2021 Football Preview

EMPORIA H CHASE COUNTY H LEBO H OLPE NORTHERN HEIGHTS H HARTFORD H MADISON COUNCIL GROVE

2021 AREA

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

THE EMPORIA GAZETTE

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

MEET THE SPARTANS MEET THE SPARTANS

Jaden Thomas Junior

Derrick Keys Junior

Adrian Jimenez Freshman

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

LEBO RETURNS WITH NEW FACES BUT SAME LEVEL OF TALENT

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

Lebo may be young in 2021, and it may be replacing key elements of last year’s team, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t expecting big things this season.

The Wolves went 11-1 in 2020 with their one loss coming by just five points at the hands of Frankfort in the third round of the state playoffs.

“That was frustrating. Our goal was to make it to at least substate,” said fourth-year head coach Brian Hadley. “ ...

Overall, it was a great season.”

Six seniors graduated off of last year’s team, including several who played crucial roles such as all-state quarterback Devan McEwen. Hadley acknowledged that this year’s team faces a bit of a drop-off when it comes to time accumulated on the field, but he still thinks Lebo could compete for a league title and make another playoff run.

“I feel like this year, we’re not as experienced, but I think we can be just as good,” he said. “I think we have the talent here. A lot of the guys we’re returning played last year or subbed in. We had a full JV season last year, which was the first time we’ve had a JV season in five years. That was a big stepping stone, getting people out.”

Overhauled as it may be, what defines this year’s team, he said, is its speed and athleticism, particularly in its offensive ranks.

Slipping into McEwen’s shoes will be senior Kyle Reese, who makes the switch to quarterback after he earned firstteam all-district honors as a running back, linebacker, returner, punter and kicker last year.

In his career, Reese is 5-for-5 passing for 110 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 58 times for 587 yards and 13 touchdowns last year.

“He was one of our best players last year and I’m very confident he can step into that role and do really well,” Hadley said.

Junior Austin Bailey is another all-state player on the offensive and defensive line.

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dozen” in his first year to 20 players Sophomore Corey Reese — Kyle Lebo Football Schedule this year.

Reese’s younger brother — earned He also thinks that some people significant playing time as a freshSept. 3 — at Southern might be overlooking his team after man by the end of last season and Coffey County graduation lifted so much after last had 14 rushes for 102 yards and two year, but he has no trouble believing touchdowns.

Sept. 10 — at Chase County in his guys.

Junior receiver Luke Davies had Sept. 17 — at Waverly “We’re just looking to build off the 21 catches for 339 yards and two Sept. 24 — Hartford momentum we had from last year,” touchdowns last year and will be Oct. 1 — Wakefield he said. “Yeah, it’s different faces, but joined by Grayson Shoemaker and these guys were there. They were on Oct. 15 — at Rural Vista Landon Grimmett. Dom Risner the team. They know what it takes. missed most of last year due to a Oct. 22 — at Marais des Cygnes Valley They know what it was like and how knee injury and will serve as a tight fun it was to be able to play in that end in 2021.

Hadley said the team has added several freshmen and third round playoff game. … It’s right there. They can beolder newcomers this season which offers a significant lieve. We’re going to have to stay healthy. We’re going to amount of depth. The football program has grown consid- have to play together. But the talent is there to beat anybody erably under his leadership, having grown from the “dirty on our schedule and hopefully make a deep playoff run.”

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

MADISON RELOADS FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT STATE APPEARANCE

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

After seeing its 2020 season come to an end just short of the state title game, Madison came up with a new slogan going forward: “We don’t rebuild, we reload.”

The Bulldogs lost nine seniors off of last year’s 11-1 team, which lost its only game of the season in the substate championship game against Little River. And while that loss was devastating, it has also lit a fire underneath the Madison squad.

“There’s only one team that is happy at the end of the season, and that’s the one holding the trophy,” said sixth-year head coach Alex McMillian. “We’ve been close and I think that’s motivated this year’s Please see Madison, Page 8

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

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MADISON From PAGE 6 team. They understand we’ve been close and we’ve got to put in the work to make it that extra step.”

Madison hasn’t lost a regular season game since 2017 but the state title game has proven elusive in that time. Despite the loss of so many pivotal players from last year’s team, McMillian thinks this year’s team has the opportunity to get the job done.

It all starts with the “key pieces returning” from the 2020 squad.

There’s senior quarterback Casey Helm, who had an exceptional season in 2020, completing 74 of 104 passes for 1286 yards and 23 touchdowns. Standing at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, he’ll also play defensive end for the Bulldogs this year.

Senior Drew Stutesman is a three-year starter at linebacker who has also spent time at tight end. However, McMillian said Stutesman will move into a more “diverse” role where he will do a lot of leadblocking similar to a fullback.

The other chief returner is senior Kev-

in Heineken, a 6-foot-2, 265-pound trench warrior who plays center on offense and nose guard on defense.

McMillian said he expects other players to step up and “make a lot of noise” in 2021, like junior running back/wide receiver/safety Bryson Turner, who missed seven games last season due to a shoulder injury and then went on to win the 1A state track and field 100-meter dash.

Senior tight end/ cornerback Trace Dannels, sophomore tight end/defensive end Lane Darbro and senior guard Braden Foltz will also be major contributors.

“We got a lot of pieces returning, but we also got a lot of new faces and a lot of younger, inexperienced guys in some spots,” McMillian said. “I think that’s probably the most exciting thing is seeing where these kids started and where they were at to where they are this year

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

and seeing where their growth is. Hope they’re ready.”

Despite the fact that he’s aiming high, McMillian isn’t overlooking any opponent on the schedule, no matter who it is.

After all, you don’t turn in three straight undefeated regular seasons without the right mindset week in and week out.

“I always tell the guys I prepare the same each and every week whether we’re playing a stateranked team or a team that doesn’t have a win,” he said.

“We’re going to still prepare the same and then make sure our kids are ready.”

The leadership from those who went through last year’s postseason run should be Madison’s strength this year, helping McMillian keep the team focused on the right things and in the right direction.

What concerns him, though, is the fact that many talented players who will play

Madison Football Schedule Sept. 3 — at Herington Sept. 10 — Hartford Sept. 17 — at Southern Coffey County Sept. 24 — at Udall Oct. 1 — at Oxford Oct. 8 — Chase County Oct. 15 — at Flinthills Oct. 22 — at Burden-Central consequential roles don’t have a significant amount of varsity experience.

“We’ve got the tools, I’m just anxious to see how they look on Friday nights and how they build and grow throughout the season,” he said.

But McMillian wants his new players to be confident in the task at hand. After all, they’re not trying to reconstruct the shambles left behind when last year’s seniors moved on. They’re simply the next wave of fearsome Bulldogs.

“We don’t rebuild,” he said. “We reload.”

MEET THE SPARTANS MEET THE SPARTANS

Sheldon Stewart Sophomore

Tayten Ervin Freshman

Kaden Woydziak Senior

Brandon Magana Freshman

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

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MEET THE SPARTANS MEET THE SPARTANS

Kadyn Galbreath Senior

Cam Geitz Senior

Enrique Rios Sophomore

Hunter Lewis Senior

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

SPARTANS TO REBUILD WITH NEW LOOK ON OFFENSE

By Zach DeLoach

Emporia Football Schedule

zach@emporia.com

A new era of Emporia High football has arrived.

After spending five years as the offensive line coach and the final two games of last season as the interim head coach, Keaton Tuttle takes the reins of the Spartan squad as it looks to rebuild from a 2020 season that was plagued with difficulties both on and off the field.

Emporia went 2-7 in a year where it not only had to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic but also with the former head coach’s mid-season ousting amid allegations of player abuse.

But that’s all in the past. Tuttle is the man at the helm now and he has spent the past several months helping his team look toward the future.

And it seems like those efforts are bearing fruit.

“They’re excited for the year,” Tuttle said of his players. “They want to go out and try and do this new stuff that we’re trying to do because I think they understand that they could have a lot of fun and be pretty dangerous doing it.”

The “new stuff” will primarily be seen on the offensive side of the ball, as the Spartans implement a balanced, pro-style offense this season. Tuttle said the team is going to split time under center and in the shotgun while using tight ends and multiple backs. Additionally, it will look to expand its passing game more than it has in previous years.

So far, the install has gone pretty well.

“I have been very pleasantly surprised

Sept. 3 — at Hayden Sept. 10 — Topeka West Sept. 16 — at Topeka High Sept. 24 — Highland Park Oct. 1 — at Washburn Rural Oct. 8 — at Seaman Oct. 15 — Junction City Oct. 22 — Manhattan JAN BUCKMAN/SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

at how happy, how anxious they are to run some of this stuff,” Tuttle said. “I think what they’re seeing is that it suits them very well.”

Senior Cam Geitz will return as Emporia’s starting quarterback, a role he took on last year and in which he presents a dualthreat. While Tuttle said that Geitz experienced “growing pains” as the signal-caller in 2020, he also expects the difficulty of last season to pay off this season.

“I look for him to have a pretty big year from last year to this year,” Tuttle said. “Cam throws a pretty good ball, so we’re going to open things up, let him throw it, work with him to make the right reads, right decisions.

Cam, every now and then, can run pretty well.”

Junior Bobby Trujillo will join Geitz in the backfield as a tailback. Tuttle said that, as a ball carrier, Trujillo might not have breakaway speed but that he makes up for it with his physicality.

“He’s not always the guy who’s going to run away from somebody, but he does like to run into people, which is nice,” Tuttle said.

Fellow junior Derrick Keys, whom Tuttle said had “blazing speed,” will complement Trujillo at running back.

Senior Kaden Woydziak will lead a cadre of talented receivers who will have the opportunity to shine as Emporia unrolls its new air attack.

Tuttle said that this team’s greatest strength is the depth, ability and leadership of its skilled position players.

“We know where we’ve got a lot of numbers in certain areas and we’re going to try to use that to our advantage,” he said.

Senior Jay Orozco played on the offensive line last season but has experience at fullback. Tuttle said Orozco will return to the fullback position this year and that his humility makes him a tremendous asset for the team.

“He loves to block, he loves to do the dirty things that somebody’s got to do but not necessarily always getting the recognition or your face on the news or name in the newspaper or things like that,” Tuttle said. “Those are the guys I really, really enjoy having around and you can really build a team around guys like that. It’s incredible what people can do if they’re not worried about who gets the credit.”

Defensively, the Spartans won’t look too different than they have in years past.

Tuttle said that he will rely on the acumen of Randy Wells and others who have been carried over from the previous staff.

“I really trust them to put our players in good situations to be successful and good positions where we can thrive,” he said.

Trujillo and Woydziak will also be impact players on the defensive side at linebacker and safety.

While it would be great to win a league title, Tuttle isn’t necessarily setting that as the team’s season objective -- although he doesn’t think it’s outside the realm of possibility either. Instead, his focus is more moment-by-moment, with the hope that a series of moments builds to something special.

“One of my biggest goals is, are we getting better every day?” he said. “Is there something we can do every single day that gets us a little bit better? And are we getting better every week? … Obviously, we’d love to win the league, we’d love to win our play-in game, have a home playoff game and win that. That’d be fantastic.

But like I said, we’re going to take it one week at a time and go from there.”

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Page 11

TUTTLE WELCOMES NEW CHALLENGE AS EHS HEAD COACH

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

When Keaton Tuttle was announced as the next head football coach at Emporia High in February, his childhood dream was fulfilled.

“It was a surreal moment and, honestly, I still catch myself,” Tuttle said in February.

“I was coming to school this morning and somebody stopped me and told me, ‘Congratulations.’ And I was like, ‘For what?’ It just kind of hasn’t set in yet, and maybe it won’t for a little bit. But I’m real thankful for the position and I’m really excited. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do since I was a second-grader. It’s a dream come true, and I know that’s a little cliche and I said that at the end of being the interim, but it really is.

It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do and there’s a great opportunity here.”

Tuttle served as the interim head coach for the final two games of the 2020 season following the dismissal of former head coach Corby Milleson amid allegations of abuse against players.

However, he wasn’t necessarily a shoo-in for the job and had to compete against external applicants.

“They did interviews, and we got done with that and a few days later they let me know that they were offering me the position,” Tuttle said. “I didn’t have to think twice.”

Prior to taking on head coaching duties temporarily last season, Tuttle had spent the previous five years as an offensive line coach for the Spartans. During that time, he assisted with some offensive installs and became known as a well-liked assistant on the coaching staff.

However, Tuttle’s journey to the helm in Emporia began 350 miles away in Cherokee, Iowa, a farming community of about 5,000 people in the northwest part of the state.

He was born to two collegiate athletes and sports were an integral part of his family milieu. His mother was a high school teacher, coach and athletic director as Tuttle was growing up and his three sisters were all successful athletes as well.

Tuttle played football, basketball, track and baseball all four years of high school, a feat that no Kansas athlete could pull off, as Iowa plays its high school baseball season during the summer so it doesn’t conflict with track.

“Football was always my favorite,” Tuttle said. “When I got into high school, I started to think, ‘Hey, maybe there’s a future in this.’”

After graduating from Washington High School in Cherokee, Tuttle went to Iowa Western Community College on a $300 a

year football scholarship. There he played for influential coaches and with quality athletes, including Jake Waters, who would go on to be a two-year starting quarterback at Kansas State.

“We had some great guys I played with, phenomenal coaches that I still talk to quite a bit,” Tuttle said.

He played in a few games his freshman year, and in his sophomore year, he earned both a more substantial scholarship and a flexible starting role on the offensive line.

Following that, he moved on to play at Fort Hays State, where he majored in education.

“Like I said, my mom was a coach, she was a teacher and my dad was a farmer, still is, but he actually went to school for education,” Tuttle said. “It was either farm or teach, one of the two. So I went into teaching.”

However, as his graduation from FHSU loomed, Tuttle was still unsure what he was going to do next.

“It had to be about two days before graduation, my department head at Fort Hays came in,” Tuttle said. “I was done with football. I was more worried about getting a job.

I didn’t know what I was going to do. He basically said, ‘Hey, I talked to a principal in Emporia and he wants to know if you’d be interested in interviewing for a teaching job.’

And I was like, ‘Well, I don’t know if I want to teach, I don’t know what I want to do.’”

But Tuttle agreed to the interview and was offered a position as a technology teacher at Emporia High School.

“I called my mom on the way home and said, ‘Hey, I’m going to be a teacher. I accepted the job,’” he said. “That was 2015 and I’m still here, so I think it was a pretty good move. The stars had to align there just right and they did, thankfully.”

Tuttle didn’t coach at all his first year at Emporia High. However, the following year he joined the football coaching staff and worked his way to the top.

In 2021, Tuttle will face tremendous challenges as he works to improve upon the Spartans’ 2-7 record from a year ago. Most importantly, he will need to help the program recover from the derogatory culture created by the previous head coach, where many players reported they were routinely targeted for verbal and physical abuse.

The task ahead will not be easy. It never is for programs convalescing from the withering infection of a coach who puts winning ahead of everything else, including the wellbeing of his own players.

But Tuttle, who so readily credits the numerous coaches who have positively impacted him over the years, knows that the most crucial emphasis will be the most fundamen-

tal and the one that has apparently been absent from the top in previous seasons.

“I want [our players] to know that we care about them, we really do, and that we can be successful,” Tuttle said.

Tuttle intends for the Spartan football program to become a place where everyone -coaches included -- is expected to fulfill their individual responsibilities to themselves and each other every single day.

“They’re going to know that they’re going to be held accountable and they’re going to be held to a high standard, whether that be in football, as a person, in the classroom, all of those things that go along with changing a culture and rebuilding,” he said.

For Tuttle, football is not the be-all-endall, but rather an opportunity to provide a healthy, enjoyable activity for young people and a vehicle for helping them become adults of high moral character.

“It’s bigger than football. Football is what we’re here to do, it’s the reason I’m in this position, but it’s beyond that,” he said. “I want to teach them to be good people, good humans who do the right thing … [and] to have fun and learn and grow while it’s all going on.”

JAN BUCKMAN/SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE

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g. at hdat

Page 12

considerably under his leadership, having grown from the “dirty dozen” in his first to 20 players this year.

THE EMPORIA year GAZETTE He also thinks that some people might be overlooking his team after graduation lifted so much after last year, but he has no trouble believing in his guys.

“We’re just looking to build off the momentum we had from last year,” he said.

“Yeah, it’s different faces, but these guys were there. They were on the team. They COURTESY PHOTO know what it takes. They know what it was like and offensive and defensive line. how fun it was to be able to Sophomore Corey Reese -- play in that third round playKyle Reese’s younger brother off game. … It’s right there.

-- earned significant playing They can believe. We’re gotime as a freshman by the ing to have to stay healthy. end of last season and had 14 We’re going to have to play rushes for 102 yards and two together. But the talent is there to beat anybody on our touchdowns.

Junior receiver Luke Da- schedule and hopefully make vies had 21 catches for 339 a deep playoff run.”

NORTHERN HEIGHTS TO START FRESH WITH NEW COACH

ff g al rBy Zach DeLoach n. zach@emporia.com at it es Equipped with a new head coach, e Northern Heights will look to rebound o dreadful season.

Slipping into McEwen’s and two touchdowns. He also season a last year, which2020 e full JVfrom Todd Callahan waswill hired JulyKyle 27,Re-just rushed 58 times for 587 yards be senior time we’ve had a shoes y- was the first and 13 touchdowns last year. ese, whowas makes the switch to to JV season in fivebefore years. That weeks practice scheduled after he earned stepping stone, gete was a big begin.

Based in quarterback Abilene where he has “He was one of our best first-team all-district honors players last year and I’m very I ting people out.” been an assistant coach for years, NorthOverhauled as it may be, as a running back, linebacker, confident he can step into ,” ern Heights his first head coaching returner, punter and kicker that role and do really well,” this year’s will team,be e what defines Hadley said. is its speed and ath- last year. ys he said, gig.

Inthis his career, Reese isthe Junior Austin Bailey is anits st leticism, particularly However,intaking job wasn’t 5-for-5 passing for 110 yards other all-state player on the a offensive ranks.

Northern Heights Football Schedule

plan.

“My boys decided not to play football in high school so actually this was going to be my last year,” Callahan said. “I was going to ride off into the sunset.”

But a coworker at his day job told Callahan about ing some football, make sure the Northern that the kids are able to have and, as a joke, Heights opening a season,” he said. he told his coworker to have the Callahan takes over a district call him. He was shocked squad that went 1-8 last year when it actually and was shut out in seven of did.

“There wasthat a need and I have those games.

The fact he came incredibly theonboard ability, I think, to do what late doesn’t make any needs tothe bejobdone, to make sure easier. the kids are learning some footBut that also doesn’t seem ball, makeat sure to bother Callahan all. that the kids are “A able lot of to people haveI know a season,” he said. in the coaching profession Callahan takes over a squad think I’m crazy, but it’s been that went 1-8 last year and was Callahan great,” he said. “It really has out in seven been shut an enjoyable experi- of those games. fact that ence. The Sometimes life, he you came onboard incredibly just got to run with what you the job any easier. late doesn’t make got. Like I said, the situation But that also doesn’t seem to bother isn’t ideal, but it is what it is Callahan and we’re going toat runall. with “A lot of people I know in the coaching it.”

Ever since Callahan was I’m crazy, but it’s been profession think hired, great,” it’s been a he madsaid. dash to“It really has been an en-

Sept. 3 — Council Grove Sept. 10 — at Arma-Northeast Sept. 17 — Central Heights Sept. 24 — at Lyndon Oct. 1 — Uniontown Oct. 8 — at Pleasanton Oct. 15 — Olpe Oct. 22 — at Valley Heights

hern Heights to start fresh with new coach

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

learn all his players’ names, their skills and their knowledge and then come up with a system of offense and defense that best suits them.

In Callahan’s analysis, the process has gone smoothly so far. While change is never easy — and Callahan

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joyable experience. Sometimes life, you just got to run with what you got. Like few teams I’ve ever coached that are I said, the situation isn’t ideal, but it is harder workers,’ he said. “The work ethic what it is there’s and we’re going toI’ve run Despite on thehis team is incredible. Attitudes have enthusiasm very few teams coach very and the determiwith it.” ever coached that are harder as abeen positive.” workers,’ he said. “The work nation of his players, CallaEver since Callahan was The primary focus of practice thus far ethic on the team is incred- han knows that he faces an hired, it’sible. been a mad dash hasbattle. beenStep installing one will the new offense and Attitudes have beentouphill learn all very hispositive.” players’ names,be defense, well letting go of as what hap- as bolstering special last year.

The their primary focus of pened their skills and knowledge teams, on which Callahan puts a high pri“My philosophy is, the practiceup thuswith far hasabeen inand then come system ority.

He knows that everything won’t be the new offense and past is the past,” he said. of offensestalling and defense that best ready by game one and maybe not even defense, as well as bolster- “That’s why the rearview suits them. theisnext couple ofofgames after that, but he the smallest part ing special teams, on which mirror In Callahan’s analysis, thethesaid that there will be enough for his team windshield.

If you spend Callahan puts a high prioriin the rearty. Hegone knows that everythingsotime process has smoothly to staring be successful. be ready by game one view mirror, you’re going to far. Whilewon’t change is never easy As to what those systems might look and maybe not even the next wreck.”

— and Callahan acknowledged like, Callahan said Northern Heights is go- he’s playing that close couple of games after that, that therebuthas been bitingto to the focusvest. on baby steps he said thatquite there a will Of course, an undebe enough his teamare to bere-for now.The of that — he said that his for players seniors on the team have imstate championship successful. sponding well and that the administrationfeated pressed Callahan so far, a group which inAs to what those systems run would be fantastic, but has been very supportive. cludes the likes of Wayde Burton, Aaron might look like, Callahan Callahan is realistic about As he has built said relationships with the Ross and Hank this Phillips. needs to happen he’s playing that close what team, Callahan has discovered that hisseason.“Our senior class is really starting to to the vest.

“Our are just to get players have a whole The lot seniors of grit.on the team stepgoals up into a leadership role,” he said. “You have impressed Callahan so better every day,” he said.

“ToMEGAN beSANDO/GAZETTE honest with you, there’s very know, what seniors are supposed to do.”

Todd Callahan was hired as the Northern Heights head coach on July 27.

far, a group which includes the likes of Wayde Burton, Aaron Ross and Hank Phillips.

“Our senior class is really starting to step up into a leadership role,” he said.

“You know, what seniors are supposed to do.”

“Take one day at a time. The past is the past. All we can worry about is today. We’re simplifying a lot of things.

Not because they can’t handle it, but I just don’t want them thinking as much. I want them flying and playing.”

Despite his enthusiasm as a coach and the determination of his players, Callahan knows that he faces an uphill battle. Step one will be letting go of what happened last year.

“My philosophy is, the past is the past,” he said. “That’s why the rearview mirror is the smallest part of the windshield. If you spend time staring in the rearview mirror, you’re going to wreck.”

Northern Heights is going to focus on baby steps for now. Of course, an undefeated state championship run would be fantastic, but Callahan is realistic about what needs to happen this season.

“Our goals are just to get better every day,” he said. “Take one day at a time.

The past is the past. All we can worry about is today. We’re simplifying a lot of things. Not because they can’t handle it, but I just don’t want them thinking as much. I want them flying and playing.”

NORTHERN HEIGHTS WILDCATS

acknowledged that there has been quite a bit of that — he said that his players are responding well and that the administration has been very supportive.

As he has built relationships with the team, Callahan has discovered that his players have a whole lot of grit.

“To be honest with you,

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

OLPE FOOTBALL READY TO DEFEND STATE TITLE Olpe Football Schedule Sept. 3 — Ellinwood Sept. 10 — at Central Heights Sept. 17 — at Lyndon Sept. 24 — Uniontown Oct. 1 — Pleasanton Oct. 8 — Jackson Heights Oct. 15 — Northern Heights Oct. 22 — Christ Prep Academy

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

“We got a target on our chest. Everybody’s going to come after us.”

That has been Olpe football head coach Chris Schmidt’s message to his team as it prepares to defend last year’s 1A state championship this fall.

In 2020, the Eagles rolled through their competition en route to a perfect record and a title. The defense shut out offense scored 48 or more points in seven six opponents — including Oakley in the games.

While five players graduated from last state championship game — and gave up a total of 35 points all year long while the year’s squad — including Kansas Shrine Bowl pick Jordan Barnard — this year’s nine seniors comprise almost one-third of Olpe’s 30-man roster. That list includes quarterback Damon Redeker, defender Ted Skalsky and running back Derek Hoelting.

“We got a good nucleus to build around with some kids that obviously

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went through last year and even the year before, so we’re going to lean on them awful hard,” said Schmidt, who enters his 15th season in 2021.

Senior Angel Rios-Cortez started on defense last year and will start on both sides of the ball in 2021, as will Brayden Weiss, according to Schmidt. Triton Ybarra was last year’s starting center and he will start to see more time on defense this year as well.

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Schmidt said. “They were solid for us last year and I think that they’ve come along.”

Junior Garret Cole will come off the offensive line and move into the offensive backfield as well as playing defense.

Darren Heins played a bit of receiver last year and will play offense and defense this year. Truman Bailey dealt with injuries during 2020, but Schmidt expects him to Please see Olpe, Page 15

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OLPE From PAGE 14 be a two-way starter.

Rowdy Orear, Ethan Redeker and Blake Skalsky are sophomores who Schmidt said might not start right away but who “have a pretty good understanding of what they’re doing. They just have to fine it up and continue to improve.”

Schmidt said his team’s strength is its experience, with so many players returning from a team that fought its way to a championship during a year that required so much attention to off-the-field procedures as a result of COVID-19.

“We’ve been in some tough situations and so I hope we can build off of that,” he said. “That senior bunch has ... played quite a bit of ball for us the last couple of years. That experience and those leaders, they’re the type of kids that I think are hungry and I think they’re going to continue to push themselves to get better.”

An area of some concern will be the kicking game, as Gabe Castillo — whom Schmidt described as “one of the best that we’ve ever had” — graduated last season. Schmidt said that kickoffs and extra points will likely be a committee

responsibility.

“A kickoff, it affects a lot,” he said.

“Gabe put it down there deep so our coverage was able to get down. We had a high kickoff and we had time to get down there. Right now, our kickoff’s a little sporadic. It might be a line drive. Well, we can’t get down the field as fast. Kicking it affects other things too, that type of stuff, field position. Field position was huge for us last year and Gabe was a huge part of that.”

Even though Schmidt is coming off his second state championship in football, he hasn’t really done anything to reinvent the wheel. In fact, he acknowledged that a lot of his coaching philosophy sounds “cliche,” but it’s clear that it works.

“It’s a team-oriented thing and everybody’s got to do their part and trust each other to do their part,” he said. “If we do those — I talk about it day one, I talk about it day 100 — if we can block people, we can tackle people and we can execute at a pretty consistent rate, we’ll compete with anybody we play. For us, it’s just the fundamentals and the basics.

We’re not going to try to get too carried away and be fancy and all this terminology. Let’s just do the basic fundamentals and if we do it pretty well as a group, we’ll compete with anybody we go up against.”

Page 15

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

HARTFORD FOOTBALL LOOKS TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

With just three starters returning, the Hartford football team is hoping to build on last year’s accomplishments.

The Jaguars went 6-4 in 2020, winning their first home playoff game in years before falling to Crest in the second round.

They were also district runners-up to fellow Lyon County League opponent Lebo.

“Overall, I thought we did very well,” said fifth-year head coach Colten Barrett.

Now, though, it’s time for Hartford to take the next step.

“I’m a big proponent of getting better every year if we can, so not only improving our record but improving our standing in the LCL, in our own league,” Barrett said. “Last year, we were one game short of a district title, and this year we feel like that’s our step that we need to take.”

And while there’s not a plethora of experience on his roster, Barrett believes that the returners he does have are ready to carry a heavy load.

Shayden Sull is a senior running back who has rushed for over 1,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.

“He’s been the main focus point for our team,” Barrett said. “He’s been our num-

COURTESY PHOTO

Kneeling L-R: Damion Bomar, Tysin Bulson, Nolin Trester, Oliver Smith, Bo Peters, Grayson Dailey. Standing L-R: Damien Pohl, Joey Del Percio, Carter Andrews, Shayden Sull, A.J. Navarro, Devon Smith, Trade Torrens, Ali Smith, Gabe Rhudy, Ashton Goodman, Duncan Baker, Tyler Stuck, Blaine McComsey Not Pictured Kevin Goza, Sebastian Leseberg.

“I’m looking for a big year from him,” ber one guy for three years now. We’re looking to have a monster season out of he said.

Ali Smith is going into his junior year him at the running back position.”

Tyler Stuck is a two-year starter on the at quarterback for the Jaguars, a role he offensive line whom Barrett said will “be played for the team in 2020.

“He took big strides last year for us at our leader up front.”

the quarterback spot,” Barrett said. “He is looking to take another step. He really is in control of our offense, knows what we want to do.”

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Page 17

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HARTFORD From PAGE 16 All three of them will also play on the defensive side of the ball.

Barrett is also expecting seniors A.J. Navarro and Devon Smith to step into impactful roles this season as well.

Last year, Hartford’s strength was its size, but Barrett most of those players graduated. However, the team has added a good deal of athleticism, so much so that

this year its strength is its quickness.

“The biggest thing that we struggled with with the games that we lost, in our four losses last year was that we weren’t the fastest team on the field and we weren’t the most athletic,” Barrett said.

“Our size got worn down and that speed overtook us. Getting to more of a speed game and getting a lot more athleticism on the field is definitely an area of strength for us.”

All of 2020’s starting wide receivers and tight ends graduated, meaning that this year’s receivers won’t have much time

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to get their feet under them before being relied on to help take some pressure off the running game.

“Replacing our passing attack is something that we’ve got to shore up and find some answers,” Barrett said.

On the other side of the ball, graduation has deprived Hartford of both of last year’s starting linebackers, leaving some holes right in the middle of the Jaguar defense.

“That’s a big concern for us,” Barrett said. “I’m trying to find the right pieces, the right guys to stick in those linebacker

spots to help us move forward with our defense.”

But all in all, Barrett is pleased with the progress the team continues to make each year and is excited about the opportunity ahead of this year’s group.

“We’ve gotten better every year,” he said. “I think our program’s in a really good spot. I think our kids understand what we want and what we believe in. Being able to see that continue to grow with our younger guys is definitely going to be one of the biggest areas that we’ll work on this season.”

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

YOUTHFUL CHASE COUNTY AIMS TO EXCEED HISTORIC ’20 SEASON Chase County Football Schedule Sept. 3 — Moundridge Sept. 10 — Lebo Sept. 17 — at Valley Falls Sept. 24 — at Burden-Central Oct. 1 — at Flinthills Oct. 8 — at Madison Oct. 15 — at Udall Oct. 22 — Oxford

By Zach DeLoach zach@emporia.com

Chase County turned in its best football season in school history in 2020 and it wasn’t enough.

Why? “It’s never enough,” said sixth-year head coach Brody VanDegrift.

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CHASE From PAGE 18 The acronym I.N.E., which represents that sentiment, has become the Bulldogs’ team motto this year. When it came down to it in 2020, an 8-3 season that ended with a 70-26 loss to eventual state champion Little River in the 8-Man Division I playoffs was simply insufficient.

“How we prepared and what we did wasn’t enough,” VanDegrift said. “So we’re taking that attitude and we’re going to continue down the road with it.”

That road has led the Bulldogs to this season, where they intend to exceed everything they did in 2020 with five starters returning both on offense and defense.

They’ve got junior quarterback Mitch Budke coming back. Last year, Budke made teams pay with his hands and feet and then some as he rushed for more than 1,000 yards, passed for more than 1,000 yards and led the team in tackles.

Sophomore Brock Griffin made a name for himself as Chase County’s starting linebacker and running back in 2020 while nearly the entire offensive line returns from last year.

“We have a great nucleus of guys,” VanDegrift said.

But beyond the big names, VanDegrift said his team has significant depth, more than it’s had since he’s been around.

With 23 kids out for football, this is the first time VanDegrift has ever had more than 20 on his roster, and many of them have varsity experience.

While not everyone who starts for the Bulldogs will be hardened veterans, their head coach is still excited about what they have to offer.

Cal Kohlmeier transferred to Chase County from Emporia last year but was unable to join the team then. He’s “a phenomenal athlete,” according to VanDegrift, and is poised to see the field on both sides of the ball.

Emiliana Zuniga only played in one game as a freshman in 2020, when a COVID-19 outbreak forced him to step up and play on the offensive line against Little River.

“He stepped up, and this year, so far in practice, he’s just absolutely shown that he wants to be the man on the offensive line,” VanDegrift said.

But strangely, despite its depth, Chase County will be very young this season as only three of its 23 players are seniors. Last year’s varsity group was mostly freshmen and sophomores and this year it will be primarily sophomores and juniors.

While a squad that is bursting with talent, potential and youth is cause for excitement, it can also be cause for some concern.

“I think our biggest liability is our maturity level and that’s a big deal for me,” VanDegrift said. “That’s my job, right?

As the head coach, I take full responsibility for how prepared our team is week in and week out, and with those young guys, we’ve got to spend a lot more time getting ready. It’s how we prepare and what we prepare for.”

The success of last year’s historic season gave the Bulldogs confidence about what they could accomplish in the future while the crushing losses to Little River, Lebo and Madison were a reminder that they still have a ways to go. Those have been the driving motivations for Chase County as it readies the troops for another opportunity at greatness.

“We had a lot of time over the summer break and stuff like that to digest

COURTESY PHOTO

what happened and spend some time looking at football,” VanDegrift said. “I think our guys are confident in the fact they know their plays inside and out. We understand our concepts and that we’re going to win. We have the mindset of a winner.”

While they’re aiming high, the Bulldogs will also be playing with heavy hearts this year, as assistant coach Brady Stout passed away July 24 after fighting

cancer for three years.

“He was a huge part of our program,” VanDegrift said. “Coach Stout started around the same time I did. He touched those kids’ lives in a positive way.”

Ever since Stout’s diagnosis, the Chase County football team has honored him by having Stout Strong Nights, wherein coaches wear yellow shirts and players wear yellow socks. VanDegrift said those will continue this year.

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