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Prep football preview 2017
Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017 • The Hays Daily News
Victoria Knights Eight-Man Division I, District 4 Coach: Doug Oberle (12th year, 101-24) Last season’s record/ playoff finish: 5-4 Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense Top returning players: Cooper Pfanenstiel, 5-11, 175, sr., FB/LB; Collin Kisner, 6-2, 180, sr., QB/DB; Tyler Knowles, 5-6, 140, jr., RB/DB; Luke Taylor, 6-2, 223, OL/DL; Wyatt Engel, 5-8, 178, sr., OL/ DL; Cole Schmidtberger, 5-7, 195, sr., TE/LB. Team notes: The 2016 version of the Victoria Knights was one of the most inexperienced clubs in Coach Oberle’s tenure. Returning just two starters in a program that won back-to-back championships in Eight-Man Division II, the Knights still nearly made a playoff run in Eight-Man Division I. However, after finishing in a three-way tie
for second place in its district, Victoria was left out on point differential, ending a playoff streak of 14 straight years, previously the longest active streaks among Kansas playoff teams. The Knights return six starters after averaging more than 40 points per game. Senior Cooper Pfanenstiel returns for a third year as a member of the varsity club. Tyler Knowles also returns after seeing carries in the backfield and the Knights have a more experienced line. Last season, the only two returning starters were Pfanenstiel FRONT ROW (from left): Malachi Wilhelm, Lucas Klein, Jayvon Pruitt, Caden Rome, Riley Hockersmith, Tyler Knoles and the since-graduated Bryant and Peyton Englert. SECOND ROW: Trenton Engel, Kail Brungardt, Drayden Karlin, Wyatt Engel, Walker Braun, Layton Karlin. Riedel, Michael Wohler, Cole Schmitdberger and Logan Unrein. BACK ROW: Kirk Huser, Morgan Braun, Jacob Wellbrock, Victoria opens again with Cooper Pfanenstiel, Wyatt Dreiling, Jacob Schroeder, Collin Kisner, Joshua Schulte, Lucas Taylor and Cooper Windholz, state power Claflin-Central Plains. Last season, the Knights 2017 schedule (*district game) lost 48-22 in the opener. The two CPL foes have split the previous four meetings when it was Sept. 1..................................at Central Plains Sept. 22..................................... at Otis-Bison Oct. 13........................................at Osborne* Sept. 8...................................... vs. Macksville Sept. 29............................... vs. Logan-Palco* Oct. 20........................................ vs. Lincoln* the first game of the season. Sept. 15.....................................vs. Ellinwood Oct. 6....................................vs. Bennington* Oct. 26....................................... at Solomon*