ST. MARY’S COLGAN PANTHERS

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

Back in 2021, head coach Shawn Seematter and his St. Mary’s Colgan program had a rare down year, finishing 4-5 – the first losing season for Colgan since 1997 – while navigating a brutal schedule that included some of 2A and 3A’s top teams. The lull didn’t last long, though, as the Panthers burst back into state title contention last fall with a 9-2 mark. The first loss came in Week 2 to a Girard team that finished 10-1 in 3A, while the second came against eventual 1A state champs St. Marys in the 1A quarterfinals.

“Coming off a tough 4-5 2021 season, we had a lot of unanswered questions about last year’s team,” Seematter said. “Our kids had a tremendous offseason leading up to the 2022 season and built a great team culture that propelled us to a 9-2 season. The best part of the season was looking back at the progress that was made throughout the season and how well our kids came together.”

In the wake of that bounceback season, Colgan returns 10 starters total, all of them seniors. At the forefront of that group are All-State selections Cooper Simmons and Tucker Harrell, who led a defense that held opponents to single digits seven times last season and 14 points or less in each of the nine wins.

Simmons credits resilience for the turnaround.

“We faced adversity a lot through injuries to our key players, but we had people step up when it was needed most,” Simmons said. “We grew as a team and that carried over to the field on Friday nights. Many people on the team had milestone seasons.”

Harrell was among the top defensive backs in the class as a junior, earning All-State honors after recording 46 tackles and four interceptions. The senior also returned three punts for TDs on special teams. Simmons, meanwhile, earned All-State honors for his 54 tackles, forced fumble, and two interceptions.

“Both guys are coming off great junior seasons on both sides of the ball and both possess tremendous skillsets that complement their outstanding work ethic and leadership abilities,” Seematter said. “Both players have great command of the offense and defense and communicate very well in getting our calls and adjustments made.”

But that dynamic duo are far from the only returners to the Panther D. All-State defensive lineman Jade Tenry (65 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 TFL), along with fellow returning senior D-linemen Tristan Voss (60 tackles, 1 sack, 5 TFL) and Ethan Hoagland – all weighing in at more than 225 pounds – provide size and strength up front and are reinforced by Simmons and a group of returning backers that includes Konnor Ware (23 tackles), John Potusek (36 tackles), and Kysen Bennett (48 tackles, 2 INTs). Defensive backs Connor VanBecelaere (42 tackles, 5 INT) and Jack Schremmer (1 INT) round out the returning defensive unit. Harrell points out analytics that indicate his team’s improvements on the defensive side of the ball as a big reason for the shift from a 4-5 mark to 9-2.

“One key takeaway is that our defense made tremendous improvements before last season. In the year prior, we allowed 1,751 rushing yards on 354 carries, which is 4.95 yards per carry, and 20 touchdowns. This past year, we allowed 1,077 yards on 353 carries, lowering the average to 3.05 yards per carry, and just 12 touchdowns.”

The senior also noted improvements on offense as well.

“We also improved our rushing offense from 5.89 yards per carry to 7.45 yards per carry. In 2021, we scored 24 rushing touchdowns, and in 2022, we scored 50. Going into this season, we look to improve our game even further and hopefully walk away with a state championship.”

Serving as the team’s QB, Harrell’s combination of passing (508 yds., 6 TDs, 2 INTs) and running (601 yds., 16 TDs) made him difficult for defensive coordinators to prepare for. His leadership is key for the offense’s functionality.

“Tucker is a very capable and very smart football player,” Seematter said, “so we have a lot of trust in anything we throw at him offensively, that not only can he do it, but he can do it well. He is also a great leader in the locker room, in the weight room, on the practice field, etc. He’s a guy that the other players have a lot of confidence in as well because of how he handles his business and prepares on a daily basis.”

Harrell will be protected by four returning senior offensive linemen – Ethan Hoagland along with Ware, Tenry, and Voss – who will also be tasked with opening holes for Simmons, an All-State running back coming off a 154 carry, 1,218 yard, 20 TD season.

“Cooper rarely goes down on first contact and is always churning forward for extra yards, which leads to a lot of broken tackles and extra yards.” Seematter said. “He’s also a very patient runner and lets the guys up front do their jobs, and then hits his spots with great intensity. Cooper is also a very smart football player and is always in the right spot at the right time. He has a great feel for our schemes and what we are asking him to do, which helps him play the way he does.”

Colgan enters the 2023 season with outside expectations high – back to a place the Colgan and the Kansas football community are used to – but according to Seematter it’s vital they stay true and double-down on what led them to success last season.

“I think the biggest thing is just staying humble and hungry and continuing to build a strong, selfless culture where guys are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful. Our guys have great relationships with one another and truly have each other ’s best interest in mind. If we can maintain a selfless attitude and strong work ethic I am confident we can play at a high level again this year.”

Bishop Miege / from page 24

Player of the Year plans to play at the next level, but the success hasn’t distracted Betts from the grit that went into winning a title.

“(We must remember) the hard work that we put in the offseason that led us to win a state championship,” Betts said.

Alongside Betts in the linebacker corps is senior Jack Baird (37 tkls., 3 INTs), while Miege’s returning D-line consists of seniors Arasto Sadeghi (4.5 sacks) and Jalen Wilson (30.5 tkls., 11 TFLs, 4.5 sacks), juniors Finn Cusick (13 tkls., 1 sack) and Neil Carman (16.5 tkls.), and sophomore Devyn Davis.

Offensively, a major void will be felt initially with the graduation of All-State QB Mac Armstrong (Butler CC), but the Stags are quite adept at reloading in the QB room.

“We will look to Marco Rodriguez to get first shot at being our (starter),” Holmes said. “Developing depth at QB is a priority.”

Rogriguez, (6-4, 175, Jr.), was 7-9 passing for 135 yards and two TDs last fall.

Voth is coming off of a 118 tackle, six tackle-for-loss, one INT season that earned him All-State honors, and returns alongside senior D-lineman Kason Messenger (61 tkls., 10 TFLs, 3.5 sacks), junior D-lineman Ethan Hall (29 tkls.), senior All-League D-back Colter McDaniel (74 tkls., 5 INTs, 2 Def TDs), as well as senior D-backs Weston Hill (28 tkls., 5 PBU, INT, Def TD), Drew Tolar (32 tkls.), and Tre Black, who was injured after starting Week 1. Offensively, Voth led the team with 83 receptions for 1,044 yards and 12 TDs, with McDaniel (26 rec., 382 yds., 4 TDs) also back

The new QB will have the comfort of working behind a veteran O-line that includes senior returning starters Jeremy Schleicher and Dominic Werner at tackles and Baker North and Jalen Wilson at guards, while juniors Will Barton and Phil Jones compete for the starting center position. Schleicher (6-3, 275), Werner (6-6, 285), and North (6-3, 315) provide a mix of size and strength and are among the top targets of the DII coaches of the MIAA with interest from FCS and FBS schools as well.

Skill positions back for the Stags include junior leading rusher David Garcia (150 car., 774 yds., 12 TDs) at running back, senior Hollis Moeller – a Power 5 long snapping prospect –at tight end, and junior Teryn Jackson (54 rec., 876 yds., 8 TDs) at receiver.

“Class 4A looks to have a competitive field again this year,” Holmes said. “For us to advance to the state championship game we are going to need our best effort each game during the playoffs.” at receiver and Messenger (9 rec., 135 yds., 1 TD) at tight end. Junior All-League QB Josh Burdick was impressive as a sophomore going 188-296 for 2,266 yards and 23 TDs to nine INTs, with another seven TDs on the ground.

Seniors Taj Thomas and Jack Gregory, as well as juniors Garren Campbell and Ethan Hall are back on the offensive line. Wehrman expects juniors AJ Quick and Kolton Rohloff to get time on the varsity line as well.

“Our team is young and has plenty of room to grow,” Voth said. “We need to play more physically this season. Our goal for the 2023 season is to win a state title.”