Prep football preview 2017
The Hays Daily News • Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017
B3
Coomes, P-Burg cruise into 2017 season By NICK McQUEEN nmcqueen@dailynews.net
PHILLIPSBURG — Throughout a standout career on the football field and on the wrestling mat, Phillipsburg High School senior Kirk Coomes has been a leader by example. But heading into Coomes’ final campaign with the Panthers — his third season as a key member of the varsity squad — veteran Panther head coach J.B. Covington has noticed one slight change in the 6-foot-2, 220-pound running back. “He’s speaking his voice a little bit more this year,” Covington said of the often-quiet, humble Coomes. “That’s out of his element a little bit, but he’s done a really nice job.” The coach thinks it’s just a sign the bruising back and dominant defender has grown more confident as the years have progressed. And why not? He’s arguably one of the best players in the state, and happens to be playing for a confident Panther club that enters the season Friday at Clay Center as one of the best teams in not only the Mid-Continent League, but all of 3A after last year’s quarterfinal appearance and a 2-1A title just two seasons ago. “We’re pretty excited coming into the season,” said Coomes, whose Panthers’ run ended short with a 38-26 loss to Hesston. “We’re improving every day at practice, and we’re getting things put together.” Added to the excitement for his final campaign is Coomes’ potential chance to play the sport he loves collegiately. A rarity for Kansas athletes, Coomes is eyeing a possible offer from the Ivy League. He spent time at a camp this summer at Cornell. A 4.0 student with an already-excellent ATC score he aims to improve, Coomes hopes to go into the medical field. Not too far fetched given his ability to surgically cut through opposing defenses. He rushed for 1,312 yards and 17 scores a year ago and had 94 tackles at linebacker — one season after rushing for four scores, an instrumental part of the Panthers’ one-point title win in 2015. “Just hope to improve every day — make my teammates better
Phillipsburg senior Kirk Coomes runs through drills during a preseason practice. around me,” said Coomes. “I want to play at the next level if the opportunity presents itself. Right now, still open to anything.” Like the rest of the Panthers, though, he is open to winning more than anything. Phillipsburg returns the bulk of its team from an 11-1 campaign, easily, he said, the most experienced group in Covington’s tenure. And not just those with one year on varsity. Several of the Panthers’ 10 returning starters have played at the level now for three seasons. That includes Coomes, senior lineman Chris VanKooten, junior quarterback Trey Sides and senior running back/linebacker John Gower. “We can run just about anyone in at any position,” VanKooten said when referring to the depth on the offensive and defensive lines, which lost just one starter. “Everyone knows their position.”
NICK McQUEEN, nmcqueen@dailynews.net
corded two shutouts. “Defense wins games,” VanKooten said. That defense has made a few changes, most notable the moving of Coomes to defensive end to make up for the graduation of Seth Jacobs. The changes, though, didn’t slow things down much in the preseason. The Panthers even will be able to platoon their squad, often times running two or even three deep at some positions to stay fresh. “We pretty much had everything in from the summer and so far this fall where we left off last year,” Covington said. “Feel like we’ve got a lot more depth than we’ve ever had.” It’s clear to Covington that Phillipsburg coach J.B. Covington and his team have high expectations Coomes and company are a confor the 2017 season. fident bunch. With those kind of numbers and that kind of experiThe Panthers, hanging their ago. During the regular season, ence, that fact would be difficult to hat on defense, gave up just a little Phillipsburg surrendered no more argue. more than 13 points a game a year than 18 (a 40-point win) and re-
Ruder focused on making season best it can be By NICK McQUEEN nmcqueen@dailynews.net
or junior Hayden Wiltfong, or even Jace’s younger brother, Jonah Ruder, just a NORTON — Whenever freshman. Jace Ruder sees someone “Ryan Johnson, he’s a little he hasn’t spoken with in a guy, but he runs hard routes,” while, it’s easy for them to Ruder said of Johnson, the get lost in a conversation defending 120-pound Class about Ruder’s chance to 3-2-1A wrestler. “Good preplay football at University of cise route.” North Carolina. In addition, Ruder said, Following his commitment everyone is getting better to the university in June, it’s at catching the ball, often really all anyone was talking a problem as the potential about for a brief period of ACC QB throws a hard ball. time. He also has a big target Ruder admits he even in Wiltfong, who stands found himself searching 6-foot-5. Twitter and other sites just “That’s huge. His hands to see what people were have gotten much better as saying about it. well,” Ruder said. “I will Things slowed down, also get the opportunity to though, just as the Norton throw to my younger brother. Community High School That’s kind of special to me.” senior figured they would, Special is what Ruder and anymore it’s generally hopes for his final season as not a topic of conversation a Bluejay before he heads for the Bluejays’ standout off to Carolina — at least for quarterback and safety. the time being. Right now, it’s all about It slowed down a bit, but Norton, football and enjoyNICK McQUEEN, nmcqueen@dailynews.net that hasn’t stopped others ing his final season under Norton head coach Lucas Melvin runs a preseason practice as senior quarterback Jace Ruder prepares for a drill. Ruder from calling. coach Lucas Melvin. has committed to play for NCAA Division I University of North Carolina next year. He’s not really talking “It was a great summer, about that now though. very busy like usual,” said “Jace is dedicated to NorRuder, who previously had just wants to try and do his century mark in two games. a little bit to several new with a 20-0 loss to Hoisington,” said senior teammate committed to Tulsa before Barring injury, he’ll likely receivers. ton last season. Ruder is con- best. He’s a team player, and reopening his recruitment. wants everyone to succeed.” become the MCL’s all-time “We’ve got a lot of young and lineman Collyn Auker. fident he and the Bluejays “He’s focused on getting us “I was able to enjoy my Last season, Ruder’s passing leader this year as guys that have to step up can do some good things, deep in the playoffs. Haven’t final summer (here), though, despite the youth, and hasn’t play on offense was a big well. He has 3,586 for his and play,” Ruder said. “I’m heard him talk about it unbefore having to go off.” reason for the success. He career. really proud of how we’ve let the impending move to less someone asks him.” And he looks to continue completed 96 of 189 passes This year, he’ll again be been working the last two the East Coast detour him. And that doesn’t happen that trend for the Bluejays, for 1,589 yards with 14 counted on in Norton’s run weeks.” “He doesn’t bring a lot all that often the last few hoping to lead a young Nor- of that outside stuff into it,” touchdowns. In addition, he game, along with senior When Ruder does air it ton team back into the Class said Melvin, the Bluejays’ had 746 rush yards and 16 Tevin Petrie, but will try out, it could be in the direc- months. It’s all about Norton. 3A playoffs, a run that ended 11th-year head coach. “He touchdowns, going over the and spread the ball around tion of senior Ryan Johnson
Colby, C1 Decatur Comm., C4 Downs-Lakeside, C9 Ellis, C2 Golden Plains, C3 Goodland, D7 Hays High, B4
Hill City, C5 Hoxie, C6 La Crosse, C8 Logan-Palco, D2 Natoma, C7 Ness City, D4 Northern Valley, D6
Team preview pages
Norton, D8 Oakley, C10 Osborne, D1 Otis-Bison, D9 Phillipsburg, D10 Plainville, D11 Quinter, D12
Rawlins County, D3 Russell, E1 St. Francis, D3 Sharon Springs, D3 Smith Center, E2 Stockton, E5 Sylvan-Lucas, E6
Trego, E4 Thunder Ridge, E7 TMP, B8 Triplains-Brewster, D3 Victoria, E8 Weskan, E10 Western Plains, E9 Whtland.-Grinnell, E11