BUCKLIN RED ACES

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

The 2022 campaign was a season of sprees for Bucklin and head coach Trever Powell. After starting 3-0, the Red Aces skidded to three straight losses against opponents with a final combined record of 25-7. In the wake of those losses, Powell managed to right the ship with another three-game win streak, including a 32-30 first round playoff upset against an undefeated Stafford program.

Bucklin’s season ended in the second round of the playoffs after a loss to a quality Sharon Springs team, leaving them with a final record of 6-4.

Entering year four with a 20-10 record under Powell, the Red Aces have high expectations this fall with seven offensive and defensive starters back, including All-State seniors Andrew Bowman and Drew Ellis.

Ellis led the team in tackles as a junior with 92 stops, to go with 13 tackles-for-loss, four sacks, and three blocked punts.

“Drew is a very instinctual player who only has one speed, and that is as hard as he can go,” Powell said. “He is very impactful at the linebacker position because he makes a quick decision and goes with it, and we love blitzing him or walking him up to the defensive line because of how quick he is and how physical he plays.”

Bowman added 77 tackles with seven tacklesfor-loss, a sack, and an interception.

“Andrew is a very versatile player with his size and athletic ability,” Powell said. “You could see him play linebacker, defensive end, or defensive back all in the same game. We are able to move him around wherever we feel we need him to play and he is able to do it at a high level.”

Bowman and Ellis are joined in the linebacking corps by senior Izaiah Pearce (63 tkls., 2.5 sacks) while the Red Aces also return junior defensive backs Lucas Kirk (61 tkls., 2 INTs) and Kaden Tilley (40 tkls., 3 INTs), senior D-linemen Waylon Dolezal (51 tkls., 9 TFLs, 6 sacks), Darius McKinsey (8 tkls., 2 sacks), and All-State junior Kolson Cook (71 tkls., 17 TFLs, 5 sacks).

On the other side of the ball, Ellis and McKinsey are back on the offensive line to lead the way for Bowman, one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in 8-Man, after he gained 1,797 all-purpose yards with 17 total TDs and earned All-State honors as a junior.

Alongside Bowman is junior All-State QB Lucas Kirk (93-164, 1,341 yds., 24 TDs; 110 car, 525 yds., 8 TDs) with Tilley (29 rec., 558 yds., 11 TDs), Cook (19 rec., 206 yds., 5 TDs), and Dolezal (8 rec., 147 yds., 3 TDs) back as weapons in the passing game.

“This season we’ve got guys in some key roles with experience that we were lacking last year,” Powell said. “Experience that I believe will help take us to the next level as a team. Our group of seniors haven’t made it past the second round of the playoffs these past three years, expect us to surprise some people this season and make a deep postseason run.”