C6
Prep football preview 2017
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 • The Hays Daily News
Eight-Man Division I, District 8 Coach: Lance Baar (9th year, 47-28) Last season’s record/ playoff finish: 6-3/na Returning starters: 8 offense, 8 defense Top returning players: Latham Schwarz, 5-8, 165, sr., RB/DB; Troyal Burris, 5-10, 170, sr., RB/DB; Taylor Burris, 5-10, 180, sr., TE/LB; Luke Schippers, 6-3, 190, sr., TE/LB; Taye Washington, 6-5, 330, jr., C/DT; Jarrod Dible, 5-11, 205, jr., G/DE; Colton Heskett, 6-3, 190, jr., G/DE; Wylie Weems, 5-10, 150, soph., S; Jared Kennedy, 5-11, 130, jr., QB. Key newcomers: Chris Cox, sr., OL/DL. Team notes: A team loaded with experience, Hoxie appears on paper to be a favorite in Eight-Man Division I after going 6-3 a year ago and just missing the playoffs. In addition to the eight returning starters, the Indians also got a big transfer in Chris Cox, who came over from Class 2-1A Oakley adding
to a line that already included 330-pound Taye Washington. Seniors Troyal Burris and Latham Schwarz return in a solid backfield. Burris had 817 rushing yards and 14 scores, while Schwarz had 647 and 13 scores. Junior Jared Kennedy also returns at QB. He passed for 450 yards and six scores, completing 32 passes. Hoxie’s schedule is loaded at the middle — just like last year — when despite having just two losses, the Indians’ playoff hopes were dashed by Week 5. That tough slate starts with a Week 3 game against Wallace County, then back-to-back weeks against Rawlins County and St. Francis, the runner-up and champion out of the district last year. Hoxie made its deepest run in eight-man in 2013 when the Indians made it to the sub-state title round, falling to Jetmore-Hodgeman County. Hodgeman County went on to lose to Osborne.
Hoxie Indians
FRONT ROW (from left): Sam Bretz, Zack Sherman, Latham Schwarz, Edgar Villa, Aidan Baalman, Gavin Tremblay, Ashlyn Kaus and Nick Munk. MIDDLE ROW: Logan Weiner, Taylor Burris, Wylie Weeks, Troyal Burris, Jared Kennedy, Caden White, Andrew Foote and Dylan Jones. BACK ROW: Chris Cox, Kyler Niblick, Luke Shippers, Taye Washington, Colton Heskett and Jarrod Dible. 2017 schedule (*district game) Sept. 1.............................. vs. Greeley County Sept. 8..........................................vs. Lakeside Sept. 15.............................at Wallace County
Sept. 22..........................vs. Rawlins County* Sept. 29.................................... at St. Francis* Oct. 6........................................... at Quinter*
Oct. 13............................................vs. Trego* OCt. 20....................................... at Hill City* Oct. 26................... vs. Decatur Community*