – 56-22 over Northern Heights and 36-22 over Burlington – to claim a spot in the postseason.

Four All-League performers and seven other seniors are gone from that team, meaning that coach Jim Collins has some holes to fill.

D ouglass

The Bulldogs finished as district runner-up last season and made the playoffs but were quickly bounced by eventual Class 3A Champion Conway Springs, 46-8.

Douglass returns 12 lettermen from that team, including four offensive starters and five members of the first-team defense.

Fullback Ryker Greenbaum and running back Avery McNelly will team up with a new starting quarterback – Chase Banister.

In addition to Buchman and Stone, seniors The trio will work behind a line led by Eduardo Acosta, Zack Craige, Tyler Degad, Hunter Ackerman and Braiden Seal.

Madison Marsch, Josh Pollock and Tanner Zimmerman will need to become team Defensively, Ackerman and Seal figure to Conway Springs does return seniors Levi leaders. anchor the line while Greenbaum returns to Bond and Derek Martin on the offensive a linebacker spot. McNelly and Cody line and senior Quincy Pohlman up front on The Braves also return eight juniors and Holthaus bring experience to the Bulldog defense. Senior Carl Leahy is one of three eight sophomores from the 2011 team. secondary. returning starters at linebacker, and Pauly is back at free safety.

Council Grove has a new group of district Douglass will face three familiar foes in opponents in Mission Valley, Rossville and district action. The Bulldogs open with trips Biehler expects seniors Quientenn Hanafin St. Marys. to Chaparral and Belle Plaine before hostand Josh Nieses and junior Ethan Roth to ing Conway Springs in the regular season step up on the offensive and defensive lines, 3-7 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A finale. A year ago, Douglass beat Chaparral Flint Hills League while juniors Alec Stanley (RB/DB) and 40-12 and Belle Plaine 14-12, but lost to Coach: Jim Collins Rhein Salsbery (RB/LB) should also see Conway Springs twice.

(6th year, 15-34; 9th year overall, 20-63) increased playing time in 2012.

“Replacing veteran linemen will be a key,” he noted. “The junior varsity was undefeated during the 2011 season, but early season varsity experience will be important.”

The Cardinals will likely be the favorite in a district that includes Belle Plaine, Chaparral and Douglass.

13-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Central Plains League Coach: Matt Biehler (4th year, 36-3) Assistants: Fred Cottrell, Brent Martens, Gregg Hullinger, Ryan King, Darrin Seiwert, Brent Andra Offense: Single Wing Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 3 Defense Tanner Wood, QB/LB, 6-5, 235, Sr.; Ryan Pauly, RB/FS, 6-1, 155, Sr.; Levi Bond, OL, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Derek Martin, OL, 5-10, 195, Sr.; Brady Bodine, RB/ LB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Carl Leahy, LB, 6-1, 205, Sr.; Quincy Pohlman, DL, 5-7, 180, Sr. Melanie McGee

Assistants: Jay Doornbos, Joe Buchanan Offense: I Formation Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Cale Buchman, Sr.; Tyler Stone, Sr.; Eduardo Acosta, Sr.; Madison Marsch, Sr.; Tanner Zimmerman, Sr.; Josh Pollock, Sr.; Zack Craige, Sr.; Tyler Degand, Sr. Melanie McGee

Wood / from 71 coach Biehler’s dad shook my hand and squeezed it hard and that’s when I felt it.”

Among all the yards gained and games won last season, the most telling statistic for the Conway Springs team may be the lack of a stat line for Wood in the rematch with Garden Plain in sub-state last season: after Wood had completed 2 of 9 passes for 55 yards and lost 17 yards rushing the ball in a 19-13 regular-season loss to Garden Plain, he did not rush or attempt a single pass in the 38-14 substate win over the Owls. Conway Springs football is all about blocking for the fullback.

On defense, Wood led the team last season in tackles, with 42 solo and 46 assisted, including 11 for a loss of 34 yards. But more than stat lines, it’s proba-

bly better to first look at Wood’s frame for why he’s one of the state’s best football players -- six-foot-five, 235 pounds and lean. His defensive statistics also are telling, as Wood was recruited to K-State at linebacker and possibly d-line. After all, at 235 pounds now, and former Cardinal teammate Matt Seiwert gained 20 pounds over this summer, his first in the K-State program, there’s no telling what Wood’s size will be in college.

“I really look forward to defense,” Wood said. “That’s my favorite spot on the field.”

There’s no doubt Wood is the latest among a line of strong bodies put out by the Conway Springs football program.

For the Cardinals, it’s always been about blocking, tackling and a cloud of dust.

5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A Central Plains League Coach: Jeff Ast (3rd year) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Ryker Greenbaum, FB/LB; Avery McNelly, RB/DB, Hunter Ackerman, OL/DL, Braiden Seal, OL/DL; Cody Holthaus, DB. Melanie McGee

E aston-P leasant R idge RAMS

Pleasant Ridge will have plenty of changes this season with a new coach and five new starters on each side of the ball. Pat McCollim, a former Washburn Rural assistant, said that “learning the new schemes” will be critical to his team’s success. The Rams, 5-4 in 2011, also need to work hard in the weight room and summer conditioning programs.

Four starters from the offensive line are back for Pleasant Ridge, which averaged better than 211 rushing yards per game last year. Seniors Dusty Bardroff, Aaron Brown, Robert Caya and Kyle Jones will again anchor the front line, with junior running backs Blake Graham and Kyle Lansing working behind them.

Graham averaged 6.5 yards per carry with two touchdowns last season, plus caught a pair of touchdown passes and scored once on a return. He averaged 23 yards per kick return and 33 yards per reception in 2011, earning honorable mention All-League honors as a returner.

Bardroff and Brown both earned AllLeague honors as offensive linemen while Jones was an honorable mention selection.

Defensively, the Rams return Bardroff, Caya, Jones and senior James Farmer (a first-team All-Leauger) in the trenches, Brown at linebacker and Graham in the secondary.

Brown picked off two passes and recovered two fumbles in 2011 while Bardroff, Caya, Farmer and Jones each had at least one sack.

Pleasant Ridge is in a tough district with defending state runner-up Silver Lake (12-2 in 2011), Maur Hill Mount Academy (4-5 in 2011) and Atchison County (8-2 in 2011).

5-4 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A Delaware Valley League Coach: Pat McCollim (1st year) Assistants: Jim Clay, Steve Watkins, Jason Barnes Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Dusty Bardroff, RT/DE, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Aaron Brown, C/LB, 5-9, 220, Sr.; Robert Caya, RG/DT, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Kyle Jones, LG/DT, 5-11, 250, So.; Blake Graham, RB/DB, 5-7, 140, Jr.; Kyle Lansing, RB, 5“We have to replace quite a few,” Wood 9, 145, Jr.; James Farmer, DT, 6-2, 280, Sr. Melanie McGee said. “We lost 21 seniors, and have just

eight seniors this year.”

With the graduation of Misak and Doffing, this may be the season for Wood to grab headlines for the first time.

Conway Springs, a seven-time state champion going back to the 1998 season, cannot help but enter the 2012 season as a contender as usual behind Wood’s leadership on both sides of the ball. Wood intends to relish his first opportunity to be the leader of a program that has had more than its share of capable leaders who produced on the field when it counted most.

“That will definitely have to be me and Ryan Pauly’s role this year,” said Wood of him and another teammate in the backfield.”

Tom Witherspoon is the former editor of Vype Magazine and a former correspondent for The Wichita Eagle.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 75

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It’s a new era at Ellsworth where Tyler Hampton replaces Ken Windholz, who retired after 12 years of coaching the Bearcats. Hampton spent the past three seasons as defensive coordinator at Clearwater, and was an assistant at nearby Hoisington for six years prior to that.

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Yeah, it may sound cliché, but the Eskridge- The Yellowjackets are coming off a tough Mission Valley Vikings are taking one game 2011 season, but second-year coach Mike at a time for the 2012 season.

Casteel believes his team will be significantly improved this fall.

The motto makes sense when you realize the Vikings lost 10 seniors to graduation “We have more experience and more depth and will be asking several underclassmen to at key positions than last year,” he said. play at the varsity level. Plus, Mission “We have a group of hard-working kids that Three first-team All-League performers Hampton and his staff certainly recognize Valley will be bumped up from Class 2-1A will compete and play hard.” return to lead the Tigers’ pursuit of a second it’s an uphill battle for their first season to 3A for at least the next two seasons. straight district championship. with only eight returning letterman, and Senior Joe Siegele returns under center three returning starters on each side of the “Our No. 1 goal is to go 1-0 each week,” after completing 42 percent of his passes in Mission Valley head coach Lee Weber said. 2011. Junior tailback Brogan Humphrey Several players earned honorable mention ball.

All-State honors from the Topeka Capital“We will have lots of young players at some averaged 3.9 yards per carry and junior fullJournal. Four of them are back for 2012, “Our athletes are going to have a challenge positions. We will have to focus on playing back Luke Plummer is back to build on his including offensive lineman Ben Chalfant in front of them learning new systems in one game at a time.”

4.2 yards per carry average from 2011. and linebacker Taylor Schuetz, both firstevery phase of the game,” said Hampton.

Humphrey also handled kick and punt team All-Delaware Valley League selec“Offense, defense, and special teams will All is not lost for the Vikings, however. return chores with a 15.8 yard average on tions. all be new to our athletes. Our top priority They do return several players with expepunt returns and a 16.6 yard average returnis to learn our systems and understand what rience, including 10 lettermen and several ing kicks.

Senior receiver/kicker Jake Hansen also we’re doing and why we’re doing it.” who started at least some games last year. earned first-team All-DVL and honorable Receiver Brandon Voth, running back Cody mention All-State honors while senior The Bearcats have a solid foundation on “Our key to success will be staying injury Boss, tight ends Dalton Kingery and Cody Ramsey Hundley earned honorable mention both sides of the line with seniors Noah free and having some of our younger play- Martin and linemen Anthony Gonzalez, All-League honors as a specialist and Trapp, Josh Bahr, and Trevor Miley all ers, including several freshmen step up to Devin Howard and Zach Moya also return safety. returning in the trenches. This veteran play at the varsity level.” to the Fredonia offense. group comes off a season in which they paved the way for 280.9 rushing yards per Chalfant, Hundley and Schuetz are also The Vikings also will need to improve on On defense, the ‘Jackets bring back Boss, returning starters on the Atchison County game with an average of 7.6 yards per the defensive end. Mission Valley allowed Humphrey, Siegele and Voth in the seccarry. defense. The Tigers also bring back senior 28.1 points per game last season and gave ondary. Plummer, the team’s leading tackler defensive tackles Quaid Haase and Jared up 30 or more points five times. last season, and Martin are back at lineHoffman.

Defensively, Bahr and Miley finished third backer while the defensive line will be and fourth on the team a year ago with 48 Mission Valley will look to linebackers anchored by Gonzales, Howard, Kingery, Atchison County opens the season with and 47 tackles respectively. Bahr also had a Cody Smallwood, Matt Tennison and John Moya and senior defensive end Braden three straight Delaware Valley League pair of interceptions and recovered a fumSherman.

Higginbotham and defensive linemen North games, then a pair of home games ble.

Colton Conway, Easton Sommer and Gage against Valley Falls and Riverside and a trip Mickey to solidify the Vikings’ 3-4 defense. Fredonia will also look for big things from to Centralia before opening district play.

Ellsworth will be tested early with four of junior lineman/linebacker Tommy Finley, 3-6 in 2011 / 0-4 in district / 3A The Tigers play in a competitive district their first five games on the road. sophomore quarterback/d-back Caleb Flint Hills League with Maur Hill Mount Academy, 3A Crouch and sophomore running back/dCoach: Lee Weber runner-up Silver Lake and Pleasant Ridge. 6-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A back Tyler Stephens.

8-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Delaware Valley League Coach: Blake Alexander (2nd year, 8-2) Assistants: Cody Sprang, John Flores Offense: Spread Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Ben Chalfant, OT/NG, 6-0, 240, Sr.; Jake Hansen, WR, 6-6, 190, Sr.; Taylor Schuetz, RB/LB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Ramsey Hundley, RB/WR/S, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Quaid Haase, DT, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Jared Hoffman, DT, 5-11, 260, Sr. Melanie McGee

North Central Activities Association Coach: Tyler Hampton (1st year) Assistants: Steve Bolton, Grant Wiegers, Caleb Svaty Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 8 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Noah Trapp, OL, 6-3, 195, Sr.; Josh Bahr, OL/DL, 61, 190, Sr.; Trevor Miley, OL/DL, 5-11, 230, Sr.; Takota Anderson, DB, 5-11, 170, So. James Westling

Photo by Mark McCoy

(7th year, 33-23; 12th year overall, 47-55) Assistants: Justin Duncan, Drew Steffen, Mike Otto and Jordan Hysten Offense: Wishbone & Multiple I Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Cody Smallwood¸FB/LB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Colton Marcotte, QB/DB, 6-2, 150, Jr.; Matt Tennison, TB/ OLB, 5-10, 140, Sr.; Trenton Shuler, TB/CB, 5-7, 140, Sr.; Jon Higginbotham, OL/FB/LB 5-9, 190, Sr.; Colton Conway, DL, 5-10, 220, So.; Easton Sommer, OL/DL, 5-9, 185, Sr.; Gage Mickey, OL/ DL, 5-11, 200, Sr. Mark Schremmer

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“We have to do a better job of controlling the ball on offense and sustaining drives,” Casteel said. “Defensively, we must stop the big play and our special teams will need to improve and be more consistent. We are bigger and stronger and we expect to be competitive in the TVL and in district play.”

1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A Tri-Valley League Coach: Mike Casteel (2nd year, 1-8) Assistants: Rex Pope, Darrel Odell, Mark Millar Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 10 Offense, 10 Defense Brandon Voth, WR/DB/K, 6-3, 170, Sr.; Joe Siegele, QB/DB, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Luke Plummer, FB/LB, 5-9, 195, Jr.; Dalton Kingery, TE/NG, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Brogan Humphrey, TB/DB, 5-6, 150, Jr.; Cody Boss, RB/DB, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Braden Sherman, DE, 5-11, 155, Sr.; Anthony Gonzalez, C, 5-6, 250, Sr.; Devin Howard, OG/DT, 5-9, 225, Jr.; Cody Martin, TE/LB, 5-10, 210, Jr.; Zach Moya, OT/DT, 6-3, 280, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

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The Galena Bulldogs may not be the flashiest team in Class 3A, but head coach Beau Sarwinski expects them to be one of the most disciplined.

Garden Plain rolled through the Central Plains League last season and won three playoff games before falling to eventual state champion Conway Springs in the semifinals. This year, the Owls have a new head coach in Brad McCormick, but the expectations are high as usual. McCormick spent six years as an assistant for Garden Plain, and will keep the same base offense and defense as in past seasons.

BULLDOGS

“We will be disciplined, physical, and we will play hard,” Sarwinski said. “(Fans can expect) a physical team that is fundamentally sound and plays hard. We expect to compete hard and take one play at a time.”

OWLS

Galena is coming off an 8-4 record last season when it advanced to the third round of the playoffs before losing to Silver Lake.

The Bulldogs will have to replace four graduated seniors who earned All-State honors, including 3A first-team linebacker Zach Gougler.

Senior lineman Tyler Puetz, an All-League selection on both sides of the ball, is back to anchor the Owl defense along with senior defensive back Dylan Clark and senior linebacker Denver Doyle, both honorable mention All-Staters last season. Senior linebacker Joe Bauer, junior d-back Caleb Arnold and linemen Travis Simon and However, the Bulldogs do return six players Wyatt Lehner also return for Garden Plain’s with starting experience on each side of the defense, which allowed just 17 points per ball. The offense returns junior quarterback game last year.

Nick Sievert (6-0, 160) and senior running backs Tyler VanCleave (6-0, 200), JJ Helton Bauer, Puetz and Simon also return as start(6-0, 175) and Trenton Little (6-0, 200). ers on the offensive line, where Puetz Seniors Jared Carver (6-0, 180) and Ray earned All-State honors as a junior. Arnold Slimp (6-2, 230) return to the o-line. and Lehner are back at tight end while Clark and Doyle return to the backfield and Senior tight end Casey Krei (6-1, 180) and senior Tim Bugner is a returning starter at wide receiver. sophomore running back Logan Johnson (6-0, 180) also figure into the mix.

“We need to focus on the execution of our The Bulldogs need to improve its offensive offense and defense and making sure we do that as a unit,” McCormick said. “We have production against better competition.

Galena averaged 38 points in its eight wins a great schedule that will test us and better prepare us for the playoffs.” but put up only 7.5 points in four losses.

On defense, Galena will use many of the same players with VanCleave, Helton, Little and Carver at linebacker, Sievert as a dback and Slimp on the defensive line.

8-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coach: Beau Sarwinski (6th year, 43-13; 12th overall) Assistants: Brad Price, Tim Parrish, Derik Hunt, Dennis Outt, Martin Burke Offense: Wing-T Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Tyler VanCleave, RB/LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Nick Sivert, QB/DB, 6-0, 160, Jr.; JJ Helton¸RB/LB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Trenton Little, RB/LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Jared Carver, OL/LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Ray Slimp, OL/DL, 6-2, 230, Sr. Mark Schremmer

Photo courtesy Sentinel-Times of Galena

Garden Plain’s schedule includes Conway Springs and Douglass, both playoff teams in 2011, as well as a new group of district opponents in Haven, Hutchinson-Trinity and Kingman.

11-2 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A Central Plains League Coach: Brad McCormick (1st year) Assistants: Greg Gegen, Bob Smith, Eric Rockers, Kody Kasselman, William Bergkamp Offense: Bone Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 4 Defense Dylan Clark, RB/DB, Sr.; Denver Doyle, RB/LB, Sr.; Joe Bauer, OL/LB, Sr.; Tyler Puetz, OL/DL, Sr.; Tim Bugner, WR, Sr.; Travis Simon, OL/DL, Sr.; Wyatt Lehner, TE/DL, Jr.; Caleb Arnold, TE/DB, Jr. Melanie McGee Photo by Everett Royer, Courtesy Kpreps.com

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TROJANS

Southeast of Saline will need to replace most of its skill position players from last year’s district champion team, but the Trojans return almost the entire starting offensive and defensive lines.

Senior Sam Koch and juniors Jacob Pengra, Jonathan Peuchen and Andrew Peuchen are returning starters on the offensive line.

They helped pave the way for a Trojan rushing attack that averaged 276 yards per game last season.

Southeast of Saline’s defense will be anchored by Koch and seniors Michael Hitchcock and Bryant Patry up front. Koch had a team-high eight sacks plus was second on the team with 60 tackles as a junior Senior Grady Profitt and junior Dane Long return at the linebacker positions.

That leaves plenty of holes in the Trojan secondary, and coach Mitch Gebhardt will look to younger players to fill those spots.

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H alstead

DRAGONS For the past two seasons, Halstead has leaned heavily on seniors, and coach Marc Svaty hopes that can be the case again in 2012.

“We have graduated two talented senior classes back to back,” he said. “It is important for this year’s senior class to prepare and play well along with being the leaders and driving force of our team in order to be successful.”

Those seniors include quarterback Jonah McKee, running backs Cory Armendariz and Alex Thibault as well as defensive linemen Jessie Aguirre, Timothy Glassco and Brendon Gundy. Junior Jerry Black returns on the offensive and defensive lines while sophomore Joseph Myers is back at running back and linebacker. Thibault also returns as a defensive back while Gundy was a two-way starter up front last season.

The Dragons will open with six straight Central Kansas League games before diving into district play against Marion, Hillsboro and Moundridge.

“We will need some players without starting experience to step up and play at a high level. If we have a good summer, we should have a fun season,” he said. “Our offensive Svaty said the team’s main goal is to build and defensive lines should be a strength.” on last season’s success. “Our goal is to represent our community and play football games in November,” he added. “The keys Southeast of Saline’s district includes Ellsworth, Lyons and Salina-Sacred Heart. to our season, as always, are to execute our schemes, eliminate turnovers, tackle well Ellsworth and Sacred Heart both made the and do our best to stay healthy.” playoffs last year, finishing 6-4, while Lyons struggled to a 1-8 record in 2011.

8-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A North Central Activities Association Coach: Mitch Gebhardt (3rd year, 11-8; 10th year overall, 38-54) Assistants: Chance Ptacek, Scott Schoenfeld, Kent Jacobsen Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Sam Koch, T/DE, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Jacob Pengra, G, 60, 260, Jr.; Jonathan Peuchen, G, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Andrew Peuchen, T, 5-11, 170, Jr.; Dane Long, LB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Grady Profitt, LB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Michael Hitchcock, DT, 6-7, 365, Sr.; Bryant Patry, DE, 6-0, 175, Sr. Melanie McGee

Photo by Marion McReynolds

6-3 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Central Kansas League Coach: Marc Svaty (5th year, 24-23) Assistants: Greg Enns, Curtis Myers, Tony Hoops Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Jerry Black, OL/DL, 5-10, 200, Jr.; Jonah McKee, QB, 5-4, 155, Sr.; Cory Armendariz, RB, 5-6, 170, Sr.; Alex Thibault, RB/DB, 5-4, 170, Sr.; Brendon Gundy, OL/DL, 6-2, 170, Sr.; Jessie Aguirre, DL, 510, 215, Sr.; Joseph Myers, RB/LB, 5-9, 180, So.; Timothy Glassco, DL, 5-10,1 75, Sr. Melanie McGee

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H ays-T M P -M arian MONARCHS

For the last two seasons, Jon Borer installed a pass-heavy, spread offense that broke multiple school records. His defensive coordinator, John Montgomery, led a defense that improved each season. From 2006-09, TMP allowed 39.3 points a game.

In 2010, the Monarchs allowed 34.3 points per game, while TMP permitted 29.1 points per game last season. Last year, the Monarchs went 5-4 for their first winning season since 2002 and came within one game of their first playoff berth since ’02.

Borer, from Nebraska, went back to his home state, and Montgomery has taken over as head coach.

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“All in all, I feel fortunate, because I have been working with the guys for the last two years,” he said. “I feel like we have got some good relationships built and I know what they are capable of and I know how hard I can push them.”

Montgomery has installed a more balanced offense that will have more two-back sets.

He expects to pass about 40 to 50 percent of snaps. The Monarchs passed about 75 percent of the time and averaged 24.7 points per game last season. Defensively, TMP will run a 4-3 for the second straight season. Montgomery said eliminating the big play is key – and believes defense will be one of the team’s strong suits this fall.

Shane Zimmerman, who caught 37 passes for 568 yards and five TDs, will likely take over for all-state quarterback Nick Hammeke. TMP will join the MidContinent League next season, a conference known for their strong football tradition.

5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Mid-Central Activities Association Coach: John Montgomery (1st year) Assistants: James Harris, Bryce Wall, Colby McKinney, Ricky Jacques Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Shane Zimmerman, WR/DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Luke Brull, LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Anthony Walters, OL/DL, 61, 190, Sr.; Nick Schmidt, WR, 5-7, 165, So.; Cameron Fouts, OL/DL, 6-0, 170, So. Conor Nicholl

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Lance Sawyer, formerly at White City, is Hillsboro’s third coach in the last five seasons and will look to extend the Trojans’ streak of six straight playoff appearances.

In 2010, Hoisington missed the playoffs for the first time in seven years with a 6-3 record. Last year, the Cardinals won the Mid-Central Activities Association title, but again fell short of the playoffs with a 5-4 In that span, Hillsboro reached the Class 3A mark. In district play, Hoisington defeated sub-state championship game in 2006, lost Lyons in the first game, but then lost, 14-8, in the second round in ’07 and ’09 and fell to Sterling in Week 8 and fell 34-18 to in the first round the other three seasons, Ellsworth in Week 9. including the past two. Hillsboro has lost three straight postseason contests.

This year, the Cardinals return seven offensive and eight defensive starters from a run“We look to compose our team on expening attack that averaged 243 yards per rienced players who have had success in the game and 6.2 yards a carry. Seven of those past,” Sawyer said. “We have a really good starters are seniors. group of athletes returning that know how to compete. I look forward to bringing in a “The greatest key to our success is senior few different schemes that I hope will help leadership,” coach Jason Ingram said. “We us play fast and loose. We look to build on have a great senior class that is ready to the tradition of Hillsboro High School and help make this season a special one.” continue to compete for the playoffs every year.”

Hagen Hanzlick collected 1,463 rushing yards and 14 rushing TDs on 227 carries.

Sawyer, an Inman alum and a former Alma- He also caught 13 passes for 209 yards and Wabunsee assistant,won 15 games at White a score. The Cardinals bring back their top City in five seasons, but went 7-2 last year, three tacklers in Avery Urban (67 stops), a six-win improvement from 2010, and Peyton Bullard (63 tackles) and Cayton nearly led the Huskies to its first playoff Janousek (58 tackles). appearance since 2004. White City’s only losses were to two-time defending state “Our team is dedicated to becoming a famchampion Madison and perennial playoff ily and improving from last year,” Ingram winner Lebo. At White City, Sawyer ran a said. “The goal of winning league, district spread offense and a 3-2 monster defense. and state are always on the minds of champions. Most important to us is the goal of 5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A enjoying the great game of football and Central Kansas League learning life lessons through this.”

Coach: Lance Sawyer (1st year; 6th overall, 15-30) Assistants: Dennis Boldt, Darrel Knoll, Scott O’Hare Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Lucas Sinclair, QB/DB, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Mitchell Day, RB/DB, 5-7, 135, Sr.; Christian Ratzlaff, WR/DB, 62, 170, Jr.; Tyler Proffitt, RB/DB,6-0, 165, Sr.; Tyrell Thiessen, RB/LB, 5-11, 210, Sr; Tanner Jones, OL/ LB, 5-8,170, Sr.; Nathan Unruh, OL/DL, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Carter Pankratz, OL/DL, 5-11, 280, Sr.; Dylan Jirak, OL/DL, 6-1, 220, Sr.; Shaq Thiessen, WR/DB, 6-0, 155, Sr.; Evan Ollenburger, WR/DB, 5-11, 145, Jr.; Josh Wiebe, TE/DB, 6-2, 175, Sr. Conor Nicholl

5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Mid-Central Activities Association Coach: Jason Ingram (2nd year, 5-4) Assistants: Zach Baird, Matt Koelsch, Kyle Haxton, Tim Woodcock Offense: Pro- I Defense: 50 Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Hagen Hanzlick, RB/DB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Chance Demel, RB/DB, 5-7, 145, Sr.; Cody Stetler, TE/DE, 6-8, 230, Sr.; Trevor Williams, OL/DL, 5-11, 230, Sr.; Cayton Janousek, OL/DL, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Peyton Bullard, OL/LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Cody Richter, OL/DE, 5-10, 205, Sr.; Avery Urban, LB, 6-0, 185, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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The tough Greater West Activities Conference schedule is expected to prepare Holcomb for another playoff run after the Longhorns finished 7-3 in 2011 and return 24 lettermen from that squad. Holcomb went 3-2 in the GWAC in 2011 and face league foes in the first five weeks of 2012.

Change is in the air at Trinity, as Brad Hollinger takes over a Celtics team that is coming off a 6-3 season in 2011. Former coach Sean Racette joins the staff at Hutchinson Community College after posting a 35-9 record in five seasons as the head coach of the Celtics.

The rebuilding project continues at Kingman, which has gone 11-62 in the past eight seasons, but managed two of those wins last year.

Teamwork is the most important thing for third-year Mustang coach Matt Scripsick, who is looking for his team to take a big step forward after going 2-7 last season.

Southwestern Heights returns 10 defensive starters from a unit that was young in 2011 and gave up more than 30 points per game.

“Our first goal is always to compete well in our league,” Johnson said. “We feel that we have one of the toughest leagues in western Kansas. Our second goal is to win our district and make the playoffs.”

Second-year coach Curtis Albin has three All-League players back to lead the charge in 2012. Among those is first-team AllCentral Kansas League linebacker Ryan Boroughs, a 5-10, 170-pound junior.

Trinity returns seven starters on both sides of the ball, but perhaps the most important thing will be how the Celtics adapt to a new coaching staff.

Also returning for Kingman is junior running back Zach Anderson. The second-team Hollinger said that “being open to change All-Leauger carried the ball 73 times for and believing in a new offensive system” 384 yards and three touchdowns in 2011, are among the team’s keys to success. plus was third on the team with 50 tackles from his linebacker spot.

Sophomore linebacker Joey Hale and junior lineman Jerome Miller were second and The Eagles also bring back junior defensive third on the team in tackles last fall while back Braxton Bangert, who made 42 tacksenior linebacker Tom Mailloux picked off les and earned second-team All-League a team-high three passes. honors as a sophomore.

LONGHORNS

The Longhorns’ district includes Cimarron, Southwestern Heights and Lakin, three teams that went 8-20 in 2011.

Holcomb returns senior quarterback Tyler LaSalle, running backs Clay Gilbert and Aaron Hernandez, receivers Jeremy Cox and Heath Tucker, plus offensive linemen Salvador Aldana, Shane Bennett and Max Ramsey. All eight also started for the Longhorn defense last season and will play key roles in 2012.

CELTICS

EAGLES

Trinity started 6-0 and then lost all three district contests to Garden Plain, Halstead and Sedgwick but finished second in the Heart of America League with a 5-1 record.

Albin’s squad will have a new signal caller this fall, and one of the leading candidates for the job is senior Brant Boswell, who saw some action under center last year.

The Celtics will open the 2012 season with two straight road games against Salina Sacred Heart and Moundridge. Trinity hosts Inman in week three, then travels to Whitewater-Remington before starting a LaSalle threw for 1,100 yards and 14 touch- three-game home stand against Sedgwick, downs last season, plus ran for 845 yards Marion and Kingman. Trips to Garden and 14 additional scores. Two of his favor- Plain and Haven will round out the regular ite targets are also back after Gilbert caught season schedule for Hollinger’s squad.

21 passes for 236 yards and Tucker pulled 6-3 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A in 15 for 285 yards. Tucker also handled most of the kick and punt returning duties, Heart of America League Coach: Brad Hollinger averaging better than 17 yards per return.

Kingman will open the season with games at Sunrise Christian Academy and Smoky Valley before hosting Pratt, traveling to Nickerson and then hosting Hesston and Halstead in the final two non-district games.

“Being a smaller school, staying healthy is always a key,” Johnson said. “If we can make it through the season without a bunch of injuries, we have a chance to be competitive.”

7-3 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A Greater West Activities Conference Coach: Jerry Johnson (6th year, 38-21) Assistants: Brandon Hill, Wes Wickwar, Luke Harrington, Kenton Tennel Offense: Pistol Option Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 24 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Tyler LaSalle, QB/CB, 5-10, 150, Sr.; Heath Tucker, WR/FS, 6-2, 170, Jr.; Clay Gilbert, RB/OLB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Jeremy Cox, WR/OLB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Aaron Hernandez, FB/ILB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Shane Bennett, OL/DE, 6-4, 220, Sr.; Max Ramsey, OL/ DE, 6-2, 230, Sr.; Salvador Aldana, OL/DT, 5-8, 205, Sr. Melanie McGee

(1st year; 7th year overall, 41-23) Assistants: Mike Miller, Jonathan Burkhart, Anthony Mendoza Offense: Wing T Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Tom Mallioux, RB/LB, Sr.; Isaac Thibault, DB, Sr.; Chad Pauly, DB, Sr.; Alex Lutz, LB, Sr.; Nathan Eisenbarth, LB, Sr.; Zach Klaers, C, Sr.; Dalton Rodriguez, OL, Sr.; Greg Flores, OL, Sr.; Josh Hermes, OL, Sr.; Spencer Truman, WR/DB, Jr.; Jerome Miller, OL/DL, Jr.; Joey Hale, LB, So.; Pierce Billington, DL, So. Melanie McGee

K ism et-S W H eights MUSTANGS

Seniors Luis Juarez and Tyler Metcalf will be joined on the defensively line by sophomore David Stout and juniors Peter Klassen, Saudy Rodriquez and Saul Sanchez, who can also see time as a linebacker. At linebacker, the Mustangs bring back senior Rogelio Martinez and junior Ivan Chavez, while seniors Ben Johnsrud and Brandon O’Toole return to lead the secondary.

Martinez was second on the team with 54 tackles last season, plus blocked a field goal. Martinez also got his hands on a kick while Chavez forced two fumbles and recovered three during the season.

Offensively, Southwestern Heights brings back Johnsrud under center. He attempted just six passes last season, but ran the ball 78 times for 339 yards and three scores, plus had 18 receptions for 237 yards.

Up front, the Mustangs will lean on Metcalf, Stout, Rodriquez and junior Alexis Loya while O’Toole is back at receiver and The Eagles will open district play Oct. 12 at junior tight end Austin Bond also returns.

Wichita Trinity and conclude the regular season by hosting Haven and Garden Plain. “We have good experience coming back and should compete well with our kids,” 2-7 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Scripsick said, adding the goal is to turn the Central Kansas League program 180 degrees by working as a team.

Coach: Curtis Albin (2nd year, 2-7; 9th year overall, 38-36) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A Ryan Boroughs, LB, JR.; Zach Anderson, RB, Jr.; Braxton Bangert, DB, Jr. Melanie McGee

2-7 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Hi-Plains League Coach: Matt Scripsick (3rd year, 3-15; 7th year overall, 33-32) Assistants: Dan Sanchez, John Baldwin Offense: Pro Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 10 Defense David Stout, T/DE, So.; Austin Bond, TE, Jr.; Peter Klassen, DL, Jr.; Alexis Loya, OL, Jr.; Saudy Rodriquez, OL/DL, Jr.; Saul Sanchez, DL/LB, Jr.; Ivan Chavez, OLB, Sr.; Ben Johnsrud, QB/CB, Sr.; Luis Juarez, DL, Sr.; Rogelio Martinez, RB/LB, Sr.; Tyler Metcalf, T/DE, Sr.; Brandon O’Toole, WR/S, Sr. Melanie McGee

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BRONCS In the last nine years, Lakin has earned seven playoff berths, but has gone 0-7 in that span.

Lakin has lost those games — to Oakley, Garden Plain, Conway Springs, Scott City, Norton (twice) and Phillipsburg — by a combined score of 314-95.

Last year, under returning head coach Jeff Fuss, the Broncs had their first playoff game within 15 points in that span with a 37-28 loss to Phillipsburg. Fuss returned to the Broncs as head coach after 10 seasons at Pratt.

Lakin lost two of their most productive offensive players to graduation.

Quarterback Bryant Miller, who passed for 982 yards with 13 scores against 10 interceptions and running back Chandon Moreno, who rushed for 762 yards and eight scores.

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WARRIORS

Bluestem entered the 2011 season mired in a 24-game losing streak, but the Lions opened October with three straight victories and clinched a spot in the state playoffs for the first time in school history.

Change is in the air at Lyons, which will have a new head coach in James Johnston, who coached for 24 years at South Barber and compiled a 155-87 record with the Chieftains. He’ll look for similar success in the 11-man ranks with the Lions, who have struggled to a 25-51 record in the past eight seasons.

Marion returns 20 lettermen from a squad that went 5-4 in 2011. Veteran coach Grant Thierolf has eight different players with starting experience, including second-team All-League safety Brody Carroll.

Their playoff appearance was short-lived, but second-year coach Kyle Wallis is hoping his team can build off that momentum and take another step forward in 2012.

“Building off the momentum started by last year’s team will be the focus of the football program,” he said. “The kids have been working extremely hard in the weight room and the numbers for the football team continue to increase.”

Johnston’s first squad at Lyons will include nine returning offensive starters and seven members of last year’s first-team defense.

Seniors Daniel Cline and Brett Wilson and junior Alan Pina return to anchor the offensive line while junior Ryan McClure is back under center and senior running backs Lukas Padilla and Luis Rascon also return to the backfield.

Bluestem returns seven members of the first-team defense, including a pair of honorable mention All-League players in senior “The offensive line is going to be a key to lineman Patrick Hurd and sophomore line- our success this year,” Johnston said. The backer Cooper Minnick.

Lions will also return sophomore tight end Grady Kirkhart, junior receiver Angel On defense, Ty Adams returns at one lineSenior Josh Muckenthaler returns after Holguin and senior receiver Matthew backer spot after he led the team with 128 earning honorable mention All-League rec- Vincent. stops in 2011. ognition as the Lions’ punter. He will also man one of the linebacker spots along with That group will strive to improve on a dis“We must get better every day,” coach Jeff classmate Cody Easterday and junior Brett mal season in which the Lions scored just Fuss said of the team’s goals. “Be more Elsen. Bluestem also returns defensive line- 45 points. physical, win league and qualify for the man Logan Haworth and defensive back playoffs.”

Adam Wolfe, both juniors.

On defense, Lyons brings back Cline and Pina up front, Vincent at defensive end, Fuss listed staying healthy and not having Those same players will lead the Lion Rascon at linebacker and Holguin and turnovers as keys to success noting the team offense, which must replace its 2011 quar- Padilla in the secondary. doesn’t have much depth. terback but returns the rest of the backfield.

Johnston said the goal is simple for his Last year, Lakin finished plus-14 in turn“Competing in the tough CPL will test a lot team, “Our goal is to be the best we can over margin, including forcing 27 turnof our young players early,” Wallis said. possibly be.” overs.

“The senior group will once again be asked 1-8 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A to lead a young team. The goal is still the 4-6 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A same: Compete every day and focus on the Central Kansas League Coach: James Johnston Hi-Plains League process.”

Coach: Jeff Fuss (6th year, 34-24; 22nd overall) Assistants: Blain White, Paul Grilliot, Matt Schulz Offense: Wing-T Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 5 Defense Dalton Shalberg, WR/DB, 6-4, 165, Sr.; Gage McAtee, RB/LB, 5-9, 170, Jr.; Montana Fuller, OL/ DL, 6-3, 250, Jr.; Ty Adams, RB/LB, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Kevin Dasenbrock, RB/LB, 6-0, 175, Sr. Conor Nicholl

Carlson s’

Bluestem’s district includes Sedgwick, Whitewater-Remington and Wichita Independent. Sedgwick is the only one of the four to win more than three games in 2011.

3-7 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A Central Plains League Coach: Kyle Wallis (2nd year, 3-7; 4th year overall) Assistants: Scott L’ecuyer, William Bergkamp, Robbie Chandler, John Wise, Kelley Benton Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 7 Defense Patrick Hurd, OL/DL, 6-5, 235, Sr.; Cody Easterday, RB/LB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Cooper Minnick, RB/LB, 5-9, 165, So.; Adam Wolfe, WR/DB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Logan Haworth, OL/DL, 6-0, 220, Jr.; Josh Muckenthaler, RB/LB/P, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Brett Elsen, WR/LB, 6-1, 185, Jr. Melanie McGee

(1st year; 24th year overall, 155-87) Assistants: TBD Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 9 Offense, 7 Defense Daniel Cline, OL/DL, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Angel Holguin, WR/DB, 5-10, 155, Jr.; Grady Kirkhart, TE, 6-3, 185, So.; Ryan McClure, QB, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Lukas Padilla, RB/DB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Alan Pina, OL/DL, 62, 190, Jr.; Luis Rascon, RB/LB, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Matthew Vincent, WR/DE, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Brett Wilson, C, 6-1, 170, Sr. Melanie McGee

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The Warrior defense also returns junior cornerbacks Taylor Heidebrecht and James Jones, senior linebacker Spencer Fugitt and senior defensive linemen Isaac Baldwin and Wiley Lundy.

On offense, Baldwin, Fugitt and senior guard Ethan Hett are back to anchor the line. Senior Jacob Harper and Jones return as receivers and Carroll is a returning starter at running back.

Thierolf said the goals are simple for his team. “Our goals stay the same every year.

We want to have a winning record, win the league championship, win our district and advance into the playoffs,” he said. “We want to play together as a team and be responsible to one another in our assignments. We will see how we come together during the summer and pre-season, but we feel good about our returning players and their capabilities.”

To achieve those goals, Thierolf said hard work, avoiding injuries and establishing team chemistry will be important.

“We will have to continue to work in the weight room to get faster and more explosive. We have to stay healthy in order to keep our best players on the field each week,” he said. “We also must develop that team chemistry that all good teams possess.

As we do that, we have a chance to be a good football team.”

5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Heart of America League Coach: Grant Thierolf (25th year, 144-84) Assistants: Jerry Smith, Shaun Craft, Mark Meyer Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 6 Defense Brody Carroll, RB/FS, 5-9, 150, Sr.; James Jones, WR/CB, 6-3, 182, Jr.; Jacob Harper, WR, 6-2, 168, Sr.; Isaac Baldwin, OT/DT, 5-11, 222, Sr.; Ethan Hett, OG, 6-0, 179, Sr.; Spencer Fugitt, OG/ILB, 6-1, 214, Sr.; Wiley Lundy, DE, 6-0, 178, Sr.; Taylor Heidebrecht, CB, 5-10, 155, CB, Jr. Melanie McGee Photo by Marion McReynolds

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BULLDOGS A year ago, the Bulldogs reeled off three straight wins to take a 3-1 record, but tough competition down the stretch led to a fivegame losing streak to end the season.

LIONS

The Lions will look to improve on a 3-6 record as they return two All-League players and 20 total lettermen.

Minneapolis has a pair of All-League defenders in senior tackle Jacob Griffith and senior linebacker Connor Nace. The Lions also return senior defensive end Sean Forte, cornerbacks Collin Briggs, Luke Among those lettermen is honorable menEckert and Josh Macy, defensive ends tion All-State linebacker Brady Moore, who Colby Berry and Quentin Clark, safety also earned All-League honors as a junior.

Dalton Lester and linebacker Ty Girard.

He is one of 10 seniors who lettered last fall for the Bulldogs.

The Minneapolis offense has a veteran quarterback in senior Matt Comfort, who Linemen Anthony Bruna and Garrison took over the starting job midway through Wright and running back/linebacker Micah his sophomore season. Eckert, Girard, Nietfield are entering their third year as Lester and Garrett Lott return with expestarters. Marysville also brings back eight rience as running backs, while Briggs and junior lettermen.

Macy are returning starters at the wideout spots.

New coach Eddie Minor said the team goals are to “learn, hustle and win” and his Up front, the Lions have Berry, Forte, team will need to get “everyone headed in Griffith, Klein and Nace back in the lineup. the same direction” in order to be successful.

Giles said his team’s goals include the league and district championships, but the The Bulldogs will begin their season with Lions will have to “stay as injury-free as trips to Winfield and Wamego before host- possible” to have a shot at achieving them. ing Chapman in week three. Marysville’s schedule also includes North Central The Lions will host Russell in the season Kansas League opponents Clay Center, opener before traveling to Washington Concordia and Abilene, then a district slate County for a non-league game. Minneapolis that features Riley County, Rock Creek and will compete in Class 3A District 14 along Nemaha Valley. with Beloit, Norton Community and Phillipsburg.

Marysville has a new coach for 2012, and 18 lettermen are back with another year of experience under their belts.

3-6 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A North Central Kansas League Coach: Eddie Minor (1st year; 11th year overall) Assistants: Ross Wright, Rob Peschel, Eddie Larson, Trent Giffin, James Campbell, Kevin Harmer, Cole Fredrickson, Mike Melcher, JL Hornung, Mike Russell Offense: Spread Defense: 50 Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Garrison Wright, OL/DL, 6-4, 270, Sr.; Brady Moore, TE/LB, 6-6, 212, Sr.; Zach Cook, Sr.; James Landoll, Sr.; Micah Nietfield, Sr.; Garrett Eck, Sr.; Brandon Griffee, Sr.; Anthony Bruna, Sr.; Austin Tillery, Sr.; Cody Ketter, Sr.; Brayton Stoll, Jr.; Cody Hill, Jr.; Ian Roever, Jr.; Brock Watts, Jr.; Coleman Forst, Jr.; David Luebcke, Jr.; Tanner Wright, Jr.; Bridger Yaussi, Jr. Melanie McGee

Photo by Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com

3-6 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A North Central Activities Association Coach: Jeff Giles (2nd year, 3-6) Assistants: John Darrow, Matt Smith, Lyle Davidson Offense: Zone Read Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 9 Defense Matt Comfort, QB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Jacob Griffith, C/ DT, 5-10, 160; Justin Klein, G/LB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Connor Nace, T/DT, 6-1, 220, Sr.; Sean Forte, G/ DE, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Luke Eckert, RB/CB, 5-7, 140; Garret Lott, RB/LB, 5-8, 170; Collin Briggs, WR/CB, 6-0, 150; Josh Macy, WR/CB, 6-1, 175; Ty Girard, RB/LB, 5-9, 180; Colby Berry, T/DE, 6-2, 180; Dalton Lester, RB/S, 5-8, 160; Quentin Clark, T/DE, 5-9, 200.

Melanie McGee

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Going 3-1 in district play, Moundridge extended their playoff streak to nine straight appearances in Class 2-1A, but move up to 3A this fall. The Wildcats also posted a winning record in the regular season for the first time under head coach Courtney Moddelmog.

A year ago, Neodesha blasted through its district schedule, winning by more than 30 points a game, and the Bluestreaks aim to do the same thing in 2012.

Third-year coach John Black said his team will face a tougher schedule this season, particularly with a season opener at Class 4A Osawatomie and a home game against 3A runner-up Silver Lake in week two.

While the Wildcats goal of continuing their playoff streak stays the same from year to year, this season does pose some interesting hurdles. Most notably, Moundridge does Neodesha does return five members of its starting offense, including honorable mennot return a quarterback that has taken a varsity snap. tion All-League lineman Skyler Johnson.

Seniors Justice Baird, Jake Crawford and “We will need to tutor a quarterback and we Hayden Dierks also have starting expewill need to do it quickly,” said rience in the backfield.

Moddelmog.

Baird will take over the full-time quarterback chores after attempting just seven Regardless of who’s under center in the Wildcats’ wing-T offense, running back passes last season. He did run for two Daniel Ratzlaff will provide relief. Ratzlaff touchdowns and a 12.6 yards per carry split carries with Cooper Wedel and Trey average in 2011, and Dierks gained 221 yards on the ground.

Unrau in 2011, but is expected to be the main focal point in the Moundridge run game this season.

The Bluestreaks also bring back senior receiver Tanner Osterbuhr, who averaged 35 yards per kick return as a junior, and The Heart of America league once again boasts good size for 2012, something Black expects a boost from senior lineman Moddelmog has addressed in the offseason. Lucas Reynolds, senior running back Kyle Keith and junior lineman Kody Seaboldt.

“We’re also going to need to play with better leverage this season because we will be Neodesha must replace its top two tacklers from last season, but the secondary should smaller than each of our nine opponents.” be experienced with Osterbuhr, Baird and Moundridge returns only one player weigh- senior Austin Kitch back. Senior Jordan ing over 200 pounds in junior lineman Seth Anderson returns as a starter at linebacker, but Black will need a whole new d-line.

Diederich. However, the Wildcats return three players that saw significant minutes “Our health will have to be better than it along the offensive and defensive lines. was last year,” Black said. “We have very 5-5 in 2011 / 3-1 in district / 3A good skill players but an inexperienced line, Heart of America and our schedule is a lot tougher, especially Coach: Courtney Moddelmog at the first.”

(4th year, 13-19) Assistants: Bret Lange, Brian Holloway Offense: Wing-T Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Colton Frazer, DE, 6-2, 180, So.; Daniel Ratzlaff, RB/LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Matt Castor, LB, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Dale Asher, LB, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Kyle Huxman, OL, 60, 180, Jr.; Seth Diederich, OL, 6-2, 210, Jr.; Garrett Higgins, TE, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Hunter Enyart, SE, 6-2, 175, Jr. James Westling

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8-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Tri-Valley League Coach: John Black (3rd year, 15-6) Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Skyler Johnson, OL, 6-1, 245, Sr.; Jake Crawford, FB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Tanner Osterbuhr, WR/S, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Hayden Dierks, RB, 5-8, 165, Jr.; Justice Baird, QB/DB, 6-10, 170, Sr.; Austin Kitch, DB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Jordan Anderson, LB, 5-10, 185, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Norton had a young team in 2011 after a 91 season in 2010. The youth and inexperience caused the program to have two streaks snapped. The Bluejays had their first losing season in 17 years and missed the postseason for the first time since 1999.

Six All-League performers are gone, but Osage City is still looking to build on last year’s district championship. The Indians return senior receiver Tyler Irvin, who earned All-League honors after catching 42 passes for 486 yards and five touchdowns last season, as well as six other offensive starters from that 6-4 team.

Last year, Phillipsburg ended a four-game losing streak in the postseason and defeated Lakin, 37-28, in the first round, the first playoff victory for the Panthers since 2005.

This season, Phillipsburg returns 10 offensive and all 11 defensive starters and will look to advance deeper into the postseason.

The Panthers haven’t advanced past the second round of the playoffs since a third round loss to Conway Springs in 2004.

The St. Mary’s Colgan Panthers have been one of the state’s most successful football programs over the past 15 years. During that time, the Panthers won four Class 2-1A state championships and advanced to the title game nine times.

Coach Andrew Gantenbein said that the Coach Covington said the team’s biggest Indians will lean on a number of other play- key is to stay healthy and avoid injuries. ers with limited varsity experience.

“Get better every night in practice and play “We’ll need some guys that have been part- as a team on Friday nights,” Covington said time starters in the past to up their level of of the team’s goals. play,” he said. “Some of them will need to move into new positions too and we’ll need Phillipsburg has had a bye the last two some young guys to step up and provide years, but will play a full slate of nine regudepth.” lar season games this fall.

“Attitude will be key,” Colgan head coach Chuck Smith said. “We have only one starter back on both sides of the ball. It will be a great challenge for this team.”

6-4 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Flint Hills League Coach: Andrew Gantenbein (4th year, 15-15) Assistants: Cody Liebelt, Will Kerns Offense: Spread Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Tyler Irvin, WR/DB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Nick Burton, WR/ DB, 5-5, 145, Jr.; Logan Williamson, WR/DB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Shawn Sheesley, OL, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Christian Stromgren, OL/DL, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Malachi Cousin, OL/DE, 6-4, 195, Sr.; Christian Sheckells, DL, 5-8, 165, Jr.; Bob Bailey, DL, 5-8, 160, Jr.; Josh Koger, DL, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Brandon Kerns, WR, 6-0, 175, Sr. Melanie McGee

“Our goals are to win the league and make the playoffs,” Smith said.

BLUE JAYS

Norton started out 2-0 and 3-1 before it lost the final five games. The Bluejays lost by 28-19 to Perryton, Tex. and lost in the final seconds, 20-19, to TMP. This year, veteran coach Lucas Melvin looks to lead Norton back to the playoffs and battle for a league title.

“We will have to commit and work hard in the weight room,” Melvin said. “We will have to do more.”

Norton will return six offensive and six defensive starters, including senior Jacob Brooks, an all-state sprinter who took sixth in the 100-meter dash and third in the 200meter dash in Class 3A. Brooks rushed for 364 yards and three scores on 64 carries. He tied for the team lead with 13 catches and paced the Bluejays with 349 receiving yards and five scores. Eli Bozarth is back after he ranked second on the squad with 55 tackles.

Norton will likely need to improve its turnovers, too. The Bluejays had 24 turnovers, finished minus-4 in turnover margin for the year and had five turnovers apiece in the Perryton and TMP losses.

3-6 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A Mid-Continent League Coach: Lucas Melvin (7th year, 44-20) Assistants: Todd Fulton, Tony Fiscus, Jeremy Hawks, Ben Gordon Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 18 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Jacob Brooks, WR/RB/DB, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Eli Bozarth, OL/DE, 6-0, 165, Sr.; Alex Riggins, OL, 63, 270, Sr.; Lane Bigge, OL/DE, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Dalton Miller, LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; John Risewick, LB, 5-8, 155, Sr.; Treven Rossi, OL/LB, 5-8, 180, Sr.; Carson McKenna, DB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Lucas Engel, DL, 5-11, 195, Sr.; Austin Hager, DB, 5-9, 150, Jr.; Wyatt Harting, OL, 6-2, 215, So. Conor Nicholl

Senior Brandon Kerns, junior Nick Burton and senior Logan Williamson also caught touchdown passes in 2011 and the Indians have three returning starters on the offensive line – Malachi Cousin, Shawn Sheesley and Christian Stromgren.

On defense, seven starters are back including Cousins, an honorable mention AllLeague defensive end a year ago, and Sheckells, the team leader with 4.5 sacks.

Cousin was second on the team with 86 tackles plus had two sacks as a junior.

Bob Bailey and Josh Koger also have starting experience on the defensive line, while the secondary returns Burton, Irvin and Williamson.

However, Colgan faces several obstacles as it enters the 2012 season. Foremost, the Panthers graduated 20 seniors from last year’s 11-1 team that advanced to the state The starters include senior quarterback semifinals. Among those 20 graduated senSean Newlan, one of Kansas’ top athletes. iors are All-State running backs and lineNewlan helped Phillipsburg take second in backers Zach and Christian Smith and AllClass 3A in track when he won the 110State kicker Austin Barone. The Smith meter hurdles for the second straight year, brothers signed on to continue their football took the 300-meter hurdles, helped the 400- careers at Princeton. meter relay team to a championship and was second in the discus. Seth Derr also The Panthers return only one full-time returns after he was the javelin champion in starter in offensive tackle Tyler Commons the spring.

(6-2, 195, Sr.) and three part-time starters in slotback Nate Grimaldi, fullback V.J. The Panthers bring back several first team Piccini and offensive guard David Misasi. all-league players, including Newlan (at If the lack of experience wasn’t already punter), Derr at wide receiver and defensive enough, the Panthers also have to deal with back, linebacker Jacey Minkler and kicker moving up to Class 3A for the first time in Justin Juenemann. the program’s history.

7-3 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Mid-Continent League Coach: J.B. Covington (10th year, 60-29; 17th year, 100-52) Assistants: Joe Buresh, Cory Jacobs, Andy Kenney Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 23 Returning starters: 10 Offense, 11 Defense Seth Derr, SE, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Sean Newlan, QB, 62, 195, Sr.; Hunter Kohler, WB, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Michael Dusin, RB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Tad Thompson, SE, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Caleb Studley, DL, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Justin Juenemann, K, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Grant Wickham, WB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Thomas Oliff, OL, 6-0, 220, Sr.; Tanner Aherin, OL, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Clayton Sauer, OL, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Jacey Minkler, OL, 5-10, 195, Sr.; James Pack, OL, 6-3, 245, Sr. Nicholl

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If history is any indication, the Panthers will still field a strong team. But they will have to show improvement as the season goes on. A state championship won’t be the immediate goal for this team.

The Panthers’ league schedule includes a special game for Coach Smith on Sept. 21.

That night, Colgan will host the Frontenac Raiders. The Raiders will be coached by Chuck Smith’s son, Mark.

11-1 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 3A Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coach: Chuck Smith (33rd year, 300-57; 34th overall, 303-63) Assistants: Wayne Cichon, Brad Snow, Kyle Wolf, Virgil Winn Offense: I-Formation Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 1 Returning starters: 1 Offense, 0 Defense Tyler Commons, OT, 6-2, 195, Sr. Mark Schremmer Photo by Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com

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FALCONS

Life in the Mid-East League is tough. Riley County went 5-0 against non-league opponents last year but finished third in the MEL behind state runner-up Silver Lake and a 92 Rossville team.

The Falcons will need to reload on the fly this season as just five starters are back for veteran coach Steve Wagner.

One of those five is honorable mention AllState quarterback Bryce Chavis, who accounted for 285 yards of offense in Riley County’s 48-27 playoff win over Sabetha last November. The 5-9 senior was also named to the MEL’s first team in 2011.

The Falcons return senior tackle Brett Shoemaker and senior guard Jake Brazzle, but the rest of the offensive positions will be filled by varsity newcomers in 2012.

Shoemaker is coming off an All-League season as well.

RAMS

The Riverton Rams appeared poised for success in 2011. They jumped out to a 4-0 record, scoring no less than 30 points in each of their first four games. However, Riverton went on to lose four of its next five games and fall short of the playoffs.

After last season’s tumble, Riverton head coach Derrick Rider said hard work and unity will be key to the Rams’ success.

“It will be important for our players to approach each day with a great attitude and be willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team,” Rider said. “Our success will be determined by how we come together as a team.”

The Rams shouldn’t take long to get the chemistry down as seven starters return on offense and eight on defense.

Directing the offense for the third straight season will be senior quarterback Greyson Riley County’s defense will be led by Spriggs. The 6-0, 161-pound signal caller Brazzle, an All-League linebacker last year, will have several weapons at his disposal. and senior defensive end Jonathan Maddox. Senior wide receivers Dylan Weaver and Chavis is expected to play a key role in the Hunter Deckard (5-9, 138)(6-2, 163) and secondary. tight ends Nolan Wall (6-3, 190) and Jacob Qualls (6-2, 166) give Spriggs several expeWagner’s squad will begin the season with rienced targets. a pair of non-league contests. The Falcons travel to Class 4A Clay Center in the season Sam Taylor, Jake Neal, Qualls and Spriggs opener, then host Class 2A champion provide the Rams four experienced lineCentralia before traveling to Silver Lake in backers on defense. the MEL opener. Rossville, AlmaWabaunsee and St. Marys complete the “Our goal this season is to get better each non-district slate for Riley County, which is and every day,” Rider said. “We want to do assigned to district 2 with Nemaha Valley, the very best job we can and control the Marysville and Rock Creek. The Falcons things we can control.” will play two of their three district games away from home, including the regular sea- 5-4 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 3A Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League son finale at Rock Creek.

8-3 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Mid-East League Coach: Steve Wagner (28th year, 201-87) Assistants: Harold Oliver, Travis Havenstein, Derek Winter, Erik Willimon, Kale Katt Offense: Multiple Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 2 Defense Bryce Chavis, QB/CB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Brett Shoemaker, T, 6-3, 225, Sr.; Jake Brazzle, G/LB, 510, 200, Sr.; Jonathan Maddox, DE, 6-0, 200, Sr. Melanie McGee Courtesy Photo

Coach: Derrick Rider (3rd year, 12-7) Assistants: Blake Burns, Brian Mitchell, Chris Swartz, Danny Weaver Offense: Spread Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Greyson Spriggs, QB/LB, 6-0, 161, Sr.; Jake Neal, LB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Nolan Wall, TE/DE, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Dylan Weaver, WR/FS, 6-2, 163, Sr.; Sam Taylor, OL/LB, 5-11, 193, Sr.; Chandler Underhill, TB/DB, 60, 165, Jr.; Hunter Deckard, WR/DB, 5-9, 138, Sr.; Austin Powell, DB, 5-11, 166, Sr.; TJ McDonald, OL, 5-11, 192, Jr.; Jacob Qualls, TE/LB, 6-2, 166, Jr. Mark Schremmer Photo by Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com

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Depth and athleticism are expected to be strengths for the Bulldogs this season, and coach Steve Buhler said the 2012 Rossville squad has the ability to match the success of last year’s 9-2 team.

After three straight 4-5 seasons, Russell dropped back to 2-7 last year. The main difference came on defense. From 2006-10 Russell played 46 games, averaged 23.1 points per contest and allowed 25.4 points per game. Last year, Russell scored 19.3 “This year’s team will have good athletic points per game, but allowed 42.9 points depth with the emergence of a talented per game. The 386 points allowed ranked group of underclassmen,” he said. sixth-worst in the 64-team Class 4A, “Combining that with the return of an expe- according to preppowerindex.com. rienced group of upperclassmen, this year’s team could match the success of last year This year, Russell will try to return to the playoffs for the first time since a 5-5 season with hopefully a deeper run in the playoffs.” in 2006.

The Bulldogs will have a new quarterback for the second straight year, with junior Zach Nitsch set to call the signals in 2012.

He completed two of six passes last season in a backup role, but will have two big-play threats in senior receiver Kyle Hammer and senior tight end Scott Shinn. Both Hammer and Shinn averaged more than 14 yards per catch last season.

Nitsch will be operating behind an experienced line anchored by senior Colton Miller and juniors Davis Warton and Marc Catron.

“This year’s team returns four starters on the o-line as well as some experience in most of the skill positions,” Buhler said.

“We will have experienced depth at most positions and the only place that will show some inexperience will be the quarterback position.”

Defensively, Rossville returns leading tackler Dalton Catron, who also intercepted three passes in 2011, and junior linebacker Tagen Lambotte, who was third on the team with 47 tackles and also had three interceptions a year ago.

“Like the offense, the defense will be anchored by experienced players,” Buhler said. “The defense will have good depth at most positions and good athleticism.”

9-2 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A Mid-East League Coach: Steve Buhler (15th year, 109-52; 22nd year overall) Assistants: Eric Lietz, Derek Dick, Travis Van Vleck, Jason Broaduss Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 22 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 8 Defense Colton Miller, OG/DE, 6-0, 240, Sr.; Davis Warton, OT/DT, 6-0, 210, Jr.; Marc Catron, C/DT, 5-9, 170, Jr.; Scott Shinn, TE, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Kyle Hammer, WR/FS, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Dalton Catron, OLB, 5-8, 145, Jr.; Taylor Hartshorn, CB, 6-0, 150, Sr.; Cole Brecheisen, CB, 5-10, 150, Sr.; Tagen Lambotte, OLB, 5-10, 165, Jr. Melanie McGee

Russell returns eight starters on both sides of the ball, but graduated Nash Karst, who passed for 361 yards with three touchdowns against four interceptions, and rushed for 1,060 of the team’s 2,347 yards.

In early summer the Broncos received a blow when Chance Pitcock transferred to Hays High. The senior rushed for 334 yards and three scores on 47 carries last season and finished with 51 tackles, fifth-best on the squad. But with seven experienced linemen back the Broncos hope to have a strong ground attack.

Seventh year head coach Dave King said the team’s keys to success are team unity, leadership and hard work.

“We have an abundance of experience returning this year,” King said. “We will need to mold that experience into a cohesive unit.”

2-7 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A North Central Activities Association Coach: David King (7th year, 21-34) Assistants: Cole Cherryholmes, Cory Flax, Chris Look, Justin Stevens, Scott Whitesides Offense: Wishbone Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Andy Ochampaugh, OL/DL, 6-1, 235, Sr.; Jesse Boomhower, OL/DL, 6-2, 270, Sr.; Dylan Walker, RB/LB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Dakotah Homewood, OL/DL, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Christopher Gulick, OL/DL, 6-3, 280, Sr.; David Crawford, TE/DB, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Alex Baldwin, QB/DB, 5-8, 145, Jr.; Joey Oste, OL/DL, 57, 160, Jr.; Austin Donavan, OL/DL, 6-2, 280, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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After back-to-back three-win seasons, Sabetha turned a corner in 2011 with a 5-5 record and the Bluejays are looking to take the next step and post a winning record this fall.

Despite suffering key injuries in back to back seasons, Bruce Graber’s squad has rolled through district play with an unblemished record. If the Knights have luck on their side and stay injury free in 2012, this will be a team no one wants to face in November.

For the fourth straight year and fifth time in six seasons, the Beavers won double digit games. Scott City, historically known for its great defense, finished second in Class 3A with 9.3 points allowed per contest.

The 2011 Cardinals advanced to the second round of the playoffs before being bounced by eventual champion Conway Springs, but Sedgwick returns 16 lettermen from that 101 squad and will again look for a winning season and playoff berth.

BLUEJAYS

A trio of three-year starters headline a solid group of senior leaders for coach Garrett Michael’s team.

“I expect great character and leadership from our seniors. They have talked about this opportunity for four years and here it is,” he said. “They are a close-knit, serious and passionate group, and I expect them to spread these qualities throughout the team during the course of the year.”

McKenzie McAfee (RB/LB), Derrick Duncan (OL/DL) and Levi Huneke (OL/ LB) have started since their freshman season while quarterback/d-back Nolan Keim and receiver/cornerback Taylor Bauman have two years of starting experience under their belts.

Add in fellow seniors Tyler Edelman (TE/ DL), Graham Howard (OL/DL), Thaine Allen (WR/CB), Isaac Wenger (RB/LB) and Tanner Stolzenberger (OL/DL) and Sabetha has 10 veteran leaders. Junior running back/linebacker Brandon Harrell is also a returning starter for the Bluejays.

The Knights return 18 starters from last year’s 6-4 unit, including 1,000 yard rusher Drew Diederich. The senior speedster averaged an astonishing 10.4 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns. Also coming back is quarterback Nick Wuthnow, who threw for 1,062 yards and rushed for 308 as a junior.

Sacred Heart has two goals – win league, and win a playoff game.

“In order to win league we’ll have to beat a couple of teams we haven’t been able to beat the last two years,” said Graber.

“We’ve got to stay a lot healthier than we have the past two years. We also want to win a playoff game – we’ve been there but haven’t won the last two seasons.”

In his opinion, the Bluejay offense needs to become more balanced and the defense must play faster.

5-5 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A Big Seven League Coach: Garrett Michael (4th year, 11-19) Assistants: Nathan Bauman, Matt Garber, Doug Lieker, Alex McAfee, Dave Remmers Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 7 Defense McKenzie McAfee, RB/LB, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Derrick Duncan, OL/DL, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Levi Huneke, OL/LB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Nolan Keim, QB/DB, 5-11, 150, Sr.; Taylor Bauman, WR/CB, 6-0, 165, Sr.; Tyler Edelman, TE/DL, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Graham Howard, OL/DL, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Thaine Allen, WR/CB, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Isaac Wenger, RB/LB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Tanner Stolzenberger, OL/DL, 6-0, 250, Sr.; Brandon Harrell, RB/LB, 5-10, 180, Jr. Melanie McGee

(3rd year, 11-9, 22nd year overall) Assistants: Bill Atwell, Bob Butts, Steven Baker, Everest Martin Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 28 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 9 Defense Drew Diederich, RB/CB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Aaron Diederich, WR/CB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Tony Chavez, WR/DB, 6-3, 170, Sr.; Keaton Hale, LB, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Zach Butts, FB/DE, 5-9, 215, Sr.; Andrew LeValley, DB, 5-8, 145, Sr.; Ryan Krajicek, OL/DL, 5-7, 180, Sr.; Nick Wuthnow, QB/LB, 5-11, 170, Jr.; Tate Richards, TE, 6-0, 180, Jr.; Trevor Webb, LB, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Tymony Bonilla, K, 5-10, 165, Jr.; Clayton Wetter, LB, 6-1, 190, Jr.; Elijah Walters, OL, 5-9, 210, Jr.; Josh Dolan, LB, 5-7, 155, So. James Westling

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S ed gw ick

However, Scott City again couldn’t make a run to the title. It marked the sixth straight “We are striving for a winning season, year the Beavers lost in the second or third league title, district title and a win in the round. Scott City lost to eventual champion playoffs,” sixth-year coach Jeff Werner said.

Conway Springs, 39-21 in the third round.

Sedgwick will need to replace All-State Coach Glenn O’Neil lists replacing “a large quarterback Trent Stucky, who piled up portion” of the offensive line, finding a more than 3,000 yards of offense in 2011, complementary back to Buehler and need- but the Cardinals do return three All-League ing tight ends and wideouts to step up as the players including running back Dalton main keys.

Brandt. The junior carried the ball 127 times for 860 yards and 14 scores last season.

Senior defensive tackle Drake Inguanza, a returning starter, and junior Cole Birney, Other offensive starters returning for the expected to start at guard, will miss the sea- Cardinals are linemen Trey Tucker and Ivan son after they were involved in different car Wood and receivers Dalyn Anderson, Nic accidents. Inguanza is in a neck brace for Johnson and Drake Standefer. Anderson several months, while Birney was moved to caught a pair of touchdown passes last seaLincoln, Neb. to recover from injuries. son and averaged 21.2 yards per reception.

“Lost a little bit of size and a little bit of depth, but just going to have to have some other kids step up and play,” Coach O’Neil said.

Defensively, the Knights allowed just 251 yards per game in 2011. Senior defensive back Tony Chavez intercepted six passes while junior linebacker Clayton Wetter Linebacker Drew Kite is back after he led recorded 57 tackles and recovered five fum- the team with 117 tackles in 2011, while bles.

Brett O’Neil had five interceptions and seven pass breakups from his safety spot.

Sabetha’s season ended with a first-round playoff loss to Riley County, something that 6-4 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A North Central Activities Association Michael said will motivate his team to Coach: Bruce Graber improve in 2012.

“We have to play with more consistency,” he said. “The returning players have a great understanding of what has to be done.”

S cott C ity

Scott City returns running back Dalton Buehler, who rushed for 932 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall, and O’Neil, who had 1,467 passing yards and 14 scores from under center, but they will miss talented defensive ends Colborn Couchman and Luke Hayes who both graduated this spring.

“Defensively we will probably move two of last year’s starters to DE’s and try to replace them,” Coach O’Neil said.

“Otherwise we feel like we have a chance to be pretty successful with a lot of experience coming back.”

11-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Greater West Activities Conference Coach: Glenn O’Neil (6th year, 49-10) Assistants: Jim Turner, Scott Holt, Landen Frank, John Zilla, Brent Harrell Offense: Wing-T Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 25 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 8 Defense Drake Inguanza, DT, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Michael McEachern, DT/G, 6-0, 250, Sr.; Tyler Hess, OLB/ WB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Drew Kite, ILB/TE, 6-4, Sr.; Colten Yager, ILB/G, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Dalton Buehler, OLB/B, 5-10, Sr.; Brenner Wells, CB/FB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Brett O’Neil, FS/QB, 6-1, 160, Sr.; Sean Tuttle, DT/OT, 5-8, 235, Sr. Conor Nicholl

The Cardinal defense figures to be led by All-Leaguers Logan Thompson and Wood.

Thompson led the team with 2.5 sacks from his linebacker spot in 2011, while Wood earned All-League honors on the defensive line. Sedgwick also returns Anderson, Brandt and Johnson at linebacker, Standefer as a cornerback and Tucker on the d-line.

The development of new starters will be important on both sides of the ball.

“We will have to keep evolving as a program and improving every week,” Werner said. “As with most teams at our level, developing depth to deal with injuries is always key.”

10-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Heart of America League Coach: Jeff Werner (6th year, 38-20) Assistants: Tobe Wallace, Doug Mabry, Jeremy Liby Offense: Shotgun Spread Defense: 3-5-3 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Logan Thompson, RB/ILB, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Ivan Wood, OL/DL, 5-9, 240, Sr.; Dalyn Anderson, WR/OLB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Nic Johnson, WR/OLB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Drake Standefer, WR/CB, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Dalton Brandt, RB/ILB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Trey Tucker, OL/DL, 511, 235, Jr. Melanie McGee Photo by Jim Williams

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

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S ilver L ake EAGLES

Warren Seitz, who previously coached at Topeka West and led the Chargers to a runner-up finish in Class 5A in 2001, took over for Todd Leonard last year. Last year, the Raiders had a three-win improvement to 5-4, but again missed the postseason.

The Silver Lake Eagles entered the 2011 season with virtually no experience and overachieved with a 12-2 record and a trip to the Class 3A state championship. A year later, Silver Lake enters the 2012 season with great expectations as eight starters return on offense and seven on defense.

Nemaha Valley has won 34 games in the last nine years, but hasn’t made a postseason berth in that span. The Raiders played in a difficult district last year with road games at Riley County and Rock Creek – two teams that combined for a 17-7 record – and lost both games by a combined score of 84-33.

Silver Lake brings two quarterbacks, who started games last season in Evan Burdiek and Dailin Kruger, and All-League running back Pete Pfannenstiel. They lead an offense that scored 28.7 points per game.

Kruger completed 79 of 161 passes for 1,322 yards and 10 touchdowns, while “Our team goals are to be competitive in all Burdiek completed 29 of 54 passes for 554 of our games, win the Big 7 small division yards and five touchdowns. Pfannenstiel and go to the playoffs,” Seitz said. rushed for 796 yards on 118 carries.

The Raiders return only four offensive starters and two on defense and will have new players at quarterback and running back.

Alex Rottinghaus caught 14 passes for 209 yards and three scores, and Michael Rottinghaus collected 91 tackles, three sacks and four forced fumbles last year.

Seitz said the keys to success will be offensive and defensive line play.

“Although we will lack experience in some areas, I believe we have some younger players that can do the job,” Seitz said.

5-4 in 2011 / 1-2in district / 3A Big Seven Coach: Warren Seitz (2nd year, 5-4) Assistants: Todd Helm, Terry Stueve, Kelly Williams Offense: I-Back Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 2 Defense Alex Rottinghaus, WR, 5-9, 150, Jr.; Drew Steinlage, G, 5-10, 215, Sr.; Luke Schmelzhe, T, 510, 200, Sr.; Creighton Brinker, TE, 6-5, 180, Sr.; Michael Rottinghaus, LB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Tanner Ranieri, LB, 5-10, 185, Sr. Conor Nicholl

“We have depth at quarterback with senior Evan Burdiek and junior Dailin Kruger,” Silver Lake head coach C.J. Hamilton said.

“Both combined for over 1,800 yards passing. We also return three of five starters on the offensive line in Shane Wilson, Austin Francis and Johnathan Dallman.”

Follow Kansas Pregame for the latest updates on the Sunflower State’s top football teams and players.

S t. G eorge-R ock C reek MUSTANGS

S t. M arys BEARS

The Mustangs came within a point of the state championship game last fall, and veteran coach Mike Beam believes his team has the ability to make another deep playoff run in 2012.

St. Marys has consistently played Class 21A’s toughest schedule and reached the postseason. Last year was no exception.

“We have a strong returning offensive group, but lost our top two rushers. We need to develop a strong running game again this season,” he said.

This time, St. Marys lost 32-26 to surprise team Doniphan West in the first round of the postseason. The game was tied at 26 in the final seconds, but then Doniphan West scored on a 40-yard Hail Mary for the win.

The Bears, who will move up to 3A this fall, had the 2-1A’s No. 1-ranked strength “We were one game short of playing for a of schedule, according to state championship last year and lost by one preppowerindex.com. For the second point,” he said. “We need to finish strong straight year, St. Marys started 0-4 against each game and play hard for 48 minutes non-district (but league rivals) Riley every game.”

County, Rock Creek, Rossville and Silver Lake.

Rock Creek returns eight offensive starters from a squad that lost four games, but all For the second straight year, the Bears four losses came against teams that won at rebounded to go undefeated in its district least one playoff game. before they lost in the first round.

Linemen Jordan Ebert (an All-State and All-League selection), Jacob Miller, Colton Leikam, Brandon Goering and tight end JT Weers will anchor a big, experienced offensive line. Senior quarterback Dylan Meyer and senior fullback Beb Commerford return The Eagles also return 6-2, 175 pound jun- to the backfield while seniors Blaine Ridder ior receiver Dawson Deshazo. He caught 18 and JT Weers are returning starters at tight balls for 297 yards last season. end.

St. Marys also had to overcome a tragedy when junior left tackle Kody Harwood was involved in a rollover accident in his truck late in the season. Harwood was paralyzed from the chest down. The school held a cookout benefit for Harwood before the playoff game versus Doniphan West.

Defensively, Pfannenstiel should lead the way from his safety position after recording 123 tackles and earning All-State recognition in 2011. Joining him will be All-league defensive lineman Christian Johnson and all-league linebacker Brock Swartz.

The Bears have annually made the playoffs under coach Kevin Kinderknecht and played at least 12 games from 2004-09. As well, in the last five years, St. Marys is 17-0 in district play. This fall, three all-league players return in RB/DE Sojuan Turentine and linemen Justin Farler and Wyatt Carlson.

12-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A Mid-East League Coach: C.J. Hamilton (37th year, 344-83) Assistants: Warren Bledsoe, Loren Ziegler, Mike VandeVelde Offense: Offset-I, One-Back Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 22 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Evan Burdiek, QB, 5-9, 130, Sr.; Shane Wilson, C, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Pete Pfannenstiel, RB/S, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Austin Francis, OG, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Cole Trammel, TE, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Dailin Kruger, QB/S, 58, 150, Jr.; Johnathan Dallman, OT, 6-0, 215, Jr.; Dawson Deshazo, WR, 6-2, 175, Jr.; Christian Johnson, DT, 5-10, 245, Sr.; Wyatt Moore, DT, 5-11, 215, Sr.; Brock Swartz, LB, 5-8, 205, Sr.; Blake Baird, LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Zach Boyd, LB, 5-8, 170, So. Mark Schremmer Photo by Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com

PETE PFAN N EN S TIEL SR.• RB/S • 5-11 • 170

The Mustangs allowed just 16.8 points per game last season, and five starters are back for the defense. All-Leaguer Josh Roberts, who was third on the team with 92 tackles in 2011, highlights those returners. Ebert, Goering and Miller return up front while senior Sheldon Rogge is a returning starter at linebacker.

Rock Creek will open the season with two home games before facing St. Marys and Silver Lake in back-to-back road games.

The district schedule includes trips to Marysville and Nemaha Valley before the Mustangs host Riley County in the regular season finale.

“The key to most seasons is avoiding injuries, developing depth and playing as a cohesive unit,” Kinderknecht said.

4-6 in 2011 / 4-0 in district / 3A Mid-East League Coach: Kevin Kinderknecht (10th year, 70-36) Assistants: Adam Hurk, Randy Wild, Mark O’Halloran 9-4 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 3A Offense: Offset I Defense: 4-4 Mid-East League Returning lettermen: 18 Coach: Mike Beam Returning starters: 6 Offense, 7 Defense (21st year, 123-81; 26th year overall, 146-91) Kasey Clark, QB/S, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Gavin Royer, WR/ Assistants: Joe Wilson, Mark Oberkrom, Mike CB, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Morgan Swisher, RB/LB, 5-10, Zabel, Garin Beam, Jake Smith, Andrew Meyer, 175, Sr.; Frank Yanez, Sr., RB/LB, 5-8, 190; Sojuan Brad Gober, Skyler Beam Turentine, RB/DE, 5-8, 205, Sr.; Justin Failer, G/DT, Offense: Double Wing Defense: 3-3 5-8, 205; Wyatt Carlson, G/DT, 5-10, 280, Sr.; Colby Returning lettermen: 38 Elliott, G/DE, 5-11, 200, Sr.; Kyle Schremmer, TE/ Returning starters: 8 Offense, 5 Defense Jordan Ebert, OL/DL, 6-0, 265, Sr.; Jacob Miller, OL/ DE, 6-1, 215, So.; John Dalmasso, T/DE, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Tanner Holz, WB/DG, 5-10, 200, Sr. DL, 6-4, 235, Sr.; Josh Roberts, SS, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Conor Nicholl Colton Leikam, OL, 5-10, 255, Sr.; Brandon Goering, OL/DL, 5-10, 235, Sr.; Beb Commerford, FB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Dylan Meyer, QB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; JT Weers, TE, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Blaine Ridder, TE, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Sheldon Rogge, LB, 6-0, 185, Sr. Melanie McGee

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

W athena-R iverside CYCLONES

The Cyclones finished 9-2 last season and scored 30 or more points in seven of their 11 games. A great season finished with a loss to eventual Class 2-1A state champion Centralia.

However, Riverside lost a lot of that offensive firepower to graduation. The Cyclones graduated 13 seniors, including All-State offensive linemen Ryan Johnson (6-1, 305) and Payton Halter, All-State return man Timmy Miller and All-State running back Derek Nold.

Page 85

W ellsville EAGLES

Mark Luedtke will enter his 35th season of teaching and coaching football this fall. He has head coaching stops at Wathena, Emporia, Rossville and Wellsville. Luedtke has been an assistant at multiple schools, including in Arkansas, New Mexico, Emporia, Lebo, Junction City, Emporia State, Northwest Missouri State and Highland C.C. The stops led to Luedtke’s 100th career head coaching victory last season in a first round 24-7 victory versus Frontenac.

Wellsville lost a week later, 22-14, to Galena, but finished 10-1 for its second straight 10-win season. The Eagles tallied 459 points, sixth-best in Class 3A.

W ichita-Independent W ichita-S unrise C hristian PANTHERS

BUFFALOES

Five two-way starters return for secondyear coach Jarrod Hibler, whose Panthers suffered a winless season in 2011. Behind the leadership of Tre Williams, Kevin Jarvis, Matt Medrano, Casey Kolbeck and Matt Loveland on both sides of the ball and additional returning starters, offensive lineman Christian Brown and linebacker Grant Campbell, Hibler anticipates improvement after a tough 2011 campaign.

The Buffaloes moved up to 11-man football two years ago and have posted winning records both seasons, including a number of wins against KSHSAA schools. Sunrise Christian competes in the Midwest Christian Athletic Conference with similar schools from Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, and does not compete against KSHAA schools in district or post-season competition.

Coach Trey Hall’s team will face Kingman, Douglass, Hoisington, Valley Center, Marion and Fredonia before getting into the The Cyclones will move up from Class 2meat of their MCAC schedule with 1A to Class 3A this fall.

Community Christian of Norman, Okla., Christ Prep of Kansas City, and Lighthouse “I don’t really know how we are going to Christian of Springfield, Mo. The Buffaloes be after graduating 13 seniors last year and “I kept it to myself,” Luedtke said of the went 2-1 against those teams in 2011, with moving up to 3A,” Riverside head coach milestone. “Down inside, I was obviously Quarterback Matt Loveland, at 6-1 and 200 the lone loss coming by a 26-20 score to Scot Koranda said. “We will probably be pleased with it, but I never said a word to pounds, brings good size to the position, Community Christian, which went 10-1 on starting a sophomore quarterback, and two anybody. To me, it’s a milestone and I was and he will operate behind an offensive line the year. junior running backs will split time. Our o- happy to get it. A lot of guys don’t ever get that includes Medrano at 6-2 and 250 line is young and inexperienced, as well as there. A lot of guys go past it, but it meant pounds, Brown at 5-9 and 230 pounds, and Sunrise returns six offensive starters, the receiving corps. Defensively, we will be something to me.” a tight end in Kevin Jarvis at 6-1 and 205 including senior quarterback Zach Howell, looking for two inside linebackers and intepounds. who threw for 4,208 yards and 46 touchrior linemen. The defensive secondary Wellsville, 20-3 the last two seasons, has downs last year with a 65 percent compleshould be a strength.” tion rate. His top three targets from last year enjoyed the program’s best run in the last “The offensive line is going to be our pro15 seasons. This year, the Eagles return just ject this year,” said Hibler. “They’re a little are gone, but senior Weston Brewster (39 Riverside can also feel good about the fact three starters on both sides of the ball and receptions for 408 yards and two TDs) and small. We’ve been converting guys over that they return four starters on offense and graduated their entire offensive line. from linebacker, trying to recruit guys out junior Zach Sleppy (28 catches for 380 three on defense. Plus, the Cyclones junior yards and seven TDs) return to the receiver of the halls. We have to fill the front five, varsity finished 5-2 last season.

Luedtke expects to have seven or eight sen- then worry about the rest.” positions. iors out and believes several sophomores Riverside’s key returning players include Williams caught 17 passes in a game and a Joe Adams and Jacob Norris will anchor the will start. The team is strong in the skill junior offensive lineman and linebacker half in 2011 before getting injured in Week offensive line, and both are returning startpositions and has solid speed. Luedtke Zach Halter, senior tight end and linebacker expects a learning curve for the first couple 2 against Chaparral and missing the rest of ers on the defensive line as well. Add in Kyle Studer, senior offensive lineman Tyler games, but believes Wellsville can post a the season. junior defensive linemen Dakota Hammond Newton, senior defensive lineman Regan and Elijah Keller, linebackers T.J. Fleming winning season and hopefully compete for Butts and junior wide receiver Dakota Independent scored 48 points in nine games and Michael Lee, and junior defensive back a league title and playoff berth.

Pummell. last season and was shut out four times.

Daniel Lee, and the Buffaloes have an experienced defense with seven returning Quarterback Lane Meyer accounted for 522 0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 3A The Cyclones’ 3A district will include starters. yards of total offense and 12 scores, while Central Plains League Sabetha, Hiawatha and Horton.

Kenneth Hopkins and Shane Hillman had Coach: Jarrod Hibler “We must be sound on the defensive line, 38 and 33 tackles, respectively. Hopkins 9-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A and our offense needs to stay prolific,” Hall and Hillman also combined for eight passes (2nd year, 0-9, 4th year overall) Assistants: Jeff Boone, Richard Drakeford, Eric Delaware Valley League (North Division) said in regards to what his team’s keys to defended – four each – and three intercepSwenson, Bryan Rhodes, Alex Hutchins, Tony Blake Coach: Scot Koranda success will be. Staying healthy is also tions.

Offense: Flexbone/Spread Defense: 3-5 (5th year, 23-15; 13th year overall, 40-70) important as the Buffaloes’ roster features Returning lettermen: 20 Assistants: Jonathan Winder, Derek Mitchell 10-1 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 3A just 17 upperclassmen.

Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense

Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 7 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 3 Defense Zach Halter, OL/OLB, 5-11, 210, Jr.; Kyle Studer, TE/OLB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Tyler Newton, OL, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Regan Butts, DL, 5-11, 260, Sr.; Dakota Pummell, WR, 5-8, 140, Jr. Mark Schremmer

Pioneer League Coach: Mark Luedtke (5th year, 27-15; 17th overall, 100-68) Assistants: Bob Clements, Mark Messer, Duane McCarty, Kip Rush Offense: Wishbone Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 30 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Luke Meyer, QB/OLB, 6-2, 175, Jr.; Kenneth Hopkins, RB/LB/DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Shane Hillman, RB/DB, 5-10, 150, Sr. Conor Nicholl

“We struggled a lot last year in situations where we needed leadership to close out games,” said Hibler. “We had several games where we were in it and didn’t get it done down the stretch. This season we have 12 seniors who are working their tails off in the weight room.”

Tre Williams, WR/DB, 5-7, 155, Sr.; Kevin Jarvis, TE/LB, 6-1, 205, Sr.; Matt Medrano, C/DT, 6-2, 250, Sr.; Christian Brown, OL, 5-9, 230, Jr.; Casey Kolbeck, RB/S, 5-10, 140, Sr.; Matt Loveland, QB/S, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Grant Campbell, LB, 5-7, 145, Sr. Tom Witherspoon

7-3 in 2011 Midwest Christian Athletic Conference Coach: Trey Hall (6th year, 35-15) Assistants: Kyle Waters, Brian Westerfield, Tom Jolly, Matt Fager Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 7 Defense Zach Howell, QB, 6-1, 160, Sr.; Weston Brewster, WR, 5-10, 160, Sr.; TJ Fleming, WR/LB, 6-2, 170, Jr.; Zach Sleppy, WR, 6-0, 155, Jr.; Jacob Norris, OL/DL, 6-2, 165, Jr.; Joe Adams, OL/DL, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Micheal Lee, LB, 5-6, 150, Jr.; Elijah Keller, DL, 6-0, 150, Jr.; Daniel Lee, DB, 5-6, 140, Jr.; Dakota Hammond, DL, 6-0, 205, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

CLASS 2-1A

Page 87

12 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chris Hardaway [Meade] 5-10, 175, QB/DB, Sr.; 21 total touchdowns in ‘11

CLASS 2-1A KPREPS.COM PRESEASON RANKINGS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Meade Plainville La Crosse Stanton County Lyndon

Others: Centralia, McLouth, Oakley, Smith Center

C o n o r N icho ll

Kip Keeley [La Crosse] 6-2, 210, RB/LB, Sr.; 89 tackles, 7 ints. in ‘11 DEREK G IBS O N SR.• O L/DL • 6-4 • 285

LEVIM O RS S SR.• RB/LB • 6-0 • 200

Kyler Atwood [Smith Center] 6-3, 200, FB/LB, Sr.; Hon. Mention All-League Trevor Axelson [Plainville] 5-7, 145, RB, Sr.; 1,323 yards rushing in ‘11

Marques Logan [Stanton County] 6-0, 190, RB/LB, Sr.; Kpreps.com District 8 Off. MVP Levi Morss [La Crosse] 6-0, 200, RB/LB, Sr.; 1,302 yards rushing in ‘11 Sam Steinlage [Centralia] 6-1, 185, E/LB, Jr.; Kpreps.com District 4 Def. MVP Marc Walbridge [McLouth] 5-11, 161, QB, Sr.; All Delaware Valley League

Bradey Chard [Plainville] 5-11, 260, C/DT, Sr.; All Mid-Continent League

Kaleb Whitehair [Ell-Saline] 6-3, 195, WR/DB, Sr.; 554 yards receiving in ‘11

Derek Gibson [Doniphan West] 6-4, 285, OL/DL, Sr.; Kpreps.com All-District

Trevin Wiens [Meade] 6-2, 180, RB/DB, Sr.; 1,550 yards rushing in ‘11

“The kids have great attitudes here and they work extremely hard in the offseason and during the season and they expect to Centralia opened 2011 slowly against a win and that’s something that’s hard to get difficult schedule. Against Riley County, sometimes,” Glatczak said.

Concordia, Onaga and Rossville, the Nearly a year later, La Crosse coach Jon Panthers lost their first two games and Webster can’t still look at the game tape. then split the next two contests. Riley When the team highlight film gets to state, County and Rossville were Class 3A schools that reached the postseason, while Webster has to look away.

“The way we played, it’s going to be one Concordia made the playoffs in Class 4A. of those things that just sticks with you As well, Centralia standout quarterback/ forever,” Webster said. defensive back Michael Glatczak missed This fall, Centralia and La Crosse both time with a stinger injury.

In Week 5, Glatczak returned as a wide- lose plenty of key pieces from that out and spinner back in Centralia’s single incredible game at state. That includes wing offense. Centralia won 38-16 against Shrine Bowl selections Glatczak and Stull, Centralia’s entire offensive line and Doniphan West. The next week, the La Crosse’s Austin Webs, who picked off Panthers played St. Marys, perennially one of 2-1A’s top programs. Centralia led a team-high 10 passes and helped the Leopards set a school mark for single sea50-0 at halftime and eventually won 5814. At intermission, coach Larry Glatczak son wins (12) and break the state record for interceptions (34). knew the team had turned a corner.

It’s one of several major changes for the “They were so ecstatic and so excited classification. and hooping and hollering and I thought, Pittsburg-St. Mary’s/Colgan has moved ‚ÄòHeck, you know, this team has got a up to Class 3A after a long run of success chance,’” Glatczak said. at Class 2-1A. Smith Center, after a twoCentralia finished the season with nine year run in Class 3A, drops down to 2-1A, straight victories and completed the fall with a 10-3 record and its second Class 2- where it went 79-1 during a six-season run.

1A championship in three years. Both Centralia graduated nine seniors and times, Centralia won the state title in classic fashion. In 2009, the Panthers earned a brings back just two offensive and four defensive starters, none whom are seniors.

20-12 overtime victory that ended Smith Glatczak doesn’t expect Centralia to be Center’s Kansas record 79-game run.

Last fall, after a frenetic finish, Centralia the preseason favorite, but said, “We have won 20-14 in overtime against La Crosse done the same thing,” in the past.

After 2009, Centralia also graduated at Fort Hays State University’s Lewis nine seniors, but still went 9-2 and lost to Field Stadium.

With less than a minute left and the score Olpe in the second round of the playoffs.

Last year, Centralia returned just four tied at 14, La Crosse completed an 80yard halfback pass. Michael Glatczak ran starters on both sides of the ball, but still over from the backside and made a game- won state. Plus, the Panthers no longer have to contend with Colgan, which beat saving tackle at the six-yard line. the Panthers six straight times from 1999“I will remember that forever,” coach 08.

Glatczak said.

“The road kind of went through Colgan,” On the next play, La Crosse senior Glatczak said.

Tayler Stull nearly scored, but was Colgan won seven state titles at the 2-1A stopped just inches short on the one-yard line. Then, the Leopards fumbled, its sixth ranks, including four straight from 2000fumble and fourth turnover of the contest. 03.

Since then, the Panthers have finished as Centralia recovered and then won the runner-up on three occasions and won at game in OT. For Kansas Pregame

These twelve players will be ones to watch in Class 2-1A this fall:

least two playoff contests each year under coach Chuck Smith, entering his 34th year. Out east, top teams include Doniphan West (9-2 last year), Lyndon (82), Olpe (5-4) and McLouth, which went 7-2 in Class 3A last season. McLouth will also drop down to 2-1A for 2012.

Medicine Lodge is another team that will move from 3A to 2-1A after it went 4-6 last fall.

In the west, La Crosse, Plainville, Meade, Johnson Stanton-County and Smith Center – all perennially top squads – will likely lead the pack. Smith Center, though, does graduate all eight players that earned all-league honors, including Shrine Bowl selection and 2,000-yard rusher Truitt Kuhlmann.

The Leopards bring back senior fullback Kip Keeley and senior running back Levi Morss, two of Kansas’ top players. Keeley has started since midway through his freshman year and rushed for 828 yards last fall. Morss, a transfer from RozelPawnee Heights, collected 1,302 yards in 2011.

“Potentially, we have one of the best backfields in the state with those two,” Webster said. “They are big, physical kids with good speed.”

Plainville produced a seven-win improvement and went 10-2 for its best season since the early ‘90s last fall.

Under coach Joe Simon, the Cardinals have built an aggressive running game and graduated just four two-way senior starters from 2011.

“We need to keep our football program headed in the right direction,” Simon said.

Stanton County lost 6-0 at home to Plainville in the second round of the postseason last year, but returns a bevy of talent, including senior quarterback Quinn Kendrick, a four-year starter.

Meade is 59-11 in six seasons under coach Scott Moshier and had its 22-game winning streak snapped by La Crosse in the playoffs last year. The Buffs return six offensive and seven defensive starters, including speedy running back Trevin Wiens, who has 2,748 career rushing yards.

“We want to continue to improve as a team and grow as a team,” Moshier said.

“If we can do this we will have a chance to be a pretty good football team. We have a great group of boys and they are eager get the season started.”

Conor Nicholl is a sportswriter for The Hays Daily News in Hays, Kan.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 88

Dakota Jiskra lyndon tigers M a r k S chr em m er For Kansas Pregame

Dakota Jiskra is used to being the biggest player on the field.

When he played youth tackle football, he always had to play the line because he surpassed the weight limit for ball carriers.

Playing in Class 2-1A at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, Jiskra still is often the largest player to step onto the football field at Lyndon High School.

However, the All-State lineman for the Lyndon Tigers doesn’t beat the guy across from him with brute force alone.

Jiskra takes pride in his cerebral approach to the game.

“I’m more calculated with my play,” Jiskra said.

“Sometimes players with meanstreaks do a couple of good things, but sometimes they get too excited and

forget about their assignments. I just think about my assignment. At times, I will get a fire, but I’m more concerned with executing plays for four quarters.”

Lyndon head coach Rod Stallbaumer said Jiskra is a well-rounded kid who also can step up to a challenge when needed.

“He’s kind of a gentle giant,” Stallbaumer said. “But he’ll get fired up and play. Football is definitely his favorite sport. When he gets challenged a little more, he gets a little more aggressive.

“One thing that’s telling for Dakota is that his best games have come against the best opponents. Council Grove had kids going about 290 across the line, and he had double digits in tackles that game. That was a game he knew he was going to get challenged, and he rose to the challenge. They were a run-first team, and he had 16 tackles.”

A four-year starter for the Tigers, Jiskra has worked

to become a better player each season. He has dedicated himself in the weight room, starting a lifting regimen when he was in the eighth grade. Back then, he could squat 295, hang clean 210 and bench press 195 pounds.

Entering his senior season, Jiskra can now squat 425, hang clean 330 and bench press 255 pounds. His hang clean tied a state record, Stallbaumer said.

“He’s the strongest kid we have in the weight room,” Stallbaumer said.

The work in the gym has paid dividends over his high school career. His size and ability made him a starter his freshman season, but he took his game to the next level as a sophomore.

Jiskra recorded 65 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks and three pass deflections in his sophomore season. He earned All-State recognition for his efforts.

Continued on page 89 Photo by Dena Sorensen

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 89

Jiskra / from 88 KU / from 138

Last season, he put up similar numbers with 69 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. It was another All-State season for Jiskra, but it may have been even more impressive since he often faced double teams.

“He’s double teamed about every play,” Stallbaumer said. “He’s done well with that. Having a player of his caliber frees up other people to make tackles. Knowing he’s going to take two offensive linemen himself has allowed us to do a lot of things on defense.”

Even though it may hurt his stats, Jiskra is fine with it if it helps his team win.

“I’ve seen a lot of double teams and occasionally some triple teams,” Jiskra said. “But if I’m triple teamed, that means we have two players open to make a play. That’s what’s important.”

Jiskra’s talents and team-first attitude has helped him garner attention from colleges all around the nation.

Rivals.com reports that Jiskra has been recruited by Kansas State, Kansas and Michigan. He also has talked with Butler Community College, Emporia State, Nebraska and Indiana.

Just like his approach to the game, Jiskra is putting a lot of thought into his college choice. For him, that deci-

sion concerns a lot more than just where he has the best chance for playing time.

“I just want to find the best fit,” Jiskra said. “I may go to Butler first and get my general education courses out of the way. Then, I’d like to transfer to Nebraska and major in agribusiness and education. All of the college talk makes me want to play harder so I know I can go to college and possibly get scholarships. It will take away a lot of stress after college in not having to pay it off.”

Before college, Jiskra is determined to help Lyndon make a run at the Class 2-1A state championship. The Tigers finished 8-2 last season, falling 26-21 to Riverside in the first round of the playoffs.

“I think we have a team that can go out there and compete for a state championship,” Jiskra said. “I hope we can come together as a team. We have talent. We have almost our whole line returning.”

If Lyndon does get the state title game, Stallbaumer knows Jiskra will be a big part of it.

“It’s special for a 2A school to have a player with his potential and abilities,” Stallbaumer said. “It’s special to have him walking through our halls.”

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“I wanted to address quarterback. How’d I do?” Weis rhetorically asked at a press conference to announce the transfers.

Crist will be the starter for the 2012 season. Heaps and McCay will have to sit out the season as transfers.

The Jayhawks hope Crist will help improve an offense that passed for only 167.4 yards per game last season.

However, the defense appears to be the area that needs the most work. Campo takes over as defensive coordinator of a unit that allowed 516.4 yards and 43.8 points per game.

“Look, we could use help everywhere,” Weis said. “There isn’t one position on our team that I can sit there and say, `Hey, we don’t need help there.’ That’s a fallacy.”

2-10 in 2011 / 0-9 in Big 12 / FBS Coach: Charlie Weis Assistants: Jeff Blasko (special teams/tight ends), Clint Bowen (special teams coordinator/ defensive backs), Dave Campo (defensive coordinator/defensive backs), Demontie Cross (linebackers), Tim Grunhard (offensive line), Rob Lanello (recruiting coordinator/wide receivers), Reggie Mitchell (running backs), Ron Powlus (quarterbacks), Buddy Wyatt (defensive line), Kyle Brey (quality control-offense), Scott Holsopple (director of strength and conditioning), Scott Johnston (director of personnel), Maurice Crum Jr. (defensive graduate assistant), Jami DeBerry (quality control-special teams), Rod Jones (defensive graduate assistant), Matthew Middleton (quality control-offense).

Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-4, 4-3 Returning starters: 7 offense, 10 defense D.J. Beshears, WR, 5-9, 185, Sr.; Tanner Hawkinson, OL, 6-5, 295, Sr.; Trevor Marrongelli, OL, 6-3, 300, Sr.; Daymond Patterson, WR, 5-8, 178, Sr.; Kale Pick, WR, 6-1, 205, Sr.; James Sims, RB, 6-0, 202, Jr.; Duane Zlatnik, OL, 6-4, 311, Sr.; Keba Agostinho, DE, 6-2, 275, Jr.; Tunde Bakare, LB, 5-10, 205, Sr.; Greg Brown, CB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Pat Lewandowski, DT, 6-5, 275, So.; Bradley McDougald, SS, 6-1, 214, Sr.; Toben Opurum, DE, 6-1, 245, Sr.; Tyler Patmon, CB, 511, 180, Jr.; Lubbock Smith, S, 5-10, 197, Sr.; Darius Willis, LB, 6-2, 243, Jr.; Kevin Young, DT, 6-3, 277, Jr. Mark Schremmer

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WILDCATS

Almost the entire starting lineup on both sides of the ball returns for Northern Heights, which is looking to improve on last year’s 0-9 record.

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CHARGERS

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The Chargers made great strides in 2011, garnering a 4-6 record and making the playoffs after finishing 2-26 the past three seasons combined.

The Northeast Vikings haven’t won a game over the past two seasons. Earning that victory and getting the Northeast program on the right track will be the top priorities.

BUFFS

Republic County defeated Salina-Sacred Heart, 22-7, in Week 4 of the 2010 season.

It marked the Buffs’ lone win of the year and, the next week, Republic County started a 14-game losing streak that extends Veteran coach Greg French said his team’s However, Wabaunsee will have several “We want to take each game one at a time, to this fall. The losing skid has continued main goal is to “be more competitive.” obstacles in its way with a number of good work hard, and be competitive every night,” the woes for a long-struggling program that Working hard in the offseason to become players lost to graduation and only one sen- Northeast head coach Phil Hobbs said. “We has a 2-43 record in the last five years. stronger and more confident is also a key ior on the 2012 roster. want to be mentally and physically tougher for Northern Heights. than our opponents. We want to improve This season, second-year coach George Among those key graduated seniors were our execution offensively and finish plays Fowler, a former assistant at MontezumaThe Wildcats should benefit from last running back Jed Swicegood, quarterback defensively.”

South Gray, looks to turn around the Buffs. year’s experience as four seniors, two Ryker Williams, running back Wade Fowler said the team’s goal is to “get better sophomores and two juniors are back in the Capoun, and offensive linemen Josh Hurla, Improving the defense will be key for the every play.” starting lineup.

Cody Flippin and TJ Setter. That group Vikings. Northeast allowed 46.7 points per played a key role in the program’s turngame last season, allowing no fewer than “The goal is to win the next play no matter Senior Luke Larson returns under center, around.

27 points in a single game. what happened during the last play,” Fowler while classmate Tyler Gragg is back for said. another year at running back. Seniors Levi So this season the Chargers are starting out The offense needs some work as well, but Isch and Josh Duft will anchor the offensive with modest goals. there were signs of improvement. The Fowler named “heart” as the team’s key to and defensive lines, along with junior Will Vikings scored a total of six points in the success.

Mills. first three games of 2011. However, they “We want to gain experience and be competitive at the end of the year,” said averaged 14 points a game over the final six “We are looking for players who will perNorthern Heights also brings back junior games of the season.

Wabaunsee head coach Brian Henry, who severe and keep competing in all circumreceiver/defensive back Colton Schumann, enters his fourth season with the Chargers. stances,” Fowler said. “We look to establish sophomore receiver/defensive back Luke “We need to stay healthy and work with our Northeast returns some experience with a champions attitude in all our players.”

Karr, and sophomore running back/lineunderclassmen.” seven starters on each side of the ball. That backer Mitchell Wecker. includes the entire backfield with junior The Buffs will drop back to Class 2-1A, but The good news for the Chargers is that they quarterback J.T. Richardson (5-11, 165), will compete in a difficult district with Larson is also a returning starter at safety, sophomore fullback Antonio Slingluff (5-8, Plainville and Smith Center, which also return four starters on offense, three on and Gragg will man one of the linebacker defense and 14 lettermen in all.

160) and senior running back Killian bumped from 3A to 2-1A this fall. spots.

Willard (5-9, 170).

0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 2A Sophomore Justice Stuewe (6-4, 240) North Central Activities Association The Wildcats’ district schedule includes just should be a presence on the offensive and Three linemen return on both sides of the one playoff team from last season - the ball with juniors Dakota Gesslein (5-8, 230) Coach: George Fowler defensive lines. The Chargers also return (2nd year, 0-9) Alma-Wabaunsee Chargers who went 4-6 and Joey McDowell (5-9, 220) and senior junior tight end and linebacker Zach Haya Assistants: Kevin Couture, Brad Couture, Eric in 2011. No team in the district won more Mike Beasley (6-0, 185).

(5-9, 150), junior offensive lineman Alex Allgood than five games a season ago, meaning that Schmitz (5-10, 170), junior tight end AJ Offense: T Defense: Multiple a strong finish could set Northern Heights Wertzberger (6-2, 185) and junior defensive Hobbs said the keys to success will be a Returning lettermen: 8 up for a spot in the postseason. commitment to the weight room and sumback Ethan Miller (5-8, 145).

Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense mer conditioning program, overcoming Zach Brzon, RB/ LB, 6-4, 195, Sr.; Kyle Strutt, RB/ 0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 2A adversity in games, and limiting penalties.

The young Wabaunsee squad will have its LB, 5-11 170, Sr.; Jesy Strnad, G/DT, 5-10, 185, Jr.; Flint Hills League hands full early with Silver Lake, Rock Jeff Hadachek, DB, 6-2, 170, Jr.; Chase Lambert Coach: Greg French 0-9 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 2A Creek, Rossville, St. Marys and Riley TE/LB, 5-10 170, Jr. (14th year, 18th year overall) Three Rivers League County to open the season. However, the Conor Nicholl Assistants: Brian Hadley Chargers hope their young players can gain Coach: Phil Hobbs (5th year, 1-35) Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Assistants: Troy Morris, Jim Leonard enough experience to make another run for Returning lettermen: 13 Offense: Pistol Spread Defense: 4-4 the Class 2-1A playoffs in a district that Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Returning lettermen: 17 Luke Larson, QB/S, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Mitchell Wecker, includes Northern Heights, Chase County, Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Herington and Onaga.

RB/LB, 5-9, 175, So.; Michael Karr, WR/CB, 5-4, J.T. Richardson, QB/DB, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Antonio 150, So.; Tyler Gragg, RB/LB, 5-10, 200, Sr.; Levi Isch, OL/DL, 5-8, 200, Sr.; Josh Duft, OL/DL, 5-11, 210, Sr.; Will Mills, OL/DL, 5-9, 260, Jr.; Colton Schumann, WR/DB, 5-8, 170, Jr. Melanie McGee

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4-6 in 2011 / 3-1 in district / 2A Mid-East League Coach: Brian Henry (4th year, 6-23; 6th year overall, 8-39) Assistants: N/A Offense: Power Option Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 3 Defense Justice Stuewe, OL/DL, 6-4, 240, So.; Zach Haya, LB/TE, 5-9, 150, Jr.; Alex Schmitz, OL, 5-10, 170, Jr.; AJ Wertzberger, TE, 6-2, 185, Jr.; Ethan Miller, DB, 5-8, 145, Jr. Mark Schremmer

Slingluff, FB/LB, 5-8, 160, So.; Nick Younge, WR/ DB,6-0, 175, Jr.; Sam Brooks, WR/DB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Killian Willard, RB/LB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Dakota Gesslein, OL/DL, 5-8, 230, Jr.; Joey McDowell, OL/ DL, 5-9, 220, Jr.; Mike Beasley, OL/DL, 6-0, 185, Sr. Mark Schremmer

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Valley Heights coach Tony Trimble has nearly all his starters back from the 2011 squad, plus several players who saw significant playing time last fall, and he hopes that translates into more wins for the Mustangs.

Quarterback Zach Fief is one of four seniors with starting experience. As of midJune, exact positions were up in the air for seniors Jacob Arnold, Adam Schieferecke and Jake Stewart, as well as sophomores Weston Lampe and Kyle Kieborze, who also return with experience in the starting lineup.

“We should be a better team and should be competitive throughout the season,” he said. “Depth is a major concern. With a few key players getting hurt, our team could take on an entirely different personality. If we stay healthy and develop throughout the season, we should have another opportunity to be successful.”

“We will need to execute things very well to make up for our lack of size,” he added.

Bennington’s district includes just two teams that posted winning records last season – Plainville and Smith Center – while the Bulldogs, Ell-Saline, Republic County and Washington County combined to go just 6-30 in 2011.

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Execution will be extremely important for the Bulldogs, as they don’t have a lot of size on the roster in coach Tim Dolloff’s first year at the helm, but Bennington does return six starters on both sides of the ball.

Goals are simple for the Bulldogs, who were shut out twice last season and never scored more than 16 points in a game.

Dolloff said winning a few games and being competitive every week are the two main goals this year.

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CARDINALS

After a 2-7 record in 2006, Ell-Saline, led mainly by all-state quarterback/defensive back Tate Omli, made the playoffs four straight years and had a collective 28-15 record in that span.

PANTHERS

Centralia graduated nine seniors, including the entire offensive line and quarterback Michael Glatczak, a Shrine Bowl selection, from the Class 2-1A state championship team. The Panthers opened the season 1-3 before they won nine straight contests and earned its second state title in three years.

From 2008-11, the Cardinals reached the second round of the playoffs each year. Last year, Ell-Saline didn’t have Omli and Both times, Centralia has won in thrilling dropped to a 2-7 mark. However, the fashion at Fort Hays State University’s Cardinals could have been much better.

Lewis Field Stadium. In 2009, the Panthers defeated Smith Center, 20-12, in overtime.

Four of the defeats came by eight points or Last year produced a 20-14 overtime vicfewer. The other three losses – all by at tory against La Crosse. Coach Larry least 19 points – came against Sedgwick, Glatczak calls this year’s squad probably Valley Heights returns nine defensive start- La Crosse and Plainville, squads that won a his youngest team. ers, including linemen Dylan Parker, combined 32 games. Senior Garrett Walker Sheldon Kenworthy and Sean Hudson. Also will start at quarterback for the second “Be a whole new team,” Coach Glatczak back are linebackers Cole Maddox and Kolt straight year after he took over for Omli. said. “A new look.”

Cooper, and Tanner Trimble, Derek Trimble, Elijah Smith and Gage Woodyard Walker completed 64-of-128 passes for 961 Centralia returns two offensive and four in the secondary. yards with 10 touchdowns against 15 inter- defensive starters, including J.T. Rosine, ceptions. Kaleb Whitehair hauled in 36 who filled in at quarterback early last sea“We only lost two full-time starters and we passes for 554 yards with three touchson when Michael Glatczak was hurt. also had several kids who did not start but downs. Coach Terry King said “everyone Rosine started at defensive back all year. got lots of playing time last season,” accepting their role” will be critical for suc- Devin Rempe and Sam Steinlage, who each Trimble said. cess this year. made several big plays late in the state championship, return too.

It is a similar story on the offense, with both “No individuals,” he said. “Play as a team, Trimbles and Maddox returning in the avoid injuries, especially linemen. We have Steinlage will move back to tailback from backfield to lead a group of eight returning good, skilled players with experience end. Centralia has normally taken some starters. Parker, Kenworthy and Hudson are returning. Must play to our ability.” early season losses against 3A/4A competiback in the trenches, while Cooper has tion and has made personnel changes in the 2-7 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 2A experience at tight end, and Smith and first two weeks. Coach Glatczak expects a Heart of America Woodyard are two-year starters at wide-out. similar challenge this year with Riley Coach: Terry King County and St. Marys to open the year.

(14th year) Seniors Isaac Medina, Jesse Medina and Assistants: Kevin Patrick, Joe Roche, John Ludes “The first two weeks will be huge for this Patrick Hale, as well as sophomore Lane Offense: Spread Option Defense: 50 Jorgenson all gained plenty of experience team, because we really don’t know. We Returning lettermen: 16 last fall on the offensive line and will be really have got a lot of question marks,” he Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense counted on more in 2012. said.

Kaleb Whitehair, WR/DB, 6-3, 195, Sr.; Keegan

0-9 in 2011 / 0-4 in district / 2A Heart of America League Coach: Tim Dolloff (1st year) Assistants: Jerry Mick, Gregg Tanzer, Garrett Scritchfield Offense: Double Wing Defense: 5-3 Returning lettermen: 8 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Zach Fief, QB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Jacob Arnold, Sr.; Jake Stewart, Sr.; Adam Schieferecke, Sr.; Weston 3-6 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 2A Lampe, So.; Kyle Kieborze, So. Melanie McGee Twin Valley League Coach: Tony Trimble (8th year, 35-24; 17th year overall, 107-60) Assistants: Lew Whitson, Ron Lee, Eric Stoddard Offense: Hybrid wing/option Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 9 Defense Tanner Trimble, RB/DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Derek Trimble, QB/DB, 6-2, 175, Jr.; Dylan Parker, OL/DL, 5-11, 235, Sr.; Sheldon Kenworthy, OL/DE, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Cole Maddox, FB/LB, 5-9, 185, Jr.; Sean Hudson, OL/DL, 5-11, 235, Sr.; Kolt Cooper, TE/LB, 5-10, 210, So.; Elijah Smith, WR/DB, 6-2, 155, So.; Gage Woodyard, WR/DB, 6-1, 160, So. McGee

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Hays, WR/DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Toby Omli, RB/LB, 511, 180, Sr.; Justin Schmulz, RB/LB, 5-11, 185, Jr.; Garrett Walker, QB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Hunter Brooks, OL/DL, 5-10, 225, Sr.; Jared Winter, OL/LB, 5-10, 215, Sr.; Evan Morrical, OL/DL, 5-10, 215, So; Lucas Base, FS, 6-0, 165, Sr. Conor Nicholl

Photo by Jim Williams

This marks the first time in seven years Glatczak will not coach one of his sons.

Tyler, the QB for the first state team, plays at Baker. Michael is headed to Butler Co. 10-3 in 2011 / 4-0 in district / 2A Twin Valley League Coach: Larry Glatczak (8th year, 64-18) Assistants: Roger Holthaus, Jason Wheeler, Jim Kramer Offense: Single Wing Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 2 Offense, 4 Defense Sam Steinlage, E/LB, 6-1, 185, Jr.; Brett Burdiek, E, 6-1, 185, Jr.; Devin Rempe, CB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; J.T. Rosine, FS, 6-0, 185, Jr. Conor Nicholl Photo by Everett Royer, courtesy Kpreps.com

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Elkhart had several of the state’s leaders, especially in passing yards and tackles, but turnovers kept the Wildcats from their third straight winning season.

Goals are simple at Ellinwood – work hard and get better. Dusty Beam enters his second year as head coach with 10 returning lettermen, seven returning offensive starters and five members of last year’s first-team In 2010, Elkhart went 7-2, had 10 turnovers defense. and finished plus-4 in turnover margin. Last year, Elkhart had 25 turnovers and finished “Our goal for the upcoming season is simminus-4 in turnover margin, including 18 ple – get better at what we do,” he said. interceptions by quarterback Alex Gomez.

“This is our second year running the same offense and defense, and also our second Gomez did finish 131-for-240 passing with year to really work in the weight room. Last 2,116 yards (10th-most in Kansas) with 18 summer, our lifting /running program was scores. Junior Moreno led the team in tack- very successful and looks to be better this les for the second straight year with 155. year.”

E llis

RAILROADERS

Photo by Elkhart High School

2-7 in 2011 / 1-3 in district / 2A Mid-Central Activities Association Coach: Dusty Beam (2nd year, 2-7) Assistants: Andy Wesner, Dustin Klaussen, Kyle Kroeker Offense: Wing-T Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 5 Defense Patrick Ringering, RB/DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Cody Isern, WR/LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Devin Ramsey, RB/DB, 5-8, 130, Jr.; Jared Oelke, QB/DB, 5-8, 145, Jr.; Tanner Swamk, TE/DB, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Colton Churchill, RB/ LB, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Adam Birzer, OL/DL, 6-2, 190, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Ellis reached the postseason for its ninth straight year and won its sixth consecutive district title in 2011. The Railroaders had long ran a pro-style offense, but switched to a spread in early fall.

The 2011 season was a trying one for the Railers, who lost their head coach, Bud Peterson, during the second game of the year. Pat Baalman, who took over after Peterson’s death, says the team is primed for a breakthrough season in 2012.

Ellis’ offense put up strong numbers in total offense, but went 0-4. Ellis averaged 3.8 turnovers per game in the first month and QB Riley Hunsicker threw 10 interceptions.

Ellis lost tight end/linebacker Jared Herl to a foot injury early in Week 1.

“These kids are coming off a tough year with losing coach Peterson, but they have grown up through their experience with that,” Baalman said. “They are ready to make the playoffs this year.”

Once district play started, Ellis reeled off five straight victories. Coach Butch Hayes said Hunsicker (2,911 yards of total Elkhart lost two games by large margins in The Eagles have just one returning starter offense, 34 TDs accounted for, 16 INTs), district play to state powers Meade and on the offensive line – junior Adam Birzer – had the best year of any quarterback in his Stanton County, but probably could have but the backfield is loaded with veteran coaching tenure. Herl returned in midseafinished with a winning record. They lost players. Senior Patrick Ringering and junson, averaged 10 tackles a game and caught by 16 to Sublette, by two to Leoti-Wichita iors Devin Ramsey and Colton Churchill five receiving TDs. County and one to Kismet-Southwestern figure to handle the running back duties, Heights. while junior Jared Oelke is expected to start The Railers enter 2012 on a seven-game at quarterback. Senior Cody Isern returns at winning steak in district play and return its Against Sublette, Elkhart tallied just eight receiver and junior Tanner Swamk is back top two tacklers in Cadyn McCoy (86 points off of 381 offensive yards, because at tight end. stops) and Blake McCoy (60 tackles, teamof four turnovers. Versus Leoti, Elkhart held high three INTs). Four starting offensive a plus-33 edge in total yards and lost 14-12. The Ellinwood defense will feature many of linemen are back.

Versus Southwestern Heights, Elkhart led those same players, starting with Birzer on entering the fourth quarter and held a plus- the line and Churchill and Isern at line“We enter this season with one of the most 60 edge in total yards, but committed six backer. In the secondary, Ramsey, experienced teams we’ve had,” Hayes said. turnovers.

Ringering, Oelke and Swamk are all back “The biggest void we will need to fill from with varsity experience. last season is the QB position. I’m conCoach Khris Buckner set a goal to win a fident we’ll have somebody step up and district title and make a playoff run, but While the Eagles have a host of returners, lead our team as well as Riley Hunsicker said the team’s keys are “less turnovers,” Beam said depth and health are concerns did for us in 2011. Work, attendance and “running the ball effectively,” staying for his squad. team effort during our summer conditioning healthy and developing underclassmen. program will be vital for us to achieve the “Staying healthy is key for us in 2012,” he goals we’ve set.”

3-6 in 2011 / 2-3 in district / 2A said. “Once again, we are very thin in key Hi-Plains League 5-5 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 2A spots and we need those positions to stay Coach: Khris Buckner (3rd year, 10-8) Mid-Continent League healthy all season long.”

Assistants: Travis Johnson, Daniel Vaughn Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 8 Defense Alex Gomez, QB/LB/S, 5-11, 190. Jr.; Hunter Burnett, WR/TE/DE, 6-4, 215, Sr.; Nick Lewis, RB/ WB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Jordan Forbit, WR/LB/DB, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Wyatt Howe, OL/LB, 5-10, 245, Jr.; A.J. McKinley, FB/WR/TB/S, 6-2, 185, So.; Wes Higgins, OL/DE, 6-3, 235, So.; Bryton Coen, C/DL, 5-11, 170, So.; Marshal Wichter, OL/DL, 6-2, 190, So.; Justin Hurn, WR/DB, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Braden Harbour, OL/DL, 6-5, 240, Sr. Conor Nicholl

RE H A BIL ITATIO N & SPO RTS M E D IC IN E

Coach: Butch Hayes (6th year, 37-18) Assistants: Troy Dale, Craig Amrein Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: 21 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Gage Younger, RB/LB, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Blake Hudson, WR/FS, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Jared Mick, WR/DB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Cadyn McCoy, TE/LB, 5-8, 190, Sr.; Skyler Tebo, C/DL, 6-2, 220, Jr.; Logan Fuchs, G/DL, 5-10, 210, Sr.; Nick Gehring, T/DL, 6-0, 210, Jr.; Jordan Rohr, T, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Cole Pfeifer, LB, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Austin McGann, DL, 5-9, 210, Sr. Conor Nicholl

File Photo

Leading the charge is a group of 10 seniors with starting experience, including four linemen, four linebackers, two defensive backs and senior quarterback Hunter Makovec.

Seniors Ryan Barber, Alex Keithline, Daniel Melcher and Kyler Schlessner will bring experience to the offensive and defensive lines, while the linebacking corps is loaded with returning starters as well - seniors Nick Barnes, Kaleb Gillis, Makovec and Ramsey Stremel.

Collin and Cole Wildman are also back for their senior season at receiver and cornerback positions, while Gillis returns as the starting fullback. Barnes (tight end) and Stremel (receiver) also return as offensive starters, while sophomore Chayenne Morales has starting experience on the defensive line.

“Playoffs are on their minds, and they believe they can achieve that goal,” Baalman said, adding that staying injuryfree and establishing a solid running game will be keys to Herington’s success this fall.

5-4 in 2011 / 1-3 in district / 2A Flint Hills League Coach: Pat Baalman (1st full year, 4-4) Assistants: Bryant Gutsch, Eman Torres Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Ramsey Stremel, WR/LB, Sr.; Collin Wildman, WR/ CB, Sr.; Cole Wildman, WR/CB, Sr.; Nick Barnes, TE/LB, Sr.; Kaleb Gillis, FB/LB, Sr.; Daniel Melcher, OL/DL, Sr.; Kyler Schlessner, OL/DL, Sr.; Ryan Barber, OL/DL, Sr.; Alex Keithline, OL/DL, Sr.; Hunter Makovec, QB/LB, Sr.; Chayenne Marales, DL, So. Melanie McGee File Photo

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Doniphan West won its first playoff game last season and the Mustangs are looking for another trip to the postseason with seven starters returning on both sides of the ball.

Inman has 16 lettermen back from last year’s 2-7 team but changes are in order as Mike Vernon steps into the head coaching role.

Coach Nick Fuemmeler’s team went 8-1 and earned a district runner-up spot, then rallied past St. Marys in the playoff opener, 32-26, before falling to perennial power St. Marys Colgan.

“Everything around here will be new,” he said.

Stanton County is 19-4 the last two seasons, with three losses to Meade, including one in the 2010 Class 2-1A sub-state championship game. That marks the Trojans’ deepest postseason run since they won the state title in 1983. Last year, Stanton County nearly reached the sub-state title game again, but lost 6-0 at home to Plainville in the second round.

The Leopards have won double-digit contests in five of the last six years, but last season was a record breaker as La Crosse went 12-1, finished as Class 2-1A runner-up to Centralia, reaching the first title game in school history, and in the process set a school record for wins and broke the alltime state interception record with 34.

Stanton County returns a bevy of experience, including senior quarterback Quinn Kendrick, a four-year starter and Coach Bret Kendrick’s son, and senior running back Marques Logan. Kendrick and Logan earned first team all-league honors on both sides of the ball last year. Logan exceeded 1,000 rushing yards, while Kendrick delivered more than 1,300 yards of total offense despite missing two games with injury.

This year, La Crosse returns several key pieces, namely senior fullback/linebacker Kip Keeley and senior running back/linebacker Levi Morss. In his career, Keeley has rushed for 1,470 yards and 19 rushing scores, caught 43 passes for 374 yards and a score, and collected 169 tackles and nine interceptions. That included 828 rushing yards, 226 receiving yards, 89 tackles and seven interceptions last year. Morss, who began his career at Pawnee Heights, rushed for 1,302 yards and 17 scores on 172 carries in 2011.

“Our goals for this season are to play as a team, to play hard from start to finish, and to play good, clean, penalty and turnover free football,” Fuemmeler said. “If we do those things, everything else will take care of itself.”

Inman will run the flexbone offense, and five players are back with starting experience, though their exact positions were still being decided in mid-June.

Seniors John Corn, Alex Ropp and Zach Ryan are expected to anchor the offensive line while juniors Tyler Cottam and Justin Friesen have experience in the backfield.

The Mustangs have three offensive linemen – seniors Derek Gibson and Koby Scholz and junior Trevor Fee – back along with senior running backs Jordan Sellers and Derrick Hughes. Sophomores Tristan Speer – the main passer for Doniphan West last year - and Tynan Bollinger also return to the backfield.

Defensively, there are seven Teutons with starting experience, including Corn, Ropp and Ryan up front. Cottam, Friesen and senior Cody Seiler are veterans in the secondary while senior Brock Lucas and junior Darren Heaton started at linebacker last year.

Defensively, the Mustangs return Gibson and Scholz up front as well as Bollinger, Hughes, Sellers and Speer at linebacker.

Junior Ian Bollinger is the lone returning starter in the secondary.

“Our goal for the season is to get better every day. If we achieve that goal, our team should be in pretty good shape at the end of the season,” Vernon said. “We will need to play assignment-sound defense while protecting the ball on offense, and developing a physical style of play with the offensive and defensive lines will also be key.”

“We have to stay healthy, and we will need our veteran guys to continue to improve to fill the shoes of our departed seniors,” Fuemmeler said. “Along with that we’ll be asking some young guys to step in and contribute. They will need to learn the intensity of the varsity game quickly and in some cases, learn their new positions quickly.”

9-2 in 2011 / 3-1 in district / 2A Delaware Valley League Coach: Nick Fuemmeler (2nd year, 9-2; 6th year overall) Assistants: Marty Allen, Rob Randall Offense: Single Wing Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Derek Gibson, OL/DL, 6-4, 285, Sr.; Koby Scholz, OL/DL, 5-10, 225, Sr.; Trevor Fee, OL, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Jordan Sellers, RB/LB, 5-10, 170, Sr. Tristan Speer, QB/RB/LB, 5-10, 185, So.; Tynan Bollinger, RB/LB, 6-0, 170, So.; Ian Bollinger, DB, 6-0, 165, Jr.; Derrick Hughes, RB/LB, 6-0, 175, Sr. Melanie McGee

Vernon, a former Bethany College linebacker, comes to Inman from Hutchinson, where he coached linebackers, defensive ends, running backs and quarterbacks over the past four seasons.

2-7 in 2011 / 1-3 in district / 2A Heart of America League Coach: Mike Vernon (1st year) Assistants: Bill Foust, Jeff Friesen Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-2 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 7 Defense Justin Friesen, RB/DB, Jr.; Tyler Cottam, RB/DB, Jr.; Alex Ropp, OL/DL, Sr.; Zach Ryan, OL/DL, Sr.; John Corn, OL, Sr.; Cody Seiler, DB, Sr.; Brock Lucas, LB, Sr.; Darren Heaton, LB, Jr. Melanie McGee

“It’s pretty good whenever we are on the field,” Quinn Kendrick said of being coached by his father. “We can communicate with each other. It’s fun.”

L a C rosse

“We need to have a good summer in the weight room and on the practice field,” coach Jon Webster said of the team’s keys.

Lineman Kyle Rodriguez was second team “We need to improve our strength and speed. Our young players will need to step all-league offense, while lineman Colby Overturf was second team all-league up and be ready to play this fall. We will defense for a team that outscored opponents need our seniors to be great leaders in the 472-143 and ranked fourth in scoring offseason and the fall.” offense and sixth in scoring defense in Class 2-1A. Stanton County has seen its Nate Ruff, Matt Wagner and Trey Renz scoring defense improve in each of the last were key cogs on an offensive line that colfour seasons, going from 317 points lected 389.7 yards of total offense a contest allowed to 244, to 204 to 143. and finished second in Class 2-1A in scoring offense (524 points).

“All of these kids are football smart,” Coach Kendrick said. “That’s something “We want to be the best team we can be that is very easy to coach.” every Friday night. We want to be a tight group of guys that care about each other 9-2 in 2011 / 4-1 in district / 2A and battle on every down,” Webster said. “ Hi-Plains League We want to be a hard hitting, physical footCoach: Bret Kendrick ball team.”

(20th year, 117-60; 28th overall, 160-87) Assistants: Marty Garrison, Clint Floyd Offense: Multiple Defense: 5-3 Monster Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 10 Offense, 9 Defense Quinn Kendrick, QB/DB, Sr.; Marques Logan, RB/ LB, Sr.; Kyle Rodriguez, OL/LB, Sr.; Colby Overturf, OL/DE, Sr.; Gage Martin, OL/DL, Jr.; Angel Molina, SE/DE, Jr.; Eddie Camacho, OL/DL, So.; Bret Gum, RB/DL, Sr.; Edgar Mendoza, OL/DL, Sr.; Jeremy Amerin, TE, So. Conor Nicholl

Photo by Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com

Photo by Marion McReynolds

12-1 in 2011 / 4-0 in district / 2A Central Prairie League Coach: Jon Webster (4th year, 29-5) Assistants: Bill Keeley, Chris Delimont, Andrew Schroter Offense: Multiple Veer Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 27 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Kip Keeley, RB/LB, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Levi Morss, RB/ LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Matt Wagner, OL/DL, 6-2, 240, Sr.; Nate Ruff, OL/DL, 5-10, 225, Sr.; Will Storie, WR/ DB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Trey Renz, OL/DL, 6-2, 205, Sr.; Clayton Basgall, DB, 5-10, 170, Sr. Nicholl Photo by Marion McReynolds

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INDIANS

TIGERS

BULLDOGS

BUFFALOES

Leoti has been consistent for the past six seasons. The Indians have no playoff berths in that span and have won three, three, five, one, two and three games.

Lyndon has made the postseason six of the last nine years, including a four-year stretch from 2006-09. Lyndon played Class 2-1A’s 10th-hardest schedule in 2010 and went 7-2 to miss the playoffs. Last year, Lyndon came back with an 8-2 record before the Tigers lost to Wathena-Riverside in the first round.

McLouth saw a four-win improvement to 72 last season. The Bulldogs outscored opponents 326-115. McLouth went undefeated in league competition and were the Delaware Valley South Division champions.

Meade has become one of Class 2-1A’s top programs under coach Scott Moshier. The Buffs won the 2010 state title, the third one in school history and first since 1980.

Lynd on

The last two seasons were nearly identical.

In 2010, Leoti defeated Satanta 37-8 in Week 1, then lost to powerhouse JohnsonStanton County 30-0 and then defeated Syracuse 63-0 before it lost to Elkhart 39-6. Lyndon has lost four straight playoff games In districts, Leoti lost every game, all but and has not won a postseason contest since one by at least 20 points. it advanced to the third round in 2006 and ‘07 before losing to Olpe and Colgan, Last fall, Leoti defeated Satanta 39-7 in respectively.

Week 1, then lost to Stanton County, 49-6.

Following a 60-8 victory versus Syracuse, Lyndon averaged 38 points per game last Leoti had a 14-12 win versus Elkhart. season, its best offense of the last six years, but lose its top two rushers, including allThen, Leoti again went winless in district state player Nick Walsh, who rushed for play and lost all five contests by at least 24 1,330 yards and 21 scores on 158 carries. points. This year, the schedule will likely be Josh Owens returns after he rushed for 479 difficult again with Ellis, Oakley, Oberlin yards and seven scores on 37 carries, good and St. Francis again in district play. Leoti for an outstanding 13 yards per carry averwill also play powerhouses Stanton County age. Skylar Farwell had a team-high 83 and Meade. tackles, while Dakota Jiskra added 69 tackles and a team-high 7.5 sacks.

Coach Drew Thon named three keys for the season: improved fundamentals, develCoach Rod Stallbaumer said his team’s opment on the lines and a power running strengths are depth, including 17 seniors game. and 18 players who have starting experience. A big concern is replacing Walsh, who also punted and kicked.

“Had a great year in the weight room and looking forward to in transitioning onto the field in the fall,” Thon said.

“Offensively, we return seven starters but lose a very talented core of skill players Leoti will switch from the Hi-Plains League responsible for 2,090 yards rushing last seato the Northwest Kansas League. son and 2,982 yards of total offense,” Stallbaumer said.

3-6 in 2011 / 0-4 in district / 2A Northwest Kansas League Coach: Drew Thon (2nd year, 3-6) Assistants: Nate Schmitt, Randy Peralas, Greg Fletcher, Tyler Oestreicher Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 8 Defense Jantz Budde, RB/DB, 6-1, 168, Jr.; Neil Fletcher, RB/DL, 6-3, 208, Sr.; Spenser Thurman, WR/DB, 510, 157, So.; Casey Day, QB/DB, 5-10, 165, Jr.; Alberto Gallegos, RB/DB, 5-7, 118, Sr.; Bryce Nickelson, WR/DB, 5-11, 179, Sr.; Colton Northrup, RB/LB, 5-10, 189, Jr.; Brice Mason, OL/DL, 6-1, 208, Jr.; Chris Wilson, OL/LB, 5-11, 211, Jr.; Tristen Perry, OL/DL, 5-11, 238, Jr.; Tyrelle Thurman, OL/ DL, 6-2, 186, Sr.; Bryson Bloedorn, OL/DL, 6-2, 217, So.; Brock Sheppard, OL/DL, 6-3, 258, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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8-2 in 2011 / 5-1 in district / 2A Flint Hills League Coach: Rod Stallbaumer (6th year, 30-21; 8th year, 44-26) Assistants: Toby Baker, Marc Herman, Rick Kober Offense: Flexbone Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 9 Defense Dakota Jiskra, OL/DL, 6-3, 255, Sr.; Josh Owens, RB, 6-0, 195, Jr.; Dylan Sloop, OL, 5-11, 205, Sr.; Skylar Farwell, RB, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Gabe Clark, DE, 6-1, 165, Sr.; Slaytor Parks, TE, 6-2, 195, Sr.; Scott Farwell, OL, 6-5, 205, Sr.; Garrett Fitch, LB, 5-8, 255, Jr.; Jake Reno, OL, 6-2, 250, Jr.; Joe Walsh, DE, 6-2, 205, Jr.; Cameron Woodruff, WR, 6-1, 165, Jr.; Alex Taussig, CB, 5-9, 145, Sr.; Gaige Brecheisen, CB, 5-9, 145, Jr.; Alex Fehr, DL, 5-11, 235, Sr. Conor Nicholl

M cL outh

The Bulldogs outscored opponents by an average margin of 41-13 and averaged 336 yards of offense per game with the only losses to Rossville and Silver Lake.

M ead e

Meade enjoyed its fourth straight doubledigit win season last year, but lost to La Crosse at home in the second round of the state playoffs to end a 22-game winning streak. Still, the Buffs are expected to contend for a state title again this year.

The previous five years, McLouth had won just 10 total games. McLouth last made the playoffs in 2005, when it lost in the second round to Silver Lake. This year, McLouth drops down to Class 2-1A.

“We want to continue to improve as a team and grow as a team,” Moshier said. “If we can do this we will have a chance to be pretty good football team. We have a great group of boys and they are eager get the season started.”

Senior quarterback Marc Walbridge (457 rush, 963 pass, first team all-league) will start for the third straight year. He, and returning starting linebackers Charles Courtney and Dakota Cop were first team all-league.

Trevin Wiens is one of Kansas’ fastest players and has 2,748 rushing yards, 151 tackles and six interceptions in his career, including 1,550 rushing yards and 26 TDs on 138 carries and 37 tackles last fall.

“Success will be dependent upon our defensive aggressiveness and focused discipline on offense as well as contribution from the 2011 junior varsity players,” coach Chris Stewart said.

Chris Hardaway (693 passing yards, 741 rushing yards, 21 TDs accounted for) and Jett Little (869 rushing yards, 11 rushing TDs) help form a strong backfield.

7-2 in 2011 / 1-2 in district / 2A Delaware Valley League Coach: Chris Stewart (5th year, 13-21) Assistants: Gary Freeman, Kevin Stewart, David Boucher Offense: Spread Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 6 Defense Marc Walbridge, QB, Sr.; Matt Horton, OL/DL, Sr.; Charles Courtney, OL/DL, Sr.; Dakota Cop, RB/WR/ DL, Sr.; Nick Mcaferty, WR, Jr.; T.J. Crowell, LB, Sr.; Wyatt Farris, LB, Sr. Conor Nicholl

The Buffs bring back four linemen from a rushing attack that averaged 364 yards a game and nine yards a carry. Defensively, Morgan Olvera has started since his freshman year and has 108 tackles in his career.

“We want to be one of the hardest working and most dedicated teams in the state and our main goal is get better everyday,” Moshier said.

10-1 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 2A Hi-Plains League Coach: Scott Moshier (7th year, 59-11; 22nd year, 110-96) Assistants: Justin Powell, Greg McCulloch, Chad Rudzik Offense: Unbalanced Single Wing Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 30 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 7 Defense Trevin Wiens, RB/DB, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Chris Hardaway, TB/DB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Jett Little, RB/DB, 5-9, 150, Jr.; Sam Podrebarac, OL/DL, 6-0, 235, Sr.; Cooper Clawson, OL/DL, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Randy Friesen, TE/DE, 6-9, 230, Sr.; Morgan Davis, TE/ DE, 6-4, 220, Jr.; Morgan Olvera, RB/LB, 5-10, 175, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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The Class of 2012 left big holes to fill at Medicine Lodge, which must replace half its starters from a 4-6 team that finished as district runner-up and reached the state playoffs.

Second-year coach Faron Kraft said the team’s main goal is to build off that playoff berth and post a better record in 2012.

“Our team goal is always to improve on previous years’ successes,” he said.

The Indians must replace their top three tacklers and four All-League performers, but they do return six defensive starters.

Among those is senior linebacker Bryant Wornkey, who caused two fumbles and blocked a field goal last season, and senior defensive back Nathan Liebham, who was second on the team with two interceptions.

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The Jayhawk-Linn Jayhawks will be searching for some offensive firepower in 2012 after finishing 1-8 a year ago.

Last season, the Jayhawks were limited to eight points or fewer in seven of their nine games and were shut out three times.

Jayhawk-Linn’s offense broke out only one time last season, a 34-8 win over Oswego.

Jayhawk-Linn head coach Kirk Holt listed offensive consistency and controlling the line of scrimmage among team keys.

The Jayhawks do have quite a bit of experience on offense with eight starters returning.

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After a 5-4 season in 2010, Oakley returned to the playoffs last season behind a 7-3 record. The Plainsmen had several late season injuries and lost to Meade in the first round, but continue to rank among Class 21A’s top teams. Oakley has 71 victories in the last seven years.

Oberlin’s Joe Dreher is the Red Devils’ longtime wrestling coach and assistant track coach. He has coached junior high football, but will have a new position this fall — head high school football coach. Oberlin has struggled for many years, including an 0-4 record in playoff contests since 2002.

This year, Oakley returns six offensive and five defensive starters, including senior tight ends Austin Baalman and Stephen Llewellyn, who pose matchup problems at 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-5, respectively. Veteran coach Randall Rath considers the line probably his team’s strength. Rath said the team doesn’t have a lot of size, but plenty of experience.

While former coach JD Johnson was known for passing in a spread offense, Dreher — a former Plainville standout in his high school days — is likely going to have a more run-oriented attack in an I formation look.

PLAINSMEN

Senior linebackers Scott Beecher and Logan Bertholf also return, as do defensive back Lakin Leibst and defensive linemen Scott Angell and Tyler Small.

Senior running backs Austin Coleman (6-1, 200) and Patrick Sutherland (5-8, 140) should provide a power and speed combo.

The Jayhawks will look to offensive linemen Adam Higginbotham (5-10, 220), Aaron Beisiegel (5-10, 225), Levi Jackson (5-8, 200) and Tommy Avery (5-11, 165) to create some running lanes.

“Experience is huge and these kids have played on Friday nights, and they are good kids,” Rath said. “I think they will have some success.”

4-6 in 2011 / 2-1 in district / 2A Central Plains League Coach: Faron Kraft (2nd year, 4-6; 6th year overall, 20-25) Assistants: Brock Bender, Chuck Dirks Offense: Multiple Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 6 Defense Bryant Wornkey, RB/LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Scott Beecher, QB/LB, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Nathan Liebham, WR/DB, 5-10, 140, Sr.; Logan Bertholf, OL/LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Tyler Small, OL/DL, 6-1, 260, Sr.; Lakin Leibst, WR/DB, 6-3, 170, Sr.; Scott Angell, DL, 6-9, 235, Jr. Melanie McGee

Coach: Kirk Holt (6th year, 8-38) 190; Oscar MacIas, FB/LB, 5-7, 150, Jr.; Stephen Assistants: Ripp Harrison Llewellyn, TE, 6-5, 210, Sr. Offense: Pro-I Defense: 4-3 Cover 2 Conor Nicholl Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Austin Coleman, RB/LB, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Patrick Sutherland, RB/CB, 5-8, 140, Sr.; Jake Grimes, TE/ LB, 5-10, 215, Sr.; Adam Higginbotham, OG/DT, 510, 220, Sr.; Aaron Beisiegel, OT, 5-10, 225¸Sr.; Levi Jackson, OL/LB, 5-8, 200, Jr.; Chandler Morrell, CB/ WR, 5-10, 150, Jr.; Ethan Jackson, DL, 6-4, 220, So.; Tommy Avery, OL/TE, 5-11, 165, So. Mark Schremmer

RED DEVILS

“Work hard in the offseason,” Dreher said of the team’s keys. “We will need to establish a run game offensively and be aggressive on the defensive side of the ball.”

Zach May returns after he passed for 182 yards with three touchdowns against five interceptions and rushed for a team-high Oakley has three players competing at quar- 1,010 yards and seven scores on 148 carterback with senior Cayle Hubert, junior ries. He also caught 23 passes for 168 yards Darius Herl and senior Kody Gabel. Hubert and three touchdowns and led the team in has suffered lower leg and knee injuries the catches and receiving scores. Defensively, Many of the same players return on defense last two years and played sparingly, but is May led the team with four interceptions Five starters are back on the Medicine Lodge offense. Wornkey returns to the with Coleman, Jackson and Jake Grimes (5- 6-foot-3, 220 pounds with a strong arm. and three passes defended.

10, 215) forming the linebacker corps. backfield after running for 442 yards and five touchdowns last fall. Beecher split time Sutherland and Chandler Morrell (5-10, “Whichever one wins the position will do Staying competitive against strong teams 150) return as defensive backs. at quarterback and completed 20 of 47 has been an issue for Oberlin, and last year well for us,” Rath said. passes for 258 yards and a touchdown. included big losses to Cambridge, Neb., La 7-3 in 2011 / 4-1 in district / 2A Bertholf and Small return to the offensive Higginbotham and Ethan Jackson (6-4, Crosse, Oakley and Ellis. La Crosse was the Northwest Kansas League line while Leibst and Liebham have expe220) lend experience to the defensive line.

Class 2-1A runner-up, while Oakley and Coach: Randall Rath rience at the wide receiver spots.

Jayhawk-Linn has seven returning starters Ellis made the playoffs. This year, the (15th year, 110-48) from a defense that allowed no fewer than schedule includes home contests versus “We will need to build depth after losing a 33 points in any of the team’s eight losses. Assistants: Mark Dennis, Zach Broeckleman, Rob Phillipsburg and Oakley and road contests Sattler, Andy Starbuck big senior class,” Kraft said. “The younger at Smith Center and Ellis.

Multiple Defense: 4-3 players are going to have to step up and fill “We want to improve week to week,” Holt Offense: Returning lettermen: 14 some shoes. As always, the weight room said.

“With six seniors, we will obviously expect Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense and camps will tell us where we will be a lot from them on both sides of the ball,” Jason Berkgren, OG/DL, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Austin 1-8 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 2A coming into the season.”

Dreher said. “As our schedule shows, there Baalman, TE/DE, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Cody Faulkender, Three Rivers League will be a lot of tough competition.”

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4-5 in 2011 / 3-2 in district / 2A Northwest Kansas League Coach: Joe Dreher (1st year) Assistants: Caleb Howland, Shane Bird Offense: I formation Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Zach May, RB/DE, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Ryan May, SE/DB, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Tyler Bruggeman, OL/DL, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Cody Wurm, OL/DL, 5-10, 245, Sr.; Matt Glading, OL/DE, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Channing Fortin, OL/DL, 5-9, 225, Sr. Conor Nicholl

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

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The Olpe Eagles will need their young players to grow up in a hurry if they hope to make a run at the playoffs in 2012. The Eagles just missed the playoffs a year ago, and will need to replace roughly half the starting lineup on both sides of the ball, but coach Chris Schmidt likes his team’s work ethic.

Onaga’s five losses last season came by a combined 26 points, and the Buffaloes will look to win those close games in 2012, particularly the ones against Twin Valley League opponents.

Plainville enjoyed a seven-win improvement from 2010, won the school’s first Mid-Continent League football title since 1984 and advanced to the Class 2-1A substate championship game before it fell to La Crosse.

Smith Center will have to retool after it graduated all eight players that earned first or second team all-conference, including running back Truitt Kuhlmann, who earned a Shrine Bowl nod after he led the team in carries (179), rushing yards (2,009), interceptions (six) and total touchdowns (37).

“We have some skilled kids back, but overall we will be young,” he said. “We like what we have, and how they go to work.

We hope to progress throughout the season and we can make a run at the end.”

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“The main team goal is to win a Twin Valley League game,” coach Jerry Bainum said. “Onaga has not won a league game in six years.”

The Buffaloes nearly broke that streak last fall, losing 16-6 to Valley Heights, 22-14 to eventual state champion Centralia, and 1412 to Washington County.

Their district schedule is perhaps less daunting than in the past two seasons, with former district rival St. Marys Colgan moving up to Class 3A, but Olpe still must tangle with a playoff-tested Lyndon squad and several new opponents in Oswego, Northeast-Arma and Chase County.

The Cardinals enjoyed its best football season since 1992 and eventually went on to win the MCL boys’ basketball regular season and league tournament crowns, the boys’ league track title and Class 2A boys’ track championship. It marked the first time in school history Plainville won the league football, boys’ basketball and boys’ track titles in the same school year.

Onaga’s offensive line is loaded with veterans, as all five returning starters play somewhere on the line. Senior Dalton Blow is back at center, while seniors Mychal Kolterman, Matt Marten and Nick Poley also return. Senior Thomas Eisenbarth earned second-team All-League honors as an end last season, and will be back in the Seniors Mitchell Argabright, Brandon Baumgardner and Tyler Hogan return to the starting lineup as well. backfield along with junior Isaac Hall, while senior Nathan Roeder, junior Chance “We have an experienced offensive line that Stout and sophomore Joe Redeker will lend needs to play well for us to be successful,” experience to the Eagles’ front line.

Bainum said. “We are very young and inexperienced with our skill players, and we As usual, Schmidt said that fundamentals must win early to develop confidence in our young players.” will be important to his squad’s success.

REDMEN

The Redmen return just one offensive starter in fullback Kyler Atwood. He earned honorable mention all-MCL after he rushed for 480 yards and eight touchdowns.

Longtime coach Roger Barta doesn’t remember a year when he has had to replace so many offensive starters. Barta doubts the team will have an offensive lineman weighing 200 pounds. At quarterback, Payton Buckmaster and Kody Molzahn have competed for the position.

Plainville graduated four senior starters, all whom earned all-league honors and started both ways, including Andrew Casey, Kpreps.com’s Class 2A Defensive Player of the Year.

“What I am concerned about is we just don’t have any size,” Barta said. “We are Still, the Cardinals return a bevy of talent going to be, I think, really small, especially including four players who were first team on the offensive line. … They are quick all-league: lineman Bradey Chard (both enough, they are fast enough, they can ways), running back Trevor Axelson (1,323 play.” yards, 13 scores) and fullback Harrison Gilliland (883 yards, 13 TDs), and defenSmith Center posted a 16-5 record the last sive lineman Andy Malin. Malin suffered a two years in Class 3A, but drops back to 2knee injury and played in just six games, 1A this year. The Redmen earned national but should be healthy for the fall. attention for their run in Class 2A that produced a 79-1 record and a Kansas record “We need to be able to do the fundamentals Defensively, Onaga brings back first-team “Continue to build on the success we had 79-game winning streak that ended in the of the game - block, tackle and execute,” he All-League lineman Kyle Bliss and second- last year,” coach Joe Simon said of the 2009 2A state title game to Centralia. said. team All-League defensive back Mitchell team’s goals. “We need to keep our football Kufahl, both seniors, as well as Kolterman program headed in the right direction. We “It’s a lot different,” Barta said. “We’ve Olpe opens the season against Class 3A on the line and Blow at linebacker. have to stay healthy and we will have to been, the last two years, the smallest, or one Sedgwick and Wellsville before facing have some of our backups from last season of the smallest in 3A, and that means when seven Class 2-1A opponents in the final The Buffaloes will see several new teams in step in and play big for us this year to be you get to people like Conway Springs and weeks. their district, which Bainum said will make successful.”

Scott City, which are large, we have put a things more interesting. District play begins 150-pounders against 290 pounders, and 5-4 in 2011 / 3-2 in district / 2A 10-2 in 2011 / 3-1 in district / 2A Sept. 28 at Northern Heights, and the that doesn’t always work out sometimes.”

Lyon County League Mid-Continent League Buffaloes will also face Chase County, Coach: Chris Schmidt Coach: Joe Simon (4th year, 14-17) 8-2 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 2A Wabaunsee and Herington for the right to (5th year, 46-12) Assistants: Ryan Becker, Justin Casey Mid-Continent League play in November.

Assistants: Terry Smith, Steven Jowers Offense: I-formation Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 7 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 6 Defense Brandon Baumgardner, B, 150, Sr.; Isaac Hall, B, 170, Jr.; Tyler Hogan, B, 140, Sr.; Mitchell Argabright, B, 145, Sr.; Joe Redeker, L, 170, So.; Chance Stout, L, 215, Jr.; Nathan Roeder, E, 135, Sr. Melanie McGee

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4-5 in 2011 / 2-2 in district / 2A Twin Valley League Coach: Jerry Bainum (3rd year, 9-10; 35th year overall) Assistants: Sean Spoonts, Rick Bush, Parker Ast Offense: I Formation Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Mychal Kolterman, OL/DL, 6-3, 280, Sr.; Thomas Eisenbarth, E/LB, 60, 175, Sr.; Mitchell Kufahl, DB, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Kyle Bliss, DG, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Dalton Blow, C/LB, 6-1, 178, Sr.; Matt Marten, OL, 6-0, 205, Sr.; Nick Poley, OL, 6-1, 230, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Coach: Roger Barta (34th year, 317-64) Assistants: Dennis Hutchinson, Mike Rogers, Brock Hutchinson, Tim Wilson Offense: Inside/Outside Belly Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 1 Offense, 3 Defense Kyler Atwood, FB/LB, 6-3, 200, Sr.; Payton Buckmaster, FS, 6-3, 170, Sr.; Kody Molzahn, CB, 5-10, 160, Jr. Conor Nicholl Photo by Kayla Kvacik

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St. Francis has its third coach in five seasons as Kyle Buffington takes over the Indians. Buffington is a St. Francis graduate and was an assistant track coach last year.

In 2003, Sterling won a Class 2-1A first round playoff game, 8-6, versus Inman.

Then, the Black Bears lost, 37-14, to Claflin to start a streak of eight straight playoff losses. Sterling has lost seven conA Class 2-1A power under longtime coach secutive first round games, including a 58Tim Lambert — now entering his fourth22 defeat to Beloit last fall. The average year at Concordia — St. Francis has taken a score of the seven contests is 44-18. downturn the last several years. The Indians have had a declining win total for five Some of those years, though, Sterling didn’t straight seasons, going 11-2, 9-2, 7-4, 3-6 fit the normal profile of a playoff squad. In and 2-7.

2006-09, Sterling went 5-5, 5-5, 2-8 and 37. In 2010, Sterling went 6-4 followed by a In each of the last six years, St. Francis has 7-3 season last year. Sterling tallied 272 seen its offense drop from 495 to 426 to points last fall, easily the most in the last six 304 to 220 to 162 points. After Lambert, a seasons — the previous best was 248 in Smith Center native left, St. Francis hired 2010.

Nathan Smith, who coached for three years.

Smith, also a Smith Center graduate and This year, Riley Galyon returns after he former Redmen assistant coach, kept the rushed for 331 yards, fourth-best last year, same wishbone offense that Lambert ran with two touchdowns and 68 carries. He and Smith Center has run for decades. also hauled in nine catches for 151 yards, both team-bests, and tied for the team-high St. Francis had just one close loss in 2011, a with three TDs. He led the team with 99 16-8 Week 9 defeat versus rival Atwood. tackles.

The Indians’ lone two victories came against Holyoke, Colo. (36-6 in Week 3) “After losing nine seniors we will need our and a 66-26 win versus Leoti-Wichita group of young but talented players to step County in Week 8. In the last eight meetup and be ready to compete at the varsity ings between St. Francis and Leoti, the level,” coach Matt Hendricks. “We will also Indians are 8-0 and have won each contest need to continue to develop our depth.” by least 29 points. St. Francis went 0-5 on the road. One of the big problems last sea- 7-3 in 2011 / 3-0 in district / 2A Central Kansas League son was an ineffective passing game.

While there is little passing in the wishbone, it can still be an effective weapon. St. Francis was 3-of-26 passing last year for 54 yards with no touchdowns against five interceptions. The Indians haven’t thrown a TD pass since 2009.

Thomas Douthit is expected to be a big part of the offense after he rushed 131 times for 962 yards and 10 scores last fall.

2-7 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 2A Northwest Kansas League Coach: Kyle Buffington (1st year) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A

Coach: Matt Hendricks (5th year, 16-14) Assistants: Brian Richter, Derek Schneider, Wes Laudermilk Offense: Wishbone Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: ?4 Offense, 5 Defense Riley Galyon, QB/DB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Austin Maxwell, TE/LB, 6-4, 225, Sr.; Kirk Engelland, RB/DB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Calvin Jones, DL, Sr.; Jed Dierksen, OL/ DL, 6-1, 255, Jr. Conor Nicholl

S yracuse

TROJANS

The Bulldogs struggled to score week in and week out last year, managing just 76 points all season. Syracuse was shut out five times and scored more than 10 points just twice in 2011. The Bulldogs’ only win was a 34-14 victory over Satanta, which finished 0-9, in week five.

Ron Shelton’s first season at Troy was a rough one, with the Trojans going 2-7 on the season. Troy was 2-0 when allowing 14 points or less, and the Trojans will return four starters from that defense.

Syracuse had 20 players on the 2011 team, but just three were seniors so first-year coach Chris Pollart should have a solid group of players with varsity experience this fall.

The Bulldogs have a tough district with 2010 state champion Meade, which went 10-1 last year, a Stanton County squad that finished 9-2 in 2011, Sublette and Elkhart.

Syracuse opens the season Aug. 31 at Lakin. The Bulldogs will also travel to Oakley in week four and Meade in the district opener Oct. 5.

1-8 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 2A Hi Plains League Coach: Chris Pollart (1st year) Assistants: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A

Troy’s offense graduated most of its main playmakers, though Foley saw time at quarterback as a junior and accounted for four touchdowns on the season. The Trojans averaged just 11.5 points per game and will be looking to improve on that this fall.

Coordiner and Whetstine look to anchor the offensive line with Masters, Ross and Schmille seeing increased action in the backfield, and Foley possibly moving to receiver.

2-7 in 2011 / 0-4 in district / 2A Delaware Valley League Coach: Ron Shelton (2nd year, 2-7; 9th year overall, 50-31) Assistants: Jeremy Prudden, Andrew Dominguez, Derek Shelton Offense: Spread/Option Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 2 Offense, 4 Defense Daniel Coordiner, OL/DL, 6-4, 220, Sr.; Jay Whetstine, OL/LB, 6-0, 190, So.; Alex Schmille, RB/ LB, 6-1, 175, So.; Preston Foley, WR/LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Jake Ross, RB/DB, 5-10, 165, So.; Colton Masters, RB/DE, 6-0, 185, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Players expected to start this season include senior lineman Daniel Coordiner, senior linebacker Preston Foley, junior defensive end Colton Masters, sophomore linebackers Alex Schmille and Jay Whetstine and sophomore defensive back Jake Ross.

They’ll look to lead a defense that gave up 34.7 points per game in 2011.

Shelton said three things are key for his team - “stay injury free, play as a team on Melanie McGee both sides of the ball and grow up quick!”

Troy’s district schedule includes home games against Jackson Heights, Valley Heights and county rival Doniphan West, plus trips to 2A State Champion Centralia and Immaculata in consecutive weeks.

Conor Nicholl

Photo by SHS Yearbook

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TIGERS

“Our goal is to win a league title and qualify for the playoffs,” Wilson said. “If you Nine players return with starting experience qualify out of our district, you are a pretty for the Tigers, who are looking to build on a good football team.”

4-5 record last season.

To get there, the Tigers will need underclassmen to become veterans in a hurry, and Coach Phil Wilson’s squad returns eight they’ll of course want to avoid the injury offensive starters, including quarterback Andrew Tiemeyer and running backs Trent bug.

Turner, Wyatt Durst and Matt Bekemeyer.

“We need to remain injury-free, and our Up front, the Tigers return All-District young players will need to play like upperselection Calvin Portenier and honorable classmen,” Wilson said. mention All-District lineman Bryan Otott, both seniors. Seniors Jordan Johnson and Chase Wilkens, plus sophomore Brett Herrs 4-5 in 2011 / 2-2 in district / 2A Twin Valley League also have starting experience on the offenCoach: Phil Wilson sive line.

(6th year, 28-30; 23rd year overall, 150-95) Assistants: Scott Romeiser, Blake Erkenbrack Defensively, Washington County returns Offense: Defense: 50 Herrs and Wilkens on the ends, Portenier on ReturningI Formation lettermen: 12 the line and linebackers Turner, Tiemeyer, Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Bekemeyer and Otott.

Trent Turner, RB/OLB, Sr.; Wyatt Durst, RB, So.; Andrew Tiemeyer, QB, So.; Matt Bekemeyer, RB/ With all that experience back in the lineup, LB, So.; Brett Herrs, G/DE, So.; Bryan Otott, OL/LB, Wilson looks for his team to battle for a Sr.; Jordan Johnson, C/LB, Sr.; Chase Wilkens, T/ playoff spot with defending state champion DE, Sr.; Calvin Portenier, OL/DL, Sr. Centralia, Valley Heights, Jackson Heights Melanie McGee

The #1 NJCAA football program in the nation since 1998 National Champions 1981, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2008

National Championship Game Appearances 1981, 1987, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010

KJCCC Conference Champions 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

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8-MAN I

Page 101

12 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alex Deaver [Clifton-Clyde] 6-0, 170, RB/DB, Sr.; Kpreps.com All-District

8-MAN I KPREPS.COM PRESEASON RANKINGS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Madison Ness City South Haven Hodgeman County Marmaton Valley

Others: Atwood-Rawlins Co., Central Plains, Clifton-Clyde, Pretty Prairie, Rock Hills

These twelve players will be ones to watch in 8-Man I this fall:

Colton Dirks [South Gray] 6-1, 200, E/DE, Sr.; Kpreps.com All State ALEX DEAVER SR.• Q B/RB/DB • 6-0 • 170

TER DAY TO N W AL SR.• Q B/L B • 6-3 • 195

Cole Becker [Marmaton Valley] 5-10, 190, RB/LB, Sr.; Kpreps.com All-District Linebacker Stetson Broce [Pretty Prairie] 6-4, 205, E/DB, Sr.; 66 tackles, 6 interceptions in ‘11 Preston Coffman [Pleasanton] 6-2, 175, RB, Sr.; 1,003 yards rushing in ‘11

Garrett Flax [Ness City] 5-9, 170, RB/DB, Sr.; Kpreps.com All-District Returner Wyatt Flinn [Rock Hills] 6-3, 240, TE/OL/DL, Sr., Kpreps.com All-District Dalton Gantz [Ness City] 6-0, 190, RB/LB, Sr., Kpreps.com District 6 Def. MVP Cameron Staples [Trego] 5-9, 175, RB/LB, Sr.; 1,537 yards rushing, 79 tackles Dayton Walter [Lincoln] 6-3, 195, QB, Sr., 1,474 yards passing in ‘11

Chet Cordell [Little River] Nick Young [Madison] 5-10, 170, RB/LB, Sr.; Kpreps.com District 8 Defensive MVP 6-2, 290, OL, Sr., Kpreps.com All-District C o n o r N icho ll

Man Division I in 1984, Eight-Man Division II in 1985 and ‘86, and EightArguably no classification has seen more Man Division I in 1987 and ‘88.

The Bulldogs will have to make history upheaval in the last two-plus decades than Eight-Man Division I. While some teams, without running back Kole Schankie, who finished with the second-most total TDs in such as Jetmore and St. Paul, have enjoyed sustained success, Coldwater was eight-man history and rushed for 5,152 career yards. Only Thunder Ridge’s Joel the lone team to win back-to-back state Struckhoff, who also graduated last year, titles from 1989-2010. Coldwater has more. Madison also graduated allachieved the feat in 1994-95. state lineman Bubba Smith and quarterHowever, Madison matched Coldwater back Collin Kile. last season with its second straight state Three offensive lineman and two runchampionship. The Bulldogs defeated ning backs return, including senior lineMontezuma-South Gray, 30-12, in the men Willie Derryberry and Nick Young. final. South Gray, not ranked in the topfive in the preseason, made its first trip to Both enter their third season as starters.

“We have a good nucleus coming back, a state championship game in school hisbut we will need some young players to tory. The Rebels were one of the biggest step up on Friday nights,” Madison coach surprises of teams that reached the final Fred McClain said. weekend of the season.

For South Gray, last season was a magiIn the sub-state games, Madison and South Gray defeated Osborne and Downs- cal run that ended with veteran coach Jeff Blattner’s first trip to the state title in his Lakeside, respectively. Osborne has won 31st season of coaching, the last three one state football crown, a Class 3A title with the Rebels. South Gray graduated its in 1983. For Lakeside, the 11-1 record 1-2 punch of running back Coulter Croft marked the first time the program had and quarterback Wyatt Slaven and returns won a playoff game since the Waconda just two seniors. Croft rushed for 2,416 East school district consolidated to form yards and 38 scores and collected 63 tackLakeside High School in 2003. les with seven interceptions. Slaven This year, Eight-Man Division I could recorded more than 1,500 rushing yards. see its usual upheaval as Madison, South Senior end Colton Dirks and senior lineGray, Osborne and Lakeside all lost mulman Caleb Watts were two-way starters tiple starters. last year. Dirks earned first team all-state Lakeside especially had heavy losses to graduation and coach Curt Christians left honors from Kpreps. Sophomore end Jake Peters and sophomore defensive back in early summer to become an assistant Carson Skidmore return as starters. coach at Rock Hills. Several teams, “We will be putting a lot of youth on the including Ness City, South Haven, and field,” Blattner said. “Hopefully with our Madison, are in the mix for the title.

Madison enters the season on a 26-game junior varsity program and with the winning streak, currently the state’s long- strength and conditioning, these young players will be able to compete.” est. In the last 20 years, only two eightAfter years of struggling in 11-man, man teams, both at the Division II level, Osborne has quickly risen to the top of have won three titles in a four-year span: Hanston (2001-04) and Sylvan Grove (95- eight-man behind a speedy offense.

The Bulldogs have reached back-to-back 98). Since eight-man split into two divisub-state championship games, remain sions before the 1983 season, only undefeated in district play and have Midway-Denton has won more than two posted two straight 10-2 records since straight titles. they bumped down a classification. Last However, Midway-Denton moved back year, former Baileyville B&B coach Steve and forth between Eight-Man Division I and Division II. The program won Eight- Tiernan took over as Osborne coach and For Kansas Pregame

former Bulldog coach Cullen Riner stayed on as defensive coordinator.

Osborne averaged 51.6 points per game the last two seasons, but allowed 29 points a contest, an unusually high total for an elite team. Defense is part of the reason why the Bulldogs haven’t been able to advance to a state game. Osborne lost 4824 to Hill City in the 2010 sub-state game and fell 42-38 to South Gray last year.

This year, Osborne lost dynamic quarterback Ethan Slothower and running back Damon Schurr, as well as veteran lineman Mike Schellinger. The Bulldogs have just two seniors on the roster, but return a talented junior class, especially defensive back Kenton Ubelaker, entering his third season as a starter.

“We must stay healthy, and our guys are going to have to learn quickly,” Tiernan said. “Our junior class is pretty talented, but they will need some help.”

Lakeside has encountered plenty of change. A strong senior class that included Kpreps’ Eight-Man Division I Defensive Player of the Year Miles Thomas and quarterback Alex Renken, has graduated.

Christians, the architect of a program that went from 0-8 to 4-5 to 8-2 to 11-1 in four seasons, left for Rock Hills, a program on the rise. Former Hanover assistant Kody Tegtmeier takes over as coach.

Lakeside wanted to assign Christians to all of the physical education classes for the school district that covers Glen Elder, Cawker City and Downs. Christians, also a Lakeside assistant for boys’ basketball and track, thought about the new job for several weeks and declined to take the new position. Christians said teaching P.E. “was just too much for me.” At Rock Hills, he will be with a program that has made playoffs two out of the last three seasons and averaged 44.1 points per game in that span. Running back Alex Smith (1,414 rushing yards) is one of the Grizzlies’ top players.

“I am 60 years old, and I didn’t want to do all of those P.E. classes everyday and then have a couple hours of practice afterwards,” Christians said. “... At my age, just being on my feet all day with kids -- I

like working with kids, that’s what I do -but I was tired enough at the end of each day that I knew that (the new position) was going to be that much more strenuous and maybe somewhat more stressful.”

Macksville went 10-1 last season, a three-win improvement under coach Jeff Kuckelman. However, the Mustangs graduated all-state quarterback Seth Filbert and bring back two starters on both sides of the ball.

Tanner Tranbarger will take over as signal caller. Last year, he had four rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown, plus led the team in tackles and interceptions.

Ness City is likely the prohibitive favorite, especially in the west. Third-year coach Chris Bamberger, a protege of Kevin Ayers, went 8-2 in his second year with the Eagles last season. Ness City returns eight starters on each side of the ball, including running backs Garrett Flax and Dalton Gantz. Gantz was Kpreps.com Eight-Man Division I District 6 MVP. Ness City only lost to South Gray in district play and Macksville, 42-40, in the playoffs.

Many teams, especially Clifton-Clyde, Quinter, Hill City and Osborne, have enjoyed great success after dropping down to eight-man football.

Atwood, 4-5 with a Class 2-1A schedule that included Smith Center and Stanton County last year, could continue that trend and be a darkhorse this fall. The Buffs will bring back three starters on each side of the ball for third-year coach Deone Horinek, a former Atwood standout and Colorado State punter.

“Making the transition quickly to 8-man for the first time will be a huge key for us,” Horinek said. “We have quality athletes and hope they will pick up on the speed of the game.”

South Haven moves up to Division I after a long run in Division II and could also be a contender after it posted an 11-1 record last fall.

South Haven and Victoria are the state’s only two eight-man programs to reach the playoffs in each of the last eight seasons.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 102

AUSTIN SHOWMAN SOUTH HAVEN CARDINALS To m W ither sp o o n For Kansas Pregame

In each of its first 11 games of the 2011 season, South Haven scored at least 46. Udall hung tough with the Cardinals in Week 1 in a 46-36 South Haven win, then the Cardinals reeled off 320 more points the next seven weeks, winning by no less than 20. Winless Attica forfeited in Week 9, understandable under the circumstances.

South Haven had a lethal balanced offensive attack last season, orchestrated by quarterback Austin Showman, who will be a third-year starter entering 2012.

“We had a quite a bit of spread (offense) from the season before,” said Showman. “We started off throwing quite a bit. As the season progressed, we ran it quite a bit.”

Senior running back Blake Wilkey proved himself

difficult to stop out of the backfield, so South Haven simplified the offense by handing off to him.

“He was quite a special running back, so we had the ability to run more than most teams,” said Showman.

This season should see some of a reversion back to the spread attack.

“We will probably be a little bit of both (passing and running),” said Showman. “We’ve got three or four really good wide receivers, two good tight ends, and our line has really matured between last season and this season. But we also have a fullback, Lane Cully, from last year, who was really important for our success with blocking and running.”

South Haven’s 11-game winning streak extended into the playoffs, with wins over Centre, 46-0, and undefeated Hope, 46-14, in which Showman threw three touchdown passes, despite suffering a shoulder injury on his throwing-arm side. The injury worsened during

basketball season -- Showman is the starting point guard -- to the point that in the spring he had surgery on the arm to repair a torn labrum. Showman was set to begin throwing the football again in late June. He said his doctor predicted the shoulder should be as good, if not better than it was before the injury.

After the Hope game, Baileyville B&B, in its typical state-title form, dealt South Haven its first defeat, 42-20 in the sub-state round, ending the Cardinals’ season, despite 214 passing yards from Showman.

“The wind was really bad,” Showman said of the Baileyville game, “probably 40 miles an hour. In the beginning we started off passing quite a bit. Our first touchdown was a power sweep right. Toward the end of game, our running back (Wilkey) got a concussion in second quarter, and never came back in, and after that Continued on page 103 Photo by Dena Sorensen

Showman / from 102 Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

we passed it almost every down.”

In 2011, Showman passed for 1,306 yards and 21 touchdowns, compared with only four interceptions. That solid campaign followed his 2010 sophomore season, in which he had greater offensive output, passing for 1,448 yards and 24 touchdowns, with only four interceptions. In 2010, he passed for 145 yards per game, while last season, he passed for 109 yards per game.

The main factor for the discrepancy between his passing statistics between 2010 and 2011 was the preeminence of last year’s rushing attack led by Blake Wilkey.

With Wilkey’s graduation, Showman may have to step up his rushing output on offense. He rushed for 357 yards last season, averaging 3.8 yards per carry and scoring nine touchdowns.

He also will have either to find a new favorite receiving target, or spread the ball around more on offense. Wilkey caught Showman’s three touchdown passes against Hope in last year’s playoffs.

The Cardinals will require more this season during district play than in previous years. South Haven, which has had great success in Eight-Man Division II over the last five seasons, with last year’s 11-1 record and a 12-1 record and state berth in 2007, moves up to Division I this season. Last season, South Haven won District 4 in Division II over teams with records of 0-9, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5, 5-4 and 8-3.

This season, it will face teams in District 1 of Division I that had records in 2011 of 9-2, 8-1, 7-3, 5-4, 3-6 and 1-8. In District

1 of Division I last season, Central Burden, Udall and Sedan ended in a threeway tie for the district title, and Central and Udall made the playoffs on tiebreakers.

South Haven shouldn’t lack confidence in Division I. In the season opener against Udall, Showman passed for 182 yards and three touchdowns.

“That gives us a lot of positive thoughts about how this season is going to go,” said Showman.

Despite the fact that Wilkey was the team’s top receiver last season, Showman is confident the team’s offensive capabilities will not drop off.

“We’ve got our two tight ends back -they started last year,” Wilkey said of Hunter Ray and Andrew Lowe. “Toward the end of the season they ended up being important. I don’t think that will be a problem. We’re not lacking in receivers by any means.”

Showman also takes care of the football.

In addition to his four interceptions last season, Showman lost only three fumbles in 12 games. He said they have a mature group coming back overall.

“We have several guys who are seniors this year with a lot of experience,” said Showman. “We’ve got a new conditioning program this year that should be a major factor, focusing on quickness, not as much powerlifting, as conditioning and endurance.

“We encountered a lot of different things (last season) and should be ready for anything they throw at us. Our goal is a state championship this year.”

GOOD LUCK AUSTIN & JUSTIN AND THE ENTIRE SOUTH HAVEN CARDINAL FOOTBALL TEAM IN THE UPCOMING SEASON! 2012...IT’S YOUR TURN NOW!

We are very proud of you!

Love, Mom and Dad & Papa and Grandma

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B urlingam e

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C laflin-C entral P lains

BUFFALOES

BEARCATS

Atwood, following in the footsteps of many Kansas schools, including Northwest Kansas League and Mid-Continent League brethren WaKeeney-Trego, Stockton, Hill City, Osborne, Hoxie and Quinter, has switched to the eight-man ranks. The Buffs had success at the Class 2-1A level, including three straight football titles from 198991. But Atwood, like many small schools, has reached a plateau and seen an enrollment decline. Atwood had six straight first round playoff exits — five losses to Oakley and one to Meade — before it went 4-5 last season and missed the postseason.

A year after replacing the entire starting lineup from a 7-2 team, Burlingame will be fairly young again. The Bearcats return just four players with starting experience and only one of those is a senior, but Burlingame does bring back 11 lettermen from last year’s team that went 3-6.

Coach Doug Bingham said that avoiding injuries will be important as his team looks to improve on that 3-6 mark and its fundamentals.

EAGLES

Canton-Galva graduated a big senior class after the 2011 season, and new coach Jeff Savage said about half of his first Eagles team will be freshmen, and there are no seniors on the roster.

“We’ve got a decent sized freshman class, and I’d say close to half the team will be freshmen,” he said. “It will be a challenge.”

OILERS

The Oilers advanced into the state quarterfinals a year ago and coach Chris Steiner expects his team to challenge for another district championship in 2012, but first they’ll need to replace 11 seniors from last year’s 9-2 squad.

Central Plains returns senior quarterback Bryce Steiner, but the rest of the backfield will be made up of new faces.

In 2011, Canton-Galva went 2-7 and juniors A.J. Medley and Trevor Unruh are the only “We will have to be more creative on offense then we have been in the past after returning starters from that squad.

Senior running back/linebacker David Love losing a great bunch of running backs from ran the ball 69 times for 180 yards and three The Eagles will get a boost from junior last year,” coach Steiner said.

“Making the transition quickly to 8-man for touchdowns last season, plus was third on Cody Savage, a starter last year at Centralthe first time will be a huge key for us,” the team with 50 tackles.

Burden, which finished 9-2 and lost only to The Oilers will return Joe Barton, Evan Liebel and Kyler Schlochtermeier on the third-year coach Deone Horinek, a former an 8-1 Sedan team and unbeaten state Atwood standout and Colorado State Junior quarterback Parker Lee returns after champion Madison. offensive and defensive lines, plus junior Colton Zink at linebacker and Bryce Steiner punter, said. “We have quality athletes and completing 37 of 81 passes for 705 yards hope they will pick up on the speed of the and nine scores, and classmate Jake “My youngest son, Cody, started as a in the secondary. That does leave several game, they’ll do just fine.”

Carlson, Burlingame’s leading rusher with receiver last year at Central and will be the holes in the lineup that young players will 325 yards and four touchdowns last fall, is quarterback here,” Coach Savage said. “He need to fill.

Last year, Atwood lost two strong players in back as well. brings some speed and quickness to the midseason with running backs Kyle Ziegler team.”

“After losing 11 seniors from last years 9-2 team we will have to have players step up and Blake Bergling. As a freshman, Neil Junior Skyler Giffin is back to anchor the Portschy stepped in and rushed for 430 Bearcat line, which will depend on several Beyond those three the roster lacks varsity and fill those positions,” coach Steiner said.

“We have a talented group of young athyards and four scores on 70 carries. Dylan new starters this season. experience and will need to grow into varTiemeyer, as a sophomore, passed for 465 sity players quickly. letes that will be expected to be major contributors on our team.” yards with five touchdowns against six Burlingame will play in a brutal district interceptions. again, with back-to-back games against last “Our goal is to improve as a team each Central Plains has a familiar group of disyear’s district and state champion Madison week and play to our highest potential,” “Our biggest team goal is playing technique and district runner-up Lebo, which nearly Savage said. “Without a senior class, obvi- trict opponents in Canton-Galva, Pretty football in all aspects,” Horinek said. knocked off Madison in the regular season. ously we’re very young and have no depth, Prairie, Lincoln, Solomon and Little River, “Doing our job as individuals as well as a plus will face Central Prairie League foes Lost Springs-Centre was an Eight Man so injuries are huge. Everything is new to team is critical to our success. Fundamental Division II district champion in 2010 and the kids so getting them to buy into the pro- Otis-Bison, St. John and Victoria in football is a major concentration this year.” will be a tough addition to the Bearcats’ September. gram and work hard will be key.” district. Burlingame’s schedule also 4-5 in 2011 / 2-3 in district / 8-Man I 9-2 in 2011 / 6-0 in district / 8-Man I includes home games against Southern The Eagles will compete in a district with Northwest Kansas League Coffey County, Peabody-Burns and Central Plains, Lincoln, Little River, Pretty Central Prairie League Coach: Deone Horinek Coach: Chris Steiner Hartford, plus trips to Lawrence to face Prairie and Solomon, and Savage expects (3rd year, 9-10) (2nd year, 9-2; 3rd year overall, 10-10) Veritas Christian and Rosalia to take on competition to be tough in those games.

Assistants: Mike Lankas, Aaron Sramek, Andrew Assistants: Seth Rolfs Flinthills in a district contest.

Melia Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Canton-Galva opens the season with road Offense: Power Defense: N/A lettermen: 9 3-6 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 8-Man I games at Hutchinson-Central Christian and Returning Returning lettermen: 7 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Lyon County League Goessel before hosting Salina-St. Johns Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Bryce Steiner, QB/DB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Colton Zink, Coach: Doug Bingham Military in week three.

Dylan Tiemeyer, QB/DB, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Neil Portschy, LB, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Joe Barton, OL/DE, 6-3, 195, Sr.; (4th year, 13-14) Assistants: Aaron Rowley, Joey Punches Offense: Wing Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 4 Defense Parker Lee, QB/DB, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Jake Carlson, Conor Nicholl RB/LB, 5-9, 150, So.; Skyler Giffin, G/DE, 5-9, 235, Jr.; David Love, RB/LB, 5-9, 160, Sr. Melanie McGee

RB/LB, 6-0, 185, So.; Michael Capo, TE/DB, 6-0, 180, Jr.; Bobby Reuther, OL/LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; James Peterson, TE/DE/P, 6-3, 175, Jr.; Cameron Ginter, OL/DE, 6-1, 215, Jr.

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2-7 in 2011 / 1-5 in district / 8-Man I / Enrollment Heart of America League Coach: Jeff Savage (1st year; 30th year overall) Assistants: N/A Offense: Air Raid Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 2 offense, 2 defense A.J. Medley, FB/MLB, 5-9, 205, Jr.; Trevor Unruh, OL/DE, 6-1, 210, Jr. Melanie McGee Photo by Mark McCoy

Kyler Schlochtermeier, OL/DL, 5-11, 240, Sr.; Evan Liebl, OL/DE, 6-0, 200, Jr. Melanie McGee

Photo by Marion McReynolds

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C oldw ater-S outh C entral

Clifton-Clyde started 2011 with a 3-0 record, then lost 66-16 to Rock Hills and fell 68-0 to Lakeside in district play. The losses effectively eliminated the Eagles from playoff contention. The defeats were the only games Clifton-Clyde scored under 40 points.

add to our already expanded offense from a year ago based on so many returning players but we will also have to prove that we can control the ball, move the chains, and grind it out when we need to against our tougher opponents,” Steinbrock said.

Clifton-Clyde finished the season with four straight victories, but missed the playoffs with a 7-2 record. It marked the fewest wins for the program since a 3-6 record in 2004, the first year of Clifton-Clyde in the eightman ranks. This fall, the Eagles return five starters on each side of the ball from a team that averaged 289 rushing yards and 70 passing yards.

7-2 in 2011 / 5-2 in district / 8-Man I Twin Valley League Coach: Russ Steinbrock (12th year, 71-42) Assistants: Gary Carlson, Larry Bloomfield Offense: Power Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Alex Deaver, RB/DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Blake Quillen, OL/DL, 5-8, 185, Sr.; William Ohlde, TE/DB, 6-1, 165, Jr.; Caleb Gelino, RB/DL, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Max Schwab, OL/LB, 5-9, 160, Jr. Conor Nicholl

“We bring a lot of experience back from a 7-2 season,” coach Russ Steinbrock said.

“We will again have solid team speed and athletic ability. This year we should really be able to mix up our offensive play calling based on our ability and experience.”

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TIMBERWOLVES South Central has posted three straight 3-6 records since an 8-2 mark in 2008.

The last two years have been very similar seasons for the T-Wolves, including several games by the same margin of victory. In each season, South Central defeated Spearville by eight points – 32-24 in 2010 and 28-20 last year. As well, the T-Wolves lost to Macksville 50-30 in 2010 and 40-20 last year. South Central earned close wins versus Fairfield in each season (36-30 in 2010 and 60-52 last year) and lost by 46 points to Pretty Prairie each fall.

tackles in 2011.

3-6 in 2011 / 1-5 in district / 8-Man I Southern Plains Iroquois Activities Association Coach: Matt Smith (6th year) Assistants: Larry Lousch, Kurt Dale Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense Stetsen Underwood, QB/DB, Jr.; Jimmy Cook, DB, Sr.; Alex Bruckner, DB, Jr.; Cody Lindsay, FB/LB, Jr.; Nate Brooks, TE/DE, Jr.; Kestyn Frederickson, C, Sr.; Cole Cronin, G, Sr.; Terry Moree, TE, Sr. Conor Nicholl

This year, South Central brings back six starters on offense and five on defense from a team that was outscored 371-238, a similar margin to the last two seasons. In 2009, the 3-6 record produced a 379-218 margin, while in 2010, the 3-6 mark yielded a 410312 margin.

Coach Matt Smith said the team’s goals are improving everyday and he called staying healthy as the team’s key to success.

Alex Deaver looks for his third straight big offensive year after he rushed for 1,833 yards as a sophomore and 1,296 yards as a junior, that included a 315-yard game versus Axtell. Deaver currently stands third alltime in Clyde eight-man history in rushing yards with 3,392. Dustin Cyr (2004-08) leads with 4,366. Steinbrock said staying healthy will prove critical.

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Defensive back Alex Bruckner returns after he ranked second on the squad with 94

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Coach Curt Christians continued one of Kansas’ biggest turnarounds in recent history last fall. Four years ago, the Knights went 0-8, then improved to 4-4 and then to 8-2 in 2010.

A year ago, Kiowa County fans had high hopes for the Mavericks, who returned plenty of size on the offensive line and explosive quarterback Ross Binford. Kiowa County started the season 3-2 and showed one of the state’s top rushing attacks, but a tough district schedule and some untimely injuries (including a season-ending foot injury to Binford in week seven) led to a four-game losing streak in October.

Hartford moves up to Eight Man Division I after spending two years in the Division II ranks, and the Jaguars have been assigned to one of the toughest districts in the class.

Scott Schulz grew up in Hill City and played part of his career for Vince Walker, one of the Ringneck current assistant coaches. His parents and grandparents still live in Hill City. He played on a state championship basketball team and was part of a stretch where Hill City struggled mightily in football. Schulz broke his foot and didn’t play football his senior year, a season that Hill City went winless. For decades, it had been that way with the Ringnecks.

This year, the Mavericks return just three starters, though one of those is junior Trever Powell, who accounted for 1,176 allpurpose yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011.

Hartford returns five starters on both sides of the ball from a squad that went 2-7 a year ago. Senior quarterback Heath Kraft and fullback Derek Denner will need to step up after the Jags graduated two of their main running backs.

Last year, Lakeside advanced to the EightMan Division I sub-state championship game, and finished 11-1 with a loss to twotime defending state champion Madison.

The Knights had the third-best offense in the classification at 634 points and thirdbest defense with 180 points allowed. It marked the most wins and first playoff victories since the Waconda East school district consolidated with Cawker City and Downs to form Lakeside before the 2003 season.

In early June, Christians announced he would go to Mankato-Rock Hills and become an assistant coach. Before Christians stepped aside, assistants Kyle Beisner and Cory Beougher had resigned.

Former Hanover assistant coach Kody Tegtmeier takes over the program.

Lakeside graduated all but two offensive starters and one defensive starter. The graduated includes all-state fullback/linebacker Miles Thomas, a Butler County Community College signee and KPreps.com’s Eight-Man Division I Defensive Player of the Year.

Thomas rushed for 1,760 yards and 30 scores on 166 carries, hauled in 23 catches for 441 yards and seven TDs and led the team with 96 tackles. Alex Renken, a twoyear starter at quarterback who accounted for 29 scores, also graduated.

Trevor Winkel returns after he rushed for 350 yards and 10 scores on 49 carries and made 65 tackles. Cody Burda, the other returning starter, collected 53 tackles.

11-1 in 2011 / 6-0 in district / 8-Man I Northern Plains League Coach: Kody Tegtmeier (1st year) Assistants: Drew Daskie Offense: Off-set I/Split Wing Shotgun Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 6 Returning starters: 2 Offense, 1 Defense Trevor Winkel, FB/LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Cody Burda, C/LB, 5-10, 205, Sr. Conor Nicholl

“Trever is a kid who will give 100 percent effort,” Kiowa County coach Clint Young told the Kiowa County Signal after naming Powell as the team’s All-Around Player of the Year. “Trever has great defensive instincts. Trever Powell will be the best player we’ve seen in years because of that instinct. He’s a kid to watch the next two years.”

Powell had five 100-yard rushing games, including the final two of the season after Binford was injured. He led the team in tackles, punting yards and punt returns and was second in rushing yards, total yardage, all-purpose yards, kickoff return yards and scoring.

Coach Patrick Gardner’s team will need to figure things out in a hurry, as their first four opponents all posted winning records last season and three of the four qualified for the playoffs.

Tight ends Dillon Esch and Lane Ikerd will give Kraft a pair of big targets in the passing game, and senior Gage Preeo is back in the starting lineup at center.

On defense, Preeo will anchor the line while Denner and Esch return at defensive end and Kraft has starting experience at linebacker. Filling the holes around them will be critical to Hartford’s success in the always-tough Lyon County League.

“We have a lot of new faces that will have to step up and be ready to play,” Gardner said. “We have to have a leader step up out of this group of returning starters and senSeniors Trevor Tyree, an all-purpose player, iors.” and lineman/linebacker Rustin Ardery also return for Kiowa County, which simply Improvement throughout the season is also must stay healthy in order to be successful, a goal for the Jaguars.

Young said.

“We want to get better each and every day “They are young and inexperienced, so we we step on the field,” Gardner said. “I need to stay healthy,” Young said of his would like to see us come together as a squad, adding that the goal is to post a win- team and compete at the top of our peak by ning season in the program’s third year. the end of the season.”

3-6 in 2011 / 2-4 in district / 8-Man I Southern Plains/Iroquis Coach: Clint Young (3rd year, 7-11; 7th year overall, 32-29) Assistants: Steve Heft, Peter Kern Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 3 Returning starters: 3 offense, 3 defense Trever Powell, RB, 5-8, 175, Jr.; Trevor Tyree, ATH/ E, 5-8, 165, Sr.; Rustin Ardery, C/OLB, 6-4, 185, Sr. Melanie McGee

2-7 in 2011 / 2-3 in district / 8-Man I Lyon County League Coach: Patrick Gardner (4th year, 10-17) Assistants: Lewis Whitson, Cass Stubbs Offense: Power I, Split Back Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Heath Kraft, QB/LB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Derek Denner, FB/DE, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Dillon Esch, TE/DE, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Lane Ikerd, TE, 6-1, 160, Jr.; Gage Preeo, C/DT, 6-1, 250, Sr. Melanie McGee

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However, Hill City switched down to eightman football five years ago. 2009 marked the Ringnecks’ first playoff appearance in school history, while, in 2010, Hill City was Eight-Man Division I state runner-up.

Schulz, after coaching various sports at Solomon and Ottawa, has returned home for his head varsity football coaching job after Chris Shank left to work for the family’s radio stations in Hutchinson. Hill City will keep the same veteran assistants with Walker and Kyle Jilka, Schulz’s cousin.

“We have come a really long ways from when I played,” Schulz said.

The last several years, Hill City has run the quarterback frequently, especially with Reggie Jordan, who led the nation’s eightman players in total offense in 2010, according to maxpreps.com. Last year, Dylan Anderson rushed for a team-high 809 yards in seven games at quarterback, while Solomon Wilson rushed for 164 yards and four scores, including 150 yards in two games at QB. Schulz is expected to run more two-back sets and play more what he labeled “smashmouth football” with Wilson and Gus Nickelson (583 rushing yards) as the running backs.

4-5 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man I Mid-Continent League Coach: Scott Schulz (1st year) Assistants: Kyle Jilka, Vince Walker Offense: 2-Back Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Solomon Wilson, QB/DE, Sr.; Greg Billips, FB/LB, Jr.; Austin Seltmann, G/DE, Sr.; Clayton Beckman, OL/DL, Sr.; Gus Nickelson, RB/LB, Sr.; Tomas Mendoza, OL/DL, Jr. Conor Nicholl File Photo

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K insley

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A young Hodgeman County team that had four seniors and needed to replace all-state players Evan Kreger and Devan Rudzik dropped from 9-2 in 2010 to 5-3 last season.

Like many smaller communities, Kinsley has benefited from a change to the eightman ranks. In coach Jeff Chambers’ first two years, the Coyotes went 4-4 and 1-7 in Class 2-1A. In 2010, Kinsley finished 5-4 for the school’s first winning season in 17 years. However, the Coyotes couldn’t make the playoffs for the first time in that span.

For the first time in Chuck Bisbee’s tenure at Fairfield, the Falcons will field an experienced team with plenty of juniors and seniors in the lineup, and that has the fourthyear coach excited about his squad’s potential in 2012.

Hoxie and Quinter tied with 6-3 overall records and 4-2 district marks in the regular season. Hoxie edged Quinter in the points tiebreaker, 48-46.

The Longhorns had trouble against the state’s elite with a 50-6 loss to South Gray — the eventual state runner-up — and a 400 defeat versus Ness City, a team that lost in Last year, the Coyotes went 4-5 with close the second round of the playoffs. losses to Minneola and Hodgeman County However, Hoxie lost to Quinter 34-18 in a by five and 10 points, respectively. Kinsley Week 7 road game. So, Quinter took the Hodgeman County fared better against the averaged 33.1 points per contest, but second playoff spot in District 7 and rest of its schedule with just a 36-26 loss to allowed 36.9 points per game.

Hoxie’s season was done.

Minneola as the lone defeat.

The Coyotes return several playmakers It marked Hoxie’s second straight 6-3 sea- Coach Matt Housman said last season’s from the high-octane offense that averaged son in the program’s second year of eightsquad “gained a lot of experience” and fin- 361.1 yards per game, including senior man football. This fall, Hoxie looks to ished the season “playing our best ball.” quarterback Nathan Frame, who completed return to the playoffs for the first time since 128-of-221 passes for 1,887 yards with 21 2007. Hoxie has not won a playoff contest This year, the Longhorns have much more touchdowns against eight interceptions. since 2005. Brandon Salmans is back after experience, including 14 players who Calvin Kauffman had a big year as a sophohe led the team with 83 tackles, while started at some point in 2011 and nine sen- more last fall with 105 tackles and 18 sacks, Steven Yergey-Dible returns after posting both team-highs. iors. Jared Borger, Dakota Coats, Tanner 72 tackles and rushing for 271 yards.

Cure, Blade Torline, A.J. Moore and Zach Blurton have all started for at least three “Have to use our speed to our advantage!,” “Our goal and philosophy is to play harder years. coach Jeff Chambers said of team’s keys. than the teams we play,” coach Lance Baar “Cannot have a lot of injuries. Need to be a said. “After the game is over whether we Housman listed several team goals, includ- complete unit and work together as one unit win or lose we want our opponents to and have a team mindset.” ing starting the season strong and noticing remember us. improvements after each game, playing “our fastest, mistake free football by game 4-5 in 2011 / 2-4 in district / 8-Man I “It has also been a goal of ours the past two three,” being a physical team and reaching Central Prairie League years to make the playoffs and we have the playoffs — and playing great football at Coach: Jeff Chambers (4th year, 14-20; 13th year overall, 99-45) been very close but it still has not happened that time.”

Assistants: Jamie Castaneda, Derick Newsom for us,” he added. “We feel that if we Offense: N/A Defense: 4-2 accomplish our first goal of playing harder 5-3 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man I Returning lettermen: 23 than our opponents we will also accomplish Southern Plains Iroquois Activity Association Returning starters: 5 Offense, 7 Defense Coach: Matt Housman our goal of making the post season this Nathan Frame, QB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Calvin Kauffman, (3rd year, 14-5; 4th overall, 20-8) year.”

DE, 6-1, 195, Jr.; Tyson Espinosa, RB/LB, 5-9, 170,

Assistants: N/A Sr.; Taylor Abel, WR, 6-1, 160, Sr.; Greg Newsom, Offense: T Defense: 5-1 6-3 in 2011 / 4-2 in district / 8-Man I OL, 6-2, 260, Sr.; Brad Newsom, DL, 6-0, 225, So.; Returning lettermen: 18 Northwest Kansas League Gustavo Chavez, WR/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr. Returning starters: 7 Offense, 8 Defense Coach: Lance Baar Conor Nicholl Alex Kreger, RB, 150, Jr.; Landon Henning, RB, (4th year, 14-13) 150, Jr.; Jared Borger, QB, 165, Sr.; Dakota Coats, Assistants: J.R. Kaiser, Tim Erwin S, 135, Sr.; Tanner Cure, FB/DL, 165, Sr.; Blade Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Torline, CB, 160, Sr.; Ryan Rudzik, OL, 210, Sr.; Returning lettermen: 9 A.J. Moore, OL/DL, 215, Sr.; Zeck Shiaw, OL/DL, Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense N o free co pies in yo u r co m m u n ity?

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FALCONS

“We will now have seniors and juniors on the field, unlike the previous three seasons when we were so young,” he said. “We want to get better each week. We have the ability to put together a great year, but it will take effort and enthusiasm all summer long.”

The Falcons return seven offensive starters, five defensive starters and 14 total lettermen. The offensive line in particular will be a veteran group with seniors Aaron Ewy, Brennyn Pankratz and D.J. Serviss joined by junior Jared McKinney and sophomore Rafael Sanchez as returning starters.

Fairfield also brings back junior quarterback Eric Schoenecker, senior tailback Steven Knoche and senior end Trace Bayse.

Juniors John Dealy, Ryan Ewy, Nate Hargitt, Wayne Schoenecker and sophomore Cannon Burns also return as starters.

The Falcons graduated just three seniors off the 2011 team, which went 3-6 but was winless in a tough district. Fairfield’s schedule is challenging again with perennial powers Pretty Prairie and Macksville plus trips to Pratt-Skyline and St. John, which both posted winning records in 2011.

3-6 in 2011 / 0-6 in district / 8-Man I Heart of the Plains League Coach: Chuck Bisbee (4th year, 9-18; 7th year overall, 22-27 overall) Assistants: Todd Cossman Offense: Multiple Defense: Odd front Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 5 Defense Wayne Schoenecker, FB/LB, 5-6, 158, Jr.; Trace Bayse, SE/DE, 6-0, 162, Sr.; Eric Schoenecker, QB/ CB, 56, 146, Jr.; Steven Knoche, TB/CB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Ryan Ewy, TB/FS, 5-7, 149, Jr.; Cannon Burns, FB/SS, 5-11, 145, So.; D.J. Serviss, OL/OB, 6-0, 236, Sr.; Aaron Ewy, OL/DL, 5-5, 211, Sr.; Rafael Sanchez, OL/DL, 5-9, 225, So.; Brennyn Pankratz, OL/DL, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Jared McKinney, OL/DL, 6-2, 251, Jr.; Nate Hargitt, TB/CB, 5-11, 150, Jr.; John Dealy, TE/DE, 6-2, 178, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Though the Wolves return just four starters from last year’s 8-2 team, expectations will be high in Lebo again.

Untimely injuries cost Lincoln a shot at the playoffs last season, but the Leopards return five starters and have high hopes for the 2012 season.

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Currently, Linn has one of the more remarkable streaks in Kansas football. In 2005, Linn went 5-4 under former coach Chris Shank, who eventually led Hill City Troy McArthur guided the Wolves to an 8-2 to the 2010 Eight-Man Division I chamrecord in his first season at the helm, and “After winning the district championship in pionship game and resigned last winter. the only losses came to state champion 2010, we felt our team would be able to finMadison in overtime and substate runner-up ish in the top two in district play, but we Since, Linn has posted six consecutive 4-5 Downs-Lakeside in the playoffs. were hampered by some key injuries late in seasons. Linn has trouble in the Twin Valley our season,” coach Garry Lowry said. “We League against several state powers in the Senior Tyson Robke is a returning starter at would like to send our seniors out with their conference, including Hanover, Cliftonreceiver and d-back, but he’ll likely move fourth consecutive winning season. We Clyde and Baileyville B&B. to QB this season after serving as the would like to contend for a district chambackup in 2011. He took over in the third pionship and make a run at a state chamLast season, though, Linn’s 4-5 record led quarter of the playoff loss to Lakeside and pionship, but we also realize that will be a to a playoff berth in Eight-Man Division II. led a brief Wolves rally before Lakeside big task as we have a very tough district.”

Linn went 3-1 in district play with the only pulled away in the fourth quarter. loss to Hope. Since 2003, it marked the Senior quarterback Dayton Walter returns only time Linn has made the playoffs. The Senior running back/linebacker Walker after he threw for 1,474 yards and 27 touch- Bulldogs lost to B&B, 62-16, in the first Davies, junior lineman/utility player Brent downs against just three interceptions, plus round.

Walford and junior punter/backup quarter- ran the ball 82 times for 508 yards. Senior Alex Jackson ran for 375 yards and caught The season, which included a bye, proback Jake Gould also return for Lebo.

23 passes for 426 yards and seven scores duced 296 points, the most by the Bulldogs last season while senior Zach Streit hauled since 2007. Linn outscored opponents by “Our returning starters will need to take leadership roles on the team,” McArthur in six receptions for 99 yards and a touch24 total points, also the first time the down.

Bulldogs outscored the opponents since a said. “If they lead by example, the rest of the players will follow. This will start with 316-246 margin in ’07.

Lincoln also returns linemen Colton Panzer, summer work. Their work in the weight room has already started and will hopefully Austin Biggs, Hayden Howard and Joe Linn and Centre-Lost Springs were the only Myers. Filling the holes around those pay off in the fall.” eight-man teams to reach the playoffs with returners will be key for Lowry in his first a losing record last season. season as head coach.

McArthur said his squad will look for offensive balance by using a mix of the offFormer coach Shane Ohlde has left the pro“During the summer, we need to have great gram, while Jeremy Miller – after 10 years set I formation and the spread. participation in our strength and condition- in the middle school ranks – takes over with ing program,” he said. “Our seniors will “We will strive to be as balanced as posjust two returning starters. need to step up and be big time play makers sible and execute well,” he said. “And for us, and in doing so, they will help defensively, we need to be able to stop the “The key to our success in our league will develop our young players, so they too can by playing together, being disciplined and run.” contribute to the success of our team.” hard nosed in difficult matchups,” Miller Lebo has been a great defensive team in said. “We have great leadership in the 5-4 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man I recent years, allowing just 18.4 points per weight room this summer. Carrying this Northern Plains League game in 2011, and that will need to coninto football season will be very important.” tinue as the Wolves are again assigned to a Coach: Garry Lowry (1st year) 4-5 in 2011 / 3-1 in district / 8-Man I district that includes two-time state chamAssistants: Nate Naasz Twin Valley League pions Madison.

L ittle R iver

Little River returns its entire starting lineup on offense and will look to improve on a 73 record and spot in the state playoffs this fall.

Senior Chet Cordell returns after running for 908 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2011.

He also caught two touchdown passes, returned 11 kickoffs for 171 yards and led the team in tackles with 124. Little River also returns junior quarterback Tevin Renken, who completed 23 of 49 passes for 479 yards and eight touchdowns, plus ran for 11 touchdowns.

Senior Tanner Hodgson returns to his cornerback spot after picking off a team-high three passes last year and finishing third on the team with 71 tackles. Senior Ethan Wright and junior Brady Holler also return to the backfield while senior center Justin Nelson and junior end Trevor Smyres are back on the line.

“The third year of Wheat State League football looks to be very competitive with several good teams,” coach Paul Dold said.

“We will have our work cut out for us to be successful. We return several good players and have a large freshman class.”

Little River will open the season with three straight league games against Wakefield, Peabody-Burns and White City and a nonleague contest against Hutchinson-Central Christian before getting into district play Sept. 28 at Pretty Prairie.

“In our district, Central Plains will again be tough, as will Pretty Prairie,” Dold said. “If we can avoid injury, we should be competitive.”

7-3 in 2011 / 5-1 in district / 8-Man I Wheat State League Coach: Paul Dold Offense: Spread Defense: 3-2 (3rd year, 13-6, 8th year overall) Coach: Jeremy Miller Returning lettermen: N/A Assistants: Chad Lafferty (1st year) 8-2 in 2011 / 4-1 in district / 8-Man I Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Offense: Balanced I, Unbalanced Split Defense:3-2 Assistants: N/A Lyon County League Dayton Walter, QB/LB, 6-2, 193, Sr.; Alex Jackson, Returning lettermen: N/A Offense: N/A Defense: 4-2 Coach: Troy McArthur (2nd year, 8-2) RB/S, 6-1, 178, Sr.; Colton Panzer, OL, 5-11, 215, Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Returning lettermen: 6 Offense: Offset I Defense: 3-4 Jr.; Austin Biggs, OL/LB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Zach Streit, Ethan Wright, QB/TB/CB, Sr.; Tanner Hodgson, E/ Returning starters: 2 Offense, 2 Defense Returning lettermen: 4 WR, 6-0, 145, Sr.; Hayden Howard, OL, 6-0, 185, Zak Voelker, RB/LB, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Brett Peters, QB/ CB, Sr.; Dylan Karraker, G/LB, Sr.; Chet Cordell, TB/ Returning starters: 4 Offense, 2 Defense Sr.; Joe Myers, DL, 5-11, 190, Jr. S, Sr.; Brady Holler, TB/NG/S, Sr.; Justin Nelson, C, LB, 6-2, 200, Jr. Tyson Robke, WR/DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Walker Melanie McGee Conor Nicholl Sr.; Tevin Renken, QB/CB, Jr.; Trevor Smyres, E/ Davies, RB/LB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Brent Walford, OL/ DE, Jr. DE/LB, 6-3, 205, Jr.; Jake Gould, P, 6-0, 145, Jr. Melanie McGee Melanie McGee Photo by Melanie McGee

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In 2010, Centre won the Eight Man Division II district championship, and the Cougars made the playoffs as district runner-up in 2011 despite fielding a young and inexperienced team. Six starters return from that squad, and coach Kelly Steiner said continuing to improve is the number one goal for the Cougars.

Gone is an outstanding senior class that led Macksville’s air attack last season, but coach Jeff Kuckelman expects younger players to step into those roles and keep the Mustangs in contention for another district championship.

The Bulldogs enter 2012 on a 26-game winning streak, having won back-to-back state championships. A dozen lettermen are back to lead the title defense this season, but Madison will need several young players to step into key roles.

“Our graduated seniors did a great job of leading the underclassmen and we hope that translates to good attendance in the weight room and to workouts this summer,” Kuckelman said. “We look forward to seeing how the underclassmen respond to their opportunities.”

“We have a good nucleus coming back, but we will need some young players to step up on Friday nights,” coach Fred McClain said. “We have gained momentum with this team in our offseason weights and conditioning program, but we will have to maintain this momentum and improve every day in practice to become a good football team.”

The Grizzlies have been a solid Eight-Man Division I team, especially on the offensive side, in the last three years. Rock Hills has posted 7-3, 5-4 and 7-3 marks and have ranked sixth, 12th and 11th in scoring offense in each season. In each of those years, Rock Hills averaged 44.1 points per game.

“Our goal is to get better every day,” he said. “We will have more experience this year, which should help to build depth.”

That experience starts with three seniors and three juniors who are back in the starting lineup. Senior end/safety Justin Deines, senior halfback/cornerback Houston Svoboda and senior fullback/linebacker Kendall Harding are joined by six other lettermen from the 2011 team. That group of returners includes junior quarterback/linebacker Kyle Methuin, junior lineman/defensive end Chad Mueller and junior center/ end Terren Thompson, who all have starting experience under their belts.

Macksville returns just two full-time starters – junior quarterback/defensive back Tanner Tranbarger and senior lineman Clayton Wood, both Kpreps All-District selections, but Kuckelman is looking for big things from senior linebackers Adolfo Ibarra and Pete Penner and junior running backs Simon Miller and Jordan Welch.

“Tanner will take over at quarterback after having a great season at end last year,” Steiner said staying healthy is important for Kuckelman said. “Jordan and Simon will the Cougars, who are making a return to round out the backfield after getting some Eight Man Division I after playing in good yardage in backup roles last season.

Division II the past two seasons. With that Adolfo had several catches last season and move, Centre gets several new district will be counted on heavily in the passing opponents – Lebo, Burlingame, Peabodygame from his end position.”

Burns and two-time defending state champion Madison. The Cougars are familiar Wood is entering his third year as a starter with district foes Hartford and Flinthills, as at center, and Kuckelman said finding him all three are making the move from Eight some help up front is critical.

Man Division II District 3 to Eight Man Division I District 3. Centre beat Hartford Tranbarger was the team’s leading tackler and Flinthills each of the past two seasons last year and Wood was the Mustangs’ top to earn playoff spots in Division II. defensive lineman.

4-5 in 2011 / 3-1 in district / 8-Man I Wheat State League Coach: Kelly Steiner (6th year, 28-29) Assistants: N/A Offense: Spread Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Houston Svoboda, HB/CB, 5-7, 155, Sr.; Justin Deines, E/S, 6-0, 155, Sr.; Kendall Harding, FB/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Kyle Methuin, QB/LB, 6-0, 180, Jr.; Chad Mueller, L/DE, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Terren Thompson, C/E, 5-7, 160, Jr. Melanie McGee

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The Bulldogs bring back seniors Willie Derryberry (RB/LB), Matthew Glazier (G/ LB) and Nick Young (G/NG) along with junior running back/defensive end Dallas Thompson and junior center/linebacker Hayden Serrer.

Young has been receiving recruiting attention from a variety of Division I schools including Kansas and Kansas State and is considered a top lineman in Kansas.

This year, Rock Hills received a boost when Curt Christians decided to join the Grizzlies as an assistant coach in early summer.

Christians has won 99 games in his career, including a 11-1 record as DownsLakeside’s coach last year. Christians has coached for two-plus decades and led St. John’s-Beloit to a state runner-up finish in 1996.

Veteran head coach Sam Meyers graduated running back Alex Smith, who rushed for a team-high 1,414 yards last year.

Still, Rock Hills brings back several talented players, including Aaron Broeckelman, who led the team with 12 catches for 147 yards and three scores, and spent time at quarterback when Blake Walter was injured in past seasons.

Derryberry and Thompson will need to pick up some of the slack left by All-Stater Kole Clay Cosand rushed for 796 yards and tied Schankie’s graduation, and the Bulldogs Smith with 20 rushing TDs. Robbie Dean must also replace quarterback Collin Kile. and Dalton Wilson finished first and second on the team in tackles with 80 and 71, McClain said that the goals are still to win respectively. the Lyon County League, district and state championships. The Bulldogs have a tough Wyatt Flinn and Micah Daniels give the schedule with Eight Man Division II state Grizz dominant size up front with both finalist Baileyville B&B in the season players at least 6-3 and 240 pounds. opener, and a group of solid league and district opponents. Teams in Madison’s district Meyers said the key to success is hard work “Teams ran away from Clayton’s side last accounted for three playoff spots in 2011, in the offseason and the team goals are to season but he still had 42 tackles with seven and several of them figure to be much “focus on attention to detail” and “play with for a loss,” Kuckelman said. improved in 2012. a high level of intensity.”

10-1 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man I Central Prairie League Coach: Jeff Kuckelman (3rd year, 17-4) Assistants: Todd Grizzell Offense: Multiple Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 2 Offense, 2 Defense Tanner Tranbarger, QB/DB, 5-10, 150, Jr.; Clayton Wood, OL/DL, 6-1, 225, Sr. Melanie McGee Photo by MHS Yearbook

13-0 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man I Lyon County League Coach: Fred McClain (14th year, 132-32) Assistants: Tracy Griffin, Brett Dannels Offense: 4-back Unbalanced Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 3 Defense Willie Derryberry, RB/LB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Nick Young, G/NG, 6-2, 290, Sr.; Dallas Thompson, RB/DE, 6-0, 208, Jr.; Matthew Glazier, G/LB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Hayden Serrer, C/LB, 5-10, 205, Jr. Melanie McGee

7-3 in 2011 / 5-1 in district / 8-Man I Northern Plains League Coach: Sam Meyers (8th year, 42-30) Assistants: Curt Christians Offense: Tight I Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Clay Cosand, RB/LB, Sr.; Aaron Broeckelman, TE/ DE, Sr.; Micah Daniels, OL/DL, Sr.; Wyatt Flinn, TE/ DE, Sr.; Dalton Wilson LB, Sr.; Robbie Dean, DB, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

M arais D es C ygnes V alley TROJANS

Page 110

M inneola

WILDCATS

M ontezum a-S outh G ray M oran-M arm aton V alley

In his first year as a head coach, Seth Mills Last fall marked a special year for South led the Wildcats to a four-win improvement Gray and veteran coach Jeff Blattner. The and within one game of the postseason.

Rebels received votes in the Kpreps.com preseason coaches’ poll, but were not Minneola had to play the No. 8-hardest among the top-five teams in Eight-Man schedule in Eight-Man Division I and had Division I. Still, South Gray was arguably losses to playoff teams Ashland (20-14), Kansas’ biggest surprise and finished as Ness City (48-0), Macksville (46-0) and state runner-up to Madison.

“We have experience but are short on Montezuma-South Gray (52-6), the evendepth,” he said. “If we stay healthy, we feel tual Eight-Man, Division I state runner-up. It marked the first championship game we can compete at a high level.” appearance for Blattner and for the Rebels Minneola had its first victory under Mills program. Before 2011, the Rebels hadn’t The Trojans will get a new group of district and the program’s first win since 2010 with won a playoff game since they advanced to opponents in Marmaton Valley, Yates a 30-25 Week 3 victory versus Kinsley. the sub-state contest in 2006. Blattner is in Center, Uniontown, St. Paul and Minneola has now had a different win total his 31st year of coaching, including 22 at Pleasanton, and their early schedule should in each of the last six years with 2-7, 6-4, 7- Haviland before he came to Montezuma. provide some challenges. Marais des 3, 9-1, 0-9 and 4-5 records.

Cygnes Valley hosts Madison in week two The Rebels do lose more than half of their and travels to Waverly, which has made two This fall, Minneola returns six offensive starters, including running back Coulter straight playoff trips in Eight Man Division and five defensive starters. Mills said the Croft, who rushed for 2,416 yards and 38 II, in week four as the final non-district team’s goals are to “play hard every play of touchdowns and had 63 tackles with seven game. every game.” interceptions.

MdCV will lean on juniors Matt Jones, a 66 tight end, and Kaden Vanderpool, a 5-11 running back, at the skill positions while senior Logan Cox and sophomore Mitch Saffle return to the offensive line.

On defense, the Trojans bring back senior defensive end Zack Doty, Jones at the other end position, Saffle at noseguard, Vanderpool in the secondary and junior Trey Irey at safety.

“Staying healthy will be key because we lack depth, and developing quality linebackers will also dictate our success,” Douglas said. “Finding more skilled players to go with Kaden and Matt is also a need.”

5-4 in 2011 / 2-3 in district / 8-Man I Lyon County League Coach: Trenton Douglas (6th year, 25-31; 9th year overall, 36-48) Assistants: Butch Jones, Danny Rice Offense: 2 Tight End, Offset I Defense: 3-3 stack Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Zack Doty, DE, 6-2, 165, Sr.; Logan Cox, G, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Matt Jones, TE/DE, 6-6, 220, Jr.; Kaden Vanderpool, RB/DB, 5-11, 155, Jr.; Trey Irey, S, 510, 160, Jr.; Mitch Saffle, C/NG, 5-11, 225, So. Melanie McGee

“Great effort, technique and togetherness,” Mills said of the team’s keys to success.

Last year, Minneola relied much more on the run than the pass with 341 team carries and 47 pass attempts. Matt McClaren led the team with 723 yards and 12 scores on 118 carries, while Brandy Shumate was third on the team in rushing with 408 yards on 67 carries and five TDs. McClaren led the team with 87 tackles, while Erik Esplund, another returner, was second with 76 stops, and Shumate, third, with 56. McClaren tied for the team-high with three passes defended and one interception.

4-5 in 2011 / 4-2 in district / 8-Man I Southern Plains Iroquois Activities Association Coach: Seth Mills (2nd year, 4-5) Assistants: Randy Shumate, Brad Crump Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 6 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense Matt McClaren, B, 6-1, 160, Sr.; Brandy Shumate, B, 6-2, 170, Sr.; Erik Esplund, L/B, 6-2, 220, Sr.; Lawson Wideman, L, 6-0, 220, Sr.; Jake Dreiling, L/ B, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Jason Britt, B, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Gary Stewart, L, 6-5, 210, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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WILDCATS

REBELS

The Trojans posted a 5-4 record in 2011, but fell short of the playoffs with a 2-3 mark in district play. That included a loss to eventual state champion Madison and playoff participant Lebo, but Marais des Cygnes Valley coach Trenton Douglas expects to challenge for the district title this year.

Marmaton Valley is coming off a strong 7-3 record and the Wildcats have big goals for 2012. Coach Kent Houk returns 16 lettermen and eight different players with starting experience from a squad that went two rounds deep in the playoffs last fall.

The Wildcats rolled up a 5-0 district record and defeated Udall 46-45 in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out at the hands of sub-state runner-up Lakeside.

Marmaton Valley will look to make a second straight playoff trip in a district that includes Eight-Man newcomer Uniontown, Pleasanton, Yates Center, St. Paul and district newcomer Marais des Cygnes Valley, one of three teams to beat the Wildcats in 2011.

Senior quarterback Jimmy Fry returns to lead the Wildcat offense, which also brings back running backs Cole Becker, Daylen Houk, Ryan Smith and Carlos Gonzalas, plus linemen Nathan Smart, Jared Kale and Lucas Hamlin.

“We will be putting a lot of youth on the field,” Blattner said. “Hopefully with our junior varsity program and with the strength and conditioning, these young players will Coach Houk said the team’s goal is “to make it farther into the playoffs than we did be able to compete.” last year.”

Croft, senior quarterback/defensive back To do so, Marmaton Valley will need to Wyatt Slaven (1,500-plus rushing yards) avoid injuries and also develop younger and end Colton Dirks collected first team players to fill holes in the lineup. all-state honors by Kpreps. Slaven also graduated, but Dirks returns. Even with the graduates, Blattner believes the Rebels can The Wildcats will open their season with three straight home games against Chetopa, still have a solid year after last year’s sucCrest and Randolph-Blue Valley before hitcess. ting the road for four of the final six contests, including district games at Marais des “The same as every year,” Blattner said of the team’s goals. “To get better every day (I Cygnes Valley, Pleasanton and St. Paul. know that sounds cliche but it is our phi7-3 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man I losophy). We think that if you work hard, Three Rivers League get better every day, the wins and losses Coach: Kent Houk will take care of themselves.”

11-1 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man I Southern Plains Iroquois Activities Association Coach: Jeff Blattner (4th year, 24-6; 31st overall) Assistants: Grant Salmans Offense: I-formation Defense: 3-4-1 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Colton Dirks, OE/DE, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Caleb Watts, OL/LB, 5-10, 205, Sr.; Jake Peters, OE, 6-1, 210, So.; Carson Skidmore, DB, 6-2, 170, So. Conor Nicholl

(2nd year, 11-9) Assistants: Derrick Scharff, Dan Uhlrich Offense: Single Wing Defense: 3-2 monstor Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 7 Defense Cole Becker, RB/LB, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Daylen Houk, RB/LB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Nathan Smart, OL/DT, 6-5, 260, Sr.; Jared Kale, G/DE, 6-3, 215, Sr.; Lucas Hamlin, C/DE, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Jimmy Fry, QB/LB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Ryan Smith, RB/DB, 5-10, 150, Sr.; Carlos Gonzalas, RB/DB. Melanie McGee

Photo by Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 111

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O xford

P leasanton

EAGLES

BULLDOGS

WILDCATS

BLU-JAYS

In 2010, Ness City had its first season of eight-man football after it ended its cooperative 11-man agreement with Dighton.

The Eagles lost their first two contests and started out 2-4 before they won the final three games and qualified for the state playoffs under then-first year coach Chris Bamberger, a Jetmore product who played for coach Kevin Ayers in high school and later was a linebacker at Kansas State University.

Steve Tiernan nearly reached the state championship game for the fourth straight season in 2011. Tiernan went 38-1 and won two state titles with one runner-up appearance with Baileyville B&B from 2008-10 but took the Osborne job last fall.

Oxford’s starting lineups will look very familiar to fans this season as the Wildcats return all eight starters on both offense and defense.

The Blu-Jays were loaded with seniors last year, and will need to rebuild on the fly in 2012. Coach Ethan Sabine’s squad has just three players with starting experience back in the lineup and no other returning lettermen.

Osborne, in its second season of eight-man football, achieved its second straight 10-2 record and second consecutive sub-state championship game appearance.

Ness City turned the success into a better year last fall.

This year, Osborne lost its two top skill players in all-state quarterback Ethan Slothower and all-state running back The Eagles started the season 7-0, a stretch Damon Schurr, who each had over 1,800 that included three straights shutouts and yards of total offense and 30 scores wins against WaKeeney-Trego Community, accounted for.

Victoria, Jetmore and Hill City.

Running back Maverick Lerock returns and The Eagles eventually went 8-2 — and was a solid complement with 776 yards and could be even better this year after they nine scores on 140 carries, but suffered a returned virtually everyone, including knee injury in track season. He should be Dalton Gantz, the Kpreps.com Eight-Man healthy in time for the year. Junior Kenton Division I District 6 Defensive MVP last Ubelaker enters his third season as a starter fall. Running back Garrett Flax is one of after he caught 21 passes for 334 yards, eight-man’s top kick/punt returners, too. both team-highs, with four scores and led the squad with 116 tackles for a team with “Our district is going to be extremely tough two seniors. this season,” Bamberger said. “We will have a completely different schedule that Osborne’s offense finished second in Eightwill be very competitive. We will have to Man, Division I with 658 points, but the find a way to raise the level of our play defense permitted 369 points, highest of each week in order to even be in the hunt any squad with at least seven wins. this November.”

“Junior class is pretty talented, but will 8-2 in 2011 / 5-1 in district / 8-Man I need some help,” Tiernan said. “(We) play a Central Prairie League tough schedule and must be ready to play Coach: Chris Bamberger each week.”

Oxford has 19 lettermen back from last year’s 3-6 team, which ended the season on a high note by beating Cedar Vale/Dexter 28-22 on the road.

The Wildcats are back for more in 2012, with six senior starters leading the way.

Center Garret Kennedy earned first-team All-District honors on the offensive line last season, and guards Alex Jones and Tom Lawlis are also back in the trenches.

Senior quarterback Gage Burkes and running backs Isaac Batchelor and Brett Ross will operate behind them while tight ends Gary Palmer, Dexter Norris and Colter Silhan also return.

Coach Shawn Burkes said his team must continue to improve and stay healthy if they are to compete for a district title. The Wildcats will face a familiar group of district opponents in Eight Man Division I District 1.

3-6 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 8-Man I South Central Border League Coach: Shawn Burkes (6th year) Assistants: Kyle Green Offense: T Formation, I Formation Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 19 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense (3rd year, 13-7) Garret Kennedy, C, 6-4, 280, Sr.; Gage Burkes, QB, Assistants: Dave Kempke, Matt Overlease Tiernan said the team must stay healthy and 6-3, 176, Sr.; Gary Palmer, TE, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Isaac Offense: Option Defense: 3-4 the young players are “going to have to Batchelor, FB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Brett Ross, RB, 5-8, Returning lettermen: 14 learn quick.”

165, Sr.; Alex Jones, G, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Tom Lawlis, Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense G, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Dexter Norris, TE, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Dalton Gantz, RB/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Koltyn Ratliff, 10-2 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man I Colter Silhan, TE, 5-11, 165, So. QB/DB, 5-8, 145, Sr.; Garrett Flax, TB/DB, 5-9, 170, Mid-Continent League Melanie McGee Sr.; Tucker VonLehe, OL/DE, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Blake Coach: Steve Tiernan McVicker, OL/LB, 5-11, 172, Sr.; Matthew Frank, (2nd year, 10-2; 11th overall, 100-16) TE/DB, 5-10, 145, Sr.; Joey Rufenacht, C/NG, 5-10, Assistants: Cullen Riner, Ken Ubelaker 220, Sr.; Will Frusher, TE/DB, 6-0, 150, Sr.; Colin Foos, TE/DL, 6-1, 170, Sr.; Trevor Hawkins, TE/DB, Offense: I formation Defense: 3-3 Returning lettermen: 10 5-11, 160, Jr. Conor Nicholl Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Tyler Emerson, G, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Collin Clark, S, 511, 150, Sr.; Collin Berkley, G, 6-0, 170, Jr.; Alan Mick, S, 6-0, 165, Jr.; Kenton Ubelaker, E/LB, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Maverick Lerock, RB/DE, 6-1, 195, Jr.; Joel Simon, G, 5-9, 190, Jr. Conor Nicholl Photo by Marion McReynolds

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“With the loss of last year’s seniors, we have a lot of positions to fill,” Sabine said.

“We have a good group of players coming up that should allow us to compete and hopefully surprise a lot of people.”

Senior running back Preston Coffman returns after running for 1,003 yards and 17 scores a year ago. He also averaged 19 yards per kick return and paced the Blu-Jay defense with 84 tackles and three interceptions.

Pleasanton’s defense also returns junior cornerback Brady Anderson and junior defensive end Cole Campbell, the team’s leader with 4.5 sacks last season.

Sabine will look to a number of younger players to fill in around those three.

“We are looking to build on the successes we had last year and put ourselves in a position to succeed,” he said.

Pleasanton opens the season against Crest before traveling to Altoona-Midway and Chetopa. A week four home game against Southern Coffey County is the final tuneup for district action, which begins with the Blu-Jays hosting Yates Center on Sept. 28.

Pleasanton also faces St. Paul, Marmaton Valley, Uniontown and Marais des Cygnes Valley in district games.

4-5 in 2011 / 2-3 in district / 8-Man I Tree Rivers League Coach: Ethan Sabine (2nd year, 4-5) Assistants: Rob Dent, Chip Coffman Offense: I-formation Defense: 4-2 Returning lettermen: 3 Returning starters: 1 Offense, 3 Defense Preston Coffman, RB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Brady Anderson, CB, 6-1, 165, Jr.; Cole Campbell, DE, 64, 165, Jr. Melanie McGee

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 112

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P ratt-S kyline

THUNDERBIRDS

P retty P rairie BULLDOGS

Graduation hit the Skyline football team hard, as 10 seniors left the program and many of them had played since their freshman season. With them gone to college, coach Jon Novotny will turn to a talented sophomore class in 2012 as Skyline has only two seniors on the roster this year.

The 2011 season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Pretty Prairie. The Bulldogs had to replace five offensive and six defensive starters, yet they went 8-2 and reached the state playoffs once again. Pretty Prairie has five starters from each unit back for 2012, and coach C.T. Young said the main concerns are the offensive and defen“We will rely on a large and talented sopho- sive lines. more class to step up and help our two seniors,” he said. “Their growth and devel“We have a lot of skill guys, but are not opment over the summer will be key in our very deep on either the offensive or defensuccess this year.” sive lines,” Young said. “How well our line develops will be a big key in our success.”

Brandon Baird and Sam Howell are the lone seniors this year and both were twoSenior quarterback Alex Mains is one of six way starters last season. Baird, a 5-9, 190seniors returning with starting experience. pound fullback, will likely need to carry the Running back/tight ends Justin Halfich and load from the backfield. He ran the ball 70 Mark Schnittker, tight end Stetson Broce times for 420 yards and five touchdowns and lineman Troy Nagle are also back for last year, plus caught a pair of touchdown the Bulldog offense. passes and was the team’s tackles leader with 90 stops on the season. Baird, an AllA year ago, Mains completed 34 of 69 District linebacker, also caused two fumbles passes for 12 touchdowns while also runand recovered two fumbles. ning for three more scores. Broce hauled in six touchdown receptions.

Howell returns as a tight end and linebacker. His role will increase at both posiDefensively, Pretty Prairie returns Nagle on tions this year as the T-birds graduated two the line, Schnittker at linebacker and Broce, of their top two receivers and three of the Halfich and Tyler Markus in the secondary. team’s top five tacklers.

Broce was the team’s leader with 66 tackles and six interceptions while Schnittker finThe sophomore class posted winning ished second on the team with 58 tackles. records in junior high and several members – particularly Blake Lee, Daniel Hacker and Young said the Bulldogs hope to “perform Dustin Weber - got a taste of varsity expewell in district play to get back into the rience last fall. playoffs, and make a run.”

Novotny will need to replace his two main signal callers from 2011, as well as the entire offensive line.

Pretty Prairie’s district includes Little River, Central Plains, Canton-Galva, Lincoln and Solomon.

The Thunderbirds will open the season at South Barber before hosting two of their final three non-district games. Skyline’s district includes Fairfield, Kiowa County, St. John, Macksville and Kinsley.

8-2 in 2011 / 5-1 in district / 8-Man I Heart of the Plains League Coach: C.T. Young (11th year, 69-28) Assistants: Deoane Broce, Dennis Detter Offense: Multiple Spread Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Stetson Broce, TE/DB, 6-4, 205, Sr.; Troy Nagle, OL/DL, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Mark Schnittker, TE/RB/LB, 58, 175, Sr.; Alex Mains, QB, 5-9, 140, Sr.; Justin Halfich, RB/TE/DB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Tyler Markus, DB, 5-10, 165, Sr. Melanie McGee

6-3 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man I Heart of the Plains League Coach: Jon Novotny (6th year, 22-32) Assistants: Andrew Nation Offense: I Formation Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 8 Returning starters: 2 Offense, 2 Defense Brandon Baird, FB/LB, 5-9, 190, Sr.; Sam Howell, TE/LB, 5-10, 170, Sr. Melanie McGee

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Q uinter

R andolph-B lue V alley

Quinter has been 34-9 with the 2010 EightMan Division I state championship since it switched to eight-man football four seasons ago. Last year, the Bulldogs opened 6-1, but injuries to all-state fullback Logan Reed and quarterback Colton Corwin derailed the season. Quinter finished the season with three straight losses, including a first round postseason defeat to Central Plains.

Led by a strong offense, Randolph-Blue Valley had a two-win improvement from 2010. The Rams went 2-7 in 2010, the third straight year Blue Valley had a declining record. The team was outscored 452-212.

Last year, Blue Valley outscored opponents 396-394 and scored 172 points more than it did the previous fall.

BULLDOGS

This fall, Quinter’s schedule features several oddities, including a Week 2 road matchup against Baileyville B&B, the team Quinter defeated, 28-26, to win that state championship in 2010. As well, Quinter plays Atwood twice, in Week 4 and then again in district play in Week 7.

RAMS

Several top players return from the improved team, including Levi Peter, who rushed for 857 yards and 13 scores on 90 carries, second-best on the team. As well, he also caught 16 passes for 262 yards and four scores. He also picked off five passes on defense.

Jeb Hellebust was the team’s leading receiver with 22 catches for 526 yards and eight touchdowns. Bobby O’Neill returns after he recorded 65 tackles, four sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2011, while Quinten Ross had 50 tackles and six tackles for loss. The quartet The Bulldogs must replace Reed at fullback/linebacker (3,445 rushing yards last are seniors and could lead the Rams back to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. three seasons) and all-state lineman Brian Ochs, a Butler County signee, who That is the team’s only playoff berth in the recorded 290 tackles and 31.5 sacks the last last nine years. three seasons.

Coach Matt Schreiber listed three team Corwin, who was injured in a Week 7 win goals: continue to lay the groundwork to build a strong football program, produce a against Hoxie, contributed 740 rushing yards and 16 TDs accounted for, but will winning season and go back to the playoffs. need to take better care of the ball (8 lost “The Rams return a good portion of their fumbles). Corwin will enter his third year offense and defense next year so the ground as a starting defensive back and has 135 work has been laid,” Schreiber said. tackles, 10 interceptions and three fumble recoveries in his career.

“We have a tremendously difficult schedule,” Woolf said. “However, we are bringing some good athletes back this year and are looking to make the playoffs again.”

6-4 in 2011 / 4-2 in district / 8-Man I Northwest Kansas League Coach: Greg Woolf (10th year, 43-36) Assistants: Brian Roesch, Jeff Ruckman Offense: Option Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 7 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense Colton Corwin, QB/DB, 6-0, 170, Jr.; Brandon Kerns, G/NG, 6-0, 225, Sr.; Braden Evans, C/NG, 511, 220, Sr.; Austin Heier, G/DE, 6-4, 230, Sr.; Brett Crist, QB/DB, 5-10, 170, So.; Zach Mader, RB/DB, 5-9, 150, Jr.; Jason Werth, TE/LB, 6-2, 190, So. Conor Nicholl

4-5 in 2011 / 2-4 in district / 8-Man II Twin Valley League Coach: Matt Schreiber (6th year, 14-29) Assistants: Kurt Size Offense: Spread/Power Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Bobby O’Neill, OL/DL, 6-2, 245, Sr.; Quinten Ross, OL/DL, 5-11, 235, Sr.; Levi Peter, QB/DB, 5-11, 205, Sr.; Jeb Hellebust, WR/DB, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Bill Sumerour, RB/LB, 5-10, 185, Jr.; Marshall Carey, TE/DB, 5-10, 165, Jr.; Kyle Clifton, FB/LB, 5-11, 185, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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Becoming more competitive is goal number one for the Pike Valley Panthers, who went 1-8 last season and were winless in their district.

Replacing the offensive and defensive lines will be critical for Sedan, which went 8-1 and missed the playoffs by virtue of a threeway tie for the district championship last fall. That was the second straight year that Veteran coach Don Melby has five offenthe Blue Devils barely missed playing in sive starters and four defensive starters back November, and they’ll need underclassmen to lead the way this fall. to grow up quickly in order to end that drought.

“We hope to be much more competitive this season,” Melby said. “We return more “We lost our entire offensive and defensive experience and have decent size. Staying line, so we will need some of the boys to healthy early will be a big key for us.” really step up this year,” coach Mick Holt said. “As the saying goes, games are won or The Panthers welcome back senior quarter- lost on the line of scrimmage. We do return back Cole Ehlers and three offensive linesome very good skill position players, but men – seniors Braden Field, Randy Wehr they will need some blocking from our and Samuel Janssen – in addition to senior offensive linemen.” running back Robert Cox. Behind the line, Sedan has its quarterback, That group will be tasked with improving senior Nick Kimple, and one running back, an offense that was shut out three times last senior Austin Filtingberger, back in the season and averaged just 16 points per starting lineup. Junior receiver Zane Mills game. is also a returning starter.

“We need to be able to move the ball more Those three also return to anchor the consistently and finish drives with points on defense with Kimple and Filtingberger at the scoreboard,” Melby said. linebacker and Mills in the secondary.

Pike Valley put up 40 points in a week eight loss to Randolph-Blue Valley, then grabbed a season-ending 44-12 win over Southern Cloud, so the Panthers will be looking to build off those performances.

Sedan’s district schedule includes BurdenCentral, Cedar Vale/Dexter, West Elk, Oxford, South Haven and Udall, plus the Blue Devils will face Yates Center, eightman newcomer Uniontown and a battletested Burlingame squad in non-district Melby’s team returns senior defensive back contests.

Aaron Swanson, as well as Janssen at defensive end and Cox and Field at the line- “Our schedule looks to be more difficult backer spots in Pike Valley’s 3-2 defense. this year, so we will have our work cut out for us if we are to experience the same Developing depth behind the returning amount of success as we have the past two starters will be important for the Panthers, years,” Holt said. “Realistically, if we can who also need to improve their ability to win five or six games and make the playstop big plays in the passing game. offs, that would be a huge success.”

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S olom on

GORILLAS After back to back 4-5 seasons, head coach Tim Cross and the Gorillas are hoping year three in the eight man ranks is a breakthrough season.

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S outh H aven

CARDINALS The Cardinals made a deep playoff run in 2011 behind running back Blake Wilkey and quarterback Austin Showman, and they’ll look to do it again this season with 12 lettermen returning from that squad.

With 15 returning lettermen and three seniors weighing over 200 pounds, Solomon Among those is Showman, a first-team Allbelieves they have the muscle to compete at District selection at quarterback and defena higher level. sive back. The 6-0 senior is considered one of the top players in the eight-man ranks “We’ve got a really good senior class that and he’ll be depended on heavily this seahas some good size,” said Cross. son.

However, to do so, the Gorillas will focus on having better ball control for the upcoming season. Opponents averaged 31 points per game in 2011.

Senior fullback Lane Cully, senior ends Andrew Lowe and Hunter Ray, and senior linemen Richie Goble and Jonnie Skinner are also back for the Cardinals. Skinner was an honorable mention All-District selection a year ago.

“We’ve always said that the best defense is a good offense,” noted Cross. “We just need to keep other teams offenses off the field.” South Haven’s defense returns Showman and Skinner, an honorable mention AllOffensively, Solomon returns all eight start- District defensive end a year ago, but many ers and six seniors from last season’s four holes are left around them. win team including lineman Craig Weise, Hunter Base, and Blayne Neilson. Those Coach David Hughes, the district’s coach of three veterans will protect junior quarterthe year last season, said filling those key back Colton Shirack, and junior running positions is a key for the Cardinals. back Mason DeMars.

“Our schedule will be much stronger than Defensively, the Gorillas also return their last year as we move up to Division I,” he entire starting unit led by 6-5 senior Josh said, adding that the team must develop Burdine roaming the secondary. Daniel toughness and get better every game.

Durant, Kevin Clark, and Mark Aylward will provide speed on that side of the ball.

South Haven is seeking a ninth straight trip to the playoffs, and to get there, they’ll need After a 1-3 start to last season, this now to go through a new group of district foes – experienced group hit their stride, winning Burden-Central, Cedar Vale/Dexter, West three of their next four and averaging 51.5 Elk, Oxford, Sedan and Udall. points per game during that stretch.

4-5 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man I Wheat State League Coach: Tim Cross (3rd year, 8-19) Assistants: Alan Randles Offense: Renegade Defense: 3-2 8-1 in 2011 / 4-1 in district / 8-Man I “We need to work hard this summer and Returning lettermen: 15 play smarter this fall,” Melby said. “We are South Central Border League Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense excited but know it will be tough as we play Coach: Mick Holt Craig Weise, OG/DE, 6-4, 250, Sr.; Daniel Durant, (3rd year, 15-3; 8th year overall, 40-25) some very good teams again this year.”

WB/DB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Josh Burdine, TE/DB, 6-5, Assistants: Lance Jeffers, John Pray 185, Sr.; Mason DeMars, TB/DB, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Offense: Midway Defense: 3-5 1-8 in 2011 / 0-6 in district / 8-Man I Hunter Base, C/NG, 5-9, 205, Sr.; Kevin Clark, DB, Returning lettermen: 5 Northern Plains League 5-10, 165, Sr.; Blayne Neilson, OG/DE, 6-2, 245, Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Coach: Don Melby Sr.; Mark Aylward, WB/DB, 6-1, 185, Jr.; Colton Nick Kimple, QB/LB, Sr.; Austin Filtingberger, RB/ (31st year, 177-117) Shirack, QB, 6-1, 185, Jr.; Blake Homman, TE, 6-3, LB, Sr.; Zane Mills, WR/S, Jr. Assistants: Gary Loving, Mike Baumann James Westling Melanie McGee 190, So. Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 8 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Photo by Robert Cox, RB/LB, 5-7, 175, Sr.; Cole Ehlers, QB, File Photo David Jackson, 5-7, 140, Sr.; Braden Field, G/LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Courtesy Randy Wehr, G, 6-2, 225, Sr.; Aaron Swanson, DB, Kpreps.com 5-6, 130, Sr.; Samuel Janssen, E/DE, 6-2, 190, Sr. Melanie McGee

11-1 in 2011 / 6-0 in district / 8-Man I South Central Border League Coach: David Hughes (24th year, 131-91) Assistants: Devin Gressel, Justin Pond Offense: Power I Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 4 Defense Austin Showman, QB/DB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Lane Cully, FB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Hunter Ray, E, 6-0, 165, Sr.; Jonnie Skinner, G/DE, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Richie Goble, C, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Andrew Lowe, E, 6-2, 185, Sr. Melanie McGee

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S pearville

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EAGLES

U d all

U niontow n EAGLES

GOLDEN EAGLES

Spearville has seen its win total decline in the last four seasons, going from 5-5 to 3-6 to 1-8 to 0-9. The Lancers joined Yates Center and Southern Cloud as the three Eight-Man Division I teams that finished without a victory last season, according to preppowerindex.com. Spearville remained close in its first two games with an eightpoint loss to South Central and a six-point defeat to Ingalls.

Speed abounds for Udall, which went 7-3 and reached the playoffs last season. The Eagles graduated 1,800-yard rusher Colton Witte, but senior quarterback Michael Propst appears ready to be the focal point of the offense.

Uniontown struggled against Class 3A competition last season, but the Eagles hope to make the playoffs as a first-year eightman team this fall. Seven defensive starters are listed as returning, but coach Chad Stroud said the status of three starters was in question early in the summer.

The Golden Eagles have posted a 5-13 record in two seasons in the eight-man ranks partially because of an extremely difficult schedule. Each year, the Golden Eagles have had Eight-Man Division I’s No. 1 most difficult schedule, according to preppowerindex.com. Trego lost to playoff teams Ness City, Thunder Ridge (state champion), Quinter and Osborne in 2011.

After that, the Lancers had one contest within 21 points, a 62-42 Week 8 defeat to Minneola.

Spearville brings back just seven lettermen, two offensive starters and three defensive starters from last year.

“We must have a strong summer in the weight room,” fourth-year coach Matt Fowler said of the team’s keys. “Take care of the football — we must avoid turnovers.

Be opportunistic on defense — we must win third down and make plays on potential turnovers.”

The Lancers graduated Hunter Heiland, its starting quarterback and top offensive skill player. Heiland collected 167 passing yards, 737 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, all team-highs.

Fowler listed three goals for 2012: 1. Play every down football — greater focus and tougher mentality, do the little things right; 2. Don’t beat ourselves, and be committed to excellence; 3. The winning will take care of itself when we take care of ourselves.

“We lose one of the best running backs in the state, but return a lot of talent,” coach Wyatt Williams said. “We will be loaded with speed on both sides of the ball and will build our offense around Michael Propst, who threw for 900 yards last season.”

Williams expects to have nearly 30 players on the team, creating more depth than he’s had in previous years.

“We will actually have some good, quality depth for the first time since I have been at Udall,” he said. “We have all the pieces in place to be a very good football team.”

The Eagles return senior running backs Heath Satterlee and Deshon Stiner, as well as junior Chris Hall in the backfield and all three will have to step up this season.

Junior Zach Kratochvil is back to anchor the offensive line, while Propst and junior Tyler Kistler are back on the defensive front. Udall also returns Satterlee and sophomore Hunter Kistler at linebackers and Stiner in the secondary.

District play will begin in week three for Udall, which opens the district slate at West Elk before playing at home three weeks in a row and then finishing the regular season with a trip to Sedan, a home game against “Our numbers are improving,” Fowler said. Burden-Central and a trip to Cedar Vale/ “But it will be exciting to see how fast the Dexter. young kids develop. The few guys we have with experience will need to be great lead- 7-3 in 2011 / 5-1 in district / 8-Man I South Central Border League ers.”

Coach: Wyatt Williams (6th year, 29-28) 0-9 in 2011 / 0-6 in district / 8-Man I Assistants: Barney Rockey Southern Plains Iroquois Activity Association Offense: I Formation Defense: 4-3 Coach: Matt Fowler (4th year, 4-23) Assistants: Chris Sohm, Ron Stein, Josh Sigmund, Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 5 Defense Heath Owens Michael Propst, QB/DE, 6-3, 185, Sr.; Zach Offense: Single Wing Defense: 3-2 Kratochvil, OL, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Heath Satterlee, TE/ Returning lettermen: 7 LB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Deshon Stiner, S, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Returning starters: 2 Offense, 3 Defense Hunter Kistler, LB, 5-9, 160, So.; Tylor Kistler, DL, 5Bobby Downey, OL/DL, 5-9, 225, Sr.; Seth Stroud, TE/LB, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Matt Kerschen, DB, 5-10, 160, 6, 150, Jr. Melanie McGee Jr. Conor Nicholl

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“Injuries have already taken a toll on us,” he said. “We will probably be without Trenton Miller (senior linebacker) all season. Zach Johns (defensive tackle) and Dakota Wiley (defensive back) are also going to be question marks going into the season due to injuries.”

Uniontown still brings back four senior starters on both sides of the ball, including first-team All-League offensive lineman/ defensive end Brenton Esslinger, first-team All-League offensive lineman Zak Hueston and first-team All-League linebacker Jay Hierholzer. Esslinger was second on the team with 62 tackles while Hierholzer made 60 stops on the season.

For the Eagle offense, Garrett Murrow is back for his senior season at running back.

He carried the ball 87 times for 447 yards and five scores in 2011.

Esslinger and Hueston return to anchor the offensive line and Hierholzer is a returning starter at wide receiver.

Stroud said the team’s goals include making the playoffs, winning all home games and contending for a league championship.

“Summer attendance from our whole team and leadership from our senior class throughout the season will be huge keys to our success,” he added.

4-5 in 2011 / 0-3 in district / 8-Man I Three Rivers League Coach: Chad Stroud (4th year, 10-18) Assistants: Aaron Law, Dustin Miller, Jeremy Neville Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 7 Defense Brenton Esslinger, OL/DE, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Zak Hueston, OL/DE, 5-10, 220, Sr.; Jay Hierholzer, WR/LB, 5-7, 155, Sr.; Garrett Murrow, RB/LB, 5-7, 165, Sr.; Dakota Wiley, DB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Trenton Miller, LB, 6-1, 225, Sr.; Zach Johns, DT, 6-3, 300, Sr. Melanie McGee

W aK eeney-T rego

Still, after an 0-4 start, WaKeeney finished the season 3-2 and scored at least 30 points in every game. That included a 76-42 victory over Hill City and a 52-6 win over Sylvan-Lucas. The wins helped WaKeeney improve its win total for a third straight season, from 0-9 to 2-7 to 3-6.

Cameron Staples had his second straight 1,000-yard season with 222 carries for 1,537 yards and 22 scores. He also finished with 79 tackles, second-most on the squad behind Devon Ghumm’s 95 stops. Staples had three games of at least 230 yards, including a 31-carry, 312-yard, 6-TD performance against Hill City. He also rushed for 289 yards versus Osborne.

John Griffith returns for his third season at quarterback,while Clayton Riedel – also one of Class 8-Man I’s top 400-meter runners, averaged 21 yards per catch and caught two touchdowns on seven grabs.

This will be the Golden Eagles’ last year in the Mid-Continent League before the program moves to the Northwest Kansas League. WaKeeney has been in the MCL for 59 years.

3-6 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man I Mid-Continent League Coach: Myron Flax (15th year, 57-75) Assistants: Ron Freeman, Jason Hicks Offense: I-ormation Defense: 3-3 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense John Griffith, QB/DB, 5-11, 170, Sr.; Clayton Riedel, TE/DB, 6-3, 180, Jr.; Devon Ghumm, FB/LB, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Cameron Staples, TB/LB, 5-9,185, Sr.; Haden Finley, DE, 5-10, 165, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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W akefield

BOMBERS Wakefield is looking for its second playoff appearance in the last two decades, first since a first round loss to Clifton-Clyde in 2006. Wakefield could have matched 2010’s 6-3 record, but lost close games to Peabody-Burns (34-28) and Clifton-Clyde (50-34).

The Bombers return five offensive and four defensive starters, including Andy Reynolds, who paced the team with 109 tackles and lineman Zach Franks, an outstanding special teams player. Franks had 63 tackles, but also blocked four kicks, including three punts. As a team, Wakefield has blocked four punts in the last two seasons.

“Our success will depend on our ability to work together and have direct and sound The Bombers had a difficult district with from within the body of Clifton-Clyde, Lakeside and Mankato-Rock leadership players,” Freeman said. “We will have to Hills. Lakeside and Rock Hills each defeated Wakefield by the 45-point margin. find ways to get better every day.”

The Bombers had a slightly worse defense 4-5 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man I than 2010. In 2010, Wakefield had a winWheat State League ning season behind a defense that permitted Coach: Chris Freeman 277 points after it averaged 404 points (4th year, 16-20) allowed in 2008-09. Last year, Wakefield Assistants: Rich Steepe, Ben Hamilton was outscored 310-308.

Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-3 “We want to get better every day,” coach Chris Freeman said. “We want to be a fundamentally sound team that understands responsibilities and knows how to work, persevere, and succeed.”

Y ates C enter

WILDCATS The Wildcats have been mired in a football slump for the better part of a decade, but new coach Eric Busteed is looking to a solid group of young players to help turn the program around.

“From what I’ve witnessed so far, our future is the freshman and sophomore classes. There’s a good young crop of kids that I think we’re going to do good things with,” he said.

Yates Center returns two seniors with starting experience – Alex Waddell and Garrison Hall – as well as several juniors who saw varsity playing time, but three of the seven returning starters are sophomores.

Junior Robert Arnold provided a big target for sophomore quarterback Bryce Leon last year, while junior Austin McNett and sophomore Justin Rossillon are returning starters in the backfield.

Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Keenan Westerman, QB, 5-10, 165, So.; Andy Reynolds, OL/LB, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Zack Franks, OL/ DE, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Daniel Griffith, TE/LB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Colby Barber, TE/DE, 6-1, 210, Sr. Sophomore Drew Pringle is one of the Conor Nicholl Wildcats’ top linemen and saw plenty of

action as a freshman in 2011. Caleb

DeNoon was an important player last year at Altoona-Midway and should make an immediate impact at Yates Center.

“Caleb is a junior who played for me last year at Altoona,” Busteed said. “He’s a really good player who will help us, and we have a couple freshmen I think might really help us. Drey Estes is a lineman I’m excited about. He’s in the weight room every day and is working hard.”

Busteed plans to utilize the Wildcats’ speed with a variety of looks on offense, including some spread formations.

“We have quite a bit of speed, and if we can get that speed in the open field, it will give us the best opportunity to succeed,” he said.

0-9 in 2011 / 0-5 in district / 8-Man I Tri-Valley League Coach: Eric Busteed (1st year) Assistants: Rex McVey Offense: Spread Defense: 3-3 Stack Returning starters: 6 Offense, 7 Defense Alex Waddell, Sr.; Garrison Hall, Sr.; Robert Arnold, TE/DL/DE, Jr.; Austin McNett, RB/DE/LB, Jr.; Bryce Leon, QB, So.; Justin Rossillon, FB/MLB, So.; Drew Pringle, OL/DL, So. Melanie McGee

MIAA Capsules / from 139

Emporia State continued: Emporia State hopes to win more of the close games this season.

“Four of our losses last season came down to one possession,” Higgins said. “We just have to win the close games. We were a play or two away in several games.”

5-6 in 2011/ 3-6 in MIAA/ NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Coach: Garin Higgins (6th year, 19-35; 11th year overall, 70-44) Assistants: Matt Walter (offensive coordinator), Oscar Rodriguez (defensive coordinator), Matt Martin (wide receiver), Mike LoPorto (defensive line), Bryan Nardo (linebackers), Eric Burrow (cornerbacks), Pat Doherty (H-backs), Justin Wieser (running backs), Nathan Linsey (defensive line) Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 34 Returning starters: 5 offense, 4 defense Ray Ray Davis, WR, 6-0, 205, Jr.; Tyler Eckenrode, QB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Adam Schiltz, TE, 6-2, 245, Sr.; Shjuan Richardson, WR, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Lance Uhles, C, 6-3, 275, Sr.; Derek Lohmann, FS, 6-1, 210, Sr.; Ben Carlson, LB, 6-2, 235, Sr.; Kevin Gaddis, CB, 5-9, 180, Sr.; Dakota Hagler, NG, 6-0, 300, Sr. Mark Schremmer

Washburn continued: Justin Cooper, All-American left tackle Brian Folkerts, AllAmerican fullback Greg Schoenberg, All-American defensive end Dakota Palan-Johnson, All-American free safety Casey Curran, All-MIAA linebacker Marty Pfannenstiel and AllMIAA defensive tackle Ian Williams. Folkerts signed a free agent deal with the New Orleans Saints.

Shawnee Heights product Donnie Lockhart is expected to fill Washburn’s hole at running back.

Fort Hays State continued: friend, will run the Tiger defense this year.

4-7 in 2011 / 3-6 in conference / NCAA Division II Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Coach: Chris Brown (2nd year, 4-7) Assistants: Al McCray, Justin Schreiber, Cooper Harris, Justin Iske, Zach Watkins, Mike Hecht, Ryan Kelly, Ryan Allgood, Richard Gunnels Offense: Pro style Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 10 Offense, 5 Defense Anthony Sheppard, QB, 6-2, 170, Sr.; Edward Smith, RB, 5-10, 190, Jr.; Keke Paul, DB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Sherod Murdock, DB, 6-0, 185, Jr.; Keaton Callins, WR, 6-0, 200, Jr.; Tanner Hageman, WR, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Tyler Kimbrough, K, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Andre Smith, RB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Layton Hickel, 6-3, 205, Sr.; Kyle Perry, DL, 6-4, 230, Sr.; Hawk Rouse, OL, 6-2, 285, Sr.; Josh Reese, 6-3, 260, Sr.; Logan Jones, OL, 67, 305, Sr.; Grant Brown, TE, 6-4, 265, Sr.; Aaron Burton, DL, 6-4, 305, Sr. Conor Nicholl

Pittsburg State continued: The Gorillas also return one of Division II’s best playmakers on offense. John Brown, a 5-11, 171-pound wide receiver, made a huge impact as a transfer for Pitt State in 2011. Brown caught 61 balls for 1,216 yards and 12 TDs last season. He also contributed three rushing touchdowns and three on punt and kick returns.

“It was just amazing how John came in and picked up the offense so fast,” Beck said. “He can run full speed and catch the ball as good as anyone I’ve ever seen. He can flat out run and go catch it. Teams will have to pay attention to him every week.”

The Gorillas’ biggest void will be the loss of Zac Dickey, their quarterback and senior The Ichabods also have some quality starters returning. All-American wide receiver DaJuan leader.

Beard (6-2, 195, Jr.) returns to the offense after catching 62 balls for 1,029 yards and 15 touchdowns last season. Three other all-conference players return on offense with tight end Anthony Abenoja will take over quarterback duties this season. Abenoja attempted only 29 passes last season, but the coaching staff feels good about his ability and understanding of Tore’ Hurst and offensive linemen Kyle Duncan and Steve Dieckhaus. the offense. Pitt State offensive coordinator Steve Rampy coached Abenoja at Blue Valley Defensively, Washburn will return linebackers Bryce Atagi and Jahmil Taylor and defensive High School. tackle Jayveri Kelly. Atagi was an All-American, while Taylor and Kelly earned All-MIAA “Anthony had the opportunity to sit back and learn from Zac last season,” Beck said. “He honors. was a great mentor for Anthony. Being with Coach Rampy at high school definitely helps.

He has a great familiarity for what we’re doing. And he’s such a fun kid to be around. His 10-3 in 2011 / 7-2 in MIAA / NCAA Division II personality can be contagious. He’ll be a lot of fun to watch.”

Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Coach: Craig Schurig (11th season, 72-44) Assistants: Rob Robinson (offensive coordinator/running backs), Brock Luke (defensive coordinator/line- 13-1 in 2011 / 8-1 in MIAA / NCAA Division II backers/recruiting coordinator), David Trupp (defensive line/strength and conditioning), Eric Eisenbarth Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (offensive line), Josh Osborn (wide receivers), Jeff Schwinn (secondary/special teams coordinator), LaRon Coach: Tim Beck (3rd year, 19-7) Moore (defensive backs), Corey Schultz (defensive line), Frank Crossen (free safeties), Travis Brown Assistants: David Wiemers (defensive coordinator/assistant head coach), Steve Rampy (offensive coor(punters), T.D. Hicks (volunteer assistant), Kaleb Koch (defensive backs) dinator), Lance Cullen (defensive backs), Ryan Hellwig (defensive line), Neal Philpot (wide receivers), Offense: West Coast-Pro set Defense: 4-4 John Pierce (running backs), Carl Roth (linebackers), Steve Wells (offensive line) Returning lettermen: 44 Offense: Multiple/option Defense: 4-2-5 Returning starters: 6 offense, 8 defense Returning lettermen: 45 Bryce Atagi, LB, 5-10, 232, Jr.; DaJuan Beard, WR, 6-2, 195, Jr.; Tore’ Hurst, TE, 6-2, 240, Jr.; Matt Returning starters: 6 offense, 5 defense Kobbeman, WR, 6-1, 180, Jr.; Kyle Duncan, OL, 6-2, 285, Jr.; Steve Dieckhaus, OL, 6-2, 302, Sr.; Darion John Brown, WR, 5-11, 171, Jr.; Andrew Castaneda, WR, 6-2, 205, Sr.; Cody Holland, OT, 6-6, 337, Jr.; Hillman, OL, 6-2, 297, Jr.; Cameron Jackson, DE, 6-2, 254, Sr.; Jayveri Kelly, DL, 6-3, 295, Sr.; Devon Aaron Kolich, OT, 6-2, 275, Sr.; Nick Pugh, OG, 6-5, 294, Sr.; Briceton Wilson, RB, 6-2, 226, Sr.; Nate Connors, DB, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Willie Williams, LB, 5-11, 193, Jr.; Calvin Kenney, FS, 6-2, 190, So.; Jahmil Dreiling, LB, 6-4, 228, Jr.; Aries Herrion, CB, 5-10, 172, So.; Jason Peete, S, 6-3, 190, So.; Chas Smith, S, Taylor, LB, 6-1, 223, Sr. 5-9, 186, Sr.; Gus Toca, DE, 6-3, 250, Sr. Mark Schremmer Mark Schremmer

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 116

8-MAN II

12 PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sam Higgason [Otis-Bison] 5-10, 230, OL/DL Sr.; Kpreps.com 8-Man II All State

8-MAN II KPREPS.COM PRESEASON RANKINGS 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Baileyville B&B Wallace County Otis-Bison Thunder Ridge Chetopa

C o n o r N icho ll For Kansas Pregame

By mid-June, veteran Victoria coach Doug Oberle had already been to some coaches’ clinics and talked to several opposing coaches. The consensus was Eight-Man Division II in Kansas’s western half was going to be much different than the last two years.

In 2010, Otis-Bison and Ashland were the clear favorites. Otis-Bison defeated Ashland in the sub-state championship game and lost to Baileyville B&B in the championship.

Last year, Thunder Ridge and Ashland were considered the top two teams.

Thunder Ridge beat Ashland in the final seconds in the second round of the playoffs and then rolled to a state title.

This year, because of massive graduations at Otis-Bison, Thunder Ridge and Ashland, the west has no clear favorite.

“I think if you went off of polls, all of them, you would have a lot of different names there,” Oberle said.

In the east, B&B is still the top team and will look for its fifth straight trip to the championship game. The Falcons are 2-2 in that span in Newton with alternating wins and losses.

The Falcons graduated All-State quarterback Eric Huerter, All-State fullback/ linebacker Cody Heiman and All-State running back Mitchell Engelken, but still return four starters on both sides of the ball.

B&B features five senior linemen, including 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior center/nose guard Curtis Stallbaumer, from an offense that finished second in Eight-Man Division II in scoring offense at 638 points per contest.

“The past years have allowed us to be very deep at certain positions,” secondyear coach Justin Coup said. “This year, we have to fill those spots with underclassmen. We will have to find a leader on the defensive side of the ball and find people who want to come up and

Trevor Lowe [Thunder Ridge] 6-1, 205, Sr.; FB, 855 yards rushing in ‘11 TREVO R LO W E SR.• FB • 6-1 • 205

O N S AM HIG G AS 230 SR.• O L/D L • 5-1 0 •

Jordan Bess [Wilson] 5-11, 185, QB/DB, Sr.; 1,441 yards passing in ‘11

Others: Axtell, Cheylin, Frankfort, Hanover, Victoria, Waverly

These twelve players will be ones to watch in 8-Man II this fall:

Cole Brady [Chase] 6-1, 180, RB/S, Sr.; 13 interceptions in ‘11

Gavin Mote [Wallace County] 5-7, 150, QB/DB, Sr.; Four-Year Starter Dylan Price [Chetopa] 6-1, 165, QB, Sr.; 1,910 yards passing in ‘11 Curtis Stallbaumer [Baileyville B&B] 6-4, 220, C/NG, Sr.; Kpreps.com All-District Tanner Sipe [Waverly] 5-8, 145, QB, Sr.; Kpreps.com All-District

Calahan Brown [Frankfort] 5-11, 180, RB/LB, Sr.; 726 yards rushing in ‘11

Ian Vincent [Northern Valley] 6-1, 220, OL/DL, Jr.; 90 tackles in ‘11

Dalton Dreiling [Victoria] 6-0, 175, RB/LB, Sr.; 1,185 yards rushing in ‘11

Dylan Wissman [Otis-Bison] 5-11, 175, RB/DB, Sr.; 1,203 yards rushing in ‘11

hit play after play. On offense, our four of the five offensive linemen starters return, so that should be a strength as we look to replace a very talented and successful backfield.”

South Haven, with eight straight playoff appearances, and Hope, with 18 playoff appearances in 19 seasons, are among those who could challenge the Falcons. South Barber, a perennial power for 23 seasons under coach James Johnston, will have a change as Johnston left for Lyons.

Waverly has reached the playoffs eight of the last nine seasons with longtime coach Mike Hevel. Colony-Crest has one of eight-man’s top players in senior quarterback Kyle Hammond. He rushed for 1,336 yards, passed for 820 yards and recorded 91 tackles last fall.

The west, though, has no consensus top squad.

Thunder Ridge, Ashland and OtisBison still return plenty of talent, and, among with Bird City-Cheylin, Victoria and Sharon Springs are considered the top teams. Almena-Northern Valley could have its best team in several years this fall after it posted a 6-3 mark in 2011. That nearly matched the win total from the previous five seasons (7-38 record).

Last year, Thunder Ridge went 13-0 and won the state title in dominating fashion with a 46-14 victory over B&B. The Longhorns ranked No. 1 in eightman football by a significant margin in scoring defense (92 points allowed) and graduated six seniors, including running back Joel Struckhoff and linemen Dakota Foreman and Dillon Coomes.

Struckhoff broke eight-man records for career rushing yards and total TDs. Thunder Ridge does return several starters, including senior fullback Trevor Lowe (855 yards, 17 scores), lineman Kade Dennis and linebacker Garrett Krueger. Plus, the Longhorns have several strong backups who saw

plenty of time in blowouts.

“The expectation for this year’s team will be pretty high,” coach Jerry Voorhees said. “There will be a lot of holes to fill after losing a great senior class, but we have a lot of good, young kids.”

Otis-Bison has just three starters back from a team that went 10-2 and lost twice to Thunder Ridge. Along with linemen Sam Higgason and Matt Demel, the Cougars return senior running back Dylan Wissman, who has accounted for 3,076 total yards and 55 total TDs in a three-year career that has yielded a 31-4 record.

“Usually we have more people coming back, but I think what we have coming back is fine,” Wissman said. “State is going to be our goal every season.”

Ashland lost nine seniors, including All-State lineman/fullback Giles Fox (team-high 135 tackles), and quarterback Austin Stebens (841 passing yards, 16/1 TD/INT ratio) from a team that has two losses in two seasons.

“Obviously I know that Thunder Ridge loses a lot of seniors,” Oberle said. “I know that they have a lot of good kids underneath. Success breeds success. Ashland, it seems like every year in and year out, just continue to produce these very, big athletic kids who can play well and I know their numbers are good.

“I don’t know who it is,” he added. “I really don’t. Otis-Bison is going to be a solid, football team. I think there are two or three teams out west that are going to be solid football teams.”

On paper, none of the stronger teams out west return more than Sharon Springs. The Wildcats have made the playoffs for six straight seasons under coach Kevin Ayers, but has lost four consecutive first round postseason contests since winning the state title with a 13-0 record in 2007. The returning five offensive and seven defensive starters

are led by Gavin Mote. He has accounted for 53 touchdowns and 184 tackles in his career. Mote has started at quarterback since midway through his freshman year.

“Players stepping up and leading the team will be the key to our season,” Ayers said.

Victoria has reached the playoffs for 10 straight seasons and brings back four offensive starters, including senior running back Dalton Dreiling, who rushed for a team-high 1,185 yards.

The Knights went 6-5 in 2011 and have won a playoff game eight times in 12 seasons with two state titles and one runner-up; the last trip to Newton came in 2008. Junior Sam Ottley, formerly a starter at tight end, will move to quarterback and be the Knights’ fifth signalcaller in as many seasons.

Victoria needs to replace its entire defensive line, which Oberle considered the team’s strength last season.

Victoria has split two playoff games the last two years with Cheylin. The Cougars are 18-3 the last two seasons and delivered an 8-2 record last year that surprised many observers.

“It’s a lot of fun,” veteran coach Max Keltz said. “Just happy for the kids.

They are the ones having to do the sweating and bleeding and running. You are fortunate enough to get a group that works hard and come to a mutual goal, which is winning some games and performing well.”

Cheylin graduated running back Jeremiah White (school record 2,006 yards) and All-State lineman Ethan Young, and brings back senior offensive lineman Josh Keltz (13 pancake blocks) and senior quarterback Kenan Reeh (11 scores accounted for). The Cougars could also contend for a spot in Newton out of a wide-open west.

“It will be interesting on who steps up and who comes out of the districts,” Coach Keltz said.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 117

KYLE HAMMOND COLONY-CREST LANCERS M ela n ie M cG ee For Kansas Pregame

From scoring touchdowns to making tackles and returning kicks to taking the snaps, Kyle Hammond does it all for the Crest Lancers.

“He is for real. He has a lot of God-given ability,” Crest coach Brent Smith said. “He’s productive for us wherever we put him – returning kickoffs, punting, running the football or playing defense.”

Hammond, a 6-1, 195-pounder who has started since his freshman year, is a quarterback, running back, linebacker, punter and kick returner with a lengthy list of postseason honors already.

He has earned first-team All-Three Rivers League honors the past two seasons, and in 2011 received Kpreps.com All-District nods at quarterback, defensive end, kicker and punter while also being named District 2 Offensive MVP for the second straight season. The

Topeka Capital-Journal and Wichita Eagle both named him honorable mention All-State as well.

Those honors followed a season in which Hammond ran for 1,366 yards and 22 touchdowns plus completed 40 of 68 passes for 820 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also led the Lancers with 91 tackles, including two sacks, returned two kicks for touchdowns and averaged 37 yards per punt.

Hammond’s numbers haven’t gone unnoticed by opposing coaches, who have seen him make plays from all over the field.

“He’s a real threat. He is really athletic,” Southern Coffey County coach Korey Lankton said. “He is a load with the speed, strength and he works hard so he has the stamina too.”

Chetopa coach Sean Price said his own team is “pretty loaded” this year, but he’d love to have Hammond on his side of the field. “I’d take him in a

heartbeat!” Price said. “If you watch him play, you understand why. We had them down by 20 points and he just willed them back into the game. He looked exhausted, sweaty and dirty, and I don’t know how he kept going, but then the next thing you know, he breaks a 40-yard run.”

Crest wound up losing that game, 78-58, but Hammond ran for 217 yards and five touchdowns, plus threw for 138 yards and two more scores.

“He’s not the biggest kid out there or the fastest, but he plays football the right way,” Price said. “He’s kind of a throwback player. He’s got heart and desire and he never quits.”

In 2011, Hammond ran for 292 yards and six touchdowns in a two-quarter blowout of Altoona-Midway, plus tallied 207 yards and four scores in Crest’s 54-50 Continued on page 125 Photo by Dena Sorensen

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 118

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A xtell

HUSKIES

RED RAIDERS

BLUE JAYS

Northern Valley enjoyed one of the greatest runs in Kansas state football history from 1982-90. Coach Chuck Fessenden and the Huskies won three state titles and finished as runner-up four times in that span.

Fessenden produced several other strong teams since, but then won just seven contests from 2006-10. Then, Northern Valley finished with a 6-3 record last year.

Improvement is goal number one for Argonia, which is coming off a 4-5 season that saw the Raiders go 3-3 in district play.

In the last three years, the Ashland boys’ sports have enjoyed tremendous success.

Golf has won three straight Class 1A state titles, while boys’ basketball had an undefeated season and 1A Division I championship last winter. Football hasn’t lost a regular season contest since Week 9 of the 2008 season and is 28-3 the last three falls.

Ashland lost 28-26 to Thunder Ridge in a memorable playoff game last season and finished second or third in most final 8-Man II polls.

Axtell reached the postseason five times from 2004-09, including two trips to the sub-state championship game. The Eagles have been up and down the last three seasons with 4-5, 7-2 and 2-7 records and no playoff berths.

Five athletes in three sports, including three football players who signed with Dodge City Community College, will play at the next level.

This fall, Axtell has plenty of experience with 12 returning lettermen, six offensive starters and seven defensive starters back.

Veteran coach Scott Brumbaugh’s goals are to have another winning season and reach the playoffs for the first time since an 8-4 record and sub-state championship game appearance in 2008.

Two of the key players – sophomore quarterback Hunter Chandler and sophomore running back Jordan Baird – had fathers who played for Fessenden. Shane Baird is one of Northern Valley’s all-time greatest athletes and helped the Huskies capture state crowns in football, basketball and track in the ‘80s.

Fessenden said having sons of former players helped the turnaround. This year, Northern Valley looks for its first playoff berth since 2005.

“We want to improve on last year’s mark and try to compete for a spot in the playoffs,” said fourth-year coach Luke Greenwood.

Argonia will return five starters on both sides of the ball, including the leading receiver from 2011, senior Lance Conklin.

Listed as a running back, Conklin caught a team-high eight passes for 117 yards, an average of 14.6 yards per catch. He also ran the ball 44 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns and intercepted four passes as a defensive back.

The Raiders also return senior running back/defensive back Hunter Gaddie, who ran the ball 80 times for 328 yards and four touchdowns last season. Gaddie also returned 11 kickoffs for an average of 14.5 yards per return.

“We thought a couple years ago that we were going to have a fairly good team and then we had some kids not go out and Senior Kaleb Dickerson, the second-leading things, so it was kind of nice to finally get tackler a season ago, senior Garett back on the winning track,” Fessenden said. Thompson (two interceptions in 2011) and senior tight end/linebacker Gus Tracy are Chandler (892 rushing yards, 18 TDs also back in the starting lineup for Greenwood’s squad. accounted for), and Baird (1,160 rushing, 17 scores) ran behind a strong line that They’ll be joined by several underclassmen, included Ian Vincent. and the Raiders’ success may depend on how quickly those underclassmen grow into On defense, Chandler and Vincent had 99 and 90 tackles, most among returning play- their starting roles. ers, while Tyson Callaway led the team “We’re going to have to rely on a couple of with four INTs. underclassmen to start,” Greenwood said.

Argonia’s eight-team district includes just Northern Valley also returns Phillip two teams that posted winning records last Compton, who started at right end as a season – Caldwell and South Barber – and sophomore, then moved to California and then moved back. He is expected to play only one made the playoffs in 2011. end and defensive back.

6-3 in 2011 / 3-2 in district / 8-Man II Western Kansas Liberty League Coach: Chuck Fessenden (36th year, 253-116) Assistants: Brad Cox, Marvin Gebhard Offense: Midway Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 7 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Hunter Chandler, QB/S, 6-2, 150, Jr.; Jordan Baird, RB/DB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Ian Vincent, OL/DL, 6-1, 220, Jr.; Tyson Callaway, RB/DB, 6-0, 160, Sr. Nicholl File Photo

4-5 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man II South Central Border League Coach: Luke Greenwood (4th year, 16-11) Assistants: Bob Almanza Offense: Single Wing, Pistol Defense: 3-3 Returning lettermen: 7 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Hunter Gaddie, RB/DB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Lance Conklin, RB/DB, 6-0, 165, Sr.; Gus Tracy, TE/LB, 60, 165, Sr.; Garett Thompson, TE/LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Kaleb Dickerson, OL/DL, 5-9, 155, Sr. McGee

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“They were so competitive in everything that they do,” third-year coach Jesse Stebens, also an elementary gym teacher, said. “Even when I was first here, when they were in elementary school, it didn’t matter what we were doing, they were so competitive and I think that’s what made them so special.”

EAGLES

Last year, Axtell returned just one offensive starter and two defensive starters and started out 0-7 before it finished with big victories against Bern and Wichita Word of Life.

“Return most everyone and will be a year older and bigger,” Brumbaugh said of the team’s keys. “Have a better understanding of the system.”

However, 12 seniors graduated and Ashland will have to start virtually from scratch this fall. The Bluejays have one returning lettermen and no returning starters. Junior end Grant Meininger (9 catches, 78 yards, receiving TD) is the only letterman back.

Senior Aaron Schmelzle is back for his third year as a starter after he completed 48of-113 passes for 645 yards with seven touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He rushed for 411 yards and six scores on 96 carries, second-best on the squad and most among returners. Linebacker Derek Porting Stebens looks to probably have five seniors. and Shane Talbot return after they led the In mid-July, he was uncertain who would team with 77 and 75 tackles, respectively. start on the line. Possibly a freshman could 2-7 in 2011 / 1-3 in district / 8-Man II start. Sophomore Corey McCann, the backup quarterback who completed 1-of-2 Twin Valley League Coach: Scott Brumbaugh passes for 29 yards and a TD last fall, is (11th year, 65-35) expected to start under center.

“Everything is so wide-open, especially up there,” Stebens said.

Stebens called District 8 “wide-open” and believed Ingalls, Moscow and Fowler will field strong teams. Even with the youth and inexperience, Stebens has set a goal to return to the playoffs.

“This freshman class, this sophomore class, they are going to be something else here in a couple of years,” Stebens said.

Assistants: Brian Rottinghaus Offense: Power I Defense: 5-1 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 7 Defense Aaron Schmelzle, QB/DE, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Zach Heinen, TE/S, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Payton Heinen, G/DE, 6-6, 220, Jr.; Christian Buessing, C, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Andrew Feldkamp, G/NG, 6-0, 225, So.; Derek Porting, FB/LB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Shane Talbot, S, 5-8, 160, So. Conor Nicholl

9-1 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man II SPIAA Coach: Jesse Stebens (3rd year, 19-2) Assistants: Jim Brown, Travis Callaway Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-2 Returning lettermen: 1 Returning starters: 0 Offense, 0 Defense Conor Nicholl

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B aileyville-B & B FALCONS

In the last four years, Baileyville B&B has a 49-2 record with two state championships and two runner-up showings. The Falcons have alternated state titles and runner-ups in the four seasons. Last year, Justin Coup, formerly at Goessel, took over for coach Steve Tiernan, who went to Osborne.

Baileyville B&B had several injuries at year’s end and had to play a terrific Thunder Ridge team in the state championship.

B eloit-S t. J ohn’s-T ipton B ird C ity-C heylin

Photo by Matt Gilmore, Kpreps.com

COUGARS

RED ACES

Playoffs are the number one goal for the Blujays, as they return seven starters on each side of the ball. After two years of being extremely young, St. John’s-Tipton is poised for a breakthrough season.

In two years, Cheylin has risen to the top of Eight-Man Division II. In 2009, the Cougars went 3-6 and then went 10-1 in 2010 behind a big senior class. Then, Cheylin lost all but two offensive starters, but returned running back Dalton Magnani, who rushed for 1,433 yards and 26 scores as a junior. Even with Magnani, Cheylin was expected to take a step back and wasn’t ranked or receiving votes in the Eight-Man, Division II preseason poll.

Bucklin reached the second round of the playoffs before it lost to eventual state champion Sharon Springs-Wallace County in 2006. In 2007, the Red Aces went 6-2. In 2008, Bucklin lost its first three games and then defeated Greensburg, 34-28, in Week 4. That marks the Red Aces’ last victory.

“Our goal is to have a winning season and make the playoffs,” coach Keith Kresin said. “It could be reached if we win some close games and get some momentum, as we don’t have five state-ranked teams on our schedule this year.”

(3rd year, 2-16; 73-47 overall) Assistants: Dustin Patee Offense: I-formation Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Conner Eilert, QB/LB, 6-0, 165, Jr.; Eriq Perez, TB/ DB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Colby Faber, FB/LB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Caleb Brummer, TE/LB, 5-10, 145, Jr.; Quinton Silsby, G/DE, 6-2, 165, So.; John Gengler, C, 5-9, 150, Sr.; Jordan Hake, TE, 5-10, 140, Jr.; Trey Dubbert, DB, 5-9, 150, So.; Andrew Eilert, DE, 6-0, 160, So. Melanie McGee

Courtesy Photo

Then, Magnani suffered a terrible car accident shortly before the season started and didn’t play. Still, Cheylin went 8-2, won its district and returned to the playoffs, where it lost 36-18 to Victoria in a game it led at halftime and was close late. Jeremiah White emerged as arguably northwest Kansas’ biggest surprise with 2,006 rushing yards and 31 rushing scores on 235 carries. Noah Jones paced the defense with 142 tackles.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a real big surprise,” coach Max Keltz said of the continued success last season. “You lose good kids, you lose a lot of depth, but we have got some other kids that are pretty good players and pretty good teammates and they have seemed to come together.”

This season, the Cougars lose several key cogs, including White, Young, Austin Manners (102 tackles), Ethan Young (80 tackles, team-high 14 pancake blocks), but return plenty of starters, including offensive lineman Josh Keltz (13 pancake blocks) and quarterback Kenan Reeh (11 TDs accounted for, 59 tackles).

Keltz, entering his 25th year as an assistant or head coach with Cheylin, said the biggest key is no injuries.

8-2 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man II Western Kansas Liberty League Coach: Max Keltz (14th year) Assistants: Dennis Hengen, Anthony Blair Offense: Power I Defense: 5-1 Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Kenan Reeh, QB/DB, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Adam Orten, RB/LB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Joshua Keltz, OL/DL, 6-8, 230, Sr.; Walker Janicke, OE/DE, 6-2, 185, Jr.; Ruben Razo, OL/DL, 5-9, 205, Sr.; Luis Solis, OL/ DL, 6-0, 215, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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B ucklin

BLUJAYS

The Longhorns defeated Baileyville, 46-14.

This year, coach Coup said the team’s goals The Blujays return quarterback Connor are to win league, win district and advance Eilert, backs Eriq Perez and Colby Faber, to a fifth straight state championship game. and tight ends Caleb Brummer and Jordan Hake, plus offensive linemen Quinton “We will look to a group that is athletic and Silsby and John Gengler. Defensively, eager to continue the success,” Coup said.

Silsby and Andrew Eilert are back on the “The schedule will be a very tough one that ends, Brummer, Connor Eilert and Faber will push us all the way through.” return as linebackers, and Trey Dubbert is back in the secondary along with Perez.

The Falcons bring back four offensive starters and four defensive starters, but graduate “Being older and smarter, these kids should all-state fullback/linebacker Cody Heiman see some rewards,” Kresin said, adding that (1,131 rushing yards and 81 tackles, both staying healthy and winning close games team-highs), quarterback Eric Huerter (14/2 will be important for the Blujays. He also TD/INT ratio) and running back Mitchell said his team needs to “be able to run the Engelken (1,077 rushing yards). Four of ball on a consistent basis.” five offensive linemen starters return and Coup considers the line to be one of the St. John’s-Tipton will open with a trip to team’s strengths.

Pike Valley before hosting Southern Cloud and Stockton. The Blujay schedule also “The past years have allowed us to be very includes defending state champion Thunder deep at certain positions,” Coup said. “This Ridge, Northern Valley, Palco, Logan, year we will have to fill those spots with Lakeside and Natoma. underclassmen. We will have to find a leader on the defensive side of the ball and 2-7 in 2011 / 1-3 in district / 8-Man II Northern Plains League find people who want to come up and hit Coach: Keith Kresin play after play.”

11-1 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man II Twin Valley League Coach: Justin Coup (2nd year, 11-1; 9th year, 66-29) Assistants: Bryan Schmitz, Ben Scism Offense: Spread Defense: 3-3 Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Curtis Stallbaumer, C/NG, 6-4, 220, Sr.; Blake Reinecke, G/DE, 6-4, 190, Sr.; Dustin Deters, G/LB, 5-10, 175, Sr.; Jason Haverkamp, G, 6-3, 190, Sr.; Tyler Deters, TE/LB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Dustin Rottinghaus, QB, 6-1, 170, Jr.; Gage Leashing, NG, 5-10, 180, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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Bucklin has now lost 30 games in a row after it dropped the final five contests of 2008, went 0-9 in 2009 and delivered 0-8 records in each of the last two years.

Bucklin’s last four seasons have also featured very difficult schedules. The Red Aces have played Eight-Man Division II’s No. 8, 12, 3 and 6 hardest schedules from 2008-11, according to preppowerindex.com.

Bucklin brings back four offensive and five defensive starters as it looks to end the losing skid. Coach Scott Tilley said “letting God lead” will be the team’s key to success.

“Focus on that first win, more importantly come together as a team,” Tilley said of team goals. “Most importantly, give glory to God win, lose, or draw.”

0-8 in 2011 / 0-4 in district / 8-Man II Southern Plains Iroquois Activity Association Coach: Scott Tilley (2nd year, 0-8) Assistants: Cody Warden Offense: Power I Defense: 3-3 Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Brett Halling, RB, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Brian Seacat, TE, 511, 180, Sr.; Colton Downey, LB, 5-11, 190, LB; Draevyn Frost, LB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Trey Davis, 5-9, 175, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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C hetopa

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Burrton hasn’t made the playoffs since a 2003 sub-state game loss to eventual champion Hope. In the last six seasons, Burrton has posted records of 3-6, 2-7, 1-8, 1-8, 1-8 and 2-7, according to preppowerindex.com.

A young Caldwell team went 5-4 last season, and coach Sean Blosser hopes his Blue Jays can take that taste of success and run with it in 2012.

The Chargers did improve significantly on defense last season. From 2007-10, Burrton permitted 51.4 points per contest. Last season, the Chargers allowed 36.7 points per game. The defense helped Burrton to be more competitive.

“We were a young team last year and a lot of our players gained experience at the varsity level. With that experience our goal is to build off the experience and turn it into success,” Blosser said. “We will take one game at a time and learn how to be the best football team we can each week.”

Chase has posted three straight winning seasons and back-to-back playoff trips after it didn’t reach the postseason since 1986.

The Kats are 19-8 in the last three years and return six starters on both sides of the ball this season. Cole Brady was the Hutchinson News’ 8-man Defensive Player of the Year last fall after he accounted for 34 scores and 13 interceptions, four off the state mark.

Second-year coach John Wellman said Brady returned four INTs for scores.

Wellman said Brady has “great instincts” combined with physical tools and long arms. Wellman remembered one play last season when Brady came off his man when he saw the play develop underneath, picked off the pass and returned it for a score.

With seven starters back on each side of the ball, Chetopa has high expectations for the 2012 season. Four of those returning starters are seniors, including quarterback Dylan Price, who threw for 1,910 yards and 25 touchdowns last season. Price also ran for more than 800 yards and seven touchdowns, helping the Hornets average nearly 50 points per game.

In 2010, the team had one close game, a 5234 win against Norwich. Last season, Burrton defeated Stafford (14-6) and Attica (52-6) and lost to Norwich (44-38). Offense was still a little hard to come by.

From 2008-10, Burrton averaged 23.6 points per game. Last season, the team averaged 15.3 points a contest.

Burrton will have its third coach in as many years with Aaron Glendening taking over the program. Burrton lost its top statistical leaders in running back Austin Baldridge (172 carries for 722 yards and 12 scores and 5 INTs on defense, all team-highs), Taylor King (team-best 10 catches, 140 yards and three scores) and Jaxson Pohlman (team-high 141 passing yards, 61 tackles).

The team will have just three seniors.

Three members of the Blue Jay backfield will return, including senior running back Jahue Arnett and senior quarterback/running back Alec Webster. Sophomore signal caller Darin Ward is also a returning starter, along with tight ends Cole Dierking and Rhett Lee. Caldwell also has senior offensive lineman Coltin Whaley back from the 2011 squad.

On defense, the Blue Jays return Lee at one defensive end spot, Arnett and Whaley as linebackers, and Ward and Webster in the secondary.

Offensively, Brady will line up in a variety of positions, including quarterback, running back and wideout. After all-state quarterback Zach Oberle — a four-year starter who Wellman called the best option signal caller he saw in eight-man last season — graduated, Chase’s main offensive game plan will be putting the ball in Brady’s hands.

Eric Root will start for the fourth straight year at right guard. He has helped the Kats average 49.8 points per game the last three “We will have a lot of underclassman step- seasons, including 55 a contest last year. ping up and playing at a higher level than Chase defeated Wilson, 103-68, in Week 1 they have been asked in previous years, and in the highest scoring game in state history.

“The kids have been working hard, putting we need our upperclassman to lead them The Kats ran an estimated 80 percent of in an entirely new offense and defense as and show them how to practice each day to their offensive plays behind Root last year. well as getting acclimated to a new coach be able to be successful on Friday nights,” and coaching philosophy,” Glendening said. Blosser said.

“One of the most physical blockers you are “The major key for our success this season going to find in eight-man football,” rides on the kids and their willingness to Wellman said.

The Blue Jays will play three of their first buy into what we’re trying to do. It cerfour games at home, but the schedule ends tainly all starts in the weightroom. If they Senior Zach Kizzar, the backup quarterback with four road trips in five weeks. do the little things needed for success, the the last three seasons, will take over under Caldwell’s only home game in October is bigger things will take care of themselves.” the Oct. 19 Homecoming game. center. Quade Van Avery didn’t come out until after Week 1. Wellman labeled Van 2-7 in 2011 / 1-5 in district / 8-Man II 5-4 in 2011 / 5-2 in district / 8-Man II Avery “still pretty raw,” but “very athletic.”

Heart of the Plains South Central Border League Chase had nine players at the start of the Coach: Aaron Glendening (1st year) Coach: Sean Blosser (2nd year, 5-4) 2011 season, but Van Avery and three othAssistants: Dylan Pohlman, John Liston Assistants: David Teeter, Randy Sawyer ers joined the team late and helped add Offense: Pistol Wing Defense: 3-2 Offense: I Formation Defense: 3-2 depth.

Returning lettermen: 8 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 4 Defense Tommy Seymour, OL/DL, Sr.; Davon DeMaris, RB/ LB, Sr.; Caleb Hurst, QB/DB, Jr.; Ahren Mahoney, TE/DE, Jr.; Joey Burr, OL/DL, Jr.; Daniel Bingham, RB/DB, So.; Nathan Harper, OL/DL, So. Conor Nicholl

Those returning players will be counted on to be leaders this fall.

Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense Jahue Arnett, RB/LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Alec Webster, QB/RB/DB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Cole Dierking, TE, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Coltin Whaley, OL/LB, 5-11, 205, Sr.; Rhett Lee, TE/DE, 5-8, 150, Jr.; Darin Ward, QB/DB, 5-7, 140, So. Melanie McGee

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This season, the Kats could have 15 or 16 players, including Mikey Brown. The sophomore has impressed this summer after he suffered a season-ending broken elbow in Week 2 last fall. Wellman believes the added depth could help a defense that allowed 41 points per game, including a 7424 playoff loss to Ashland. This fall, the reconfigured districts will move Chase to the eastern side of the state. Hope and Chase are likely frontrunners in District 2.

6-3 in 2011 / 3-1 in district / 8-Man II Northern Plains League Coach: John Wellman (2nd year, 6-3) Assistants: Mitch Light Offense: Multiple Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: 7 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Cole Brady, RB/S, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Eric Root, RG/DL, 6-1, 270, Sr.; Zach Kizzar, QB/S, 6-0, 160, Sr.; Quade Van Avery, FB/MLB, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Hunter Gillespie, C/NG, 5-9, 195, Sr.; Logan Enfeld, OL/DL, 5-9, 185, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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Sophomore Derrick Cassell is back in the starting lineup after rushing for nine touchdowns and averaging better than eight yards per carry. Senior Jarrett Dixon (10.67 yards per carry and four touchdowns) also brings experience to the Chetopa backfield.

The Hornets return three offensive linemen – seniors Joshua Dvorak and Kyle Johnson and junior Brice Riddle – to pave the way for their potent offense. Two sophomore tight ends – Leyton Carter and Tait Johnson – and junior receiver Austen Sanders are also back for coach Sean Price.

“We are still young at a few positions and need to mature as the season goes,” he said, adding that improving each week and growing as a team are among the main goals for Chetopa.

The Hornets figure to be challenged by district rivals Crest and Waverly in back-toback October games, but Price expects his veteran team, which includes 16 returning lettermen, to be up to the challenge.

6-4 in 2011 / 3-2 in district / 8-Man II Three Rivers League Coach: Sean Price (3rd year, 11-8; 8th year overall, 38-40 overall) Assistants: N/A Offense: Spread Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Dylan Price, QB/S, 6-1, 165, Sr.; Kyle Johnson, OL/ LB, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Joshua Dvorak, OL/DE, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Brice Riddle, OL, 6-3, 250, Jr.; Derrick Cassell, RB/LB, 6-1, 190, So.; Jarrett Dixon, RB/DE, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Leyton Carter, TE, 6-0, 170, So.; Tait Johnson, TE, 5-11, 170, So.; Austen Sanders, WR/ FS, 5-10, 140, Jr. Melanie McGee

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C olony-C rest LANCERS

Expectations are high at Crest, as the Lancers look to bounce back from a disappointing 3-6 campaign and send a talented senior class out on a high note. Coach Brent Smith said his team’s goals are to win the Three Rivers League, qualify for the playoffs and make a run in November.

Crest figures to lean heavily on senior Kyle Hammond, a first-year starter at quarterback. A year ago, Hammond piled up the yards, touchdowns and postseason honors as a running back, but will shift to quarterback this fall. He ran for 1,366 yards and 22 touchdowns while also completing 40 of 68 passes for 820 yards and 14 touchdowns, so the transition should be an easy one for the All-Stater, who was also last year’s District Offensive MVP. “We should possess the ability to run and pass, which should keep defenses on their toes,” Smith said. “We will have a couple of key holes to fill but feel we have some youngsters ready to step up.”

The Lancers also return senior receiver/ defensive back Jordan Morton, an AllDistrict selection at both positions last season, and two linemen – Jesse Boone and Clayton Miller - who earned All-District honors in 2011.

Defensively, Smith expects his team to be vastly improved. “In 2011, we gave up way too many points, but we look for this defense to be something our team is known for,” he said.

Crest’s district includes perennial playoff contenders Waverly and Chetopa along with Elk Valley, Southern Coffey County and Altoona-Midway.

3-6 in 2011 / 2-3 in district / 8-Man II Three Rivers League Coach: Brent Smith (9th year, 40-35) Assistants: Cody Wools Offense: I formation Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 5 Offense, 6 Defense Kyle Hammond, QB/RB/LB, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Jordan Morton, WR/DB, 5-10, 155, Sr.; Jesse Boone, OL/ DE, 6-3, 195, Sr.; Brock Ellis, TE/LB, 6-3, 195, Jr.; Clayton Miller, OL/DL, 5-10, 165, Jr.; Dylan Sedlak, DB, 5-8, 150, Sr. Melanie McGee

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WILDCATS

Dighton was the only Eight-Man Division II team to win at least seven games and not make the playoffs last year. The Hornets had their seven victories by at least 26 points, but had to play in the same district Cunningham has seven starters back on as Ashland — which eventually finished both sides of the ball, and all but three are 10-1 — and Moscow, which led the classeniors. Quarterback Nick Huhman, an hon- sification in scoring offense. Dighton lost orable mention All-District selection last 64-14 to Moscow and 52-24 to Ashland. year, is coming off a season in which he threw for 1,002 yards and nine touchdowns. This year, second-year coach Ken Simon His two favorite targets – Jordan Schaller returns five starters on both sides of the and Zach Chambers – are also back. They ball, but graduated running back Guy accounted for more than 800 yards and Fullmer, who rushed for 4,704 rushing seven touchdown catches last fall. Schaller, yards and 73 rushing TDs the last three a first-team All-District receiver, averaged years. That included 1,732 yards and 30 just over 20 yards per reception and rushing TDs last fall, both career-highs.

Chambers had 17 catches for a 14.9 yard average.

Quarterback Ryan Kuhlman returns after he completed 46-of-73 passes for 638 yards The Wildcat defense returns linebacker with nine TDs against five interceptions. He Conor Hamilton, who was second on the also rushed 61 times for 278 yards and team with 84 tackles last season and earned seven scores. Isaac Alinor collected 12 All-District honorable mention recognition, receptions for 278 yards and seven scores in as well as first-team All-District defensive 2011, while Ben Speer (20 tackles, three end Michael Westerman and five linemen. sacks), Matthew Mulville (42 tackles, one sack), and Dirk Torson (32 tackles, six sacks) are back, too.

“We would like to become more physical and play sound, hard-nosed football,” McGuire said. “We have a new schedule Dighton is 13-5 since it ended an 11-man and high expectations for a senior-led cooperative agreement with Ness City. team.”

Simon, a former Dighton assistant, is the brother of Plainville coach Joe Simon.

Cunningham’s schedule includes three teams the Wildcats haven’t faced in the past Dighton, previously in the Western Kansas two years – league rival Pretty Prairie, and Liberty League, will join the Northwest new district foes Argonia and Norwich.

Kansas League this year.

2-6 in 2011 / 2-2 in district / 8-Man II Heart of the Plains League Coach: Lance McGuire (7th year, 22-32; 18th year overall) Assistants: Micah Bright Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Zach Chambers, OL/TE, 6-0, 185, Sr.; Conor Hamilton, LB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Nick Huhman, QB, 5-7, 160, Sr.; Jordan Schaller, WR, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Dylan Moran, RB/E/DB, N/A, 145, Sr.; Michael Westerman, DE, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Steele Ward, OL/DL/ LB, N/A, 145, Sr.; Devin Cannon, OL/DL, N/A, 275, Jr.; Austin Mattal, OL/DL, N/A, 200, Jr.; Dusty Hageman, OL/DL, N/A, 285, Sr.; James Fitzsimmons, OL/DL, N/A, 245, Jr. Melanie McGee

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Five All-District players return to lead the Wildcats in 2012, and coach Lance McGuire has high expectations for his senior-laden squad.

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7-2 in 2011 / 3-2 in district / 8-Man II Northwest Kansas League Coach: Ken Simon (2nd year, 7-2) Assistants: Chris Duryer Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-3 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Ryan Kuhlman, QB/DB, 6-2, 170, Sr.; Dirk Torson, OL/DE, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Trevor Bollinger, TE, 6-2, 165, Sr.; Alex Sanchez, OL, 5-11, 230, Sr.; Ben Speer, TE/DE, 6-3, 220, Jr.; Isaac Alinor, TE/LB, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Matthew Mulville, LB, 6-0, 180, Jr. Conor Nicholl

F ow ler

GOLDBUGS Matt Bell was raised in Dodge City, and, in 2003, went to TCU to college. Bell helped with coach Gary Patterson’s squad – “an eye-opener,” he said – before Bell coached in the Dallas area for several years. For family reasons, Bell decided to move back home and discovered the Fowler job was open. Former coach Scott Brown, who has coached boys’ basketball for several years, has become Fowler’s athletic director.

“I sent the principal an e-mail,” Bell said.

“Not really even applying for the job. I was just kind of asking questions about the program and things like that and from there, I went ahead and sent in an application.”

Fowler offered Bell the job in May. The Goldbugs mark Bell’s first head coaching position and first time coaching eight-man.

Fowler, a playoff team two years ago, slipped back to 3-6 in 2011. The drop was mainly because of a defense that allowed 410 points, tied for 11th-worst in EightMan Division II. However, Fowler returns seven offensive and six defensive starters and Bell, through film study, has noticed the Goldbugs have plenty of speed.

Bell believed the main reasons for the defensive struggles were inexperience and tough competition – four of the losses came against Ashland, Dighton and Moscow (twice). Fowler had just one senior last year. QB Taylin Bird (839 passing yards, 11/6 TD/INT) and Tem Shetley (456 rushing, 8 TDs) are among those returning.

“We’ve got some athletes, but we don’t have a whole lot of size,” Bell said. “I think that if we can get our speed out in the open, then we will be all right.”

3-6 in 2011 / 2-3 in district / 8-Man II SPAA-Iroquois Activity Association Coach: Matt Bell (1st year) Assistants: Tony Krier Offense: Spread Option Defense: 3-3 Stack Returning starters: 7 Offense, 6 Defense Nathan Burdett, OL 5-11, 152, Jr.; Alexis Granados, DB, 5-8, 145, Sr.; Luke Huelskamp, DB, 5-10, 135, Jr.; Jett Reese, OL/DL, 6-3, 217, Sr.; Tyrone Clark, LB/TE, 6-3, 166, Jr.; Tem Shetley, RB/LB, 5-9, 137, Jr.; Joel Milford, TE/LB, 6-2, 158, Sr.; Brandon Nevin, OL/DL, 5-11, 220, Jr.; Taylin Bird, QB, 5-10, 134, Jr. Conor Nicholl

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 122

GLASCO, KS 785-568-2364 124 N. Kansas•Frankfort, KS 785-292-4433

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WARRIORS

The Wildcats are used to playing football in The Southern Cloud Warriors lost one senNovember, and that is the main goal again ior from the 2011 team, and new coach this season.

David Blochlinger expects his squad to improve with every game in 2012.

“We have made the playoffs two of the past three seasons, and we believe we can make Six lettermen return for the Warriors, who the playoffs again,” coach Garry Kraushaar will be young again with just one senior – said. “We will face a very tough district, but Grady Brayton – among them. He’ll be if we stay healthy, we should be competijoined by juniors Lance Heller, Jason tive in league and district play.”

McDaniel, Storm Meyer and Ryan Perkins, plus sophomore Justin Pelkey.

Frankfort will need underclassmen to mature quickly as just four starters return In 2011, Perkins split time at quarterback, on each side of the ball. Senior quarterback/ completing 11 of 41 passes for 158 yards defensive back Alex Surdez returns after and a pair of touchdowns. McDaniel was completing 48 percent of his passes for 911 the team’s leading rusher with 57 carries for yards and 13 touchdowns. Senior Calahan 248 yards and four scores, while Pelkey Brown ran for 726 yards and 10 touchcarried the ball 64 times for 212 yards. downs in 2011, and will be counted on McDaniel and Pelkey both averaged better heavily again this fall. Frankfort also than 10 yards per kick return, and Perkins returns junior running back Lucas Adams, was the team’s leading tackler. who averaged better than eight yards per carry with eight touchdowns a season ago. “We hope to continue to grow as a team and use the experience of playing young players Junior guard Kyle Vaughn is the lone last year to our advantage,” Blochlinger returning starter up front, and the develsaid. “We would like to start off strong by opment of additional linemen will be criti- winning several of our non-district games cal to the Wildcats’ success. and use that momentum going into our district games.”

“We return good experience in the backfield, but we will need to develop some Southern Cloud’s district includes Burrton, players up front as we lose four senior start- Chase, Goessel, Hope, Tescott and White ers from our line,” Kraushaar said. “We will City. The Warriors will play three of their be a young team with only four seniors and first four games at home in Miltonvale, we will not have a lot of players, so it will before playing three straight road games be very important for us to stay healthy.” against White City, Hope and Linn.

Frankfort’s district features Twin Valley League rivals Blue Valley, Baileyville B& B, Axtell and Hanover.

6-3 in 2011 / 4-1 in district / 8-Man II Twin Valley League Coach: Garry Kraushaar (4th year, 18-12) Assistants: Brian Ebert, Jay Kennedy, Dusty Thompson Offense: Split Backs Defense: 5-1 Returning lettermen: 5 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Alex Surdez, QB/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Calahan Brown, RB/LB, 5-11, 180, Sr.; Lucas Adams, RB/LB, 5-10, 160, Jr.; Kyle Vaughn, G/DE, 5-8, 175, Jr. Melanie McGee

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0-9 in 2011 / 0-4 in district / 8-Man II Northern Plains League Coach: David Blochlinger (1st year) Assistants: Jim Swink, Tyler Williams Offense: I-formation Defense: 5-3 Returning lettermen: 6 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Ryan Perkins, Jr.; Jason McDaniel, Jr.; Lance Heller, Jr.; Storm Meyer, Jr.; Grady Brayton, Sr.; Justin Pelkey, So. Melanie McGee

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Three-fourths of the starting offense returns for Goessel, but first-year coach Garrett Hiebert said he still needs some underclassmen to step up for the Bluebirds.

Wheatland-Grinnell nearly made the playoffs for the first time since 2002 last fall.

The Thunderhawks, hurt by injuries in the last couple years, stayed healthy and saw a four-win improvement to 6-3. Only a Week nine road loss to Sharon Springs kept the team from the postseason.

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“Last year our lack of depth was a major problem as games progressed,” he said.

“We need to develop some depth so we can get our starters off the field for some rest this year.”

Hiebert’s squad will be anchored by senior quarterback/defensive back Trey Schmidt, who threw for 869 yards and 12 touchdowns a season ago. He will be joined by classmate Nic Buller, who caught a teamhigh 38 passes for 512 yards and eight touchdowns, and junior Zach Showalter (11 receptions, 221 yards and four touchdowns). Senior receiver/kick returner Shane Goerzen, senior lineman Bruce Benjamin, junior center Austin Strunk and sophomore running back/returner Kellen Froese also return for the Bluebirds.

Goessel’s spread offense was almost completely reliant on Schmidt’s passing in 2011, but Hiebert said the Bluebirds will strive to become more balanced this fall.

“We need to find a way to run the ball on offense and sustain drives,” he said. “On defense, we need to stop the run and prevent big plays. Like other teams, it will be important for us to avoid injuries and remain healthy.”

THUNDERHAWKS

Still, Wheatland-Grinnell enjoyed its best record since a 7-2 season in 2006. From 2008-10, the Thunderhawks also had problems with turnovers and finished a collective -9 in turnover margin. Last year, Wheatland-Grinnell was plus-8 in turnover margin.

The Thunderhawks lose all-state quarterback/defensive back Will Bixenman (946 yards of total offense, 18 scores accounted for, 115 tackles) and linebacker Zach Rehmer (102 tackles).

“Our seniors have to be dedicated to the weight room and getting themselves ready to play this fall, our underclassmen must follow,” coach Tyler Flavin said.

Wheatland-Grinnell does return several key players, including seniors Connor Lewis (70 tackles, team-high four sacks) and Wade Buck (519 rushing yards, seven scores, team-high 7.5 yards per carry).

“We bring back great kids, our roles will change, and we will be asking more out of some who have not yet been in that position, but are ready to go,” Flavin said.

Goessel is coming off a 1-8 season in Eight- “Those kids need to be productive on both Man Division I but the Bluebirds will see a sides of the ball to help get this team over whole new group of district opponents as the 5 and 6 win mark. We will also need they compete in Division II this year. some of our young kids to step up and play big for us throughout the year. We will be 1-8 in 2011 / 1-5 in district / 8-Man II forced to depend on some youth in key Wheat State League positions this year.”

Coach: Garrett Hiebert (1st year) Assistants: Joe Biggs Offense: Spread Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 8 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 5 Defense Trey Schmidt, QB/DB/K/P, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Nic Buller, E/DB, 6-1, 165, Sr.; Shane Goerzen, WR/KR/PR, 51, 115, Sr.; Bruce Benjamin, OL/DL, 5-7, 200, Sr.; Zach Showalter, E/OLB, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Mark Schmidt, OLB, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Austin Strunk, C, 5-11, 190, Jr.; Kellen Froese, RB, 5-9, 180, So. Melanie McGee

6-3 in 2011 / 4-2 in district / 8-Man II Western Kansas Liberty League Coach: Tyler Flavin (5th year, 16-20) Assistants: Brandon Ptacheck Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 2 Defense Connor Lewis, G/LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Dalton Stoabs, G/DE, 5-11, 245, Sr.; Wade Buck, RB/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Tucker Gillespie, E/LB, 5-8, 165, Jr.; Andrew Anderson, C/NG, 5-9, 240, Jr. Nicholl

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Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

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After five straight seasons of at least nine wins — a stretch that featured back-to-back state championships in 2008 and ‘09 — Hanover slipped to 4-4 last season. It marked the Wildcats’ worst record since a 2-7 finish in coach Matt Heuer’s first season. Hanover’s four defeats came against quality teams. Plus, the Wildcats had to deal with several injuries.

Playoffs are again the goal for Hope, which went 10-1 last season but returns just three starters on each side of the ball. Veteran coach Jeff Hostetter said size and depth are concerns for the Lions, who plan to spread the field more than in past years.

Ingalls made the postseason every year from 2003-06, but lost in the first round each season, including two defeats within four points. Then, from 2007-10, Ingalls posted four straight losing seasons and combined for just eight victories in that span.

“We have only missed the playoffs once in the last 18 years so we are hoping to keep the tradition alive,” he said. “We don’t have much depth this season and we are small.

Our goal is to improve every day and be playing our best football by the end of the year.”

The Bulldogs especially struggled defensively and ranked last in Eight-Man Division I in scoring defense in 2008 (510 points allowed) and sixth-worst in 2009 (428 points allowed). In 2010, Ingalls had a two-win improvement and finished 4-5.

Hope returns two starting offensive linemen – Dustin Davidson and Austin Pierce – plus running back Trevor Hostetter and receiver Nathan Lorson. Three other lettermen are also back in the lineup.

Last year, the Bulldogs earned their first non-losing record since a 5-5 mark in 2006.

Ingalls played in many high scoring games and averaged 41.3 points per contest, but allowed 45.6 points per game.

“A lot of people had to play some positions they weren’t quite as comfortable with,” Heuer said.

The Wildcats lost 26-6 to Thunder Ridge in Week 2 and 51-6 to Baileyville B&B in Week 7. Thunder Ridge beat B&B for the Eight-Man, Division II championship.

As well, Hanover lost to Pawnee City (Neb.) 90-52 in Week 5 and fell to Frankfort, 44-30, in Week 8, a contest that kept Hanover from the postseason.

Frankfort finished 6-3, while Pawnee City was one of the nation’s top 10 eight-man offenses at 62.4 points per game, according to maxpreps.com.

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K ensington-T hunder R idge LONGHORNS

Thunder Ridge enjoyed a season for the ages in 2011. The Longhorns, with six senior starters on both sides of the ball, went undefeated and captured the Eight-Man Division II state championship. It marked the first state title in any sport since Kensington and Agra-Eastern Heights consolidated to form Thunder Ridge five years ago. As well, it was the second state football title for Voorhees and several seniors.

Voorhees and the players had gone undefeated and won a youth title for a Phillipsburg team.

Running back Joel Struckhoff earned Hays Daily News Offensive Player of the Year honors, statewide all-classes Super 11 recognition and a Shrine Bowl invitation.

He set the eight-man state record for rushing yards and total touchdowns. Lineman The Lions don’t have much size, but coach The Bulldogs allowed the most points by Dakota Foreman was the Hays Daily News Hostetter said the team’s speed will help any Eight-Man Division II team that finDefensive Player of the Year. This year, overcome that. ished with a winning record. Ingalls permit- Thunder Ridge returns two starters on both ted at least 36 points in seven games. sides of the ball, but is expected to have another strong season.

“Since we are small we will need to spread the field and throw the ball more,” he said. This year, the Bulldogs return five starters “We will have to use our quickness to balon offense and four on defense, though “After winning our first state championship “We just didn’t get the breaks that we had ance out our lack of size. Since we don’t three starters are sophomores. last year, I think the expectations for this in the last four years previous,” Heuer said. have much depth we also need to stay year’s team will be pretty high,” Voorhees healthy throughout the season.”

“We are very young so getting all the young said. “There will be a lot of holes to fill after losing a great senior class, but we have Hanover graduated three of its top four kids up to speed will be very important,” tacklers and its top two rushers. However, Hope opens against Solomon, then travels coach Ted Brown said. “Improving our a lot of good young kids. They will have to step up and play for us this year. The key the Wildcats will return several of their top to Frankfort for a non-district game. District offensive line play as well will be key. will be getting in the weight room, working players, including senior Mark Zarybnicky, competition begins at Chase in week three, Defensively, tackling in space and getting who tied for the team lead with 13 catches then the Lions play two non-district conoff blocks will have to be much better than hard and finding our leaders.” and paced the squad with 275 receiving tests before finishing the season with the it was last year if we are going to have sucFullback Trevor Lowe is back after he yards and four scores last season. He also final four district games. cess.” rushed for 855 yards and 17 scores, includrushed for 120 yards and a score and col10-1 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man II 5-4 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 8-Man II ing three straight 100-yard contests – the lected 72 tackles, third-best on the squad.

Wheat State League Santa Fe Trail first three of his career – in the final three Zarybnicky had to move to running back Coach: Jeff Hostetter Coach: Ted Brown postseason contests. Lineman Kade Dennis, because of injuries last season and will play (23rd year, 192-57) (2nd year, 5-4) a two-way starter, and linebacker Garrett there this year.

Assistants: Joe Ross Assistants: Nick Fawcett Krueger were on a defense that ranked No. Offense: Option Defense: 3-3 Offense: I-formation Defense: Multiple 1 in eight-man football.

Cody Neiman is back after he played well Returning lettermen: 7 Returning lettermen: 8 at quarterback. He completed 23-of-38 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense 13-0 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man II passes for 367 yards with seven TDs Trevor Hostetter, RB, 5-7, 140, Jr.; Dustin Davidson, Jordan Irsik, RB/LB/S, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Nathan Hale, Northern Plains League against two interceptions and rushed for 90 OL, 6-0, 150, Jr.; Austin Pierce, OL, 5-7, 170, Sr.; OL/DL, 6-2, 215, Sr.; Cole Hoskinson, OL/DL, 6-3, Jerry Voorhees yards and three scores on 28 carries. He Nathan Lorson, WR, 5-9, 145, Sr. 275, So.; Edgar Flores, TE/LB, 5-11, 170, So.; Zeke Coach: (6th year, 51-13) fractured his fibula and missed the final Melanie McGee Cox, TE/LB, 5-11, 175, So. Brent Overmiller, Kirby Rust three games of the season. Junior Brandon Conor Nicholl Assistants: Offense: I-formation Defense: 3-3 Cover 2 Jueneman will switch back to linebacker, Returning lettermen: 7 his more comfortable position, after he Returning starters: 2 Offense, 2 Defense played defensive end as a sophomore.

Trevor Lowe, FB, 6-1, 205, Sr.; Kade Dennis, C/DE,

6-3, 220, Sr.; Garrett Krueger, OLB, 5-11, 160, Jr. Conor Nicholl

Heuer listed Baileyville B&B, Frankfort, Hope, South Haven and Kiowa-South Barber high on the list of top teams from the east in Eight-Man, Division II. 4-4 in 2011 / 2-2 in district / 8-Man II Twin Valley League Coach: Matt Heuer (7th year, 57-17) Assistants: Chris Beikmann Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Mark Zarybnicky, RB/DB, Sr.; Wade Steinfort, G/DE, Jr.; Cody Nieman, QB, Sr.; Brandon Jueneman, G/ LB, Jr.; Logan Bruna, DL, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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HOPE LIONS 2012 Schedule Aug 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 Oct 05 Oct 12 Oct 19 Oct 25

Solomon at Frankfort at Chase White City at Wichita Word of Life Southern Cloud at Burrton Tescott at Goessel

Hammond / from 117

win over Pleasanton.

He has bounced between tailback and quarterback the past three seasons, and Smith expects to line him up under center the majority of the time in 2012.

“He’s a good running back and a good quarterback, just a good athlete no matter what the sport,” Smith said. “He had some good receivers to throw the ball to last year, and he would have had even more yards if he’d been a full-time running back.”

Hammond said he prefers running back to quarterback, but mostly just wants to win.

“Running back is my favorite because you have more control,” he said. “You make your own moves and read where to go.”

When he’s not breaking tackles and scoring touchdowns, Hammond also enjoys making plays as a linebacker. “I like chucking kids too,” he said.

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Smith said that no matter where he lines up, Hammond is a key part of the Lancer defense.

“Last year, we moved him to defensive end because of a need, but he’s started all three years at linebacker,” he said. “He’ll be one of our keys to success at linebacker.

He likes to run the ball more, but this year he’s going to really have to step up defensively.”

As a junior, Hammond led Crest with 91 tackles and earned All-League and AllDistrict honors for his defense. After just three seasons, he has 237 tackles, six interceptions and two sacks while helping the Lancers post a 19-11 record.

This fall, Crest moves to Eight Man Division II, acquiring some new district opponents, most notably Waverly, which has made the playoffs three of the past four years.

Three Rivers League rivals Altoona-Midway, Chetopa and Southern Coffey County are now also district games for Hammond and the Lancers.

“SCC is a big rivalry game,” Smith said. “It doesn’t matter if one team is 9-0 and the other team is 0-9, it’s going to be a dogfight.”

Both Smith and Hammond said the Sept. 7 league game at Marmaton Valley is a big one as well.

“Moran is our biggest rival,” Hammond said, adding that last year’s six-point loss still stings.

Winning that game is important to the Lancers, but Hammond said his main goal is getting back to the playoffs after narrowly missing the postseason in two of his three seasons.

“My freshman year, we started 6-0 and then lost our last three games,” he said.

The following season, Crest rolled to a 4-0 district record, then beat Cedar Vale/ Dexter 52-36 in the playoff opener. In the second round, Hammond ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns but it wasn’t quite enough as Lebo edged the Lancers, 50-40.

“He’s had some pretty good games, but that playoff game against Lebo was a GAME,” Smith said.

As a junior, numbers like that became commonplace for Hammond, who averaged 151 yards per game running the football plus completed 58 percent of his passes for 91 yards per game. In three seasons, Hammond has completed 54 percent of 160 passing attempts. Not bad for a player who became a quarterback as a freshman.

“Kyle was an eighth grader and he came up to me before the spring of his eighth grade year and said, ‘Coach, who’s going to play QB?’” Smith said. “I said, ‘look in the mirror.’ He’d never played quarterback, but he can do whatever I ask and be a threat.”

Hammond has gotten some attention from college recruiters, even a few at the Division I level, and Smith has heard from Division II and community college coaches as well. Hammond said he hasn’t decided for sure which sport he’d like to play in college, but plans to weigh all scholarship offers carefully before deciding between basketball and football.

Hammond is a two-time unanimous All-Leaguer for the Lancer basketball team, which reached the Class 1A Division I State Tournament in 2012. He averaged 22.5 points per game as a junior and earned second-team All-Class 1A honors from the Topeka and Wichita newspapers.

“I really like basketball too, so hopefully I’ll get offers for both sports and then choose the best one,” he said.

But first, Hammond and the Lancers have big goals to achieve on the football field.

He is one of five seniors who will be the team’s leaders this fall.

“We’ve been playing youth tackle since about the third grade,” he said. “We all get along, and if we want it bad enough, we should be pretty good.”

Price expects a battle when his Hornets travel to Colony for an Oct. 12 district game, and said that Hammond is the key to Crest’s success.

“They’ve got some good kids, but Kyle sets the table for them,” Price said. “He doesn’t get the credit he deserves, because he does it all for them. I think a lot of that young man. He is a great person and an outstanding football player.”

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Injuries took their toll on the Titans last year, and at some points of the season, the SCC lineup featured several freshmen.

Brandon Gehring had served as Logan’s assistant coach for several seasons, but moved up to the head job when second-year coach Cody Hilburn left the program early “It’s hard to win high school football games summer. Gehring led Logan to its third with freshmen because they just aren’t straight one-win year, but saw big improvedeveloped enough,” coach Korey Lankton ments with a young squad. said.

Logan graduated one player, Tracy Archer, The good news for the Titans is that those who led the team with 705 rushing yards, freshmen are now sophomores with varsity 12 catches and 118 tackles. Gehring – who experience. SCC also has three seniors and has led the Logan girls’ basketball team to two juniors with starting experience. back-to-back state tournament appearances – looks for another improvement this fall.

Senior Turner Anderson is back at fullback, while senior Luke Kraft, junior Zach Quarterback Brett Pinkerton (427 passing, Loveall and sophomores Walker Harred and 247 rushing, 12 TDs accounted for), Dillon Trever Vasholtz return to the o-line. Junior Schmidt (340 rushing) and Albert Tello (8 Josiah Witteman is back at tight end, giving catches, six TDs) are among the top players SCC five familiar offensive starters. back. This summer, Gehring took his team to the Fort Hays camp and said the squad “was competitive.”

On defense, the Titans bring back senior defensive back Charlie Patterson and sophomore d-back Chism Newkirk plus “I definitely think we are going to take a Harred and Kraft at linebacker. step up this season,” Gehring said.

Lankton said improvement is the main goal for his team, which will compete in Eight Man Division II this year after spending two years in a brutal Division I district with Madison and Lebo.

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Logan runs the single wing offense. The year before Gehring took over, the Trojans only averaged 73 yards a game. With the single wing last season, Logan averaged 210.6. That included a 42-20 Week 3 loss to rival Almena-Northern Valley, a game where Logan was tied at the half, produced 277 yards of total offense and gained confidence.

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For half the season last year, Moscow was on pace to break the all-time eight-man record for points per game. The Wildcats eventually slowed down some, but still led Eight-Man Division II with 63.8 points per contest. The lone losses came against Ashland and Otis-Bison, squads that went a combined 21-3.

Fred Winter and Aaron Homburg have known each other since the mid-‘90s when Winter coached at Sharon Springs and Homburg was at Winona-Triplains. Then, Winter went to Jewell, Horton and spent the last several years as Valley Center defensive coordinator.

Moscow graduates nearly all of its speedy skill players, including Osvaldo Granillo, who won five individual sprinting championships in the last two track seasons and contributed 1,775 yards of total offense and 31 scores last fall.

He, fullback Jonaton Manriquez and quarterback Breck Roop graduated, but secondyear coach Travis Johnson does return five starters on both sides of the ball and expects to be more “ground and pound” oriented than last season. Alexis Manriquez, Jonaton’s brother, will take over at fullback.

“We are not going to be as fast as we were, but we are not going to be slow by any means either,” Johnson said.

Lane Miller, who finished second to Granillo with 24 catches for 437 yards and eight scores, takes over at quarterback.

Easton Bohl is expected to be the vocal He expects Chetopa, Waverly and Crest to leader. He went to church camp the first week of the summer, came back and asked be tough district opponents this season, but Johnson who wasn’t coming to summer hopes the Titans can be in the mix for a weights. Then, Bohl started calling those playoff spot.

Gehring said the team “doesn’t have a lot of who weren’t attending.

“We really want to get into the playoffs, but tremendous size” and the single wing helps to spread the field. One change will need to Johnson said he could start two sophomores first of all, we want to have a winning be with turnovers; Logan had 21 turnovers and a freshman, but expects to contend in a record. We haven’t had one in four or five years,” Lankton said. “We also need to keep (17 interceptions) and finished minus-10 in wide-open west in Eight-Man Division II. turnover margin. improving on fundamentals and how we “The west is pretty much open, but it’s still play the game.”

1-8 in 2011 / 1-4 in district / 8-Man II going to have to go through Thunder Ridge, Northern Plains League 3-6 in 2011 / 0-5 in district / 8-Man II I’m pretty sure,” he said.

Three Rivers League Coach: Korey Lankton (2nd year, 3-6; 6th year overall, 23-31) Assistants: Ty Piper Offense: Option Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 12 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Turner Anderson, FB, Sr.; Charlie Patterson, DB, Sr.; Luke Kraft, OL/LB, Sr.; Zach Loveall, OL, Jr.; Chism Newkirk, DB, Jr.; Josiah Witteman, TE, So.; Walker Harred, OL/LB, So.; Trever Vasholtz, OL, So. Melanie McGee

“We support the home team!”

Winter wanted to move his family back to a small town and looked to become a principal. At Natoma, veteran coach Ben Labertew, also the Tigers’ principal and athletic director, left to take over at his alma mater, Sylvan-Lucas.

Homburg, Natoma’s superintendent, defensive coordinator and head girls’ basketball coach, hired Winter to replace Labertew.

“Always disappointed to lose good people, but you understand,” Homburg said of Labertew. “Home is where the heart is. I don’t think there is another school that could have got him.”

Labertew was known for his spread offense that often delivered big passing numbers and point totals. Homburg said the Tigers will likely use more I-formation with a runheavy focus, but could have some spread formations.

After a 7-3 finish and the school’s first playoff berth in two decades in 2007, Natoma has went 6-3, 4-5, 3-6 and 1-8.

The Tigers have had trouble in close games, including falling by narrow margins to Logan (58-46) and Palco (56-38). In 2009, Natoma lost two games by a combined six points and went 1-3 in games decided by 14 points or fewer in 2010.

1-8 in 2011 / 0-5 in district / 8-Man II Northern Plains League Coach: Brandon Gehring Coach: Fred Winter (1st year) (2nd year,1-8) Assistants: Aaron Homburg 8-2 in 2011 / 4-1 in district / 8-Man II Assistants: Michael Delimont Offense: Multiple Defense: 4-2 Santa Fe Trail League Offense: Single Wing Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 8 Coach: Travis Johnson (2nd year, 8-2) Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 7 Defense Assistants: Nate Meile Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Phillip Murphy, E/DB, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Brad Holmes, Offense: Option Defense: 3-Front Albert Tello, E/LB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Lane Archer OL/ FB/DL, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Dalton Custenborder, OL, 6Returning lettermen: 5 DT, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Kyle Pakkebier, OL/DE, 5-9, 155, Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense 5, 300, Sr.; Jackson Meiers, WR/DB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Jr.; Logan Kiser, C, 5-8, 165, Jr.; Brett Pinkerton, Jaron Thompson, C/DL, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Easton Bohl, Cale Hooper, TB/LB, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Jacob Chambray, QB/CB, 5-9, 155, Jr.; Dillon Schmidt, RB/LB, 5-8, OL/LB, 5-8, 185, Sr.; Rigo Baustilos, TE/DE/DL, 6-3, E/DB, 5-8, 150, So.; Seth Hachmeister, OL/LB, 5-9, 185, Jr.; Richard Zeiters, FB/LB, 6-3, 165, So.; Chad 215, Sr.; Lane Miller, QB/TE/LB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Alexis 170, So.; Elijah Holmes, OL/DL, 5-11, 200, Jr. Becker, E/DB, 5-7, 150, Jr. Nicholl Conor Nicholl Manriquez, DE, 5-8, 170, So. Conor Nicholl File Photo

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Otis-Bison proved it’s among the elite again with its third straight double-digit win season. The Cougars went 12-24 in coach Travis Starr’s first four years and then has posted 10-1, 11-1 and 10-2 records the last three seasons.

Palco lost just two starters, but those players — quarterback/defensive back Kody Hamel and running back/linebacker Anthony Keller — were the key to back-toback winning seasons for the Roosters. In the last two seasons, Palco is 11-7. Hamel had 2,306 yards rushing and passing and Keller rushed for 1,197 yards and had 254 tackles in the last two years.

In 2010, Otis-Bison finished as Eight-Man Division II state runner-up to Baileyville B&B. Last year, the Cougars lost twice to eventual state champion Thunder Ridge, once in a Week 4 road contest, and then again in the sub-state championship game at home. This year, Otis-Bison — the only 5-1A team to reach the final four in football and boys’ basketball in each of the last two seasons – is expected to again contend for a state championship.

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Last year, Hamel, despite missing one game, had 576 passing yards with six touchdowns against three interceptions. He rushed for 880 yards and 18 scores on 93 carries. Keller collected 418 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Keller collected 149 tackles, most among Kansas eight-man players, according to maxpreps.com, while Hamel made 114 stops.

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Healy/Ransom-Western Plains has been through an up-and-down last couple seasons, but had plenty of positives last year.

Two years ago, Western Plains went winless and had to forfeit several games because of low numbers.

Last year marked the ninth time in coach Travis Smith’s tenure the Bulldogs either won four or five games. This season, Smith will have to replace several key players, mainly running back Kalyn Weber and wideout Cole Christensen.

Then, Western Plains decided to play just a junior varsity schedule – with a few varsity games sprinkled in – last season. Jeremiah Meeks was expected to coach, but then stopped showing up after the first few practices.

“2012 will be a rebuilding year for Golden Plains,” Smith said.

Athletic director Mike Jenner, a veteran football and baseball coach, stepped in and helped the Bobcats, after several years of struggles in all sports, to some success.

Western Plains opened 4-0 with wins against Wichita-Word of Life, Bucklin and Dylan Wissman, one of Kansas’ top eightman players, has recorded 3,076 career Colby-Heartland Christian (twice). The yards of total offense and has 55 career In 2011, Palco started 4-0, but then lost four Bobcats narrowly lost to Tescott, 38-32, in offensive scores. Wissman, known for his straight games — including the last three by Week 5. speed and terrific stiff arm, has rushed for the 45-point margin — and then defeated 2,488 yards and is adept as a receiver, too.

Heartland Christian in Week 9 for a win“I’d never actually won a high school varning record. Pierce said the team’s goals are sity sport going into that game,” lineman Past Wissman, Otis-Bison returns just two to continue to produce a winning record and Andrew Flax said after a Week 1 win make the playoffs. Stetson Nyp and Mike against Heartland Christian. “We knew we other starters from a squad that outscored opponents 592-214 and ranked fourth in Knipp (80 tackles apiece) and lineman Seth could do it. Obviously, they’re not the hardArmbrister (60 tackles) will need to be key est team, but still. We won three JV basketEight-Man Division II in scoring offense.

However, both of those players, lineman players for the Roosters. ball games (in 2010-11). That was the extent of our winning. We never had sucSam Higgason and Matt Demel, are considered two of the best eight-man linemen in “Our dedication in the offseason, and our cess.” the western half of the state. ability to play together are going to have more of an impact this year than they have In Week 7, Western Plains also defeated Higgason had 41 tackles last season and since I have been here,” Pierce said. “We Logan, 44-34. This year, the Bobcats will Moscow coach Travis Johnson said the are not going to be the biggest or the fastest have a full schedule with home games split lineman “could probably bench press a team, so we are going to have to do all of at Healy and Ransom. The schedule school bus.” Starr said the team’s goals are the little things better than everyone else.” includes games with Triplains-Brewster, to earn its fourth straight playoff appearGolden Plains, Weskan, Palco, Wilson, 5-4 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man II ance and earn another trip to Newton.

Sylvan-Lucas, Otis-Bison, Victoria and Western Kansas Liberty League Dighton.

Coach: Justin Pierce “Stay healthy,” Starr said of the team’s (4th year, 15-12) Didn’t play a full varsity schedule in 2011 / 8-Man II keys. “We must have some young players Assistants: Chris Rinehart Western Kansas Liberty League step up into starting roles.”

10-2 in 2011 / 4-0 in district / 8-Man II Central Prairie League Coach: Travis Starr (8th year, 43-28) Assistants: N/A Offense: Multiple Defense: 5-1 Returning lettermen: 8 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense Dylan Wissman, RB/OLB, Sr.; Matt Demel, OL/DL, Sr.; Sam Higgason, OL/DL, Sr. Conor Nicholl Photo by Marion McReynolds

Offense: Pistol Defense: 4-2 Returning lettermen: 6 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Stetson Nyp, OL/DL, 5-8, 150, Jr.; Brent Gehring, E/ CB, 5-8, 135, So.; Alex Benoit, E/DE, 6-0, 165, Sr.; Chase Newell, E/CB, 5-10, 140, Sr.; Mike Knipp, OL/LB, 5-11, 165, Sr.; Seth Armbrister, OL/DL, 6-2, 185, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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Coach: Mike Jenner (1st year; 19th year overall) Assistants: Victor Tuttle Offense: Multiple Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 7 Offense, 7 Defense Eddie Beckett, QB/S, 5-2, 140; Casey Kraus, E/DE, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Luis Hernandez, G/DE, 6-0, 185; Jacob Barnett, G/DT, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Andrew Flax, C, 5-10, 195; Hugo Hernandez, RB/LB, 5-9, 165, Sr.; Quientin Baker, E, 6-0, 160, Jr.; Chad Ryersee, E, 5-9, 155, Jr. Conor Nicholl

Weber rushed for more than 1,340 yards in each of the last two seasons. Smith said he has never had a player like Weber — a Garden City Community College signee — be such a focal point of one of his teams.

Weber played running back, some quarterback, linebacker, punter and returned kicks and punts. As well, Christensen posed matchup problems with his height and jumping ability.

“We will need to fill those positions along with finding a QB and two new running backs,” Smith said. “The summer will be key in our development.

“The key to our season is getting our new starters to gel early and learn the system in the summer time,” Smith added. “Buying into the weightroom this summer will be the biggest key. We do not have a lot of size and need to develope speed and strength to offset our lack of size.”

4-5 in 2011 / 3-3 in district / 8-Man II Western Kansas Liberty League Coach: Travis Smith (13th year, 58-56) Assistants: Travis Betz Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 14 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Tristan Schwartz, TE/DE, 6-2, 200, Jr.; Andrew Luna, RB/DB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Jose Bermudez, RB/ DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Jesus Garcia, OL/DL, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Camron Spresser, OL/DL, 6-2, 210, Sr.; Chance Hoeting, TE/LB, 5-8, 160, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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S tockton

TIGERS

Kevin Ayers has established himself as arguably Kansas’ best eight-man coach in the last 15 years at Jetmore and Sharon Springs, and is believed to be the fastest coach in Kansas history to 100 wins.

Bill Germaine, Stockton’s first-year football coach, is the cousin of Joe Germaine, the former Ohio State University and NFL quarterback and current high school coach in Arizona. Bill Germaine has coached in Sacramento and went to high school outside Ayers has won three state titles, never had a of Denver. losing season and missed the playoffs in only his first two years as coach. At Sharon He was coaching in Colorado and wanted Springs, Ayers went 11-1 in his first year to move his family to a small town to give and then won the state title with a 13-0 his children an opportunity to participate in record in 2007. Since then, Ayers has four more school activities. Germaine also refinstraight playoff berths, but has lost in the ishes pools and was in Stockton refinishing first round each year. All four losses are by the pool. Just making conversation, he at least 26 points, including 72-42 and 48-0 asked about the football program. He evendefeats to Thunder Ridge in the last two tually took a job as junior high assistant seasons. coach.

This year, Ayers has another strong team — one that could compete for a spot in the state title game. He has five offensive starters and seven defensive starters back, including senior quarterback Gavin Mote, entering his fourth year as a starter.

“I got tired of the big cities,” he said.

The next year, Germaine became head junior high coach and served in that capacity for five years, including winning back-toback undefeated championships. This year, Germaine takes over the varsity program.

“Solid depth at most positions,” Ayers said. His assistants are Clint Bedore, in his sec“A tough non-district schedule will hopeond year on the Stockton staff and a former fully have us prepared for a very competiStockton and Fort Hays State University tive district. We hope to put a better football standout. Stockton hired Otis Hendryx in team on the field each week. Players stepearly summer after he coached for four ping up and leading this team will be the years at Chase and one year at Yates Center. key to our season.”

In 2010, Hendryx led Chase to its first playoff berth since 1986.

Mote has passed for 1,560 yards with a 22/ 12 touchdown to interception ratio and Germaine inherits a team that has struggled rushed for 1,745 yards and 31 scores in his for many years with multiple coaches, career. Defensively, he has 184 tackles and including a current 14-game losing streak seven interceptions. Senior Eli Kuhlman, against KSHSAA-affliated schools. who rushed for 542 yards with 11 scores, is Germaine said his program will be comexpected to play a key role, too. pletely different than in the past and will stress staying positive all year.

8-2 in 2011 / 5-1 in district / 8-Man II Northwest Kansas League Coach: Kevin Ayers (7th year, 51-14; 15th overall, 130-25) Assistants: Dennis Gfeller, Cody Tupps Offense: Option Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 5 Offense, 7 Defense Gavin Mote, QB/DB, 5-7, 150, Sr.; Eli Kuhlman, RB/ DB, 5-8, 152, Sr.; Gage Henderson, E, 5-11, 140, Sr.; Callahan Grund, 5-10, 145, E, Jr.; Cayden Daily, 5-9, 132, WR, Jr.; Dalton Walker, 5-8, 195, DL, Jr.; Alex Basgall, 6-1, 152, DL, Sr.; Lane Perry, 5-9, 180, DE, Sr; Kyle Gfeller, 5-9, 135; DB, Jr.; Clay Schemm, 6-2, 175, DL, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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Changes abound at Sylvan-Lucas in 2012.

Veteran coach Mike Weatherman retired after the 2011 season, and Ben Labertew will try to lead his alma mater to the playoffs, this time in Eight-Man Division II. Labertew’s first Sylvan-Lucas squad will feature four seniors with starting experience – tight end Michael Rivers, fullback Brogan Naylor and linemen Paul Barrientes and Kerrick Kuder.

A year ago, Naylor was the team’s leading tackler with 110 total stops. He also ran for six touchdowns, picked off three passes and recovered five fumbles for the Mustangs.

Barrientes had a pair of sacks and 28 total tackles last season, while Rivers averaged 14.6 yards per reception with one touchdown.

Sylvan-Lucas must replace its quarterback, leading rusher and leading receiver.

Labertew said those are just a few of the unknowns surrounding his squad at the beginning of the summer.

“Everything is pretty much an unknown right now. New coaches and new schedule, so we have a lot of work to do,” he said.

“This summer will be huge. With the loss of several key contributors, we’ll definitely need some young players to step up and fill those shoes.”

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TROJANS Tescott returns 10 lettermen from the 2011 squad, and coach Daymon Walker said improvement is the number one goal for his team.

“Our goals are to get better each day, compete each day and grow as football players and young men,” he said. “We will have many kids who will be stepping into starting roles or changing positions this year.”

The Trojans return just three offensive starters – senior running back Logan Colton and senior ends Braydon Ash and Austin Herbel.

On defense, Colton and senior Weston McClure are back at linebacker while Ash, Herbel and junior Kyle Comstock will anchor the secondary and Cody Peterson brings experience to the noseguard spot.

Those six will be joined on the field by several newcomers as Tescott looks to bounce back from an 0-8 campaign last fall.

“We are going to need some young kids to step up, and we are going to have to be a little creative as we are going to be pretty small up front,” Walker said. “It’s a good group of young men though, and should be a fun season.”

The Trojans play three of their first four games on the road, including the district The Mustangs competed in Eight-Man opener at Burrton. Eight-Man Division II Division I the past two years, but will face a District 2 includes three teams that posted new group of district opponents in Victoria, winning records in 2011, in addition to four Western Plains, Wilson, Dighton and Otis- others that combined to go 3-32 last season.

Bison.

Sylvan-Lucas opens the season against Senior Koby Beougher is expected to start Natoma, Labertew’s former team, before at quarterback after he saw some time under facing three Eight-Man Division I teams in center last year. non-district play.

2-7 in 2011 / 1-5 in district / 8-Man II Northern Plains League Coach: Ben Labertew (1st year; 8th year overall, 32-38) Assistants: Cody Flinn, Ryan Batchman, Devon Walter Returning lettermen: 6 “I love the kids here, I love the student Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense body that we have,” Germaine said. “I think Michael Rivers, TE, 5-11, 134, Sr.; Kerrick Kuder, we have got a good bunch of kids. They OG, 5-11, 168, Sr.; Brogan Naylor, FB, 6-1, 190, Sr.; have all been under my program.”

Paul Barrientes, C, 6-2, 235, Sr.; Kelvin Lopez, TE, 6-0, 153, So. Melanie McGee 1-8 in 2011 / 0-6 in district / 8-Man II Mid-Continent League Photo by Coach: Bill Germaine Marion (1st year) McReynolds Assistants: Clint Bedore, Otis Hendryx Offense: Multiple Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A Offense, N/A Defense Conor Nicholl

Germaine believes the team can “see some special things” if the Tigers can stay injuryfree. Stockton expects to have 27 players out.

0-8 in 2011 / 0-5 in district / 8-Man II Northern Plains League Coach: Daymon Walker (6th year) Assistants: GA Frederking Offense: Multiple Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 3 Offense, 4 Defense Logan Colton, RB/LB, Sr.; Weston McClure, LB, Sr.; Austin Herbel, E/S, Sr.; Braydon Ash, E, Sr.; Cody Peterson, NG, Sr.; Kyle Comstock, S, Jr. Melanie McGee

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JACKRABBITS

KNIGHTS

Last year, coach Greg Brown had his youngest team and the Jackrabbits lost eight games by at least 37 points. The only win was a 60-18 victory versus TriplainsBrewster in Week 7 — a team that hasn’t won a game since 2009.

No eight-man program has a longer current playoff streak than Victoria. The Knights have reached the postseason 10 straight years and last fall marked the eighth time in 12 seasons Victoria had won a playoff game – a stretch that includes two state titles and a state runner-up finish.

W averly

BULLDOGS Five starters return on each side of the ball for Waverly, which finished 8-2 a year ago and won the district title with a 5-0 mark.

Senior quarterback Tanner Sipe is back for a third season under center after earning Kpreps.com All-District honors as a junior.

The one-win season ended three straight Senior Dillon Fleming was an All-District winning records for the Jackrabbits, a Victoria opened 0-2 last season, however, first-teamer on the offensive line, and junior stretch that yielded a 19-9 record. That the Knights turned the season around in dis- running back Austin Bailey earned honincluded a 7-3 mark and first round playoff trict play and beat Bird City-Cheylin in the orable mention All-District honors in 2011. loss to Macksville in 2009, the program’s first round of the playoffs. Victoria faced lone playoff appearance in the last nine the No. 2 strength of schedule in Eight Man The Bulldogs return center Logan Winsky years.

Division II and their losses came against and running back Cody Schmidt, both junMacksville, Ness City, Central Plains, iors and sophomore guard Andrew Larson.

This fall, Greeley County should be much Thunder Ridge and Otis-Bison, all playoff stronger with eight starters back on each squads.

Veteran coach Mike Hevel was named Kpreps.com’s District Coach of the Year in side of the ball.

The Knights graduate all three starting 2011, and he’ll need to rebuild on the fly Quarterback A.J. Govert (501 pass, 361 defensive linemen. “The biggest key for us again this fall. Waverly graduated both rush, both team-highs), Isiah Stone (11 is if we are going to be able to get things defensive ends and three key skill players catches, team-high 237 yards and six done up front offensively and defensively,” from the offense. scores), and Cesar Yanez (team-best 83 coach Doug Oberle said.

Hevel said replacing those players will be tackles) are among the returners.

Nathan Kuhn played more than half the sea- key if the Bulldogs are to post another winning record and reach the state playoffs.

Coach Brown said eliminating injuries and son at center, but suffered an injury in a better weight room work is key for a better Week 7 contest against Almena-Northern record.

Valley and played little the rest of the year. Linebackers Bailey and Fleming, and Sipe, a defensive back, also earned All-District honors on defense last season. Larson, Greeley County has switched to the Sam Ottley will move from tight end to Northwest Kansas League for this year after quarterback, the fifth straight season with a Schmidt and Winsky will anchor an experienced defensive line. previously competing in the Western new signal caller. Dalton Dreiling rushed Kansas Liberty League. The Jackrabbits for 1,185 yards, but nearly half of those Waverly will get an early test with an Aug. will join Dighton, Sharon Springs and yards came in three games. Oberle would Leoti-Wichita County in the new league. In like to see more consistency from Dreiling, 31 season opener at Lebo, which has made noise in Eight Man Division I the past two two years, WaKeeney-Trego will come to entering his third season as a starting runyears. The Bulldogs then face Hartford, the NWKL as well. ning back.

Yates Center and Marais des Cygnes Valley 1-8 in 2011 / 1-5 in district / 8-Man II “He has got to step up into a leadership role before diving into district play against Northwest Kansas League and do things for this team that maybe he is Crest, Altoona-Midway, Elk Valley, Coach: Greg Brown Chetopa and Southern Coffey County. not comfortable with, but we are going to (13th year, 83-46) Those five teams combined to go 13-25 in have to get the point where he is taking Assistants: Evan Firner 2011 with Chetopa accounting for six wins. control of the situation a little bit on both Offense: Option Defense: 4-2 sides of the ball,” Oberle said.

Returning lettermen: 13 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense AJ Govert, QB, 6-0, 140, Sr.; Cesar Yanez, RB/DE, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Isiah Stone, RB/DE, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Devin Langdon, E, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Jimmy Lehman, C/DL, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Cody Haney, E/LB, 6-3, 200, So.; Elijah Stone, E, 5-7, 130, Jr.; Damien Ibarra, G/ DL, 5-8, 200, So. Conor Nicholl

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8-2 in 2011 / 5-0 in district / 8-Man II Lyon County League 6-5 in 2011 / 4-1 in district / 8-Man II Coach: Mike Hevel Central Prairie League (19th year, 140-53) Coach: Doug Oberle (7th year, 56-14) Assistants: Nick Fraenza Assistants: Stuart Moeckel, Cade Scott Offense: Split Backs, I Defense: 4-3, 3-3 Offense: Option Defense: 3-2 Returning lettermen: 9 Returning lettermen: 10 Returning starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Returning starters: 4 Offense, 3 Defense Dalton Dreiling, RB/LB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Tanner Hobbs, Tanner Sipe, QB/DB, 5-8, 145, Sr.; Dillon Fleming, OL/LB, 6-0, 190, Sr.; Austin Bailey, RB/LB, 5-9, 145, TE, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Nathan Kuhn, OL, 5-6, 195, Jr.; Clayton Roth, DB, 6-0, 150, Jr.; Sam Ottley, TE/DB, Jr.; Logan Winsky, C/DL, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Cody Schmidt, RB/DL, 5-8, 140, Jr.; Andrew Larson, OL/ 6-1, 180, Jr. Melanie McGee Conor Nicholl DL, 5-9, 270, So. File Photo

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W eskan

COYOTES After back-to-back winless seasons, Weskan won three games in 2010 and posted a four-win season last year that included a 24-20 Week 1 victory against Almena-Northern Valley, an eventual sixwin team.

This year, the Coyotes return six offensive and seven defensive starters, including senior quarterback Sam McKinney, one of northwest Kansas’ top all-around athletes and who Coach Marc Cowles calls a “tremendous leader.”

McKinney completed 47-of-93 passes for 718 yards with 14 TDs against four interceptions, rushed for 260 yards with five scores and collected 56 tackles. He and free safety Brandan Escamilla (86 tackles) were honorable mention all-league selections, while Nick Smith (50 tackles, eight sacks) was a second team selection. Weskan is also expected to have 18 players out, good numbers for one of Kansas’ smallest schools.

McKinney and Colton Cline are entering their fourth years as starters.

“We must build on the experience we gained last year and continue to improve,” Cowles said. “Leadership from our seniors will be important, along with contributions from our juniors and sophomores. We also need key players to avoid injuries.”

Weskan, a member of the Western Kansas Liberty League, will have several new teams on its schedule this year because of the conference reshuffling in northwest Kansas. More than a dozen schools have announced they will change conferences for this year or next.

Weskan’s conference now includes Palco, Ransom-Western Plains, Northern Valley and Logan. Weskan, which has normally played Cheyenne Wells, Colo., in recent years, will now make long trips east, including road games against Palco and Ransom-Western Plains in Weeks 1 and 3, respectively, and a home game versus Logan in Week 2.

4-5 in 2011 / 2-4 in district / 8-Man II Western Kansas Liberty League Coach: Marc Cowles (11th year, 46-51) Assistants: Ty See Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 6 Offense, 7 Defense Tyler Compton, FB/LB, 5-7, 150, Jr.; Hayden Walker, TE/DE, 6-0, 155, Jr.; Sam McKinney, QB/ DE, 6-2, 165, Sr.; Jared McKinney, TE/DB, 5-7, 140, Sr.; Brandan Escamilla, RB/FS, 5-7, 160, Sr.; Colton Cline, G/DL, 6-3, 175, Sr.; Nick Smith, C/DL, 6-1, 175, Sr. Conor Nicholl

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HUSKIES

W ilson

Wilson has consistently ranked among Eight-Man Division II’s top offensive teams. The Dragons averaged 37.5 points per game from 2006-10 and collected 37.1 points per contest last year. However, Wilson allowed 529 points (58.8 points per contest), second-worst in Eight-Man Division II. Wilson lost a Week 1 contest, 103-68, to Chase, the highest scoring game Former assistant John Keating will step into in Kansas history. The Dragons also lost 76the head coach role this fall, and he expects 14 to Burden Central, 64-16 to Linn, 68-38 to add a few new wrinkles to White City’s to Northern Valley and defeated Tescott, 80schemes on both sides of the ball.

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The last two years have found White City in a loaded Eight Man Division I district with two-time state champion Madison and 2010 sub-state runner-up Lebo. Those two accounted for White City’s only two losses in 2011, and with the change to Eight Man Division II, the Huskies will face a new group of district rivals.

David Brow n e

TITANS

In 2009, Triplains-Brewster went 4-5 and averaged 30.3 points per game behind eight-man all-stars Brett Gfeller and Clay Rogge. In Week 8, Triplains-Brewster defeated Stockton 48-42 and then lost to Hill City 22-18 in Week 9. TriplainsBrewster has not won a contest since and enters this season with a 17-game losing streak.

This fall, third-year coach Lee Odell looks to end the skid. Odell listed the team’s keys as maintaining depth and improving each week.

“Our main focus is to stay healthy, maintain numbers, and break the current losing streak,” he said.

0-8 in 2011 / 0-6 in district / 8-Man II

Western Kansas Liberty League Triplains-Brewster has struggled with low numbers and has faced a difficult schedule. Coach: Lee Odell (3rd year, 0-16) In 2010, opponents outscored the Titans Assistants: N/A 408-12 and the team played the toughest Offense: N/A Defense: N/A “Our main goals will be controlling the ball “This group will need to focus on being schedule in Eight-Man Division II. lettermen: 3 and game management,” he said. “We want fundamentally sound and understand Last year, Triplains-Brewster was outscored Returning Returning starters: 3 Offense, 3 Defense to be able to establish a running game and assignments and alignment at all times,” 421-24 and played the ninth-hardest Seth Smith, QB/FB/LB, 5-10, 200, Jr.; Randy keep our offense on the field. Last year, we coach Tony Brokes said. “Defensively we strength of schedule in Eight-Man Division Colling, RB/E/LB, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Jesse Gaskill, OL/ were known as a passing team and though have struggled, that cannot happen if we are II. DL, 5-9, 170, Sr. we are not abandoning that plan completely, going to be successful in 2012.”

Conor Nicholl I think its important to be able to run the ball effectively too.”

The Dragons graduated standout Jake Stoppel, an all-state player in three sports, Senior quarterback/defensive back Jaren who led Wilson with 63 catches, 910 Nittler was an honorable mention Allreceiving yards, 12 scores, 71 tackles and District selection last season, and he is one six passes defended. of four starters returning for the Huskies.

Senior tight end/linebacker/defensive end However, Wilson does return quarterback Jace Beavers, junior lineman Eric Blythe Jordan Bess, who paced the offense with and junior tight end/defensive back Sam 107 completions in 192 attempts for 1,441 Morgan are also back in the starting lineup. yards with 24 TDs against 13 INTs. Bess BV N o r th (0-9) BV N o r thw est(5 -4 ) also led the team with 125 carries for 420 Au g 31 Bisho p M iege Au g 31 a t St.Tho m a sAq u in a s “Although we graduated a large senior class yards and nine scores and also had a teamSep 07 a t Blu e Va lley Sep 07 Blu e Va lley W est last year, we do have some experience com- best 16 kickoff returns for 341 yards. Bess Sep 14 Blu e Va lley W est Sep 14 a t Bisho p M iege Sep 21 a t Blu e Va lley So u thw est Sep 21 Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n (TH) ing back. We won’t be a team looking to collected 60 tackles last year, second-most Sep 28 a t St. Tho m a s Aq u i n a s Sep 28 Blu e Va lley rebuild as we have several key contributors behind Stoppel, while Alex Borell led the O ct 05 Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n O ct 05 a t Blu e Va lley So u thw est coming back again,” Keating said. team with six sacks.

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“Winning the turnover margin will be an important key for our success, and in some aspect of our game, we want to improve each time we’re on the field whether its practice or at the games.”

7-2 in 2011 / 4-2 in district / 8-Man II Wheat State League Coach: John Keating (1st year) Assistants: Joel Kahnt Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 6 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Jaren Nittler, QB/RB/DB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Jace Beavers, TE/LB/DE, 6-2, 175, Sr.; Eric Blythe, OL, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Sam Morgan, TE/DB, 6-2, 165, Jr. Melanie McGee

“It’s simple — we must be productive in all areas of the game,” Brokes said.

3-6 in 2011 / 2-2 in district / 8-Man II Northern Plains League Coach: Tony Brokes (16th year, 57-85) Assistants: Leland Francis, Keith Staudinger Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Returning lettermen: 11 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Cole Zelenka, E, 6-0, 150, Sr.; Brayden Browning, LB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Jordan Bess, QB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Alex Borell, C, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Matt Pfannestiel, E, 62, 160, So.; Mike Pfannenstiel, E, 6-0, 160, So.; Marcus Denham, B, 6-1, 175, Jr. Conor Nicholl

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Hu tchin so n (11-2)*

Ju ctio n C ity (6 -3 )

K C W ya n d o tte (2-7)

La w ren ce (6 -4 )*

Lea ven w o r th (2-8)*

M a ize (3 -6 )

M a n ha tta n (10-1)*

O la the Ea st (9-3 )*

O la the N o r th (5 -4 )

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t Sa lin a So u th An d o verCen tra l a t M a ize Sa lin a Cen tra l Ha ysville Ca m pu s a t Hu tchin so n a t W ichita So u thea st W ichita Ea st a t W ichita Heights Bixby (O kla .) a t W o o d w a rd (O kla .) a t Grea t Ben d Ha ys Libera l a t W ichita Ea st M a ize a t Hu tchin so n a t Do d ge City a t Sa lin a Cen tra l Ha ysville Ca m pu s Ro ckhu rst (M o .) a t New to n Sa lin a So u th Derby a t Do d ge City Ga rd en City a t M a ize

SM W est a t SM No rthw est O la the Ea st a t SM No rth O la the So u th a t SM So u th Lea ven w o rth a t K C W ya n d o tte La w ren ce Free Sta te M illVa lley a t Em po ria To peka Sea m a n To peka Highla n d Pa rk a t To peka W est Sha w n ee Heights a t To peka High W a shbu rn Ru ra l a t Ju n ctio n City

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

W ichita So u thea st a t W ichita No rthw est W ichita Heights a t Libera l Grea t Ben d a t Ha ys Hu tchin so n a t M a ize Ga rd en City Blu e Va lley a t Bisho p M iege Blu e Va lley So u thw est a t Blu e Va lley NW (TH) Blu e Va lley W est a t Blu e Va lley No rth O la the So u th a t O la the No rth O la the No rthw est

Ha ys a t To peka Sea m a n a t Sha w n ee Heights To peka Ha yd en a t To peka Highla n d Pa rk To peka W est a t W a shbu rn Ru ra l To peka High M a n ha tta n a t SM No rth (TH) SM So u th SM No rthw est a t O la the No rthw est a t O la the No rth SM W est a t La w ren ce La w ren ce Free Sta te K C W ya n d o tte a t O la the So u th O la the No rthw est a t La w ren ce SM W est a t SM Ea st O la the No rth Blu e Va lley No rth a t Blu e Va lley No rthw est SM So u th

Free S ta te (6 -3 ) Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t O la the No rthw est a t SM W est O la the So u th O la the No rth a t SM No rth (TH) SM Ea st K C W ya n d o tte a t Lea ven w o rth a t La w ren ce

An d o ver a t Hu tchin so n New to n a t Sa lin a So u th a t Derby M a ize W ichita No rthw est a t W ichita So u th W ichita No rth

Va n Ho rn (M o .)

K C Ha rm o n a t K C Su m n erAca d em y Atchiso n K C Schla gle a t K C W a shin gto n a t La w ren ce Free Sta te La w ren ce a t Lea ven w o rth

a t New to n a t Sa lin a So u th Derby a t Go d d a rd Sa lin a Cen tra l a t Ha ysville Ca m pu s a t Ga rd en City Do d ge City Hu tchin so n a t SM No rthw est a t SM Ea st (TH) SM W est a t La w ren ce Free Sta te Lea ven w o rth a t O la the Ea st O la the No rthw est Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n a t O la the So u th

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 131

O la the N o r thw est(5 -5 )*

O la the S o u th (12-1)*

S M Ea st(6 -5 )*

S M N o r th (2-7)

S M N o r thw est(4 -6 )*

S M S o u th (2-7)

S M W est(7-4 )*

To p eka (4 -5 )

W a shb u rn Ru ra l (6 -4 )*

W ichita Ea st(2-6 )

W ichita Heig hts(12-1)*

W ichita N o r th (1-8)

An d o ver (1-8)

An d o ver C en tra l (6 -4 )*

Blu e Va lley W est(3 -6 )

BV S o u thw est(6 -6 )*

Em p o ria (7-4 )*

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

La w ren ce Free Sta te a t O la the Ea st SM Ea st Lea ven w o rth a t SM No rthw est SM No rth a t O la the No rth O la the So u th a t Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n a t La w ren ce La w ren ce Free Sta te a t O la the No rth a t O la the Ea st SM So u th (TH) a t Lea ven w o rth SM No rth SM Ea st a t SM No rthw est

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

O la the Ea st SM No rth a t La w ren ce Free Sta te a t SM Ea st (TH) a t La w ren ce SM No rthw est a t Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n a t O la the No rthw est O la the No rth a t To peka Highla n d Pa rk To peka Ha yd en a t To peka W est Sha w n ee Heights a t To peka Sea m a n a t Em po ria M a n ha tta n a t Ju n ctio n City W a shbu rn Ru ra l

W ichita N o r thw est(7-3 )* W ichita S o u th (4 -6 )* Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el Do d ge City W ichita Ea st a t W ichita SE (TH) Bisho p Ca rro ll a t W ichita Heights a t Ha ysville Ca m pu s W ichita No rth a t W ichita So u th

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t W ichita W est W ichita Heights a t Bisho p Ca rro ll W ichita Ea st a t Ha ys W ichita So u thea st (TH) a t W ichita No rth Ha ysville Ca m pu s W ichita No rthw est

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

SM So u th O la the No rth (TH) a t O la the No rthw est O la the So u th (TH) O la the Ea st a t La w ren ce Free Sta te a t SM No rthw est a t SM W est SM No rth a t Blu e Va lley W est (TH) To peka Highla n d Pa rk a t To peka Ha yd en To peka W est a t Sha w n ee Heights To peka Sea m a n Ju n ctio n City a t M a n ha tta n a t To peka High

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

Lea ven w o rth (TH) a t O la the So u th a t SM So u th La w ren ce La w ren ce Free Sta te (TH) a t O la the No rthw est a t SM W est SM No rthw est a t SM Ea st W ichita No rth W ichita W est a t W ichita No rthw est a t W ichita So u th a t K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el Ga rd en City W ichita Heights a t Derby a t W ichita So u thea st

W ichita S o u thea st(3 -6 ) Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t Do d ge City a t K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el W ichita W est W ichita No rthw est (TH) a t W ichita No rth a t W ichita So u th (TH) Derby a t W ichita Heights W ichita Ea st

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

O la the No rth La w ren ce a t Lea ven w o rth a t SM So u th O la the No rthw est a t O la the So u th SM Ea st a t SM No rth SM W est

Bisho p Ca rro ll a t W ichita So u th a t Do d ge City K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el a t W ichita W est (TH) W ichita No rthw est a t W ichita Ea st W ichita So u thea st Derby

a t Ha ysville Ca m pu s Ark City a t Go d d a rd -Eisen ho w er In d epen d en ce a t An d o verCen tra l Go d d a rd a t Va lley Cen ter a t Em po ria New to n

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t SM Ea st a t Lea ven w o rth SM No rth SM No rthw est a t SM W est (TH) La w ren ce a t Blu e Va lley No rthw est Blu e Va lley No rth a t O la the Ea st a t W ichita Ea st a t Bisho p Ca rro ll K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el a t Grea t Ben d W ichita So u thea st W ichita W est W ichita So u th a t W ichita No rthw est a t Ha ysville Ca m pu s Va lley Cen ter a t Derby Go d d a rd a t M a ize So u th An d o ver a t Sa lin a Cen tra l Ark City W ichita W est a t K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el

Ark C ity (5 -4 )

Bisho p C a rro ll (10-2)*

G o d d a rd (2-7)

G o d d a rd -Eisen ho w er (0-0) G rea tBen d (4 -4 )

Ha ys(8-2)*

Hig hla n d Pa rk (3 -7)*

K a p a u n M t.C a rm el (8-3 )*

K C Ha rm o n (3 -6 )

K C S chla g le (7-2)

K C Tu rn er (4 -5 )

K C W a shin g to n (2-7)

La n sin g (5 -5 )*

Lib era l (2-7)

M ieg e (9-2)*

M ill Va lley (7-3 )*

N ew to n (3 -6 )

Pittsb u rg (6 -3 )

S a lin a C en tra l (5 -4 )

S a lin a S o u th (4 -6 )*

S ha w n ee Heig hts(5 -6 )*

S t.Tho m a sAq u in a s(4 -5 ) To p eka S ea m a n (2-7)

To p eka W est(0-9)

Va lley C en ter (1-8)

W ichita W est(1-8)

Ab ilen e (10-1)*

An d erso n C o . (5 -5 )*

Atchiso n (3 -6 )

Au g u sta (0-9)

Bu hler (11-1)*

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

M a ize So u th a t An d o ver a t K C Cen ter(M o .)

Go d d a rd -Eisen ho w er a t Va lley Cen ter Au gu sta a t An d o verCen tra l a t K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el W ichita W est a t W ellin gto n Va lley Cen ter a t An d o verCen tra l M a ize a t M a ize So u th a t An d o ver Libera l Bisho p Ca rro ll a t Go d d a rd -Eisen ho w er Ho ga n Prep (M o .) a t K C W ya n d o tte a t K C Schla gle K C W a shin gto n Atchiso n a t K C Su m n erAca d em y a t St.Tho m a sAq u in a s Bisho p M iege K C Tu rn er a t Blu e Va lley No rth Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n Blu e Va lley No rthw est Blu e Va lley a t Blu e Va lley So u thw est a t Blu e Va lley W est (TH) K C Tu rn er a t K C Ha rm o n St.Tho m a sAq u in a s

Em po ria a t K C Schla gle Ju n ctio n City a t To peka High W a shbu rn Ru ra l a t M a n ha tta n To peka Highla n d Pa rk a t To peka W est To peka Sea m a n

CLASS 4A SCHEDULES

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t W ichita Heights W ichita No rth W ichita So u th a t W ichita W est a t W ichita No rthw est K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el Go d d a rd -Eisen ho w er a t Go d d a rd Libera l Clea rw a ter a t M a ize So u th An d o ver a t Ark City New to n Va lley Cen ter a t Bisho p Ca rro ll a t Libera l Go d d a rd

a t To peka W est Sha w n ee Heights K C Ha rm o n K C Su m n erAca d em y a t K C W ya n d o tte a t Atchiso n M illVa lley La n sin g a t K C W a shin gto n a t M a n ha tta n K C Tu rn er Ba seho r-Lin w o o d a t To n ga n o xie a t Bo n n erSprin gs K C Piper a t K C Schla gle K C W a shin gto n La n sin g

Blu e Va lley No rthw est Blu e Va lley So u thw est a t Sa lin a Cen tra l a t Blu e Va lley W est Blu e Va lley No rth a t Blu e Va lley (TH) K C Ha rm o n a t K C Tu rn er a t Bisho p M iege Sco tt City a t Ro ssville a t Cla y Cen ter Co n co rd ia a t W a m ego M a rysville Cha pm a n a t M cPherso n Sm o ky Va lley

Blu e Va lley (11-2)*

CLASS 5A SCHEDULES

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n Blu e Va lley No rth Sa lin a So u th a t Bisho p M iege a t Blu e Va lley No rthw est St.Tho m a sAq u in a s(TH) Blu e Va lley So u thw est Pittsbu rg a t Blu e Va lley W est a t Ho isin gto n a t Ulysses Ga rd en City W ichita No rth a t Do d ge City a t Libera l Ha ys a t Sa lin a Cen tra l Sa lin a So u th Bo n n erSprin gs a t M illVa lley La n sin g a t Bisho p W a rd a t Ba seho r-Lin w o o d To n ga n o xie a t Bisho p M iege St.Tho m a sAq u in a s a t K C Ha rm o n M a ize Sa lin a Cen tra l a t Ha ysville Ca m pu s Hu tchin so n a t Go d d a rd Eisen ho w er Sa lin a So u th Em po ria a t Va lley Cen ter a t An d o ver

a t To peka Ha yd en Ju n ctio n City a t M a n ha tta n a t Em po ria To peka High a t W a shbu rn Ru ra l To peka W est To peka Highla n d Pa rk a t Sha w n ee Heights

An d a le (5 -6 )* Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

W ichita Co llegia te Ro se Hill a t Clea rw a ter To w a n d a -Circle a t Au gu sta a t W ellin gto n Bu hler a t Nickerso n a t Chen ey

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

W a shbu rn Ru ra l(TH) a t Blu e Va lley No rthw est a t Blu e Va lley No rth St.Tho m a sAq u in a s a t Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n Bisho p M iege (TH) a t Pittsbu rg Blu e Va lley So u thw est Blu e Va lley a t Ju n ctio n City a t M cPherso n Libera l a t Ga rd en City W ichita So u th Do d ge City a t Grea t Ben d Sa lin a So u th a t Sa lin a Cen tra l Blu e Va lley So u thw est To peka W est (TH) a t Atchiso n a t K C Ha rm o n K C Su m n erAca d em y K C W ya n d o tte a t La n sin g a t M illVa lley K C Schla gle La bette Co u n ty a t In d epen d en ce Fo rt Sco tt a t Cha n u te Pa rso n s a t Co ffeyville Blu e Va lley W est a t Blu e Va lley a t Blu e Va lley So u thw est K C Schla gle a t K C W a shin gto n (TH) To peka High a t W a shbu rn Ru ra l M a n ha tta n a t Ju n ctio n City a t To peka Sea m a n Sha w n ee Heights a t To peka Highla n d Pa rk a t Bu rlin gto n Pra irie View a t St.M a ry’sCo lga n (TH) Cen tra lHeights W ellsville a t O sa w a to m ie Fo rt Sco tt a t Cha n u te Io la

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t K C W a shin gto n a t St.Tho m a sAq u in a s a t Ga rd n er-Ed gerto n Blu e Va lley No rth Bisho p M iege Blu e Va lley No rthw est a t Blu e Va lley a t Blu e Va lley W est Pittsbu rg To peka High a t W a shbu rn Ru ra l Em po ria a t M a n ha tta n Ju n ctio n City To peka Ha yd en a t Sha w n ee Heights a t To peka Sea m a n To peka W est To n ga n o xie Bo n n erSprin gs a t K C Tu rn er Ba seho r-Lin w o o d K C Piper a t Bisho p W a rd K C W a shin gto n a t K C Schla gle a t M illVa lley Hu tchin so n a t New to n St.Tho m a sAq u in a s a t Derby a t M a ize An d o verCen tra l a t Sa lin a So u th Grea t Ben d Ha ys a t An d o verCen tra l a t Go d d a rd M a ize So u th Su n rise Christia n Aca .

Ark City a t Go d d a rd -Eisen ho w er An d o ver New to n a t Em po ria a t Plea sa n t Rid ge a t To n ga n o xie K C W a shin gto n a t K C W ya n d o tte a t K C Ha rm o n K C Schla gle a t K C Piper Bisho p W a rd K C Su m n erAca d em y

Ba ld w in (6 -4 )*

Ba seho r-Lin w o o d (10-1)* Ba xter S p rin g s(1-8)

Bisho p W a rd (0-9)

Bo n n er S p rin g s(6 -4 )*

C ha n u te (8-4 )*

C ha p m a n (0-9)

C la y C en ter (4 -6 )*

C lea rw a ter (8-2)*

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

W ellsville a t Pa o la a t St.Ja m esAca d em y Sprin g Hill a t DeSo to a t Lo u isbu rg O tta w a Sa n ta Fe Tra il a t Eu d o ra a t M u lva n e La bette Co u n ty a t Pa rso n s Pittsbu rg Co ffeyville In d epen d en ce a t Io la An d erso n Co u n ty a t Fo rt Sco tt

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Bisho p W a rd K C Piper a t M illVa lley a t La n sin g K C Tu rn er a t Bo n n erSprin gs a t Jefferso n W est Perry-Leco m pto n To n ga n o xie (TH)

Ro ssville a t So u thea st o fSa lin e a t M a rysville W a m ego Cla y Cen ter a t Co n co rd ia a t Abilen e Sm o ky Va lley M cPherso n

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Ga len a St.M a ry’sCo lga n So u thea st-Chero kee a t Erie Riverto n a t Fro n ten a c a t Co lu m bu s La bette Co u n ty Co ffeyville

C hen ey (4 -5 )

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Belle Pla in e W ichita In d epen d en t W ichita Trin ity a t Co n w a y Sprin gs Ga rd en Pla in Cha pa rra l a t Nickerso n a t Bu hler An d a le

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Ba seho r-Lin w o o d St.Ja m esAca d em y a t Bo n n erSprin gs K C Tu rn er a t To n ga n o xie La n sin g K C Su m n erAca d em y a t Atchiso n a t K C Piper(TH) Riley Co u n ty a t Tho m a sM o re Prep Abilen e a t M a rysville a t Cha pm a n W a m ego a t Go o d la n d Co lby Co n co rd ia

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t K C Tu rn er a t La n sin g Bisho p W a rd a t K C Piper M illVa lley Ba seho r-Lin w o o d a t DeSo to St.Ja m esAca d em y Sprin g Hill(TH)

a t Go d d a rd Eisen ho w er a t ElDo ra d o An d a le a t Au gu sta W ichita Co llegia te To w a n d a Circle a t W ellin gto n W in field M u lva n e

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Sha w n ee Heights M a n ha tta n a t To peka Highla n d Pa rk To peka Sea m a n a t To peka Ha yd en To peka High a t New to n An d o ver Va lley Cen ter W ichita No rthw est W ichita So u thea st a t W ichita No rth a t W ichita Heights W ichita Ea st a t Bisho p Ca rro ll a t W ichita W est Ark City An d o verCen tra l

Ulysses a t Gu ym o n (O kla .) a t Ha ys Do d ge City a t Ga rd en City Grea t Ben d a t Go d d a rd Go d d a rd -Eisen ho w er a t Bisho p Ca rro ll Derby M a ize a t Blu e Va lley Ha ysville Ca m pu s a t Hu tchin so n a t New to n Sa lin a Cen tra l a t Ha ys a t Grea t Ben d W ichita So u th a t W ichita Ea st a t W ichita So u thea st Bisho p Ca rro ll W ichita Heights(TH) a t W ichita No rth K a pa u n M t.Ca rm el a t An d o verCen tra l a t Ark City To w a n d a -Circle a t M u lva n e a t W ellin gto n Clea rw a ter An d a le a t Ark City a t Ro se Hill W ichita Trin ity a t W ichita Co llegia te Ro se Hill a t W ichita Co llegia te M u lva n e a t M cPherso n ElDo ra d o a t W in field a t An d a le Chen ey Nickerso n

S C HEDULES C O LLEG E -PG 13 6 >>>

S C HEDULE K EY : TH = THURS DAY ; S AT = S ATURDAY ; * = PLAY O FF Q UALIFIER IN 2011

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 132

C o ffeyville (6 -4 )*

C o lb y (2-7)

C o lu m b u s(4 -7)*

C o n co rd ia (8-2)*

DeS o to (6 -4 )*

El Do ra d o (1-8)

Eu d o ra (12-2)*

Fo r tS co tt(8-2)*

Fro n ten a c (5 -5 )*

G ira rd (5 -4 )

G o o d la n d (5 -5 )*

Hessto n (8-3 )*

Ho lto n (8-2)*

Hu g o to n (4 -5 )

In d ep en d en ce (5 -4 )

Io la (2-7)

Jefferso n W est (4 -5 )

K C Pip er (7-4 )*

K C S u m n er (2-7)

La b ette C o .(1-8)

La rn ed (0-9)

Lo u isb u rg (5 -6 )*

M a ize S o u th (5 -5 )*

M cPherso n (7-3 )*

M u lva n e (8-3 )*

N ickerso n (4 -5 )

O sa w a to m ie (1-8)

O tta w a (2-7)

Pa o la (11-2)*

Pa rso n s(7-3 )*

Perry-Leco m p to n (7-3 )*

Pra irie View (4 -5 )

Pra tt(4 -6 )*

Ro se Hill (13 -1)*

Ro ya l Va lley (5 -4 )

S a n ta Fe Tra il (0-9)

S m o ky Va lley (4 -5 )

S p rin g Hill (4 -5 )

S t.Ja m esAca d em y (4 -5 )

To n g a n o xie (1-8)

To p eka Ha yd en (11-2)*

To w a n d a C ircle (2-8)*

Ulysses(10-2)*

W a m eg o (1-8)

W ellin g to n (3 -6 )

W ichita C o lleg ia te (8-3 )* W ichita Trin ity (4 -5 )

Atchiso n C o u n ty (8-2)*

Belle Pla in e (5 -4 )

Belo it(9-3 )*

Bu rlin g to n (5 -4 )

C en tra l Heig hts(5 -5 )*

C ha p a rra l (1-8)

C herryva le (2-7)

C im a rro n (2-7)

C o n w a y S p rin g s(13 -1)*

Do u g la ss(5 -5 )*

Ellsw o r th (6 -4 )*

Erie (6 -5 )*

Eu reka (4 -5 )

Fred o n ia (1-8)

CLASS 4A SCHEDULES (C O N TIN UED FRO M PREVIO US PAG E)

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t M cPherso n Clea rw a ter a t W in field M u lva n e a t Bu hler Ro se Hill M a ize So u th a t To w a n d a Circle a t Hessto n a t Ha lstea d a t Nickerso n Ha ven Hillsbo ro a t K in gm a n a t Pra tt To w a n d a Circle a t M a ize So u th ElDo ra d o

a t Eu d o ra a t Ba seho r-Lin w o o d To n ga n o xie Bo n n erSprin gs a t La n sin g a t M illVa lley Atchiso n a t K C Su m n erAca d em y Bisho p W a rd (TH) ElDo ra d o Ha ys a t Ro se Hill Bu hler W in field a t M u lva n e a t Sm o ky Va lley Abilen e a t Cha pm a n a t Fo rt Sco tt Co ffeyville Cha n u te La bette Co u n ty a t Pittsbu rg a t Riverto n a t Fro n ten a c Gira rd a t In d epen d en ce Ro ya lVa lley a t Ho lto n Perry-Leco m pto n a t Jefferso n W est Sa betha a t Hia w a tha Eu d o ra a t Ba ld w in a t O tta w a

a t Au gu sta W in field W ichita Co llegia te a t An d a le W ellin gto n a t Clea rw a ter a t Hessto n ElDo ra d o M a ize So u th

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

In d epen d en ce a t Pa rso n s Io la a t Fo rt Sco tt a t Cha n u te Pittsbu rg a t La bette Co u n ty Co lu m bu s a t Ba xterSprin gs K C Piper a t Lo u isbu rg De So to a t Pa o la a t Sprin g Hill St.Ja m esAca d em y a t Sa n ta Fe Tra il a t O tta w a Ba ld w in De So to Sa n ta Fe Tra il a t Sa betha a t Hia w a tha Perry-Leco m pto n Jefferso n W est a t W a m ego To peka Ha yd en a t Ro ya lVa lley

a t Im m a cu la ta Sprin g Hill K C W ya n d o tte a t K C Schla gle a t K C W a shin gto n K C Ha rm o n a t Bisho p W a rd K C Piper a t Atchiso n Cha n u te Au gu sta a t Bu hler a t ElDo ra d o Ro se Hill M cPherso n a t W in field W ellin gto n a t Clea rw a ter Hia w a tha Sa betha a t Sa n ta Fe Tra il Nem a ha Va lley a t Ho lto n a t Ro ya lVa lley To n ga n o xie a t Ba seho r-Lin w o o d a t Jefferso n W est (TH) a t Sterlin g K in gm a n Ha lstea d a t Ha ven a t Hillsbo ro Lyo n s M cPherso n a t Cha pm a n a t Abilen e

a t Libera l Grea t Ben d Co lby a t Sco tt City a t Go o d la n d Ho lco m b La rn ed a t Pra tt Hu go to n

W in field (4 -5 )

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

M a rysville a t To w a n d a -Circle ElDo ra d o a t Ro se Hill a t M cPherso n Bu hler M u lva n e a t Clea rw a ter a t W ellin gto n

C a n ey Va lley (11-1)* Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Gira rd Co n w a y Sprin gs a t Bu rlin gto n Fred o n ia a t Eu reka Hu m bo ld t Cherryva le a t Neo d esha Erie

C o u n cil G ro ve (3 -7)*

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Herin gto n a t No rthern Heights Cha se Co u n ty a t Lyn d o n O sa ge City a t W est Fra n klin St.M a rys a t Ro ssville M issio n Va lley

CLASS 3A SCHEDULES Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Ja yha w k-Lin n Bu rlin gto n O sa w a to m ie a t An d erso n Co u n ty Io la a t Pra irie View a t W ellsville W est Fra n klin O sa ge City

a t Ga rd en Pla in Su n rise Christia n Aca . a t M ed icin e Lo d ge W ichita In d epen d en t Leo n -Blu estem a t W ichita Trin ity a t Cha pa rra l a t Belle Pla in e Co n w a y Sprin gs

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t O a kley Sco tt City a t Ulysses Hu go to n Ho lco m b a t No rto n Co n co rd ia a t Cla y Cen ter a t Go o d la n d Pa rso n s a t Co lu m bu s a t Pittsbu rg Co ffeyville a t In d epen d en ce La bette Co u n ty a t An d erso n Co u n ty a t Io la Cha n u te Go o d la n d a t Ho lco m b Gu ym o n (O kla .) a t Co lby Sco tt City a t SW Heights Pra tt La rn ed a t Ulysses a t Pittsbu rg a t Cha n u te In d epen d en ce a t Pa rso n s Pra irie View a t Fo rt Sco tt Co ffeyville a t Ba xterSprin gs Co lu m bu s Pra tt Hessto n a t Hillsbo ro K in gm a n a t Lyo n s a t Ha ven Chen ey An d a le a t Bu hler

O tta w a a t An d erso n Co u n ty W ellsville a t Io la a t La bette Co u n ty Cen tra lHeights a t Lo u isbu rg Pa o la O sa w a to m ie Lo u isbu rg a t K C Su m n erAca d em y Pa o la a t Ba ld w in Eu d o ra O tta w a a t St.Ja m esAca .(TH) DeSo to a t Bo n n erSprin gs(TH) a t Ro ck Creek M a rysville a t Co n co rd ia a t Cha pm a n Abilen e a t Cla y Cen ter Ho lto n Ro ya lVa lley a t To peka Ha yd en a t Tro y Ho rto n a t Do n ipha n W est Va lley Fa lls Riversid e a t Cen tra lia M a u rHill a t SilverLa ke Plea sa n t Rid ge

a t W ichita Trin ity Ga rd en Pla in a t Leo n -Blu estem M ed icin e Lo d ge a t W ichita In d epen d en t a t Chen ey Do u gla ss a t Co n w a y Sprin gs Belle Pla in e a t La rn ed a t Ru ssell Repu blic Co u n ty a t Tho m a sM o re Prep a t Belo it M in n ea po lis Lyo n s Sa cred Hea rt a t So u thea st o fSa lin e

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

So u thea st-Chero kee Fo rt Sco tt a t Gira rd a t Riverto n Ga len a a t St.M a ry’sCo lga n Ba xterSprin gs a t Co ffeyville a t La bette Co u n ty a t Riverto n a t So u thea st-Chero kee Ga len a a t St.M a ry’sCo lga n Erie Ba xterSprin gs Pa rso n s a t In d epen d en ce Gira rd a t Co ffeyville Pittsbu rg a t La bette Co u n ty a t An d o ver Fo rt Sco tt a t Cha n u te a t Gira rd Fro n ten a c Pa rso n s Ellsw o rth a t Ellin w o o d Tho m a sM o re Prep a t Ellis Cim a rro n Ho isin gto n a t Ulysses a t Hu go to n Pra tt Neo d esha Io la a t Cen tra lHeights a t W ellsville a t Bu rlin gto n An d erso n Co u n ty Pa o la Lo u isbu rg a t Pra irie View a t Nickerso n Ha ven a t K in gm a n Lyo n s a t Ha lstea d Hessto n a t Hu go to n Ulysses a t La rn ed a t Pa o la a t Bisho p W a rd Ba ld w in O tta w a a t Lo u isbu rg a t Eu d o ra Sprin g Hill(TH) a t Bo n n erSprin gs DeSo to (TH)

Go d d a rd a t Co n co rd ia Au gu sta a t W ichita Co llegia te a t To w a n d a -Circle An d a le Clea rw a ter a t M u lva n e W in field Chen ey W ichita Trin ity a t Ga rd en Pla in a t Leo n -Blu estem Ha ven W ichita In d epen d en t a t Co n w a y Sprin gs Do u gla ss a t Cha pa rra l a t Io la Co m m erce (O kla .)

Fred o n ia a t Bu rlin gto n Hu m bo ld t a t Eu reka a t Ca n ey Va lley Erie Neo d esha St.M a ry’sCo lga n Ga len a a t Riverto n Ba xterSprin gs a t Fro n ten a c So u thea st-Chero kee Neo d esha a t Cherryva le a t Ca n ey Va lley

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Belo it W ellin gto n a t W a m ego a t Abilen e M a rysville Cha pm a n a t Co lby Go o d la n d a t Cla y Cen ter Ca n ey Va lley Riverto n Co lu m bu s a t So u thea st-Chero kee St.M a ry’sCo lga n a t Ga len a In d epen d en ce a t Pa rso n s a t Fro n ten a c Cherryva le a t O sa w a to m ie a t Co ffeyville Pra irie View a t Cen tra lHeights a t W ellsville Cha n u te Fo rt Sco tt a t An d erso n Co u n ty a t Sprin g Hill Eu d o ra a t O tta w a a t DeSo to St.Ja m esAca d em y Ba ld w in Pra irie View a t O sa w a to m ie a t Pa o la a t Pra irie View a t DeSo to Lo u isbu rg a t St.Ja m esAca d em y Pa o la a t Sprin g Hill a t Ba ld w in Eu d o ra Sa n ta Fe Tra il a t Bu hler a t An d a le M cPherso n W in field a t M u lva n e a t ElDo ra d o Au gu sta a t W ichita Co llegia te W ichita Trin ity a t La n sin g Atchiso n a t K C Piper M illVa lley Bisho p W a rd a t K C Tu rn er a t Perry-Leco m pto n Jefferso n W est a t Ba seho r-Lin w o o d (TH) a t An d a le Bu hler a t To w a n d a -Circle W ellin gto n a t Clea rw a ter M a ize So u th a t W ichita Trin ity Ro se Hill Au gu sta

a t Co n co rd ia Sm ith Cen ter Ru ssell a t Sa cred Hea rt Ellsw o rth a t So u thea st o fSa lin e Phillipsbu rg a t No rto n a t M in n ea po lis Leo ti-W ichita Co . a t Syra cu se a t Su blette M ea d e a t La rn ed Elkha rt a t La kin SW Heights a t Ho lco m b a t Ha ven a t O sw ego No rthea st-Arm a Neo d esha Ca n ey Va lley Cherryva le a t Hu m bo ld t Bu rlin gto n a t Fred o n ia

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Ho lto n O tta w a a t Eu d o ra Lo u isbu rg Ba ld w in a t Pa o la Bo n n erSprin gs a t Sprin g Hill a t St.Ja m esAca d em y a t Hu go to n No rto n a t Bu rlin gto n (Co lo .) a t Ho lco m b Ulysses Sco tt City Cla y Cen ter a t Co n co rd ia Co lby Sa betha a t Hia w a tha a t Nem a ha Va lley Sa n ta Fe Tra il Ro ya lVa lley a t Ho lto n Ba seho r-Lin w o o d a t To n ga n o xie Perry-Leco m pto n (TH) a t Ark City Go d d a rd Eisen ho w er a t Va lley Cen ter An d o verCen tra l Go d d a rd a t W ichita Co llegia te a t ElDo ra d o Hessto n a t To w a n d a Circle St.Ja m esAca d em y Ba ld w in a t Sprin g Hill Eu d o ra a t O tta w a DeSo to a t O sa w a to m ie a t Pra irie View Lo u isbu rg a t Sa n ta Fe Tra il Nem a ha Va lley Hia w a tha a t Sa betha a t Jefferso n W est Perry-Leco m pto n a t To peka Ha yd en a t W a m ego Ho lto n To peka Sea m a n a t To peka High W a shbu rn Ru ra l a t Ju n ctio n City Em po ria a t To peka Highla n d Pa rk Ro ya lVa lley a t Ho lto n W a m ego Cha pa rra l a t Belle Pla in e a t Chen ey Ga rd en Pla in a t Co n w a y Sprin gs Do u gla ss W ichita Co llegia te a t Au gu sta a t Ro se Hill An d erso n Co u n ty a t Cen tra lHeights Ca n ey Va lley Cherryva le O sa w a to m ie a t Neo d esha a t Fred o n ia a t Eu reka Hu m bo ld t Leo n -Blu estem a t Ca n ey Va lley a t W ichita In d epen d en t Chen ey W ichita Trin ity a t Ga rd en Pla in Belle Pla in e Cha pa rra l a t Do u gla ss

O sw ego a t No rthea st-Arm a a t Cherryva le a t Ca n ey Va lley Neo d esha a t Su n rise Christia n Aca .

Bu rlin gto n a t Hu m bo ld t Eu reka

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7 G a len a (8-4 )*

Page 133

G a rd en Pla in (11-2)*

Ha lstea d (6 -3 )

Ha ven (2-7)

Hia w a tha (3 -7)*

Hillsb o ro (5 -5 )*

Ho isin g to n (5 -4 )

Ho lco m b (7-3 )*

Ho r to n (2-7)

Hu m b o ld t(2-7)

Hu tchin so n Trin ity (6 -3 )

K in g m a n (2-7)

La kin (4 -6 )*

Leo n -Blu estem (3 -7)*

Lyo n s(1-8)

M a rio n (5 -4 )

M a rysville (3 -6 )

M a u r Hill (4 -5 )

M in n ea p o lis(3 -6 )

M issio n Va lley (3 -6 )

M o u n d rid g e (5 -5 )*

N em a ha Va lley (5 -4 )

N eo d esha (8-2)*

N o r to n (3 -6 )

O sa g e C ity (6 -4 )*

Phillip sb u rg (7-3 )*

Plea sa n tRid g e (5 -4 )

Rem in g to n (3 -6 )

Riley C o u n ty (8-3 )*

Riversid e (9-2)*

River to n (5 -4 )

Ro ck C reek (9-4 )*

Ro ssville (9-2)*

Ru ssell (2-7)

S a b etha (5 -5 )*

S a cred Hea r t(6 -4 )*

S co ttC ity (11-1)*

S E S a lin e (8-2)*

S ed g w ick (10-1)*

S ilver La ke (12-2)*

S o u thea st-C hero kee (1-8)

S W Heig hts(2-7)

Tho m a sM o re Prep (5 -4 )

W ellsville (10-1)*

W estFra n klin (3 -6 )

W ichita In d ep en d en t(0-9)

Ben n in g to n (0-9)

C en tra lia (10-3 )*

C ha se C o u n ty (5 -4 )

Do n ip ha n W est(9-2)*

Elkha r t(3 -6 )

Ell-S a lin e (2-7)

Ellin w o o d (2-7)

Ellis(5 -5 )*

Herin g to n (5 -4 )

Im m a cu la ta (2-7)

In m a n (2-7)

Ja ckso n Heig hts(1-8)

Ja yha w k-Lin n (1-8)

JeffC o .N o r th (3 -7)*

La C ro sse (12-1)*

Leo ti-W ichita C o .(3 -6 )

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Ba xterSprin gs a t Erie a t Fro n ten a c No rthea st-Arm a a t Co lu m bu s Gira rd St.M a ry’sCo lga n So u thea st-Chero kee a t Riverto n Grea t Ben d a t La Cro sse a t Su n rise Christia n Aca .

Ellin w o o d Phillipsbu rg a t La rn ed a t Sco tt City Ru ssell a t Tho m a sM o re Prep Syra cu se a t M ea d e a t Elkha rt Su blette a t Stra tfo rd (Tex.) Ellin w o o d Cim a rro n a t Ho lco m b a t SW Heights Ru ssell a t W a shin gto n Co u n ty La Cro sse a t So u thea st o fSa lin e Sa cred Hea rt a t Ellsw o rth No rto n a t Phillipsbu rg Belo it

Cha se Co u n ty a t Lyn d o n Herin gto n a t No rthern Heights a t Co u n cilGro ve M issio n Va lley W est Fra n klin W ellsville a t Cen tra lHeights Fro n ten a c a t Gira rd Erie Co lu m bu s a t Ba xterSprin gs Pa rso n s a t So u thea st-Chero kee a t St.M a ry’sCo lga n Ga len a

a t Abilen e a t Co lby Ho lco m b Ulysses a t Hu go to n a t Go o d la n d Ho isin gto n Tho m a sM o re Prep a t Ru ssell

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Do u gla ss a t Cha pa rra l Belle Pla in e a t W ichita Trin ity a t Chen ey Co n w a y Sprin gs a t Ha ven Hu tchin so n Trin ity a t K in gm a n M ea d e Hu go to n a t Sco tt City Go o d la n d a t Co lby a t Ulysses a t SW Heights La kin Cim a rro n

a t Co n w a y Sprin gs M ed icin e Lo d ge Cha pa rra l Belle Pla in e a t Do u gla ss a t No rthea st-Arm a W hitew a terRem in gto n a t Sed gw ick a t W ichita In d epen d en t Lyn d o n a t Herin gto n No rthern Heights a t Cha se Co u n ty W est Fra n klin a t O sa ge City Ro ssville a t St.M a rys a t Co u n cilGro ve Pla in ville a t O berlin -Deca tu rCo .

O a kley a t Sm ith Cen ter a t Ho isin gto n Tho m a sM o re Prep a t Belo it M in n ea po lis No rto n W a m ego W a ba u n see a t St.M a rys a t SilverLa ke Ro ssville Christ Prep Aca d em y a t M a rysville a t Nem a ha Va lley Riley Co u n ty Repu blic Co u n ty Cha pm a n a t W hitew a terRem in gto n M in n ea po lis a t Ru ssell Belo it a t Sa cred Hea rt a t Lyo n s Ellsw o rth

S t.M a ry’sC o lg a n (11-1)* S t.M a rys(4 -6 )*

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Erie a t Ba xterSprin gs An d erso n Co u n ty (TH) Fro n ten a c a t Gira rd Co lu m bu s a t Ga len a Riverto n a t So u thea st-Chero kee

CLASS 2A SCHEDULES Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

M a rio n W hitew a terRem in gto n a t M o u n d rid ge a t Sed gw ick Pla in ville a t Sm ith Cen ter Repu blic Co u n ty a t W a shin gto n Co u n ty Ben n in gto n a t Ho rto n a t O ska lo o sa Va lley Fa lls M a u rHill a t Tro y a t Do n ipha n W est Jefferso n Co .No rth Va lley Heights a t Cen tra lia

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t Cen tra lia a t Va lley Heights Ro ck Creek W a bu a n see SilverLa ke a t Riley Co u n ty a t Co u n cilGro ve M issio n Va lley a t Ro ssville a t W hitew a terRem in gto n In m a n a t M a rio n M o u n d rid ge a t Repu blic Co u n ty Pla in ville a t W a shin gto n Co u n ty Sm ith Cen ter a t Ell-Sa lin e a t Tho m a sM o re Prep La rn ed Ellis a t Ho isin gto n a t Sterlin g a t La kin M ed icin e Lo d ge a t La Cro sse In m a n Cen tra lHeights a t Hu m bo ld t Im m a cu la ta Jefferso n Co .No rth a t No rthea st-Arm a a t Lyn d o n Christ Prep Aca .(Sa t) O sw ego O lpe

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

Hessto n a t Lyo n s a t Sm o ky Va lley Sterlin g Pra tt a t K in gm a n a t M a rio n M o u n d rid ge Hillsbo ro Ja ckso n Heights a t Atchiso n Co u n ty a t Tro y Do n ipha n W est O PEN M a u rHill a t Hia w a tha Sa betha a t Riversid e Hillsbo ro Ha lstea d a t Sterlin g a t Pra tt Nickerso n a t Sm o ky Va lley a t Ellsw o rth So u thea st o fSa lin e a t Sa cred Hea rt a t In m a n Hu tchin so n Trin ity Ell-Sa lin e a t Ben n in gto n W hitew a terRem in gto n a t Sed gw ick Hillsbo ro a t Ha lstea d M a rio n Atchiso n a t JeffCo .No rth O ska lo o sa Im m a cu la ta a t M cLo u th Va lley Fa lls a t SilverLa ke M a u rHill a t Atchiso n Co u n ty a t Cha pm a n Abilen e a t W a ba u n see a t Riley Co u n ty a t Ro ck Creek SilverLa ke a t M issio n Va lley Co u n cilGro ve St.M a rys a t O lpe a t M a rio n Sa cred Hea rt Ell-Sa lin e a t Hu tchin so n Trin ity M o u n d rid ge a t W ichita In d epen d en t Leo n -Blu estem a t W hitew a terRem in gto n Ellin w o o d Cla y Cen ter a t La rn ed Ellsw o rth a t La Cro sse a t Phillipsbu rg Ru ssell a t Sco tt City Ho isin gto n

St.M a rys a t Riley Co u n ty W a shin gto n Co u n ty a t O n a ga a t Va lley Heights Atchiso n Co u n ty Tro y a t Do n ipha n W est Ja ckso n Heights La Cro sse a t Pla in ville a t Ellin w o o d La rn ed No rto n Leo ti-W ichita Co . a t St.Fra n cis O berlin -Deca tu rCo . a t O a kley a t Christ Prep Aca d em y Plea sa n t Rid ge O lpe a t Ja yha w k-Lin n Im m a cu la ta a t M cLo u th a t Ja ckso n Heights O ska lo o sa a t Va lley Fa lls

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

Eu reka a t Pra tt a t Hessto n Sm o ky Va lley a t Belle Pla in e Nickerso n Ga rd en Pla in a t K in gm a n Hu tchin so n Trin ity No rthea st-Arm a Ja yha w k-Lin n a t Neo d esha O sw ego a t Cherryva le a t Ca n ey Va lley Eu reka Fred o n ia a t Bu rlin gto n a t Ell-Sa lin e Sed gw ick Ben n in gto n a t In m a n Su n rise Christia n Aca . a t Hu tchin so n Trin ity Ha lstea d a t Hillsbo ro a t M o u n d rid ge a t M cLo u th a t Ro ya lVa lley Jefferso n W est a t Perry-Leco m pto n Hia w a tha a t Sa betha Riley Co u n ty Ro ck Creek a t M a rysville Ben n in gto n a t Ell-Sa lin e So u thea st o fSa lin e Hu tchin so n Trin ity a t M o u n d rid ge a t Hillsbo ro a t Leo n -Blu estem W ichita In d epen d en t Sed gw ick a t M in n ea po lis Ellsw o rth a t Belo it a t Repu blic Co u n ty So u thea st o fSa lin e Sa cred Hea rt a t Tho m a sM o re Prep a t Ho isin gto n Sco tt City a t W a ba u n see a t Neo d esha Riley Co u n ty Ro ck Creek a t St.M a rys a t Ro ssville Plea sa n t Rid ge Atchiso n Co u n ty a t M a u rHill a t Ba ld w in O lpe a t Pra irie View O sa w a to m ie a t An d erso n Co u n ty Io la Cen tra lHeights a t O sa ge City a t W est Fra n klin a t O sa ge City W est Fra n klin a t Co u n cilGro ve M issio n Va lley a t Herin gto n No rthern Heights a t O n a ga a t O lpe W a ba u n see a t Co u n cilGro ve M issio n Va lley a t O sa ge City W est Fra n klin Cha se Co u n ty a t W a ba u n see In m a n No rthern Heights a t O n a ga a t Ellis Ho sin gto n a t M in n ea po lis a t Pla in ville Tho m a sM o re Prep In m a n a t Sterlin g Ellin w o o d a t M ed icin e Lo d ge

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t Perry-Leco m pto n Jefferso n W est a t Ro ya lVa lley Ho lto n a t Nem a ha Va lley Sa n ta Fe Tra il Ho rto n a t Riversid e a t Sa betha a t Sa cred Hea rt a t M o u n d rid ge In m a n a t W hitew a terRem in gto n Sed gw ick M a rio n K in gm a n a t Ga rd en Pla in a t Ha ven a t W in field a t W a m ego Cha pm a n Cla y Cen ter a t Co n co rd ia a t Abilen e Ro ck Creek a t Riley Co u n ty Nem a ha Va lley a t O sa w a to m ie SilverLa ke Hu m bo ld t a t Eu reka a t Fred o n ia Bu rlin gto n a t Erie Ca n ey Va lley a t Cherryva le a t Cla y Cen ter Cen tra lia a t SilverLa ke Ro ssville a t W a ba u n see St.M a rys a t Nem a ha Va lley M a rysville a t Ro ck Creek a t Jefferso n W est a t Perry-Leco m pto n Ho lto n Ro ya lVa lley a t Sa n ta Fe Tra il Nem a ha Va lley Riversid e a t Ho rto n Hia w a tha a t Co lu m bu s Fro n ten a c a t Ba xterSprin gs Gira rd a t O sw ego a t Erie Riverto n a t Ga len a St.M a ry’sCo lga n

No rthern Heights a t Cha se Co u n ty Lyn d o n a t Herin gto n a t M issio n Va lley Co u n cilGro ve a t O sa ge City a t Cen tra lHeights W ellsville a t Riversid e M cLo u th Atchiso n Co u n ty a t Ho rto n a t M a u rHill Ja ckso n Heights a t Va lley Heights Cen tra lia a t Tro y

K C Su m n erAca d em y O n a ga a t Ja yha w k-Lin n a t Plea sa n t Rid ge a t Jefferso n Co .No rth O ska lo o sa Va lley Fa lls Tro y a t M cLo u th a t Cim a rro n Sta n to n Co u n ty a t Syra cu se a t Elkha rt O a kley a t Ellis M ea d e St.Fra n cis a t O berlin -Deca tu rCo .

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t Lyo n s Sterlin g Nickerso n a t Hessto n Sm o ky Va lley W hitew a terRem in gto n a t M o u n d rid ge M a rio n a t Ha lstea d a t Su n rise Christia n Aca . a t Sm o ky Va lley Pra tt a t Nickerso n Hessto n Ha lstea d a t Hu tchin so n Trin ity Ha ven Ga rd en Pla in a t O ska lo o sa Tro y Riversid e a t Ja ckso n Heights Do n ipha n W est a t Ho rto n a t Atchiso n Co u n ty a t Plea sa n t Rid ge SilverLa ke Sm ith Cen ter a t Go o d la n d Pla in ville a t O berlin -Deca tu rCo . a t Ellis Co lby a t M in n ea po lis Belo it a t Phillipsbu rg Do n ipha n W est a t Va lley Fa lls a t M a u rHill Tro y a t Atchiso n Co u n ty O n a ga a t Sa betha Hia w a tha Ho rto n Hu tchin so n Trin ity a t Repu blic Co u n ty a t Sed gw ick Belo it a t M in n ea po lis a t Ru ssell So u thea st o fSa lin e a t Ellsw o rth Lyo n s a t Su blette Elkha rt a t M ea d e a t Sta n to n Co u n ty Syra cu se Hu go to n Ho lco m b a t Cim a rro n La kin M ed icin e Lo d ge a t Chen ey Co n w a y Sprin gs a t Do u gla ss Cha pa rra l a t Belle Pla in e Sed gw ick a t W hitew a terRem in gto n Leo n -Blu estem

Tu rtin (O kla .) a t So u thw estern Heights La kin Leo ti-W ichita Co .

Su blette a t Cim a rro n a t Sta n to n Co u n ty a t M ea d e Syra cu se M o u n d rid ge a t Ben n in gto n a t Hu tchin so n Trin ity M a rio n M ed icin e Lo d ge a t La Cro sse a t Herin gto n Sterlin g a t Ellin w o o d

S C HEDULES C O LLEG E -PG 13 6 >>>

S C HEDULE K EY : TH = THURS DAY ; S AT = S ATURDAY ; * = PLAY O FF Q UALIFIER IN 2011

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 134

Lyn d o n (8-2)*

CLASS 2A SCHEDULES (C O N TIN UED FRO M PREVIO US PAG E)

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t M issio n Va lley O sa ge City a t W est Fra n klin Co u n cilGro ve a t O lpe Ja yha w k-Lin n O sw ego a t No rthea st-Arm a a t No rthern Heights

M cLo u th (7-2)

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

Nem a ha Va lley a t Do n ipha n W est Christ Prep Aca d em y a t O lpe Plea sa n t Rid ge Jefferso n Co .No rth a t O ska lo o sa a t Va lley Fa lls Im m a cu la ta

M ea d e (10-1)* Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t Ho lco m b La kin So u thw estern Heights a t Cim a rro n a t Sta n to n Co u n ty Syra cu se a t Leo ti-W ichita Co .

Elkha rt a t Su blette

M ed icin e Lo d g e (4 -6 )*

N o r thea st-Arm a (0-9)

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t W ichita In d epen d en t a t Leo n -Blu estem Do u gla ss a t Cha pa rra l a t In m a n Sterlin g a t Ellin w o o d Su blette La Cro sse

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t Hu m bo ld t Fred o n ia a t Eu reka a t Ga len a Ja yha w k-Lin n Leo n -Blu estem a t O lpe Lyn d o n a t O sw ego

N o r thern Heig hts(0-9)

O a kley (7-3 )*

O b erlin -Deca tu r C o .(4 -5 ) O lp e (5 -4 )

O n a g a (4 -5 )

O ska lo o sa (0-9)

O sw eg o (3 -6 )

Pla in ville (10-2)*

Rep u b lic C o u n ty (0-9)

S m ith C en ter (8-2)*

S t.Fra n cis(2-7)

S ta n to n C o u n ty (9-2)*

S terlin g (7-3 )*

S u b lette (5 -4 )

S yra cu se (1-8)

Tro y (2-7)

Va lley Fa lls(2-7)

Va lley Heig hts(3 -6 )

W a b a u n see (4 -6 )*

W a shin g to n C o .(4 -5 )

Atw o o d -Ra w lin sC o .(4 -5 ) Bu rlin g a m e (3 -6 )

C a n to n -G a lva (2-7)

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

a t W est Fra n klin Co u n cilGro ve a t M issio n Va lley O sa ge City O n a ga a t Cha se Co u n ty W a ba u n see a t Herin gto n Lyn d o n

a t Fred o n ia Eu reka Co m m erce (O kla .) a t Hu m bo ld t So u thea st-Chero kee O lpe a t Lyn d o n a t Ja yha w k-Lin n No rthea st-Arm a Sm o ky Va lley a t Hillsbo ro Lyo n s a t Ha lstea d Ellin w o o d a t M ed icin e Lo d ge La Cro sse a t In m a n vs.Sta n to n Co .(a t Do d ge City)

SilverLa ke a t Ro ck Creek Ro ssville a t St.M a rys Riley Co u n ty Herin gto n a t No rthern Heights O n a ga a t Cha se Co u n ty

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

Co lby Su blette a t Phillipsbu rg Syra cu se a t Leo ti-W ichita Co .

St.Fra n cis a t O berlin -Deca tu rCo .

O PEN Ellis a t Phillipsbu rg Ellis a t No rto n La Cro sse a t Ell-Sa lin e a t Ben n in gto n Sm ith Cen ter a t Repu blic Co u n ty W a shin gto n Co u n ty So u thw estern Heights a t O a kley Cim a rro n a t La kin a t Elkha rt Sta n to n Co u n ty a t Syra cu se a t M ed icin e Lo d ge M ea d e a t O n a ga M in n ea po lis a t Cen tra lia Va lley Heights Sm ith Cen ter a t Repu blic Co u n ty Ben n in gto n Ell-Sa lin e a t Pla in ville

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26

Ca m brid ge (Neb.) Phillipsbu rg a t Sm ith Cen ter No rto n a t St.Fra n cis Perkin sCo u n ty (Neb.) O a kley a t Ellis Leo ti-W ichita Co . a t So u thea st o fSa lin e Sa cred Hea rt a t Ellsw o rth Ru ssell Ben n in gto n W a shin gto n Co u n ty a t Ell-Sa lin e Pla in ville a t Sm ith Cen ter

a t La kin Cim a rro n Leo ti-W ichita Co . a t O a kley a t So u thw estern Heights a t M ea d e Su blette Sta n to n Co u n ty a t Elkha rt

8-MAN DIVISION I SCHEDULES

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Sed gw ick a t W ellsville a t Jefferso n Co .No rth M cLo u th Lyn d o n a t O sw ego No rthea st-Arm a Cha se Co u n ty a t Ja yha w k-Lin n a t No rto n a t Belo it O berlin -Deca tu rCo .

Phillipsbu rg a t W a shin gto n Co u n ty Ell-Sa lin e a t Pla in ville a t Ben n in gto n Repu blic Co u n ty Atchiso n Co u n ty a t M a u rHill Ho rto n a t Riversid e Ja ckso n Heights Va lley Heights a t Cen tra lia a t Im m a cu la ta Do n ipha n W est W hea tla n d -Grin n ell Cheylin a t Sylva n -Lu ca sUn ified Q u in ter a t HillCity W a K een ey-Trego a t Q u in ter NessCity a t Ho xie

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

W a shin gto n Co u n ty a t Im m a cu la ta a t Va lley Heights Cen tra lia a t No rthern Heights a t Riversid e Cha se Co u n ty a t W a ba u n see Herin gto n a t Ho lo yo ke (Co lo .) a t Du n d y Co u n ty (Neb.) a t Sta n to n Co u n ty a t W ra y (Co lo .)

O berlin -Deca tu rCo . a t O a kley Ellis a t Leo ti-W ichita Co .

O PEN Va lley Heights Riversid e a t Ja ckso n Heights a t Atchiso n Co u n ty O ska lo o sa a t Plea sa n t Rid ge a t Im m a cu la ta M cLo u th Jefferso n Co .No rth So u thern Co ffey Co . a t Verita sChristia n Pea bo d y-Bu rn s a t Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs Ha rtfo rd a t Flin thills M a d iso n a t Lebo a t Sed a n

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 26 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

M a u rHill Ja ckso n Heights Plea sa n t Rid ge a t Christ Prep Aca .(Sa t) a t Va lley Fa lls a t Im m a cu la ta M cLo u th a t Jefferso n Co .No rth Va lley Heights a t Bea ver(O kla .) a t Leo ti-W ichita Co .

St.Fra n cis So u thw estern Heights M ea d e a t Su blette Elkha rt a t Syra cu se vs.Sterlin g (a t Do d ge City) a t Va lley Fa lls St.M a rys O n a ga a t W a shin gto n Co u n ty Cen tra lia a t Tro y Do n ipha n W est a t Ja ckso n Heights a t O ska lo o sa a t Cen tra lChristia n a t Go essel St.Jo hn ’sM ilita ry Pea bo d y-Bu rn s a t Cen tra lPla in s So lo m o n a t Pretty Pra irie Little River a t Lin co ln

C ed a r Va le-Dexter (1-8)

C en tra l Bu rd en (9-2)*

C en tra l Pla in s(9-2)*

C en tre-Lo stS p rin g s(3 -6 )* C lifto n -C lyd e (7-2)

Deer field (2-7)

Fa ir field (3 -6 )

Flin thills(2-7)

Ha r tfo rd (1-7)

Hill C ity (4 -5 )

Ho d g em a n C o u n ty (5 -3 )

Ho xie (6 -3 )

K in sley (4 -5 )

K io w a C o u n ty (3 -6 )

La kesid e-Do w n s(11-1)*

Leb o (8-2)*

Lin co ln (5 -4 )

Lin n (4 -5 )*

Little River (7-3 )*

M a cksville (10-1)*

M a d iso n (13 -0)*

M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills(7-3 )* M a ra isd esC yg n es(5 -4 )

M a rm a to n Va lley (7-3 )*

M in n eo la (4 -5 )

N essC ity (8-2)*

O sb o rn e (10-2)*

O xfo rd (3 -6 )

Pea b o d y-Bu rn s(4 -5 )

Pike Va lley (1-8)

Plea sa n to n (4 -5 )

Pra ttS kylin e (6 -3 )

Pretty Pra irie (8-2)*

Q u in ter (6 -4 )*

S a ta n ta (0-9)

S ed a n (8-1)

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Flin thills a t Argo n ia a t So u th Ha ven Sed a n a t Cen tra lBu rd en a t Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs W est Elk a t O xfo rd Ud a ll Bu rrto n a t Pretty Pra irie a t K in sley So u th Cen tra l a t Pra tt Skylin e a t Cu n n in gha m K io w a Co u n ty a t St.Jo hn M a cksville NessCity W ilso n Fa irfield K io w a Co u n ty a t St.Jo hn a t M a cksville a t W ichita W o rd o fLife So u th Cen tra l a t Pra tt Skylin e

W a kefield a t Pea bo d y-Bu rn s W hite City a t Cen tra lChristia n a t Pretty Pra irie Lin co ln a t So lo m o n a t Ca n to n -Ga lva Cen tra lPla in s a t K io w a Co u n ty Fo w ler Ashla n d a t Bu cklin Deerfield a t So u th Gra y Ho d gem a n Co u n ty a t Sa ta n ta Spea rville Co lo n y Crest (TH) a t Alto o n a -M id w a y a t Cheto pa So u thern Co ffey Co .

Y a tesCen ter a t St.Pa u l M a rm a to n Va lley a t Un io n to w n M a ra isd esCygn esVa lley

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Ca ld w ell a t Flin thills a t Sed a n Y a tesCen ter Ced a rVa le-Dexter a t W est Elk O xfo rd a t Ud a ll So u th Ha ven

a t Ced a rVa le-Dexter Cen tra lBu rd en a t O xfo rd a t M a d iso n Lebo Bu rlin ga m e a t Pea bo d y-Bu rn s Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs a t Ha rtfo rd M in n eo la a t So u th Gra y M a cksville a t K in sley a t So u th Cen tra l Pra tt Skylin e a t Fa irfield Attica St.Jo hn Victo ria a t NessCity a t K io w a Co u n ty St.Jo hn So u th Ba rber K in sley a t So u th Cen tra l Pra tt Skylin e a t Fa irfield a t K in sley M a cksville Victo ria a t Ho d gem a n Co u n ty a t Q u in ter Ho xie a t W a K een ey-Trego a t Atw o o d -Ra w lin sCo .

HillCity a t So u th Ba rber Cu n n in gha m a t So u th Cen tra l O tis-Biso n Fa irfield a t K io w a Co u n ty St.Jo hn a t M a cksville K in sley

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Sta ffo rd a t O tis-Biso n a t St.Jo hn a t Victo ria Ca n to n -Ga lva Pretty Pra irie a t Lin co ln So lo m o n a t Little River

M a ra isd esCygn esVa lley a t W a verly M a d iso n a t Lebo a t Bu rlin ga m e Pea bo d y-Bu rn s a t Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs W est Elk Flin thills a t Lin co ln Cha se O sbo rn e a t Lin n a t Clifto n -Clyd e Pike Va lley a t M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills Belo it St.Jo hn ’s-Tipto n W a kefield Ba ileyville B&B a t M a ra isd esCygn es a t Ha rtfo rd Flin thills W ichita Ho m e Scho o l Lebo a t Bu rlin ga m e Pea bo d y-Bu rn s a t Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs W a K een ey-Trego a t HillCity a t La kesid e-Do w n s W a kefield a t Sto ckto n Lin n a t Clifto n -Clyd e Pike Va lley a t M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills

a t Cu n n in gha m Fa irfield vs.Ba ileyville B&B (a t So lo m o n ) a t No rw ich Little River a t Cen tra lPla in s Ca n to n -Ga lva Lin co ln a t So lo m o n

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Go essel a t W a kefield a t Lebo Bu rlin ga m e a t Pea bo d y-Bu rn s Ced a rVa le-Dexter Ha rtfo rd a t Flin thills M a d iso n

a t Sto ckto n O sbo rn e W ichita W o rd o fLife a t Sa ta n ta Atw o o d -Ra w lin sCo .

Q u in ter a t Ho xie W a K een ey-Trego a t NessCity W a verly a t So u thern Co ffey Co .

Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs Ha rtfo rd a t Flin thills a t M a d iso n O la the Ea st Christia n Bu rlin ga m e a t Pea bo d y-Bu rn s a t Thu n d erRid ge Ha n o ver a t Lin n Clifto n -Clyd e a t Pike Va lley Hu tch Cen tra lChristia n La kesid e-Do w n s a t W a kefield O sbo rn e a t Attica a t No rw ich Flin thills a t Ud a ll So u th Ha ven Sed a n a t Cen tra lBu rd en Ced a rVa le-Dexter a t W est Elk Go ld en Pla in s a t Ba ileyville B&B a t Dighto n a t Atw o o d -Ra w lin sCo .

NessCity a t HillCity Atw o o d -Ra w lin sCo .

Ho xie a t W a K een ey-Trego

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

O PEN Axtell Pike Va lley a t M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills La kesid e-Do w n s a t W a kefield O sbo rn e a t Lin n In d .Ho m e Scho o l Fo w ler a t Ashla n d a t W a K een ey-Trego NessCity Spea rville Sa ta n ta a t M in n eo la Deerfield a t So u th Gra y

La kesid e-Do w n s Sylva n -Lu ca sUn ified a t Ha n o ver Pike Va lley a t So lo m o n a t Little River Cen tra lPla in s a t Pretty Pra irie Ca n to n -Ga lva a t Ha rtfo rd M a d iso n So u thern Co ffey Co . a t W a verly M a rm a to n Va lley Y a tesCen ter a t Un io n to w n St.Pa u l a t Plea sa n to n a t W hite City Little River a t Bu rlin ga m e a t Ca n to n -Ga lva Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs a t Ha rtfo rd Flin thills a t M a d iso n Lebo a t Go o d w ell(O kla .) a t M o sco w In ga lls HillCity So u th Gra y a t Ho d gem a n Co u n ty Spea rville M in n eo la a t Deerfield

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t W ichita W o rd o fLife Ro lla M o sco w a t Fo w ler a t M in n eo la a t Spea rville So u th Gra y a t Ho d gem a n Co u n ty Sa ta n ta Tribu n e-Greeley Co . a t Sha ro n Sprin gs O tis-Biso n Dighto n a t W a K een ey-Trego a t NessCity HillCity a t Q u in ter Atw o o d -Ra w lin sCo .

Ha n o ver a t Blu e Va lley Ra n d o lph M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills La kesid e-Do w n s a t W a kefield a t O sbo rn e So u thern Clo u d Clifto n -Clyd e a t Pike Va lley Cheto pa Co lo n y Crest Blu e Va lley Ra n d o lph a t Alto o n a -M id w a y a t M a ra isd esCygn es Un io n to w n a t Plea sa n to n Y a tesCen ter a t St.Pa u l

Belo it St.Jo hn ’s-Tipto n Thu n d erRid ge a t Clifto n -Clyd e a t Lin co ln M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills a t La kesid e-Do w n s W a kefield a t O sbo rn e Lin n a t Y a tesCen ter Un io n to w n Cen tra lBu rd en a t Ced a rVa le-Dexter W est Elk a t O xfo rd Ud a ll a t So u th Ha ven Bu rlin ga m e

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 135

S o lo m o n (4 -5 )

S o u th C en tra l (3 -6 )

S o u th G ra y (11-1)*

S o u th Ha ven (11-1)*

S p ea rville (0-9)

S t.Jo hn (6 -3 )

S t.Pa u l (6 -3 )

Ud a ll (7-3 )*

Un io n to w n (4 -5 )

W a K een ey-Treg o (3 -6 )

W a kefield (4 -5 )

W estElk (5 -4 )

Alto o n a -M id w a y (1-8)

Arg o n ia (4 -5 )

Ashla n d (9-1)*

Attica (0-9)

Belo it-S t.Jo hn (2-7)

BV Ra n d o lp h (4 -5 )

Bu cklin (0-8)

Bu rr to n (2-7)

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Ho pe W hite City a t W a kefield a t Sylva n -Lu ca sUn ified Lin co ln a t Ca n to n -Ga lva Little River a t Cen tra lPla in s Pretty Pra irie W est Elk a t Cheto pa Alto o n a -M id w a y Co lo n y Crest a t Un io n to w n Plea sa n to n a t Y a tesCen ter a t M a ra isd esCygn es M a rm a to n Va lley

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Ashla n d a t Bu cklin Pra tt Skylin e a t Fa irfield K io w a Co u n ty a t St.Jo hn M a cksville a t K in sley W ichita W a rrio rs Argo n ia a t Ca ld w ell a t W est Elk O xfo rd Cen tra lChristia n So u th Ha ven a t Sed a n Cen tra lBu rd en a t Ced a rVa le-Dexter

Y a tesC en ter (0-9) Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Sed a n a t W est Elk W a verly a t Cen tra lBu rd en a t Plea sa n to n a t M a ra isd esCygn es St.Pa u l a t M a rm a n to n Va lley Un io n to w n

Axtell (2-7) Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Lew isto n (Neb.) a t Clifto n -Clyd e a t Fa llCity (Neb.) St.Jo hn ’sM ilita ry a t Ba ileyville B&B Ha n o ver a t Fra n kfo rt Blu e Va lley Ra n d o lph W ichita W o rd o fLife

8-MAN DIVISION II SCHEDULES Ba ileyville B&B (11-1)* Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t M a d iso n Q u in ter Pretty Pra irie (a t So lo m o n ) In d .Ho m e Scho o l Axtell Fra n kfo rt O PEN a t Ha n o ver a t Blu e Va lley Ra n d o lph

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t In ga lls K io w a Co u n ty Bu cklin a t Ro lla a t Sa ta n ta M in n eo la a t Deerfield a t Spea rville Ho d gem a n Co u n ty Alto o n a -M id w a y a t Sed a n a t Co lo n y Crest Cheto pa St.Pa u l a t M a rm a to n Va lley M a ra isd esCygn esVa lley Plea sa n to n a t Y a tesCen ter a t Un io n to w n Plea sa n to n a t St.Pa u l M a rm a to n Va lley a t Cheto pa W a verly So u thern Co ffey Co .

Elk Va lley a t Co lo n y Crest a t Pike Va lley So u thern Clo u d a t Sto ckto n a t Thu n d erRid ge a t No rthern Va lley Pa lco a t Lo ga n a t La kesid e-Do w n s Na to m a

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

No rw ich a t So u th Ba rber Ced a rVa le-Dexter W est Elk a t O xfo rd a t Ud a ll Ca ld w ell Sed a n a t Cen tra lBu rd en

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t O sbo rn e Sto ckto n Ho d gem a n Co u n ty a t In ga lls Ho xie a t Atw o o d -Ra w lin sCo .

NessCity a t HillCity Q u in ter a t Ud a ll Ced a rVa le-Dexter No rw ich a t Cu n n in gha m Attica a t Sta ffo rd So u th Ba rber a t Ca ld w ell Bu rrto n a t Flin t HillsChristia n Lin n a t M a rm a to n Va lley Verita sChristia n a t Fra n kfo rt In d .Ho m e Scho o l a t Ha n o ver a t Axtell Ba ileyville B&B

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

(Sa t)

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Bu cklin a t In ga lls Fo w ler a t Ashla n d a t Ho d gem a n Co u n ty Deerfield a t Sa ta n ta So u th Gra y a t M in n eo la a t Little River Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs So lo m o n a t O sbo rn e Lin n Clifto n -Clyd e a t Pike Va lley M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills a t La kesid e-Do w n s a t So u th Cen tra l Ho d gem a n Co u n ty a t M in n eo la Spea rville a t Bu cklin Ro lla a t M o sco w In ga lls a t Fo w ler a t Spea rville So u th Cen tra l a t So u th Gra y M in n eo la Ashla n d M o sco w a t Fo w ler Ro lla a t In ga lls

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t O tis-Biso n a t Victo ria Cen tra lPla in s a t M a cksville K in sley So u th Cen tra l a t Pra tt Skylin e Fa irfield a t K io w a Co u n ty a t St.Pa u l Y a tesCen ter Ud a ll a t So u th Ha ven a t Sed a n Cen tra lBu rd en a t Ced a rVa le-Dexter a t Ha rtfo rd O xfo rd O xfo rd a t Cen tra lChristia n So u th Ba rber a t Ca ld w ell a t Argo n ia No rw ich a t Cu n n in gha m a t K io w a Co u n ty Sta ffo rd a t Fa irfield Sta ffo rd Tesco tt a t Go essel Cha se a t W hite City Ho pe a t So u thern Clo u d a t Argo n ia

C a ld w ell (5 -4 )

C ha se (6 -3 )*

C heto p a (6 -4 )*

C heylin (8-2)*

C o lo n y C rest(3 -6 )

C u n n in g ha m (2-6 )

Dig hto n (7-2)

Elk Va lley (0-6 )

Fo w ler (3 -6 )

Fra n kfo r t(6 -3 )*

G o essel (1-8)

G o ld en Pla in s(4 -5 )

Ha n o ver (4 -4 )

Ho p e (10-1)*

In g a lls(5 -4 )

Lo g a n (1-7)

M o sco w (8-2)*

N a to m a (0-8)

N o r thern Va lley (6 -3 )

N o rw ich (3 -6 )

O tis-Biso n (10-2)*

Pa lco (5 -4 )

Ro lla (0-9)

S ha ro n S p rin g s(8-2)*

S o u th Ba rb er (8-3 )*

S o u thern C lo u d (0-9)

S o u thern C o ffey C o .(3 -6 ) S ta ffo rd (2-6 )

S to ckto n (1-8)

S ylva n -Lu ca s(2-7)

Tesco tt(0-8)

Thu n d er Rid g e (13 -0)*

Trib u n e-G reeley C o .(1-8) Trip la in s-Brew ster (0-8)

Victo ria (6 -5 )*

W a verly (8-2)*

W eska n (4 -5 )

W estern Pla in s(0-0)

W hea tla n d -G rin n ell (6 -3 ) W hite C ity (7-2)

W ilso n (3 -6 )

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Cen tra lBu rd en Ud a ll Cu n n in gha m Attica a t Sta ffo rd a t So u th Ba rber a t So u th Ha ven Argo n ia a t No rw ich

Sha ro n Sprin gs a t Tribu n e-Greeley Co .

Q u in ter a t Ho xie a t O tis-Biso n W ilso n a t Victo ria Sylva n -Lu ca sUn ified a t W estern Pla in s a t Lin n a t M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills Lin co ln a t To peka Ca irPa ra vel In d .Ho m e Scho o l a t Axtell Blu e Va lley Ra n d o lph Ba ileyville B&B Fra n kfo rt Alm a (Neb.) a t Tripla in s-Brew ster Pa lco a t Lo ga n Belo it St.Jo hn ’s-Tipto n a t Na to m a Sto ckto n a t Thu n d erRid ge Go ld en Pla in s Pra tt Skylin e So u th Ha ven a t Attica Sta ffo rd a t M a cksville Ca ld w ell a t Argo n ia No rw ich a t Cu n n in gha m

a t Lo ga n Na to m a a t Bu rrto n a t W ilso n Go essel a t Cha se W hite City a t Ho pe So u thern Clo u d a t Pa lco Lo ga n a t W estern Pla in s Go ld en Pla in s a t Tripla in s-Brew ster a t Cheylin W hea tla n d -Grin n ell a t Sha ro n Sprin gs Tribu n e-Greeley Co .

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t W ilso n a t La kesid e-Do w n s Ho pe a t So u thern Clo u d a t Bu rrto n Tesco tt a t Go essel St.Jo hn ’sM ilita ry W hite City a t Tyro Christia n a t W ichita W o rd o fLife a t Tyro Christia n W ichita W o rd o fLife a t So .Co ffey Co u n ty Co lo n y Crest a t W a verly a t Alto o n a -M id w a y Cheto pa So lo m o n a t Fra n kfo rt a t Cha se W hite City a t W ichita W o rd o fLife So u thern Clo u d a t Bu rrto n Tesco tt a t Go essel a t So u th Ha ven O xfo rd a t Argo n ia Pretty Pra irie Cu n n in gha m a t Attica Sta ffo rd a t So u th Ba rber Ca ld w ell Fra n kfo rt a t Belo it St.Jo hn ’s Go essel Cha se a t W hite City a t Ho pe a t Lin n Bu rrto n a t Tesco tt

M a n ka to -Ro ck Hills a t Pike Va lley Lo ga n Belo it St.Jo hn ’s-Tipto n a t Na to m a a t Sto ckto n Cheylin No rthern Va lley a t Pa lco Tripla in s-Brew ster a t Go ld en Pla in s W eska n a t Pa lco W ilso n a t Sylva n -Lu ca sUn ified O tis-Biso n a t Victo ria Dighto n

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t M a rm a to n Va lley St.Pa u l Plea sa n to n a t Un io n to w n Alto o n a -M id w a y So u thern Co ffey Co . a t Co lo n y Crest W a verly a t Elk Va lley

a t Ho d gem a n Co u n ty a t M in n eo la a t Spea rville Deerfield Ro lla a t In ga lls Bu cklin a t M o sco w Ashla n d So u th Gra y Spea rville a t Sa ta n ta W a K een ey-Trego a t M o sco w Fo w ler a t Ro lla a t Ashla n d Bu cklin St.Jo hn Cen tra lPla in s a t Ho xie a t Pra tt Skylin e Dighto n Victo ria a t W estern Pla in s W ilso n a t Sylva n -Lu ca sUn ified a t Bu rlin ga m e Lebo a t M a ra isd esCygn es a t Plea sa n to n Elk Va lley a t Cheto pa a t Alto o n a -M id w a y Co lo n y Crest a t W a verly a t Ho xie Dighto n a t Go ld en Pla in s M o sco w W hea tla n d -Grin n ell a t Sha ro n Sprin gs Tripla in s-Brew ster a t Cheylin a t W eska n

a t Atw o o d -Ra w lin sCo .

Pa lco a t Cheylin Tripla in s-Brew ster a t Tribu n e-Greeley Co .

Lo ga n a t W eska n Go ld en Pla in s Sha ro n Sprin gs

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

Hitchco ck Co u n ty (Neb.) a t Atw o o d -Ra w lin sCo .

W hea tla n d -Grin n ell a t Sha ro n Sprin gs a t Go ld en Pla in s W eska n a t Thu n d erRid ge Tribu n e-Greeley Co .

Tripla in s-Brew ster a t So u thern Clo u d Ho pe a t Verita sChristia n O PEN Blu e Va lley Ra n d o lph a t Ba ileyville B&B Axtell In d .Ho m e Scho o l a t Ha n o ver Tesco tt a t W eska n a t Thu n d erRid ge No rthern Va lley a t Pa lco a t W hea tla n d -Grin n ell Belo it St.Jo hn ’s-Tipto n a t Na to m a Sto ckto n W eska n a t W hea tla n d -Grin n ell a t No rthern Va lley W estern Pla in s Lo ga n a t Belo it St.Jo hn ’s Na to m a a t Sto ckto n Thu n d erRid ge a t Cen tra lPla in s a t Bu rrto n Hu tch Cen tra lChristia n a t So u th Ba rber Ca ld w ell Argo n ia a t No rw ich Cu n n in gha m a t Attica a t W estern Pla in s No rthern Va lley Sha ro n Sprin gs a t W hea tla n d -Grin n ell W eska n Go ld en Pla in s a t Tribu n e-Greeley Co .

Hea rtla n d Christia n a t Cheylin Pea bo d y-Bu rn s a t So lo m o n a t Little River a t Ho pe So u thern Clo u d Bu rrto n a t Tesco tt Go essel a t Cha se

Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

a t Plea sa n to n (TH) a t M a rm a to n Va lley Un io n to w n a t St.Pa u l W a verly a t Elk Va lley Cheto pa a t So u thern Co ffey Co .

Alto o n a -M id w a y a t Cen tre-Lo st Sprin gs Ca n to n -Ga lva a t So u thern Clo u d Bu rrto n a t Tesco tt a t St.Jo hn ’sM ilita ry Cha se a t W hite City Ho pe a t Ba lko (O kla .)

Sa ta n ta a t Deerfield a t Tribu n e-Greeley Co .

In ga lls a t Bu cklin Ashla n d Fo w ler a t Ro lla a t Tyro n e (O kla .) a t Deerfield Go o d w ell(O kla .)

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Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25 Au g 31 Sep 07 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 O ct 05 O ct 12 O ct 19 O ct 25

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S C HEDULES C O LLEG E -PG 13 6 >>>

S C HEDULE K EY : TH = THURS DAY ; S AT = S ATURDAY ; * = PLAY O FF Q UALIFIER IN 2011

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

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KANSAS COLLEGE SCHEDULES 2012 K a n sa sS ta te Un iversity

Un iversity o fK a n sa s

Em p o ria S ta te Un iversity

Fo r tHa ysS ta te Un iversity

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10 No v 17 Dec 01

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10 No v 17 Dec 01

Au g 30 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Au g 30 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

M isso u riSta te M ia m i No rth Texa s a t O kla ho m a K a n sa s a t Io w a Sta te a t W est Virgin ia Texa sTech O kla ho m a Sta te a t TCU a t Ba ylo r Texa s

So u th Da ko ta Sta te Rice TCU a t No rthern Illin o is a t K a n sa sSta te O kla ho m a Sta te a t O kla ho m a Texa s a t Ba ylo r a t Texa sTech Io w a Sta te a t W est Virgin ia

Fo rt Ha ysSta te a t Nebra ska -K ea rn ey Cen tra lO kla ho m a a t No rthea stern Sta te Lin co ln a t So u thw est Ba ptist Lin d en w o o d a t Tru m a n Sta te M isso u riW estern a t No rthw est M isso u ri a t W a shbu rn

a t Em po ria Sta te W a shbu rn a t No rthw est M isso u riSta te M isso u riW estern a t Tru m a n Lin d en w o o d a t So u thw est Ba ptist Lin co ln a t SD Scho o lo fM in es Cen tra lM isso u ri a t Nebra ska -K ea rn ey

W a shb u rn Un iversity

Ba ker Un iversity

Ben ed ictin e C o lleg e

Au g 30 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Au g 30 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Nebra ska -K ea rn ey a t Fo rt Ha ysSta te No rthea stern Sta te a t Cen tra lO kla ho m a So u thw est Ba ptist a t Lin co ln Tru m a n a t Lin d en w o o d No rthw est M isso u riSta te a t M isso u riW estern Em po ria Sta te

a t O tta w a a t Peru Sta te Eva n gel a t Cen tra lM etho d ist M isso u riVa lley a t M id Am erica Na za ren e Avila a t Cu lver-Sto ckto n a t Ben ed ictin e Gra cela n d

a t Co n co rd ia (Neb.) Sterlin g a t Gra cela n d Peru Sta te a t Eva n gel Cen tra lM etho d ist a t M isso u riVa lley M id Am erica Na za ren e a t Avila Ba ker a t Cu lver-Sto ckto n

Betha n y C o lleg e

Bethel C o lleg e

Frien d sUn iversity

K a n sa sW esleya n Un iversity

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

a t SW Assem blieso fGo d M cPherso n a t Bethel K a n sa sW esleya n Avila a t Sa in t M a ry Ta bo r a t Frien d s a t O tta w a Sterlin g So u thw estern

W illia m Pen n a t So u thw estern Betha n y a t So u thern Na za ren e M cPherso n a t Frien d s Sterlin g a t K a n sa sW esleya n a t Ta bo r Sa in t M a ry O tta w a

a t Eva n gel Sa in t M a ry So u thern Na za ren e a t M cPherso n a t K a n sa sW esleya n Bethel a t So u thw estern Betha n y Sterlin g a t O tta w a a t Ta bo r

M cPherso n C o lleg e

M id Am erica N a za ren e

O tta w a Un iversity

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Au g 25 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

M isso u riVa lley a t Betha n y So u thw estern Frien d s a t Bethel a t O tta w a Ta bo r Sa in t M a ry a t K a n sa sW esleya n a t Sterlin g

a t Cen tra lM etho d ist M isso u riVa lley a t Avila Ba ker a t Cu lver-Sto ckto n a t Ga rd n er-W ebb a t Ben ed ictin e Gra cela n d a t Peru Eva n gel

Ba ker a t K a n sa sW esleya n Sa in t M a ry a t Ta bo r So u thw estern M cPherso n a t Sterlin g Betha n y Frien d s a t Bethel

S a in tM a ry

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S terlin g C o lleg e

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Au g 30 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

a t Nebra ska W esleya n a t Frien d s a t O tta w a Ta bo r a t Sterlin g Betha n y W illia m Pen n So u thw estern a t M cPherso n a t Bethel K a n sa sW esleya n

a t No rthw estern Bethel a t M cPherso n Sterlin g a t Ha skellIn d ia n Na tio n s a t O tta w a Frien d s a t Sa in t M a ry K a n sa sW esleya n Ta bo r a t Betha n y

a t Ben ed ictin e a t Ta bo r K a n sa sW esleya n a t So u thw estern Sa in t M a ry a t Bethel O tta w a a t Frien d s a t Betha n y M cPherso n

Ta b o r C o lleg e

Bu tler C C

C o ffeyville C C

Au g 25 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27 No v 03 No v 10

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27

a t Ba co n e Sterlin g Ha skellIn d .Na tio n s a t Sa in t M a ry O tta w a K a n sa sW esleya n a t Betha n y a t M cPherso n Bethel a t So u thw estern Frien d s

a t Do d ge City Blin n (TX ) Fo rt Sco tt a t In d epen d en ce a t Highla n d AirFo rce Prep Ga rd en City

BY E Co ffeyville a t Hu tchin so n

a t Hu tchin so n Trin ity Va lley (TX ) a t AirFo rce Prep a t Fo rt Sco tt In d epen d en ce

BY E Highla n d Do d ge City a t Bu tler a t Ga rd en City

Do d g e C ity C C

Fo r tS co ttC C

G a rd en C ity C C

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27

Bu tler a t K ilgo re (TX ) Highla n d a t Hu tchin so n a t Fo rt Sco tt In d epen d en ce

BY E a t Co ffeyville a t Ga rd en City AirFo rce Prep

a t Highla n d Tyler(TX ) a t Bu tler Co ffeyville Do d ge City a t Ga rd en City a t In d epen d en ce

BY E Hu tchin so n Arka n sa sBa ptist

a t In d epen d en ce Cisco (TX ) Hu tchin so n

BY E a t AirFo rce Prep Fo rt Sco tt a t Bu tler a t Highla n d Do d ge City Co ffeyville

Hig hla n d C C

Hu tchin so n C C

In d ep en d en ce C C

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 22 O ct 28

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27

Au g 25 Sep 01 Sep 08 Sep 15 Sep 22 Sep 29 O ct 06 O ct 13 O ct 20 O ct 27

Fo rt Sco tt a t NE O kla ho m a a t Do d ge City

BY E Bu tler Hu tchin so n a t Co ffeyville Ga rd en City Ben ed ictin e JV a t In d epen d en ce

Co ffeyville a t Na va rro (TX ) a t Ga rd en City Do d ge City

BY E a t Highla n d AirFo rce Prep In d epen d en ce a t Fo rt Sco tt Bu tler

K -S ta te/K U Preview

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DII Preview s PAGE 139

Pittsb u rg S ta te Un iversity a t No rthea stern Sta te Cen tra lO kla ho m a a t So u thw est Ba ptist Lin co ln Cen tra lM isso u ri a t No rthw est M isso u riSta te M isso u riW estern a t Tru m a n Lin d en w o o d a t M isso u riSo u thern

COLLEGE

Ga rd en City TBA Arka n sa sBa ptist Bu tler a t Co ffeyville a t Do d ge City Fo rt Sco tt a t Hu tchin so n

BY E Highla n d

Cu m berla n d Un iv.

O tta w a a t Sterlin g a t Betha n y Frien d s a t Ta bo r So u thern Na za ren e Bethel a t So u thw estern M cPherso n a t Sa in t M a ry

N AIA Preview s Beg in PAGE 140

JUC O Preview s Beg in PAGE 143

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 137

Exciting time for Kansas college football M a r k S chr em m er For Kansas Pregame

College football in Kansas is no longer just a blip on the national radar.

Legendary coach Bill Snyder has the Kansas State Wildcats back in the bowl picture. After a pair of subpar seasons under Turner Gill, The University of Kansas hired high-profile coach Charlie Weis to turn the Jayhawks into a winner.

Kansas also boasts the defending NCAA Division II national champion Pittsburg State Gorillas and another team that finished in the top 15 of the final 2011 Division II poll, two teams that finished in the top 10 of the final 2011 NJCAA poll and four teams ranked in the top 25 of the final NAIA poll.

Adding more significance, former Kansas high school football stars are big contributors on these teams and also are being seen on Division I rosters throughout the nation.

The success all starts at the top with Kansas State and Snyder.

At 72 years of age, Snyder proved in 2011 that he is still one of the best coaches in the nation.

Picked to finish eighth in the 10-team Big 12, the Wildcats were one of the best success stories of the 2011 college football season as they finished 10-3 and advanced to the Cotton Bowl.

Snyder earned Big 12 and national coach of the year honors.

“He’s incredibly consistent in an inconsistent world,” Kansas State athletic director John Currie told The Associated Press when Snyder was named Big 12 Coach of the Year. “If you talk to the ones who played for him 10 or 15 or 20 years ago who are sometimes in the locker room, they will tell you he’s teaching and coaching exactly the same way he always has.”

Snyder appears to be on track to turn the Kansas State football program around for the second time. When he was originally hired in 1989, K-State was one of the worst programs in the nation and hadn’t won its past 27 games. By the time he stepped down in 2005, Snyder had led the Wildcats to 11 consecutive bowl berths between the 1993 and 2003 seasons, including a Big 12 championship and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl in 2003.

The program began to drop in three seasons under head coach Ron Prince, but Snyder answered the call again in 2009.

He directed K-State back to the Pinstripe Bowl in 2010 and just outside the BCS picture in 2011.

Kansas State is built with players from all around the nation, but there are several Kansas natives in key roles.

Most notably, preseason All-American and former Wichita East star Arthur Brown leads the defense at linebacker. In his first season with the Wildcats, Brown was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year after recording 101 tackles with two sacks and one interception. He was named an All-American and first-team All-Big 12 last year. He enters the 2012 season as a candidate for the Lott Trophy.

Other key contributors from Kansas high schools include wide receiver Chris Harper (Wichita Northwest), kicker Anthony Cantele (Kapaun-Mt. Carmel), defensive back Ty Zimmerman (Junction City), fullback Braden Wilson (Smith Center), offen-

sive lineman Nick Puetz (Southeast of Saline), linebacker Tre Walker (Olathe North), offensive lineman B.J. Finney (Andale) and tight end Travis Tannahill (Olathe East).

At KU, Weis is hoping to pull off a similar turnaround. The former New England Patriots offensive coordinator and Notre Dame head coach sparked headlines when he was hired to take over the Jayhawks football program. The buzz continued when Weis formed a coaching staff filled with big names. He brought in former Dallas Cowboys head coach Dave Campo to run the defense, as well as former Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl lineman Tim Grunhard and former Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus as assistants.

Coming off a 2-10 season, Weis said he sees no reason Kansas can’t reach the same level of success as Kansas State.

“I will ask one rhetorical question here that really should make sense to all of us,” Weis said when he was hired in December.

“The University of Kansas this year was 210. The other major school in the state is Kansas State, who was 10-2. I only have one question to ask: Why? Why is The University of Kansas 2-10 and why is Kansas State 10-2? I don’t have that answer, but that is what I am here for. I am here to figure out why that is and see what we are going to do to change that. That is really the bottom line, because I don’t have a magic wand I am going to wave and then all of a sudden we are 10-2. All I know is that we are The University of Kansas, and that is not acceptable in any way, shape or form … My job right now is to figure out what the issues are and how we are going to go about fixing them.”

Weis’ connections immediately helped him land transfer quarterback Dayne Crist, who had been a starter at Notre Dame.

Grunhard, who directed Bishop Miege to a state championship, also is expected to help recruit quality Kansas players from the Kansas City area.

Former Bishop Miege wide receiver Justin McCay has already transferred to KU, while Blue Valley West offensive lineman Brian Beckmann and Bishop Miege wide receiver Tre Parmalee signed with the Jayhawks in February. BasehorLinwood tight end Ben Johnson and Bishop Miege quarterback Montell Cozart have already given Kansas their oral commitments for 2013.

At the Division II level, Pittsburg State’s turnaround achieved the ultimate success by winning the national title in 2011.

The Gorillas suffered their first losing season since 1977 in 2009 and were just 66 in 2010. Led by second-year head coach Tim Beck, Pitt. State finished 13-1 and captured the program’s second NCAA Division II national championship in 2011.

Pitt State accomplished the goal with numerous Kansas stars leading the way.

Former St. Mary’s Colgan quarterback Zac Dickey directed the offense, while former Hutchinson linebacker Nate Dreiling led the defense.

“As I look at our roster, the majority of the kids are from Kansas,” Beck said. “For the most part, they’re Midwest kids. A lot of times there are some things that put Kansas high schools a little behind in what they can do with players. But they are

Th e d efen d in g N CAA DII ch a m pio n Pitt.Sta te G o rilla s a re ju st o n e o f th e rea so n s K a n sa s co llege fo o tba llfa n s sh o u ld be excited fo r 2012.(N CAA Photos) making strides. A lot of times, you can see much more improvement with those Kansas kids.”

A lot of Division I schools probably wish they could go back in time and recruit Dreiling, who is already a two-time AllAmerican entering his junior season at Pitt State.

“It’s pretty amazing that Nate didn’t get recruited by too many people,” Beck said.

“His maturity, knowledge and the way he prepares for the game is through the roof.

He comes from a great football family, and he takes advantage of all the knowledge he has gained.”

Pitt State enters the 2012 season with another Kansas kid at quarterback in former Blue Valley standout Anthony Abenoja, who was coached by Pitt. State offensive coordinator Steve Rampy, while playing for the Tigers.

“Being with Coach Rampy at high school definitely helps,” Beck said. “He has a great familiarity for what we’re doing ...

He’ll be a lot of fun to watch.”

The Washburn Ichabods have to look at Pitt State’s success in 2011 and wonder what could have been. Washburn, which finished 10-3 and at No. 11 in the final DII poll, was the only team to beat the Gorillas last season.

Coach Craig Schurig directed the Ichabods to their eighth consecutive winning season. But Washburn fell to Pitt.

State in the playoffs, the second meeting of the season for the two MIAA teams.

Schurig said if his team can contend in the MIAA it can contend with any team in the nation.

“If you can win or be second in our conference, there’s really not a team out there you’re not capable of beating,” Schurig said. “If you can go through our conference, you beat anybody.”

Butler Community College finished second in the final 2011 NJCAA poll and has been a perennial national power under coach Troy Morrell, while Hutchinson Community College finished ninth and is on the rise under former Fort Scott coach Rion Rhodes.

MidAmerica Nazarene, Ottawa, Benedictine and Baker were in the final 2011 NAIA poll at sixth, 11th, 13th and 21st. MidAmerica Nazarene (5), Ottawa (10), Benedictine (11), Baker (19) and Bethany (24) were all in the top 25 of the

spring coaches poll. Friends was among those receiving votes.

But the success of Kansas college football isn’t limited to only the Kansas colleges themselves. Several Kansas athletes have made it to high levels.

Former Bishop Carroll quarterback Blake Bell is battling Drew Allen for back-up quarterback duties at Oklahoma and is joined on the roster by La Crosse’s Marshall Musil, Conway Springs’ Jaydan Bird, Circle’s Jordan Phillips, Labette County’s Brannon Green, and Hutchinson’s Geneo Grissom.

Wichita Southeast running back Joseph Randle earned second-team All-Big 12 honors at Oklahoma State in 2011 with 1,216 yards in the regular season and big things are expected from fellow Cowboy, and Derby native, Devin Hedgepeth.

Rose Hill native Blaise Foltz will display his talents more prominently to Kansans this year with TCU’s move to the Big 12.

Last year he earned All-Mountain West honors as a starter at right guard.

Former Shawnee Mission Northwest quarterback Alex Carder broke the single season record for passing yards at Western Michigan last season and is a candidate for the Davey O’Brien award this fall.

Silver Lake’s Logan Peagram is entering his third season as a starter on the Northern Illinois offensive line and he’s joined on the roster by St. Marys’ Luke Eakes and Eudora’s Boomer Mays.

This past season, the decisions of Wichita Collegiate defensive end Trace Clark and McPherson quarterback Tyler Matthews to play at Oklahoma State and TCU were among notable signings.

Emporia wide receiver Jerel Morrow, Blue Valley offensive lineman Clay Rhodes and Conway Springs linebacker Tanner Wood are three prominent Kansas players verbally committed to Division I schools for the 2013 signing period.

Olathe South junior offensive lineman Braden Smith, Hiawatha junior defensive lineman Peyton Newell and GardnerEdgerton junior running back TraeVohn Wrench are considered three of the top recruits in the country for the class of 2014.

So remember, there’s no need for Kansas college football fans to feel inferior any longer, because Kansas football is bigger than you think.

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 138

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY WILDCATS Players come and go, but the Kansas State Wildcats always have reason to be confident as long as Bill Snyder is roaming the sidelines.

The legendary Kansas State coach has proven he knows how to build a winner.

In Snyder’s first stint with the Wildcats from 1989-2005, he led one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history.

Kansas State hadn’t won in 27 games when Snyder was hired in 1989. Snyder went on to lead Kansas State to 11 consecutive bowl berths between the 1993 and 2003 seasons, including a Big 12 championship and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl in 2003.

Dan Gronkowski, also will be looking to work his way into the offensive rotation at tight end.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the Kansas Jayhawks were in the Orange Bowl.

The offense produced 31.8 points per game last season.

Yes, it was only 2008 when the Jayhawks defeated Virginia Tech 24-21 in Miami. It appeared to be just the beginning of KU’s emergence as a contender in the Big 12.

Defensively, Kansas State will be led by preseason All-American Arthur Brown (6-1, 228, Sr.) at linebacker. In his first season with the Wildcats, Brown was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year after recording 101 tackles with two sacks and one interception. He was named an All-American and first-team All-Big 12 last year. He enters the 2012 season as a candidate for the Lott Trophy, and was recently added to the Bednarik, Nagurski, and Butkus watch lists.

After a three-year hiatus, Snyder returned to lead the Wildcats in 2009, following disappointing seasons under coach Ron Prince. By 2010, Snyder had K-State back in a bowl game, and he directed the Wildcats to a 10-3 record and a berth in the Cotton Bowl last season.

The defense also returns preseason firstteam All-Big 12 defensive back Nigel Malone (5-10, 185, Sr.). He returns after picking off seven passes last season in his first year as a junior college transfer.

Snyder showed he still has it at age 72, winning national coach of the year honors.

Defensive end Adam Davis (6-0, 259, Sr.), defensive lineman Vai Lutui (6-2, 289, Sr.), linebacker Tre Walker (6-3, 225, Jr.) and defensive back Ty Zimmerman (6-1, 203, Jr.) round out a veteran defensive unit.

With an All-America candidate at quarterback returning, Snyder and the Wildcats are hoping for even more success in 2012.

Collin Klein (6-5, 226, Sr.) returns under center after rushing for a Big 12 and FBS record 27 touchdowns as a quarterback in 2011. Willing to take a hit, Klein carried the ball 317 times for 1,141 yards. He also improved as a passer, completing 161 of 281 passes for 1,918 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Snyder said he was impressed with Klein’s performance in the spring game.

“He has confidence and he knows what he is capable of doing,” Snyder said in April. “Things like the interception; he feels bad about it, but he knows that he is better than that. It does not take away his confidence.

“He is throwing the ball well. He can throw it down the field, but he is throwing the short passes. You saw a lot of that today, and he has been doing it reasonably well.”

Several key pieces to the offense return alongside Klein. Running back John Hubert (5-7, 191) is back after rushing for 970 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore. Senior fullback Braden Wilson (6-4, 254) returns as an imposing blocker.

Chris Harper (6-1, 229, Sr.) and Tyler Lockett (5-11, 175, So.) give Klein a pair of experienced receivers in the passing game. Harper led all K-State receivers with 40 catches for 547 yards and five TDs last year. Lockett was the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year after leading the nation with a 35.2-yard kickoff return average. The son of legendary K-State receiver Kevin Lockett, Tyler caught 18 balls for 246 yards and three touchdowns in his first season with the Wildcats. Even bigger things are expected out of Tyler in 2012 as he is a preseason All-American.

Also returning on offense will be senior tight end Travis Tannahill (6-3, 253) and offensive linemen B.J. Finney (6-4, 303, So.) and Nick Puetz (6-3, 304, Sr.).

Glenn Gronkowski (6-3, 225, Fr.), the younger brother of NFL players Rob and

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Justin Tuggle (6-3, 233, Sr.), the son of former NFL Pro Bowler Jessie Tuggle, also could make an impact after switching to linebacker from quarterback prior to last year’s Cotton Bowl.

Special teams also should be a positive for the Wildcats with Lockett back to return kicks, as well as kicker Anthony Cantele, punter Ryan Doerr and longsnapper Marcus Heit.

10-3 in 2011 / 7-2 in Big 12 / FBS Big 12 Coach: Bill Snyder (21st year, 159-83-1) Assistants: Joe Bob Clements (defensive ends), Mike Cox (linebackers), Charlie Dickey (offensive line), Dana Dimel (co-offensive coordinator/running backs/tight ends), Tom Hayes (defensive coordinator), Mo Latimore (interior defensive line), Del Miller (cooffenisve coordinator/quarterbacks), Michael Smith (wide receivers), Sean Snyder (special teams coordinator) Offense: Pro-set Defense: Multiple Returning lettermen: 44 Returning starters: 8 offense, 6 defense B.J. Finney, OL, 6-4, 303, So.; Chris Harper, WR, 6-1, 229, Sr.; John Hubert, RB, 5-7, 191, Jr.; Collin Klein, QB, 6-5, 226, Sr.; Tyler Lockett, WR, 5-11, 175, So.; Nick Puetz, OL, 6-3, 304, Sr.; Travis Tannahill, TE, 6-3, 253, Sr.; Braden Wilson, FB, 6-4, 254, Sr.; Arthur Brown, LB, 6-1, 228, Sr.; Adam Davis, DE, 60, 259, Sr.; Vai Lutui, DL, 6-2, 289, Sr.; Nigel Malone, DB, 5-10, 185, Sr.; Tre Walker, LB, 63, 225, Jr.; Ty Zimmerman, DB, 6-1, 203, Jr. Mark Schremmer

Photo courtesy K-State Athletics

C HRIS HARPER SR.• W R • 6-1 • 229

Since then, however, the Jayhawks have gone in a completely different direction.

Successful coach Mark Mangino left in 2009 after allegations of verbal abuse against players.

Mangino was replaced by former Buffalo coach Turner Gill. The Jayhawks finished just 5-19 in two seasons under Gill’s direction.

In need of a big change, KU spared no expense. The Jayhawks gave former New England Patriots offensive coordinator and Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis $2.5 million annually to take over the football program. Then Weis hired former Dallas Cowboys head coach Dave Campo, former Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl lineman Tim Grunhard and former Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus as assistants.

is and see what we are going to do to change that. That is really the bottom line, because I don’t have a magic wand I am going to wave and then all of a sudden we are 10-2. All I know is that we are The University of Kansas, and that is not acceptable in any way, shape or form …

My job right now is to figure out what the issues are and how we are going to go about fixing them.”

Weis started working right away on improving the roster, announcing the transfers of Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist, BYU quarterback Jake Heaps and Oklahoma wide receiver Justin McCay. Crist was the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the Class of 2008, according to Rivals.com. The 6-4, 235-pound quarterback from California made 10 starts for the Fighting Irish from 2008-11 and passed for 2,327 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Continued on page 89

Photo by Jeff Jacobsen, KU Athletics, Inc.

Weis and his staff will first try to become the best team in the state.

“I will ask one rhetorical question here that really should make sense to all of us,” Weis said when he was hired in December. “The University of Kansas this year was 2-10. The other major school in the state is Kansas State, who was 10-2. I only have one question to ask: why? Why is The University of Kansas 210 and why is Kansas State 10-2? I don’t have that answer, but that is what I am here for. I am here to figure out why that

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EMPORIA STATE FORT HAYS STATE PITT. STATE WASHBURN UNIVERSITY HORNETS UNIVERSITY TIGERS UNIVERSITY GORILLAS UNIVERSITY ICHABODS The Emporia State Hornets may be closer Chris Brown, the former successful than it appears at first glance.

Washburn University defensive coordinator, saw improvement in year one as Yes, the Hornets finished only 5-6 a year Fort Hays State University’s head footago, but they ranked 23rd in the nation in ball coach. The Tigers went 4-7, a onetotal offense with 436.6 yards per game. win increase from the previous year, and Meanwhile, the Emporia State defense the second-most conference victories was fifth in the nation in turnovers gained since they switched to the MIAA six last season. years ago.

Now, the Hornets are hoping those statistics turn into more wins.

Brown’s aggressive 4-2-5 defense forced 22 turnovers, six more than the previous season, and helped FHSU finish plus-5 in turnover margin.

“We put up some yards,” Emporia State head coach Garin Higgins said. “We’ve got to expand on that. It was our most The Tigers were minus-4 in turnover productive season offensively since 1998, margin in 2010. The team saw significant but we got to put more points on the improvements in special teams, espeboard.” cially in punting with All-American Ethan Kosjer, and rushed for 189.2 yards The good news is that a lot of the key per game and 4.7 yards per carry, the parts are back to lead Emporia State’s spread offense. Senior quarterback Tyler best running attack since Fort Hays Eckenrode (6-0, 195) returns after passing moved to the MIAA. One drawback was the Tigers’ 0-5 record against teams that for 2,580 yards and 18 touchdowns last either reached the NCAA Division II season. He earned All-MIAA honorable playoffs or went to a bowl game. mention.

“Our expectations are very high for him,” Higgins said. “He’s a three-year starter coming into his senior year. Statistically, he has been very efficient.”

Eckenrode has some key targets as well with wide receivers Ray Ray Davis (6-0, 205, Jr.) and Shjuan Richardson (5-10, 180, Sr.) and tight end Adam Schiltz (6-4, 245, Sr.). Davis hauled in 50 passes for 540 yards and four touchdowns, while Richardson caught 37 balls for 644 yards and nine TDs and Schiltz had 33 catches for 425 yards and one score. Richardson and Schiltz captured all-conference honorable mentions.

Senior center Lance Uhles (6-3, 275) returns to lead the offensive line. The four-year starter was second-team AllMIAA in 2011.

This veteran offensive group aims to improve in the red zone.

“It’s a good question,” Higgins said about why the Hornets have struggled to score in the red zone. “I wish I knew the answer. I don’t know if it’s a mindset.

Getting better in the kicking game helps a lot. A field goal gives you confidence.”

“From day one until now, our kids have gotten a lot better, they are very wellcoached, they are understanding our systems, and just the reps some of these kids have gotten is going to make them a lot better for next year,” Brown said. “I would consider it a success.”

This year, FHSU will look to have its second winning season in the program’s MIAA era. The Tigers return 10 offensive starters, including all-conference lineman Hawk Rouse and its top four rushers, including all-MIAA selection Andre Smith (team-high 963 yards). One replacement needed is the No. 1 wideout after Anthony Smith (40 catches, 489 yards, both team-bests) graduated. Senior quarterback Anthony Sheppard (889 passing yards, 364 rushing) and Tarean Austin, a University of New Mexico transfer, are expected to battle for the starting job.

“With guys pushing each other, we are going to be a lot better than I think we were last year,” Brown said.

Defensively, the Tigers must replace Kosjer and All-American linebacker Alex Whitehill. Fort Hays does return two all-conference players in lineman Kyle Perry (team-high 13 TFLs, 6.5 Key defensive players returning include All-American free safety Derek Lohmann sacks) and cornerback Keke Paul (6-1, 210, Sr.), linebacker Ben Carlson (6- (MIAA-best 12 pass breakups).

2, 235, Sr.), cornerback Kevin Gaddis (59, 180, Sr.) and defensive lineman Dakota Layton Hickel, who has seen time in all Hagler (6-0, 300, Sr). Lohmann recorded 33 games in his career, has 189 career eight interceptions and 6.5 tackles for loss tackles, including 74 last season. Cooper last season.

Harris, Washburn’s defensive coordinator last season and Brown’s longtime Continued on page 115

The Pittsburg State Gorillas football program appeared to have fallen on tough times. In 2009, the Gorillas suffered their first losing season since 1977. The 2010 season was only slightly better with a 6-6 mark.

The Washburn Ichabods enter the 2012 season with six returning starters on offense and eight on defense from last year’s team that finished 10-3 and So there may have been some teams that advanced to the NCAA Division II playoverlooked Pitt State, thinking it would offs. However, the players the Ichabods take years to rebuild the once mighty lost to graduation were some of the best Division II powerhouse. in the country. Washburn will have to replace six All-Americans and two others Well, consider the rebuilding project com- who earned All-MIAA honors. plete.

Most notably, someone will have to fill Led by second-year head coach Tim the shoes of All-American quarterback Beck, Pitt State finished 13-1 and capDane Simoneau, who was second in the tured the program’s second NCAA nation in passing yards with 4,089.

Division II national championship in 2011.

“It’s difficult anytime you lose a player like Dane,” Washburn head coach Craig “We weren’t picked anywhere near the Schurig said. “He was a three-year starter. top at the beginning of the year,” Beck You went into each year knowing you had said. “We definitely surprised some peo- your starter figured out. He was a very ple that first game against Missouri strong leader. He was about as good as Western. Everything else is history. We I’ve seen.” definitely won’t be a surprise to anyone this year. There’s no doubt teams will be The Ichabods will have a competition to geared up to face last year’s national replace Simoneau. The candidates include champs.”

Rossville product Mitch Buhler (6-2, 197, So.), Butler County transfer and The Gorillas opened the season with a McPherson product Joel Piper (6-5, 215, statement, defeating the favored Missouri So.) and incoming freshman Jerame Western Griffons 34-7 in St. Joseph, Mo. Littell (6-5, 205), from Stillwater, Okla.

From there, Pitt State stumbled only once through the regular season, falling 43-25 “Mitch was our backup as a true freshto Washburn. The Gorillas got revenge, man, so he had to prepare each game,” however, beating Washburn 31-22 in the Schurig said. “He did get into some first round of the playoffs and eventually games and played well. He’s very poised defeating Wayne State 35-21 in the like Dane. He did a really nice job in the national championship game at Florence, spring.

Ala. “Joel really caught on in the second half “We always felt like we had a talented of the spring. He’s a big, strong-armed group,” Beck said. “Once we got through quarterback. He fits our system well. He a few crucial games, we had the conthrows the ball well. fidence where it would be tough to beat us. But a lot of things have to go right to “We signed Jerame out of Stillwater, win a national championship. Our team Okla., and with his size and ability, he overcame a lot of adversity.” seems college ready. It will be tough for a true freshman, but I really feel that with Pitt State’s defense was led by one of the those three, we have some real quality talbest linebackers in the country in Nate ent.”

Dreiling (6-4, 228). He enters his junior season as a two-time All-American, Schurig said he will let the competition recording 139 tackles, three sacks and play itself out in the fall. seven interceptions as a sophomore.

“We left spring and told Mitch and Joel The Pitt State program feels lucky to have that there would be competition going the former All-State linebacker from into the summer,” Schurig said. “Both of Hutchinson, who was coached by his them are really sharp kids. They are really father, Randy Dreiling. bright. I anticipate playing both of them through the course of the season. If we “It’s pretty amazing that Nate didn’t get played tomorrow, Mitch would be the recruited by too many people,” Beck said. starter. Through fall camp, I anticipate “His maturity, knowledge and the way he Joel feeling more comfortable with the prepares for the game is through the roof. offense.”

He comes from a great football family, and he takes advantage of all the knowlIn addition to Simoneau, Washburn will edge he has gained.” be without All-American running back

Continued on page 115

Photo courtesy ESU Sports Information

Some voids are more difficult to fill than others.

Continued on page 115

Photo courtesy FHSU Sports Information

Continued on page 115 Photo courtesy Washburn Sports Information

Photo courtesy Pitt. State Sports Information

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BAKER UNIVERSITY WILDCATS

BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS

BETHANY COLLEGE SWEDES

FRIENDS UNIVERSITY FALCONS

The Baker Wildcats started 2011 with a 33 record, but finished out the year strong, winning their last four contests and reaching 21st in the national poll. That strong finish was good enough for a fourth place finish in the Heart of America Conference, however with 17 starters returning, the Wildcats will have their sights set much higher heading into 2012.

The Benedictine College Ravens took a step forward in 2011 as they continued their gradual improvement by increasing their win total for the third year in a row.

Last year’s nine win campaign was the best the Ravens have had in the last five years, including a win against Heart of America Conference Co-Champion Missouri Valley.

After climbing as high as No. 18 in the polls last season, the Bethany Swedes believe they’ve added the pieces to compete for their first conference title in over a decade.

Three first-team All-Conference performers return to lead Friends in 2012. The Falcons are looking to build on a 5-5 record last fall.

Bethany’s most notable off season addition won’t step on to the field at all, he’ll be watching from the press box. Dustin Miller returns as the Swedes offensive Head Coach Mike Grossner says the coordinator where he served from 1999Head Coach Larry Wilcox enters his Wildcats “have worked extremely hard 32nd season as head coach. Familar with 2003. Miller was named the 2002 this off season to compete for a couple of the ups and downs of college football, he AFLAC Assistant Coach of the Year and championships. We feel really good about should have many of the tools in place to helped the Swedes earn two KCAC our leadership on both sides of the ball, championships. compete for a HAAC Championship. which should help us through some of the tough times.”

“He’s been successful everywhere he’s “We return the nucleus from last year’s been,” said head coach Jamie Cruce. playoff team, and just need to replace a “Schematically, the guy has done it all.

Nine starters return for the Wildcat few key upperclassman.”

The Ravens He’s a great person and we’re excited to offense, including standout junior return 16 total starters. have him here.”

Quarterback Jake Morse, who completed 61 percent of his passes, totaled up more Offensively the Ravens’ balanced Ithan 2,000 yards, and threw 17 touchAt Miller’s disposal will be All-American Formation attack returns skill players downs compared to just five interceprunning back Junior Allen and veteran across the board.

At quarterback, senior tions. Plenty of targets return for Morse, quarterback Darby House. Allen has Bill Noonan returns after throwing 24 such as last year’s leading receiver, senior rushed for over 1,400 yards in back-totouchdowns and eclipsing 2,200 yards.

Jake Green. back seasons while House enters his third Making things even easier will be a pair season behind center. The Swedes averof senior receivers in Jordan Jackson and The story is much the same on the defenaged 391 yards of total offense and scored Geoff Akpom, who were Noonan’s top sive side of the football, as the Wildcats 32 points per game in 2011. two targets last season. The ground game will field an experienced squad built on eight returning starters who gave up only will have to move on without leading Although undersized, the Swedes boast a rusher Kevon McGrew, however he split tremendous amount of athleticism and 98 yards per game rushing a year ago.

The core of the 3-4 defense returns in the carries with junior Cameron Fore who speed on defense. Leading the attack will front seven, however the Wildcats will returns, while he can also expect support be defensive end Steven Williams. As a need players to step up in the secondary freshman, Williams led the team with 71 from redshirt freshman Xavier Cooper, as only junior Joseph Fairley returns. who saw some action last season as well. tackles, recorded 14 tackles for loss, and had 5 sacks.

Three losses by mid-season slowed down Defensively, the Ravens rushing defense Baker a year ago, and with three of the “We’ve added a little bit of size to this was suffocating, yielding a mere 97 first four contests on the road in 2012, yards per game on the ground. That stout unit,” said Cruce. “While we’re still not Coach Grossner expects the early season defense will be led once again by stand- going to be huge, we really like the athto be critical to the Wildcats success. leticism we do have. Our young guys out d-end Jordan Ancar, who led the continue to develop physically which 2011 team in tackles, tackles for loss, “We need to be ready for that challenge in and sacks. Also helping out in the box should make us better against the run.” the early season. Also, we know protect- will be senior linebacker Colin McEntee. ing the football and creating turnovers While the Lindsborg community is buzzwill be huge in our success.”

Senior Ashton Stephens will once again ing with excitement for the upcoming Continued on page 142 anchor the secondary after nabbing six 7-3 in 2011 / 6-3 in Conference / NAIA interceptions a year ago.

Heart of America Athletic Conference Photo by Coach: Mike Grossner (8th Year, 46-39) Jim Turner Assistants: Jason Thoren, Miguel Regalado, 9-3 in 2011 / 7-2 in Conference / NAIA Heart of America Athletic Conference Kendall Bradley, Bruce Young, Jesse Green, Coach: Larry Wilcox Gerard Aligo, Matt Brock, Caleb Blakesley (32nd Year, 229-116 overall) Offense: Pro Defense: 4-3 Assistants: Charlie Gartemayer, Dennis Returning Starters: 9 Offense, 8 Defense Murphy, Fran Johnson, George Papgeorgiou, Jake Morse, QB, 6-2, 212, Jr.; Jake Green, WR, 6-1, 187, Sr.; Kyle Bolton, WR, 5-10, 190, Mike Kersley, Larry Harless, Jon Stammers, Nic Stillwell.

Sr.; Joel Murphy, TE, 6-8, 265, Sr.; Aaron Returning Starters: 16 Rieschick, RT, 6-3, 285, Sr.; Justin Xavier Cooper, RB, 5-8 166 RsFr.; Jordan McCandless, RG, 6-3, 295, So.; Jordan Jackson, WR, 6-2, 206, Sr.; Jordan Ancar, Robertson, 6-0, 285, Sr.; Ian Autry, LT, 6-6, DE, 6-2, 236, Sr.; Colin McEntee, OLB, 5-11, 290, Jr.; Ian Autry, LT, 6-6, 298, Jr.; Scott JUN IO R ALLEN Meyer, RB, 5-10, 190, Jr.; Josh Fairley, DB, 6- 225, Sr.; Bill Noonan, QB, 6-1, 213, Sr.; SR.• RB • 5-7 • 185 0, 175, Jr.; Emmerson Clarke, LB, 5-10, 205, Ashton Stephens, FS, 6-2, 201, Sr.; Cameron Fore, RB, 6-1, 215, Jr.; Geoff Akpom, WR, 6Jr.; Ryder Werts, LB, 5-10, 210, Sr.; Adrian Pearson, LB, 6-0, 220, Jr.; Andre Jolly, DE, 6- 5, 222, Jr. 1, 245, So.; Mario Armstrong, DE, 5-10, 250, Kenny Titus Sr.; Michael Faison, DL, 5-10, 240, Sr.; Austin Hamm, DL, 6-0, 240, Jr. Kenny Titus Photo courtesy Baker Sports Information

Photo courtesy Benedictine Sports Information

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Seniors Dexter Davis, Jeff Kontz, and Cody Butts all earned first-team AllKCAC recognition in 2011 and will return to lead the Falcons this season.

Davis led the Friends defense with 24.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles and 58 total tackles while Kontz led the team with five interceptions plus had five pass break ups, four tackles for loss and 59 total stops on the season.

Butts was one of the offensive leaders with 16 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Jayme Bristow (79-188 passing for 687 yards and six TDs) also returns along with senior offensive lineman Stephen Buesch, a second-team All-KCAC selection.

Friends also returns second-team AllConference defensive lineman Joshua Hicks, defensive back Terry Cobb (4 interceptions, 4 pass break ups) and linebacker Marcus Carter (82 tackles in 2011) plus sophomore defensive lineman Mason Pauly, honorable mention All-KCAC as a freshman.

The Falcons will open their season at Evangel before hosting Saint Mary Sept.

8. Trips to McPherson and Kansas Wesleyan will round out September.

In October, the Falcons host Bethel, travel to Southwestern, then host Bethany and Sterling to close the month. Friends concludes the regular season at Ottawa and Tabor.

5-5 in 2011 / 5-4 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Monty Lewis (9th year, 58-23; 18th overall, 118-55) Assistants: Matt Welch, Cory Johnson, Morris Lolar, Billy Beard, Paco Martinez, Bill Shaw, Shawn Spottedhorse, Wade Cargile, Brandon Johnson, Jerry Taylor, Kirt Nichols, Jacob McKenzie, Blake Gordon, Deon Vornes Returning starters: Jayme Bristow, QB, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Dexter Davis, DE, 6-3, 230, Sr.; Jeff Kontz, DB, 6-2, 200, Sr.; Terry Cobb, DB, 5-10, 190, Sr.; Joshua Hicks, DL, 6-1, 235, Jr.; Marcus Carter, LB, 6-1, 240, Sr.; Stephen Buesch, OL, 6-1, 280, Sr.; Cody Butts, TE, 6-5, 230, Sr.; Mason Pauly, DL, 5-11, 230, So. Melanie McGee

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KANSAS WESLEYAN MCPHERSON MIDAMERICA OTTAWA UNIVERSITY COYOTES COLLEGE BULLDOGS NAZARENE PIONEERS UNIVERSITY BRAVES A young Kansas Wesleyan team ended the 2011 season winning three of their final four games to finish with a 5-4 league record. The Coyotes are hoping to use their strong finish to propel them into the upper echelon of the KCAC this season.

“We were very inexperienced at the beginning of last season and we really grew up as we went along”, said head coach Dave Dallas. “We felt good about not giving up after the slow start and really continued to show progression.”

The resurgence of the McPherson College Bulldogs’ football program went a little off track last season with a 4-7 record. The Bulldogs have a new headman in place for the 2012 season as they hope to secure their second KCAC title in three years. Leading the way will be first time college head coach Pete Sterbick, who spent the last four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Sterbick will need to find replacements at several key skill positions, however that job should be made easier by the fact that the Bulldogs have been geared to be a prolific offense the last several seasons.

Spearheading the Coyote offense will be the coach’s son, Trey Dallas. As a first year starter, Dallas threw for 208 yards per game, but completed less than 50 per- The offense should once again revolve around senior quarterback Jake cent of his passes.

Snodgrass, who last season completed 56 “I think Trey’s really going to be a differ- percent of his passes, threw for more than 2,000 yards, and 19 touchdowns. ent type of quarterback this season in The immediate need will be to find some terms of confidence and decision making,” said Dallas. “Things are coming new targets, as Snodgrass’ top three tarmore naturally for him and he’s process- gets from 2011 have graduated. ing things a lot faster.”

Returning linemen Issac Delatoree and Dusty Hague should anchor a stable At running back, Kansas Wesleyan feaoffensive line while Snodgrass gets comtures an All-American talent in Brett fortable with his new receivers. Sterbick Giesen. Giesen rushed for 1,308 yards expects his offense to play “fast and and 12 touchdowns. With incredible cut physical,” and says “working to put playback ability and speed, Giesen will be a makers in position to make plays will be headache for opposing defensive coordinators. the key to early success.”

“He’s awfully special. We’ve had some great tailbacks come through here and he certainly ranks up there with the rest of them,” said Dallas. “He’s a different dimension at the running back position.”

Leading the way defensively will be veterans Kelton Reed and Brady Harwell.

Both players are entering their second year as full time starters. Harwell recorded 103 tackles last season including 15 tackles for loss. Reed tallied 52 stops and intercepted a pass.

Defensively, the Bulldogs return four players with some experience, however most of last season’s key playmakers have departed.

Sophomore Trent Forrester will get the chance to step up at linebacker, junior Evan Clary returns along the defensive line, and senior Philip Wilson will have the opportunity to step up in the secondary.

Seventeen All-Conference players return for the Pioneers, who went 10-2 in 2011 and were led by the HAAC Coach of the Year, Jonathan Quinn.

Quinn has led Mid America Nazarene to two HAAC titles and three playoff berths in his three seasons.

His 2012 squad will include first-team All-HAAC receiver Brett Houchen (31 receptions, 413 yards, 5 TDs) and safety Dantren Anderson (65 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss).

Photo courtesy McPherson College Sports Information

Conference foes struggled to keep up with the eventual undefeated KCAC champions, as the closest margin of victory in league play was a 13-point win against Bethany.

The Braves enter the 2012 campaign in search of their third KCAC title in four The Pioneers also return second-team All- years with a strong core of starters returnConference performers Branden Phillips, ing to the field.

Mark Henderson, Todd Misenhelter, James Tillman (154 carries, 791 yards, 11 This season the Braves defense should be TDs) and Demarco Kemp. strong right out of the gate with a pair of talented defensive backs returning in seniors Donald Anderson, who snagged five Receiver Austin Conyers and linebacker interceptions last season, and Nate Bruno, Jared Moyston earned third-team Allwho had four interceptions of his own.

HAAC honors and seven other Pioneers were named to the honorable mention list.

Up front the Braves defensive line will be Mid America Nazarene’s schedule is well anchored on the ends with seniors tough as always with three opponents Zach Van Duesen and Pierce Hutchens ranked in the preseason top 25. The returning.

Pioneers, ranked fifth in the preseason poll, will host No. 9 Missouri Valley and On the offensive side of the ball, it may No. 19 Baker. They will travel to No. 11 take the Braves a few weeks to adjust to Benedictine Oct. 20. the departures of senior quarterback Bobby Adamson and his top target, wide The Pioneers open the season at Central receiver Clarence Anderson.

Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., then host Missouri Valley. A trip to Avila Like the defense, though, there are still University follows, and then Mid plenty of veterans in place to help some America Nazarene hosts Baker. Back-to- new faces step up. The offensive line feaback road trips to Culver-Stockton and tures First-Team All KCAC senior NCAA Division I Gardner-Webb follow. Quinton Flaming, who can help usher in a After the game at Benedictine, the big pair of junior college transfers, Matt Pioneers will face Graceland, Peru State Espiritu and Jonathan Spotville, listed at and Evangel to finish the regular season. 6-7, 350 and 6-3, 350, respectively.

10-2 in 2011 / 8-1 in conference / NAIA Heart of America Athletic Conference Coach: Jonathan Quinn (4th year, 32-5) Assistants: Paul Hubbard, Matt Ashley, Sterbick is looking to the basics on Anders, Scott Campbell, Duane defense this season as he emphasized the Kimble Clemons, Brady Croucher, Rick Fields, Lavell 5-6 in 2011 / 5-4 in Conference / NAIA “need to tackle well.” He also stressed Jackson, Paul Meinke, Todd Peterson, Frank Kanas Collegiate Athletic Conference that “the defense will have to be solid for Raines, Kris Ratzlaff Coach: Dave Dallas us to be competitive.”

Returning starters: (15th year, 84-67; 23rd overall, 122-106-1) Sean Ransberg, QB, 6-0, 195, Sr.; Austin Assistants: Chris Snyder, Bob Frey, Mike 4-7 in 2011 / 4-5 in Conference / NAIA Conyers, WR, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Brett Houchen, Dovenberg, Neal Renna, Jason McWilliams, Kanas Collegiate Athletic Conference WR, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Dantren Anderson, S, 5-10, Rex Pippenger Coach: Pete Sterbick 185, Sr.; Branden Phillips, WR, 6-3, 215, Sr.; Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 (1st Year) Mark Henderson, OL, 6-0, 290, Sr.; Todd Returning Starters: 5 Offense, 4 Defense Assistants: Steve Fox, Adam Dutcher, Justin Misenhelter, OL, 6-4, 250, Sr.; James Tillman, Brett Giesen, RB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Sean Grove, Van Houten, E.J. Peterson RB, 5-10,180, Jr.; Demarco Kemp, DL, 5-10, OL, 6-2, 280, Jr.; Trey Dallas, QB, 6-3, 190, Offense: Multiple Spread Defense: 3-4 230, Jr.; Jared Moyston, LB, 5-10, 190, Jr.; CJ Jr.; Zach McClain, WR, 5-10, 180, Jr.; Brady Returning Starters: 4 Offense, 4 Defense Boyd, OL, 6-3, 250, Sr.; Greg Gates, RB, 5-9, Harwell, LB, 6-1, 220, Jr.; Kelton Reed, DB, Issac Delatorre, OL, 6-3, 275, Sr.; Dusty 175, Jr.; Charlie McCaleb, DL, 6-2, 350, Jr.; 6-1, 175, Jr.; Nick Wallace, OL, 6-3, 270, Sr.; Hague, OL, 6-4, 270, Sr.; Jake Snodgrass, Mason Matthews, DL, 5-11, 280, So.; Joey Langston Kennedy, DE, 6-4, 255, Sr. QB, 5-10, 165, Sr.; Trent Forrester, LB, 6-2, Oxley, LB, 6-2, 220, Jr.; Joe Camacho, LB, 6205, So.; Evan Clary, DL, 6-3, 225, Jr.; Tyler 0, 235, Jr.; Brad Gourley, CB, 6-0, 175, So. James Westling Bruton, LB, 5-11, 190, Jr.; Philip Wilson, DB, Melanie McGee 5-9, 160, Sr.; Paul Rotering, TE/P, 6-3, 220, Jr. Kenny Titus Photo by Max Iselin Photography

In nine years as the head coach at Ottawa, Kent Kessinger has molded the Braves into perhaps the most potent offense in the KCAC. Last season, Ottawa lead the conference in scoring, at nearly 34 points per game.

Senior receiver Shane Gimzo, a PerryLecompton graduate, will also get a chance to grab the spotlight this season after notching 44 catches and 13 touchdowns a year ago.

9-2 in 2011 / 9-0 in Conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Kent Kessinger (9th Year, 50-35) Assistants: Wendell Smith, Josh Homolka, Zeke Rodriguez Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Returning Starters: 19 Shane Gimzo, WR, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Donald Anderson, DB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Zach Van Deusen, DE, 6-4, 265, Sr.; Nate Bruto, DB, 60, 185, Sr.; Quinton Flaming, OL, 6-1, 285, Sr.; Pierce Hutchens, DE, 6-1, 260, Sr. Kenny Titus

Photo courtesy Ottawa Sports Information

TREY DALLAS

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SOUTHWESTERN COLLEGE STERLING COLLEGE MOUNDBUILDERS WARRIORS The Southwestern College Moundbuilders put together their best season since 2004, compiling five wins in 2011. In order to improve upon that finish, the Moundbuilders will need to answer a few questions as they return only 10 starters from a year ago.

In 2012 it will be the defense that will be the strength of the team, as seven starters return. Standout freshman Garret Mangrum returns after leading the team in sacks and the secondary will be anchored by a pair of experienced cornerbacks in juniors Lorenzo Fouts and Shayne Hummer.

Head Coach Ken Crandall knows that the experience of his defense will be critical in the early season.

“Our strength is the defense, with seven returners coming back, we will look for them to carry us at the start of the season as we try to get our offense to come together.”

Last season most likely left a sour taste in the mouths of Sterling College Warrior fans. The Warriors entered the season with a veteran squad that had finished third in the KCAC in 2010. On the field, the Warriors failed to gel, and although they would have put three wins in the record books, only one of those wins was allowed to stand after an ineligible player was found to have played.

As head coach Andy Lambert returns for his ninth season, the Warriors will get a chance to wipe the slate clean.

Lambert says that heading in to 2012, “I want this team to focus on the small things.” Lambert also emphasized that the Warriors “have to work at improving every week and fighting hard, together, through whatever diversity they may meet.”

Over Coach Lambert’s tenure, the Warriors have developed a reputation for their defensive toughness and ball control offense, but questions abound on The defense could still face a few growing pains, as someone will have to step up both sides of the ball. and replace linebacker Zak Tazkargy, who Offensively the biggest problem last seawas the team’s leading tackler. Junior Torbin Harper and senior Branden Davis son was at quarterback as transfer Chris Joly failed to find a rhythm. Most of the will have to pick up the workload. offensive questions heading into this seaWhile only three starters return on son revolve around the skill positions offense, junior Brady May returns at once again, with the departure of leading quarterback after taking the majority of rusher Jesse Bundrage, and top receiver last season’s snaps. The offensive line Matt James. The offensive line should will be built on a few familiar faces as offer some stability as three starters well, with junior Travis Sears and senior return there.

Nick Qualls.

Defensively, the Warriors will be leaning Besides maintaining some consistency at on their linebacking corps as three of quarterback, the Moundbuilders will have four starters return, led by last season’s to get familiar with a number of new sack leader, senior Brian Noller. faces. The top four receivers and the top two rushers have all departed.

The need to move past a rough season has coach Lambert leaning on a tried and Coach Crandall leaned heavily on Texas true football formula this season. and Oklahoma in his last recruiting class and some of those young players should “Our team’s success will be determined get the opportunity to step up immeby quarterback play, great defense, and diately. opportunistic special teams.”

5-6 in 2011 / 4-5 in conference / NAIA 1-8 in 2011 / 1-10 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach: Ken Crandall Coach: Andy Lambert (6th Year, 15-36, 37-109 overall) (9th Year, 46-35, 76-78 Overall) Assistants: Jimmie Tagg, Andy Krause, Joe Assistants: Chuck Lambert, Chase Hansen, Pirillo, Kenard Calhoun, Eric McCormack, Travis Tesone, Hosea Bell Logan Wyrick Offense: Shotgun Option Defense: 3-4 Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Returning Starters: 5 Offense, 5 Defense Returning Starters: 3 Offense, 7 Defense James Morley, OLB, 5-11, 200, Jr.; Brian Brady May, QB, 6-4, 180, Jr.; Travis Sears, OL, 5-11, 245, Jr.; Nick Qualls, OL, 5-11, 300, Noller, OLB, 5-9, 210, Sr.; Jesse Kendig, DL, Sr.; Garrett Mangrum, DT, 6-1, 280, So.; Justin 6-0, 225, Sr.; Kerby Rice, ILB, 5-10, 210, Sr.; Speers, DE, 6-2, 245, Jr.; Lorenzo Fouts, CB, Kris Lehman, ILB, 5-9, 220, Jr.; Zach Beims, 5-11, 180, Jr.; Devin Metzinger, DT, 6-0, 260, OL, 6-2, 300 So.; Brett Worsham, OL, 6-1, Jr.; Torbin Harper, ILB, 6-1, 225, Jr.; Braden 275, Sr.; Mike Walker, OL, 5-10, 270, Jr.; Davis, OLB, 6-0, 180, Sr.; Shayne Hummer, Benjamin Hansen, OL, 6-4, 250 Jr.; Adam CB, 5-11, 170, Jr. Haskin, TE, 6-0, 225, Sr. Kenny Titus Kenny Titus Courtesy photo

LO REN ZO FO UTS JR.• CB • 5-11 • 180

TABOR COLLEGE BLUEJAYS

Photo courtesy Tabor Sports Information

Fifteen starters return for Tabor, which is coming off a 3-7 season and looking for a big improvement in 2012.

The Bluejays bring back their quarterback, Simon McKee, and two running backs, James Monroe and Brandon Johnson, as well as tight end Cordelle Simmons.

The Tabor defense will be paced by defensive end Chris Sanborn and safety Daniel Krehbeil.

S IM O N M C K EE SO .• Q B • 6-0 • 180

BETHANY/FROM PAGE 140

Coach Mike Gardner said the main goal is to “improve from past seasons offensively.” He also listed winning the turnover battle and posting a winning season season, the Swedes will have some huras goals for Tabor. dles to overcome.

Keys to success for the Bluejays include Bethany breaks in an entirely new offenscoring in the red zone, elminating missive line, made up mostly of JUCO transtakes in the secondary, cutting down on fers. The Swedes will also be inexperiturnovers, and staying healthy. enced in the secondary, where they return zero starters.

3-7 in 2011 / 2-7 in conference / NAIA Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference 8-3 in 2011 / 6-3 in conference / NAIA Coach: Mike Gardner Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (4th year, 27-16; 8th year overall, 52-34) Coach: Jamie Cruce Assistants: Billy Hickman, Dan Hrotmada, (6th year, 25-27) Loren Severs, Mike Henry, Jared Cardarelle, Assistants: Nick Taylor, Dustin Miller, Aaron Derek Deardorff, Don Nelson, Darrien Glendening, Anthony Martinez, Frenchie Mccollins, Travis Sanford Buckner Offense: Spread Defense: Multiple 4-3 Offense: Spread Defense: 3-4 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 6 Defense Returning starters: 4 Offense, 5 Defense Simon McKee, QB, 6-0, 180, So.; James Monroe, RB, 6-0, 210, Jr.; Brandon Johnson, Brandon Martino, WR, 6-1, 200, Sr.; Darby RB, 5-9, 175, So.; Cordelle Simmons, TE, 6-3, House, QB, 6-1, 205, Sr.; D’Andre Thompson, WR, 6-4, 180, Sr.; Junior Allen, RB, 5-7, 185, 245, Sr.; Chris Sanborn, DE, 6-3, 255, Sr.; Sr.; Steven Williams, DE, 6-1, 210, So.; Rocky Daniel Krehbeil, S, 6-2, 210, So. Melanie McGee Castro, DT, 5-7, 230, Jr.; Chris Washington, DE, 6-3, 225, So.; Jeff Childs, LB, 5-8, 190, Sr.; Milton Collins, LB, 5-10, 185, Sr. James Westling

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 143

BUTLER COMMUNITY COFFEYVILLE DODGE CITY FORT SCOTT COLLEGE GRIZZLIES COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Butler has a new locker room complex RED RAVENS CONQUISTADORS GREYHOUNDS and a new stadium just across the street from campus, and the Grizzlies’ winning tradition figures to continue in 2012.

Butler went 11-1 last year and finished No. 2 in the final NJCAA poll, plus won the Jayhawk Conference title for the 12th time in 14 years.

Five starters, including an All-American linebacker, return for Coffeyville and first-year head coach Aaron Flores.

The 2011 Conqs won three games and equaled their win total from the 2008, 2009 and 2010 seasons combined. Twenty lettermen return from that squad, and continued improvement is the number one goal for Dodge City.

Martrell Spaight was a first-team AllAmerican after an impressive freshman season that included 101 tackles, nine The Grizzlies return five starters and sev- tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass break Head coach Bob Majeski earned Jayhawk eral others with significant experience ups, two fumble recoveries and a forced Conference Coach of the Year honors a year ago, and believes that his 2012 team from that squad. fumble. could be even better than last year’s squad with 11 total starters returning.

Both starting offensive tackles – AllThe Red Ravens also return cornerback American John McClure and second-team Brandon Willingham, who broke up four On defense, the Conqs bring back defenAll-Conference selection Jesse Ingle – are passes as a freshman. sive end Marcus Haridson, linebackers back along with Zach Burkhart, Tyler Mike McAllister and Jeremy Springer and Hutchison and Reed Bergrstrom, who all On offense, Coffeyville has center DeShawn Smith among other have significant playing experience.

Cameron McLain, receiver Justice Berry cornerback key contributors. and fullback Rashon Thames. Berry Speedy receivers Javess Blue (25 recepcaught 20 passes for 311 yards and a Smith finished with a team-high nine pass tions, 503 yards, 19.3 yards per punt touchdown in 2011, while Thames was break ups and three interceptions, includreturn) and Devin Clarke (18 receptions, part of a Red Raven running attack that ing one he returned for a touchdown.

271 yards), plus Kansas products Chris averaged over 200 yards per game.

Springer was fifth on the team with 62 Fields and Jacob Hurla will form a good tackles – including a team-best 11.5 for group of wideouts.

For Flores, the goals are simple: improve loss - and also had two sacks during his “They are a talented group,” Morrell said throughout the season and challenge for freshman season. Hardison and a spot in the playoffs.

McAllister each had three sacks last year. of his receivers. “They are all guys with really good hands and can be big-play “Our goals are to improve each week and The Dodge City offense returns Bryson kinds of guys.” focus on the game we have coming up,” McCluskey, a 6-4, 330-pound lineman, he said. “We feel if we take care of one and wide receiver Ervin Swonger, an Butler’s quarterback figures to be James week at a time that we will give ourAshland native who caught 32 passes for Madison transfer Billy Cosh. “He’s got selves a chance at a conference cham355 yards and two touchdowns in 2011. great leadership qualities, he has a great football mind and he fits our system very pionship.”

Two keys for the Conquistadors in 2012 well,” Morrell said of Cosh. “I’m excited Coffeyville has a brutal schedule to begin will be their ability to limit turnovers and to have him.” also to score in the red zone. the season. The Ravens will face In the backfield, Butler returns Dreamius Hutchinson, ranked ninth in the final Dodge City opens the season against perNJCAA poll last year, in the Aug. 25 Smith (93 carries, 653 yards, 9 touchennial national power Butler, then travels downs), Terrance Allen and Tyrell opener before hosting Trinity Valley to Texas to face Kilgore before playing Everette.

(Texas), the No. 11 team in last year’s six straight Jayhawk Conference oppofinal NJCAA poll, on Sept. 1. The nents.

The Grizzly defense will be anchored by Ravens will play back-to-back road linebackers Tommy Sanders (17.5 tackles games at Air Force Prep and Fort Scott, 3-7 in 2011 / 3-3 in conference / NJCAA for loss, 14 pass break ups) and Rahman then host Independence before taking Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Swain (56 tackles, 4.5 sacks). Tate Omli, Sept. 29 off.

Coach: Bob Majeski (4th year, 6-31) Max Martinez and Torrell Saffold figure Assistants: David Snodgrass, David Walker, to lead the secondary.

“We are very excited about the core of Rusty Morgan, Jean Cherizol, Todd Middleton players we have returning along with a Ace Defense: 4-3 The defensive line sent four starters to very exciting and talented freshman class Offense: Division I programs, and will be short on coming in,” Flores said, adding that win- Returning lettermen: 20 Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense experience this year. ning the Region 6 championship and a Marcus Hardison, DE, 6-4, 290, So.; Mike bowl game are also goals for the 2012 McAllister, LB, 6-2, 240, So.; Jeremy Springer, 11-1 in 2011 / 6-0 in conference / NJCAA Red Ravens.

LB, 6-1, 220, So.; Ervin Swonger, WR, 5-11, Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference 180, So.; DeShawn Smith, CB, 5-9, 170, So.; Coach: Troy Morrell (13th year, 126-16) 6-4 in 2011 / 4-2 in conference / NJCAA Bryson McCluskey, OL, 6-4, 330, So. Assistants: Steve Braet, Tony Haynes, Tim Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Melanie McGee Schaffner, Jordon Abbott, Chris Jones, Cody Coach: Aaron Flores (1st year) Oates, Wade Weibert, Brice Vignery Assistants: Paige Anders, Matt Mattox, Mo Offense: Multiple I Defense: 4-3 Crain, Jim Henry, Maurice Gray, Dickie Rolls, Returning lettermen: N/A Ben Barton, Andy Bibb Returning starters: 3 offense, 2 defense John McClure, OT, 6-4, 310, So.; Jesse Ingle, Offense: Pro Set Defense: 4-3 OT, 6-3, 280, So.; Javess Blue, WR, 6-1, 191, Returning lettermen: 21 So.; Devin Clarke, WR, 5-11, 172, So.; Tommy Returning starters: 3 offense, 2 defense Cameron McLain, C, 6-4, 300, So.; Rashon Sanders, LB, 6-2, 217, So.; Rahman Swain, Thames, FB, 5-10, 220, So.; Justice Berry, LB, 6-1, 215, So. Melanie McGee WR, 6-2, 210, So.; Brandon Willingham, CB, 5-10, 175, So.; Martrell Spaight, LB, 6-1, 215, So. Melanie McGee Photo courtesy Butler C.C. Sports Information

Photo courtesy Coffeyville C.C. Sports Information

Photo courtesy Dodge City C.C. Sports Information

JO HN M C C LURE

BRAN DO N W ILLIN G HAM

M ARC US HARDIS O N

SO .• O T • 6-4 • 310

SO .• CB • 5-10 • 175

SO .• DE • 6-4 • 290

The 2011 season was a difficult one for the Fort Scott Community College Greyhounds. And the difficulties went beyond their 4-4 record.

Heading into last season, Jeff Sims, who helped turn the Greyhounds into one of the best junior college football programs in the nation, resigned as head coach to become recruiting coordinator at the University of Indiana.

Not long after, it was announced that Fort Scott’s football program would be placed on probation. The NJCAA ruled that “17 students were recruited to play football at FSCC by signing an institutional scholarship, not a National Letter of Intent. All students that are recruited to play a sport at an NJCAA school must sign a National Letter of Intent.”

The probation meant reduced scholarships for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, and it made the Greyhounds ineligible for the postseason in 2011.

Head coach Curtis Horton, who had been offensive coordinator under Sims, said he was proud of how his team responded to the obstacles.

“The 2011 team responded to a tough schedule, sudden coaching change and a one-year probation that prevented them from going to the playoffs,” Horton said.

“The 2011 team’s biggest challenge would be earning a playoff spot, but not being able to go because of the one-year probation. It really showed the great character of the team.”

Now, the Greyhounds want to get back to the postseason.

Remember, Fort Scott is only a few years removed from finishing 11-1 and playing in the national championship game against a Cam Newton-led Blinn Community College team.

FSCC will have an uphill battle to get back to that level, but the cupboard isn’t bare for the Greyhounds. They return five starters on offense and seven on defense, including All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference fullback Robert Rooks (5-11, 250).

Offensive lineman Chris Mayer (6-7, 345), defensive linemen Justin Taimatuia (6-1, 280) and Demetrius Hill (6-2, 250), linebacker Stephan Martin (6-0, 215) and defensive back Kevin Short (6-1, 180) are among the Fort Scott players being recruited by Division I colleges for the 2013 season, according to Rivals.com.

4-4 in 2011 / NJCAA Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Coach: Curtis Horton (2nd year, 4-4) Assistants: Keith Jordan, Johnny Cole, Moses Harper, Matt Glades, Cordell Upshaw Offense: Pro Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 5 offense, 7 defense Chris Mayer, OL, 6-7, 345, So.; Charlie Ellis, FB, 6-0, 235, So.; Owen Jordan, QB, 6-2, 180, So.; Devyn McPhaull, TE, 6-4, 271, So.; Robert Rooks, FB, 5-11, 250, So.; Anthony Curtis, LB, 5-11, 205, So.; Austin Fulson, DB, 5-11, 185, So.; Demetrius Hill, DE, 6-2, 250, So.; Kaman Holt, DB, 5-8, 165, So.; Stephan Martin, LB, 6-0, 215, So.; Kevin Short, 6-1, 180, So.; Justin Taimatuia, DT, 6-1, 280, So. Mark Schremmer

Kansas Pregame, Volume 7

Page 144

GARDEN CITY HIGHLAND COMMUNITY HUTCHINSON INDEPENDENCE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COLLEGE SCOTTIES COMMUNITY COLLEGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE Ryan Held is excited about the prospect BRONCBUSTERS BLUE DRAGONS PIRATES of turning the Highland program around,

Three All-Conference performers return for Garden City, which is looking to improve on a 2-7 record in Jeff Tatum’s first season at the helm. The Broncbusters return six offensive starters and seven from the defense, including honorable mention All-Conference defensive end Kitray Solomon and honorable mention All-Conference linebacker Deilouse Jackson. Solomon finished with 3.5 sacks and 51 total tackles, while Jackson was second on the team with 69 tackles, including 5.5 for loss.

Garden City will have a new quarterback and two first-year starting receivers.

“The key to our success will be the play of our quarterback,” Tatum said.

“Starting the season off with a conference game is a tough situation for a firsttime starting quarterback. Also, having two first-year starting receivers, they will need to get on the same page. Our offense revolves around our tailback, so it is very important that he stays healthy throughout the season.”

The Broncbusters also return honorable mention All-Conference punter Rilee Spresser, who averaged 38 yards per punt and pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 13 times.

Goals for the season include making a return to the KJCCC playoffs, creating more turnovers and scoring more points.

Garden City opens the season Aug. 25 at Independence, then hosts Cisco, Texas, and Hutchinson in consecutive weeks.

2-7 in 2011 / 2-5 in conference / NJCAA Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Coach: Jeff Tatum (2nd year, 2-7) Assistants: Lou West, Joe Price, Eric Gibson, Jeff Kelly, Jason Stithem Offense: I Defense: 4-2 Returning lettermen: 28 Returning starters: 6 offense, 7 defense Raul Silva, Jr., WR, 6-1, 185, So.; Keith Curran, LB, 6-3, 235, So.; Ian Stone, DB, 6-2, 185, So.; Rilee Spresser, P, 6-3, 196, So.; Jakob DeMars, DB, 6-1, 170, So.; Deilouse Jackson, LB, 6-1, 233, So.; James Kelly, WR, 6-2, 170, So.; Kitray Solomon, DE, 6-2, 235, So.; Adam Weber, FB, 5-9, 206, So.; Coe Weis, DB, 5-10, 175, So.; Drew Wills, LB, 60, 210, So. Melanie McGee

and expects the Scotties to be much improved in 2012.

“We’re excited about a new era of Scottie football,” he said. “The Scottie Nation will be a much improved team with the addition of many good freshman Kansas players. Many are from the KC metro area with seven that made the MO-KAN All-Star Game and 8-Man All-Stars.”

Hutchinson returns 11 starters from last year’s 9-3 team that finished ninth in the final NJCAA poll and goals have been set high for the 2012 Blue Dragons. Fifthyear head coach Rion Rhoades listed winning the Jayhawk Conference and Region 6 championships and winning a bowl game as the team’s main goals.

To get there, the Blue Dragons will lean on five offensive starters and four defensive first-teamers. The Hutchinson Held’s first HCC team will include just offense brings back receivers Jatavius four returning starters – strong safety Stewart (659 yards, 10 touchdowns) and Brandon King, linebacker Terrell Jordan Miguel Johns (497 yards, three touchand offensive linemen Austen Thomas downs) as well as running backs Terrell and Jacob Johansen – so many of the freshmen will have an opportunity to con- Lane (66 carries for 377 yards and seven touchdowns) and Braden Eck and offentribute immediately. sive lineman Matt Holt.

“There will be competition at every position from both in-state and out of state tal- On defense, Hutchinson returns linemen ent,” Held said. “Our number one goal is Ben Bradley and Toby Johnson, defensive back Xavier McFadden and part-time to improve daily as a team and organistarter Dominique Terrell. Johnson was zation. We’re laying the foundation that will make Highland a place of destination second on the team with 9.5 tackles for for high school football players that want loss, plus broke up five passes and to improve on the field, in the classroom blocked two kicks in 2011. As a freshman, Bradley made 35 tackles including and off the field. We’re going to take it 4.5 for loss while McFadden was fourth day by day and lay the bricks and be a competitive team each Saturday. It won’t on the team with 62 tackles and had a team-high 10 pass break ups. be easy, but we’re excited for the challenge and opportunity we have.”

The Blue Dragon special teams should be good again, with punter Kody Cook and Keys for the Scotties include playing kicker Michael Mesh both returning. great defense, improving fundamentally Cook averaged 40.7 yards per punt and and staying healthy. pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 17 times last season. Mesh connected on “We have to play great defense and special teams. We need to control the tempo 66 of 72 extra points and was two-for-two of the game with our offense and identify on field goals inside 29 yards. times to speed up or slow down the 9-3 in 2011 / 6-1 in conference / NJCAA game,” Held said. “We have to improve fundamentally as an organization and like Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference any team, we need the ball to bounce our Coach: Rion Rhoades (5th year, 35-20; 6th year overall, 42-25) way and to stay healthy throughout the Assistants: Chad Adams, Dion Meneley, year.”

Cory Warren, Sean Racette, Tommy Mangino, Jayden Everett, John Harrell, Thatcher 1-8 in 2011 / 1-5 in conference / NJCAA Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Starling, Eric Mateos Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 Coach: Ryan Held Returning lettermen: 25 (1st year; 9th year overall, 33-53) Returning starters: 5 offense, 4 defense Assistants: Judd Remmers, Troy Dumas, Jatavius Stewart, WR, 5-11, 179, So.; Miguel Edgard Theliar, Ruzell McCoy, Aaron Arnold, Johns, WR, 5-10, 177, So.; Terrell Lane, RB, Derek Homer 5-11, 228, So.; Braden Eck, RB, 5-11, 236, Offense: Spread Defense: 4-3 So.; Matt Holt, OL, 6-3, 290, So.; Toby Returning lettermen: 8 Johnson, DL, 6-3, 296, So.; Ben Bradley, DL, Returning starters: 2 offense, 2 defense 6-2, 311, So.; Xavier McFadden, DB, 6-1, 188, Brandon King, SS, 6-2, 220, So.; Terrell So.; Dominique Terrell; Kody Cook, P, 6-1, Jordan, LB, 6-0, 200, So.; Austen Thomas, 189, So.; Michael Mesh, K, 5-8, 174, So. OL, 6-0, 260, So.; Jacob Johansen, OL, 6-4, Melanie McGee 275, So. Melanie McGee

The Jayhawk Conference is always one of the toughest conferences in NJCAA football, and Independence coach Steve Carson is well-aware of that fact after his team struggled to an 0-6 record against KJCCC foes in 2011.

The Pirates figure to be much improved in 2012, as they bring back half the starting lineup on both sides of the ball as well as a solid group of transfers and freshmen.

“Obviously, we want to be more competitive than we were last year,” Carson said.

“I feel a lot better about our guys after spring ball. We have some in this summer, and I think we’ll be much more competitive than last year.”

Independence returns quarterback TyQuan Hayes, who completed 63 of 107 passes last season and will operate behind a veteran offensive line this fall.

Tommy Crayton, Jacob McGuire and Trey McCluskey, all at least 270 pounds, are back in the trenches.

“We need to be able to run the ball better than last year,” Carson said. “I want to establish that early in the season, but of course, we’ll still throw it too.”

On defense, Independence has Tommy Dover and James Twins back on the line, Lawson Short returning at linebacker and La’Trayon Fagins in the secondary. Dover had three tackles for loss last season, while Fagins broke up five passes and Short tallied 28 total tackles.

“On defense, we need to do a better job tackling,” Carson said. “We must be more physical on defense than we were last year.”

0-9 in 2011 / 0-6 in conference / NJCAA Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Coach: Steve Carson (3rd year, 4-15) Assistants: Matt Lott, Scott Anderson, Rick Stevens, Aaron DeBerry, David Simmons Offense: 1 Back Defense: Multiple Front Returning starters: 4 offense, 4 defense TyQuan Hayes, QB, 6-0, 175, So.; La’Trayon Fagins, DB, 6-1, 205, So.; Lawson Short, LB, 5-11, 205, So.; Tommy Crayton, OL, 6-0, 270, So.; Tommy Dover, DL, 6-2, 265, So.; Jacob McGuire, OL, 6-2, 275, So.; Trey McCluskey, OL, 6-3, 290, So.; James Twins, DL, 6-3, 275, So. Melanie McGee

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