D4
Prep football preview 2017
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 • The Hays Daily News
Ness City Eagles Eight-Man Division I, District 7 Coach: Marc Cowles (3rd year, 10-9; 16th overall, 73-67) Last season’s record/playoff finish: 7-3/0-1 Returning starters: 4 offense, 5 defense Top returning players: Brennan Chacon, 5-10, 214, sr., RB; John Pfannenstiel, 6-1, 165, jr. QB; Levi Crosswhite, 6-0, 225, sr., OL/DL; Trevor VanDegrift, 6-4, 260, sr., OL/DL; Angel Guzman, 5-10, 175, jr., LB; Nate Gabel, 5-8, 160, soph., DB; Andres Rios, 6-2, 205, jr., FS. Team notes: Ness City enjoyed a big turnaround last season, going from 3-6 in Cowles’ first year with the program to 7-3 a year ago and a return to the Eight-Man Division I playoffs. John Pfannenstiel, now a junior, returns at quarterback after completing 43 passes for 796 yards with 13 touchdowns to five interceptions, while Brennan Chacon keys the run game after he had 1,216 yards on 166 carries with 20 scores. Angel Guzman also got in on the run game a year ago, collecting 30 carries for 218 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles will have to replace their top two receivers
2017 schedule (*district game) Sept. 1..............................................at Macksville Sept. 8.......................................vs. Central Plains Sept. 15...............................................vs. St. John Sept. 22.............................................at Ellinwood Sept. 29............................................... at Kinsley* Oct. 6............................................. vs. Spearville* Oct. 13......................................... at South Gray* Oct. 20................................................at Satanta* Oct. 26................................. vs. Wichita County* in Peyton Fellhoelter and Devin Brown, who graduated after combining for 30 catches and a little more than 500 yards and 10 scores. The Eagles’ three losses a year ago all came to teams who arguably could have played for a state title in Eight-Man I. The Eagles lost 54-8 to Central Plains, 52-6 to Spearville and 54-0 to eventual state runner-up St. Francis. Spearville knocked out Central Plains in the playoffs before St. Francis knocked out Spearville. The seven wins last year was the most since the Eagles made an undefeated run at the state title in 2012, then grabbed nine wins in 2014. The playoff appearance a year ago was the fourth since 2010, the Eagles’ first year in the eightman ranks.
FRONT ROW (from left): Angel Guzman, Edwin Reyes, Hector Rodriguez, Seth Flax, Matthew Delaney, Milton Guzman and John Pfannenstiel. SECOND ROW: Easton Seib, Gustavo Gomez, Brendon Reed, Mario Luna, Skyler Woods, Alex Rodriguez and Nate Gabel. THIRD ROW: Dylan Muniz, Jeremiah Reed, Jose Lopez, Kris Liggett, Andres Rios, Brennan Chacon and Patrick O’Toole. BACK ROW: Brayden Hellerud, Levi Crosswhite, Trevor VanDegrift, Justin Ramsey, Ethan Schlegel, Landon Reinhardt and Tristan Schwien.