MEADE BUFFALOES

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

After head coach Bryan Luetters finished his lone season as Meade’s head coach 13-0 with a state title in 2021 he made the decision to take the head coaching position at Liberal High School, leaving the tough task of following up such a brief, successful tenure.

It was no issue for former Meade assistant and now head coach Clint Kuhns, however, as he led the Buffaloes to a 9-2 season with a trip to quarterfinals in the 8-Man I playoffs. Notably, their two losses came against Wichita County and Hill City - the former went on to win a state title, the latter finished in the top four

“We graduated an incredibly talented group from the 2021 state team, but the coffers weren’t empty,” Kuhns said. “We felt confident in the guys we had coming back and those that we had on the sideline. We were young in places due to some key injuries, but our young guys did a great job for us.

An obvious challenge Meade faces in 2023 is the loss of another talented senior class, including All-State selections Grayden Stapleton, Brayden Norris, Brady Papay, and Braetyn Couse.

“We will need guys to step up to fill the shoes of these outgoing seniors, not just on the field but off the field as well,” Kuhns said. “We are fortunate to get some of our younger guys some experience last season and hope they can make the jump into a leadership role in the upcoming season.”

The good news for Kuhns is All-State senior linebacker and running back Brock Keith gives him an incredible piece to build around. Keith was second on the team in tackles last season with 90, and made big plays in the form of 16 tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and two interceptions.

“A few takeaways from last season was chemistry,” Keith said. “I had teammates I had played with since junior high or even rec. days. We knew what talents we all brought to the team and we performed to the best of our abilities.”

Keith helped lead a defense that held seven of their 11 opponents to a TD or less, including a five-game stretch to open the season where the Buffaloes allowed just 18 points total.

Other top returners include senior linebacker Vincent Lynn, senior D-backs Bradon Bird (36 tkls.) and Cade Cronister (15 tkls.), senior D-linemen Harrison Bachman (21 tkls.) and Jaryn Knott (24 tkls.), and junior linemen Alek Holguin (29 tkls.) and Jace Jones (27 tkls.).

Kuhns also expects reps from sophomore linebacker Samuel Lynn, junior D-back Hayden Sions, and 6-5, 252 pound senior lineman Cole Papay, who missed 2022 to injury.

To complement the Buffs’ stout D is a Meade offensive assault led by Keith, who rushed for 930 yards and 17 TDs last season, added 237 receiving yards with two TDs, and had three more scores off kick returns.

Leading the way for Keith are Knott, Jones, and Papay on the offensive line, with Bird (21 rec., 377 yds.), Vincent Lynn, and Bachman at receiver, along with Jones at tight end.

“Our team goal is to definitely win another state title,” Keith said. “We fell a little short last year, but I truly believe we will come back stronger this year due to the loss. We all are hungry for a state title. I expect nothing less than that.”