Prep football preview 2017
The Hays Daily News • Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017
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Downs-Lakeside Knights Eight-Man Division II, District 5 Coach: Drew Duskie (4th year, 6-22) Last season’s record/playoff finish: 3-7/0-1 Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense Top returning players: Drew Cunningham, sr., RB/LB; Nicholas Schmitt, sr., FB/LB: Peyton Johnson, sr., E/DB; Caleb Hake, jr., QB/LB; Mason Duskie, jr., C/DL; John Stanton, jr., G/ DL; Carter Brown, soph., E/DB. Key newcomers: Deon Dean, jr.; Simon Fisher, soph., Devin Crawford, jr.; Wyatt Eberle, fresh. Team notes: It was a rough start a season ago for the Knights as they opened with four straight losses, but bounced back with three wins and eventually finished runner-up in district play behind Stockton. The Knights entered the playoffs with just three wins and were blown out by eventual state runner-up Dighton out of the gate. The first win of the season, 86-50 against Northern Valley,
broke a 19-game losing streak that dated back to the 2014 season. The Knights — with three wins — ended up in a tie for second place in the district with Sylvan-Lucas and Northern Valley, with Lakeside having the closest point margin and earning the bid. The Knights will have a new quarterback after the graduation of Dawson Johnson after he passed for 1,524 yards with 23 touchdowns. Drew Cunningham, a senior who missed three games a season ago, returns at running back. In seven games played, he carried 62 times for 457 yards and had six touchdowns. Caleb Hake, a junior, looks to take over at quarterback. He saw limited snaps and threw four passes, completing none. He also carried the ball one time. Lakeside’s stretch to start the season is a brutal one. The Knights will play Pike Valley, Hoxie, Osborne and Rock Hills, teams that combined for 36 wins last season.
FRONT ROW (from left): Peyton Johnson, Carter Brown, Nick Schmitt, Drew Cunningham, Simon Fisher and Matt Seward. BACK ROW: Wyatt Darnell, Wyatt Eberle, Devin Crawford, Mason Duskie, Deon Dean, John Stanton and Caleb Hake. 2017 schedule (*district game) Sept. 1.............................................. vs. Pike Valley Sept. 8....................................................... at Hoxie Sept. 15.................................................at Osborne
Sept. 22............................................. vs. Rock Hills Sept. 29................................... at Northern Valley* Oct. 6...........................................at Sylvan-Lucas*
Oct. 13......................................vs. Thunder Ridge Oct. 20.....................................................at Wilson Oct. 26.................................................vs. Stockton