Fall Sports Preview 2011 - The Hutchinson News

Thursday, September 1, 2011 

High School Preview 

FOOTBALL 

www.justpreps.com 

McPherson’s Tyler Matthews threw for more 

than 2,600 yards and has committed to play at 

TCU next season. But right now, Matthews is 

focused on winning a state 

championship. 

2011

2 Thursday, September 1, 2011 2011 Football Preview 

The Hutchinson News 

Salthawks eager to start new title streak 

BY PAT SANGIMINO 


psangimino@hutchnews.com 

For the first time in seven years, 

Hutchinson High enters a football 

season without a state championship 

to defend. 

The Salthawks’ unprecedented 

string of six straight state crowns 

was snapped a year ago by Bishop 

Carroll in the Class 5A semifinals. 

And now they begin a new year 

with a new hunger and a fresh resolve. 

“It motivates us this year,” said 

junior quarterback Trevor Turner, 

who returns to lead an offense 

that has the potential to be far 

more diverse – and just as explosive 

– as it was a year ago when it 

leaned on a strong running game 

to rip through the opposition for 

much of the season. 

After falling by a point to Rockhurst, 

Mo., in its opener last year, 

Hutch reeled off eight straight victories 

to close out the regular season 

and win the district crown. The 

Salthawks scored at least 41 points 

in all but one of those victories, but 

coach Randy Dreiling said it was 

too easy to rely on the running of 

Ben Heeney to move the ball. 

“We leaned on him too much,” 

Dreiling says of Heeney, who was 

named The Hutchinson News’ offensive 

player of the year by rushing 

for 2,038 yards and 39 

touchdowns. “Whenever we got 

into a close game, it was because 

they essentially took Ben out of 

the game.” 

The remedy for that? 

Hutchinson High.......................Page 2 

Buhler......................................Page 4 

Nickerson.................................Page 6 

Haven......................................Page 6 

Trinity Catholic........................Page 8 

Sterling....................................Page 8 

Pretty Prairie.........................Page 10 

Fairfield.................................Page 10 

Preseason Elite 11...................Page 12 

McPherson.............................Page 14 

Lindsey Bauman/The Hutchinson News 

Hutchinson quarterback Trevor Turner, shown throwing a pass during the Blue-Gold scrimmage last Friday, could get the 

opportunity to throw the ball more as the Salthawks look for more balance this season. Turner threw for 598 yards and 

seven touchdowns last season. 

“We’re going to pass it more 

this year,” Dreiling says. 

Many coaches say they are going 

to throw the ball this time of 

year. There’s something about a 

summer of 7-on-7 tournaments 

that makes throwing the ball 

sound like a plan. More often than 

not, it turns into a passing fancy, 

but you get the feeling in Dreiling’s 

case that he is more commit- 

ted to the pass this season. 

Turner says he has thrown more 

than ever in the early stages of 

camp. His arm was even sore after 

the first few days. Still, Dreiling 

was hard-pressed to remember a 

game that saw his Salthawks throw 

more than 20 passes in a game, the 

number of passes he says might 

become the norm this year. 

The Salthawks threw 54 passes 

all of last year. Turner threw for 

598 yards and seven touchdowns, 

but the game situations dictated 

that passing it more just wasn’t an 

option. 

“We played a lot of games last 

year where the game was over at 

halftime,” Dreiling says. “We 

couldn’t pass the ball. … If we 

have a guy who can throw the ball 

and guys that can catch it, we’ll 

STORY INDEX 2011 STORYLINES 

Cover story............................Page 15 

Preseason Elite 8....................Page 16 

Central Christian....................Page 16 

Class 6A capsules....................Page 18 




Class 2-1A capsules.................Page 22 

Eight-Man I capsules..............Page 24 

Area schedules.......................Page 26 

For most, the 2011 high school football 

season is set to kickoff Friday. Here are 

some of the top storylines entering this 

season: 

1. Reno County powerhouses: Four teams 

inside Reno County were at or near the 

top of the state rankings throughout last 

season. All four lost key players - 

Hutchinson graduated 2,000-yard rusher 

Ben Heeney, Buhler graduated key line- 

men from its power running game and 

Trinity Catholic and Pretty Prairie both 

were senior-led in 2010. Now those teams 

reload and eye a berth in state championship 

games. 

2. Meade Buffaloes ready to run again: 

Meade broke through last November and 

won its first state championship since 

1980. Meade was the only team from The 

News’ region that won a state champi- 

throw it.” 

Dreiling apparently feels that is 

the case. In addition, the 

Salthawks also return the nucleus 

of a stout offensive line – led by 

Jess Westmoreland – to go with a 

fullback in Ja’mon Cotton, who 

figures to be the next in line to be 

Hutch’s featured ball carrier. 

Cotton ran for 603 yards and 

nine touchdowns on just 50 carries 

last year and showed the ability 

to gain huge chunks of yardage 

in a limited role. He had a solid 

summer and might have been the 

best player on the field when 

Hutchinson took part in the fullcontact 

camp at Pittsburg State. 

“He has the chance to be as good 

as anyone who has played here,” 

Dreiling says. “We’ll just have to 

wait and see how he pans out.” 

He is less concerned with the 

prospect of Cotton panning out than 

he is with a young defense. The 

Salthawks return just four starters – 

junior Tanner Higgins and senors 

Austin Ketchum, Erik Roberts and 

Najahaun Tipton-Wylie – to a unit 

that lacks practical game experience 

at the varsity level. 

“It’s a little shaky,” he said. 

“We’re not very good on defense. 

It’s a concern. We don’t have the 

bodies we have had in the past. We 

have to make up for that with intense 

practices. We can’t make 

mistakes and get away with it.” 

Higgins will be the leader of the 

secondary. Last year, he was in on 

60 tackles. Tipton-Wylie recorded 

58 tackles, including nine behind 

the line of scrimmage. He also had 

2½ sacks. 

onship last season, but a number of area 

teams reached the semifinals. Many of 

those teams are expected to be state contenders 

once again. 

3. New season, new team: Central Plains 

High School will compete in its first season 

on the gridiron. Claflin and Quivira 

Heights consolidated to become Central 

Plains, part of a continuing trend of Eightman 

programs merging with others.

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2011 Football Preview 

The Hutchinson News Thursday, September 1, 2011 3



State power Buhler wants shot at Class 4A title 

BY BRAD HALLIER 


bhallier@hutchnews.com 

Buhler football is no longer a team on the 

rise, a possible future state power. The Crusaders 

can now consider themselves one of 

the elite programs in Class 4A. 

Since coach Steve Warner took over prior 

to the 2006 season, Buhler has steadily 

climbed the ranks in arguably the deepest 

football class in Kansas. From back-to-back 

7-4 seasons in 2006 and 2007 to back-to-back 

state semifinal appearances the last two 

seasons – including a 12-1 mark last year – 

Buhler is now at the point where conference 

and district titles are expected. So are 

deep playoff runs. 

“Without a doubt, that’s exactly what our 

goals are,” the Buhler coach said. “We’ve 

made it to the semifinals the last two years, 

but the kids expect these things to happen 

now.” 

Buhler returns 13 starters – seven on offense, 

six on defense – from a team that 

scored 42 points or more in seven games 

last year and gave up less than 10 points 

nine times. 

Many of the top playmakers return from 

that juggernaut offense. Junior quarterback 

Chandler Shantz threw for 1,281 yards 

and 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions. 

Senior wide receiver J.P. Lohrentz 

snagged 36 passes for 934 yards and 11 

touchdowns. And of course, senior running 

back Tanner Fisher is back after collecting 

2,360 yards and 40 touchdowns. 

“We’re real excited for this year,” Shantz 

said. “Our running back is back, we have 

one of the best receivers around with J.P., 

and we have other guys back who can go out 

and make a play.” 

Defensively, Buhler has just as many 

standouts returning. Lohrentz had 11 interceptions, 

and senior linebacker Jaydn Garcia 

was in on 152 tackles. Defensive backs 

Levi Boman, Jake Kern and Adam Massey 

also return, as does defensive lineman Josh 

Long. 

“Most of our defensive players are returning 

starters, so I think we’re looking 

pretty good,” Garcia said. “We hope to be 

one of the top defenses in the state. We have 

a lot of strength on the line, we have good 

linebackers, and there’s a lot of speed in the 

secondary.” 


Buhler’s JP Lohrentz hauls in a catch past Rose Hill’s Cody Peabody during their game last season. Lohrentz had 934 receiving yards and also intercepted 

11 passes during his junior year. 

Notice the one area that hasn’t been mentioned 

yet? The all-important offensive line. 

Gone are mainstays Matt Dobson, Bryce 

Worley and Brett Vaughan, not to mention 

fullback Jordan Stiles. 

Josh Long and Mason Engel return. 

“A lot of those guys are coming along,” 

Shantz said. “They started off a little slow, 

but every year, it doesn’t click right away. 

There’s a lot of competition this year, and 

everyone’s coming along. We’ll be good up 

there. We’ll have a good line.” 

Some of the new linemen include Blake 

Redenbaugh, Brandon Deller, Quent Gould 

and Jess Neufeld. 

Inexperienced or not, the Crusaders will 

get one of their sternest tests right away on 

Friday when they travel to Rose Hill. But 

the Crusaders all seem to agree they would 

rather play Rose Hill immediately instead 

of a few weeks into the season. 

“It keeps the kids focused through the 

summer,” Warner said. “They know they 

can’t take a day off. They’ve been able to focus 

on Rose Hill. That’s a quality opponent 

and a very good team.” 

BUILDING A WINNER 

Since taking over as coach in 2006, Buhler has 

become a perennial state playoff team and championship 

contender. Here’s how the Crusaders have finished 

the past five seasons: 

2006 - 7-4 and reached the second round of the 4A 

playoffs. 

2007 - 7-4 and reached the second round of the 4A 

playoffs. 

2008 - 9-3 and reached the third round of the 4A playoffs 

2009 - 11-2 and reached the 4A semifinals before losing 

to Topeka Hayden. 

2010 - 12-1 and reached the 4A semifinals before losing 

to Holton

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After 6-3 year, Nickerson seniors ready to follow suit 

BY GENE SCHINZEL 


gschinzel@hutchnews.com 

NICKERSON – This 

year’s Nickerson High senior 

class wants to take a 

page from last year’s class. 

Last year’s seniors spoke 

at length about the importance 

of leadership – and it 

was their responsibility to 

provide it. 

The results spoke for 

themselves. After winning 

two games the previous two 

years, Nickerson was one of 

the pleasant surprises in 

the area last season, winning 

six of its first seven 

games. Nickerson’s goal of 

reaching the Class 4A state 

playoffs fell short when it 

lost to Pratt and Buhler in 

district play. 

“There were some leaders 

out there. I want to follow in 

their steps,” said Quinton 

New coach, more roster numbers bring optimism to Wildcats 




It appears Haven is in the midst 

of yet another transition, that the 

revolving door of coaches continues 

to spin. 

And truth be known, the Wildcats 

do have a new head coach in 

Mike Self, the program’s defensive 

coordinator under Shane Seeley, 

who vacated his position late last 

spring to accept a job as an administrator 

at Derby. 

Ordinarily, that would indicate 

doom for a program that has lost 

53 of its last 55 games and won one 

game last season – a Week 2 victory 

over Belle Plaine that snapped 

a 17-game losing streak. 

Self doesn’t buy into the notion 

that the sky is falling – again. 

The Wildcats have hit bottom 

Crandall, a member of this 

year’s senior class. “I feel 

like we don’t want to let 

down the seniors from last 

year.” 

That’s something near 

the top of Nickerson coach 

Max Heinlein’s wish list as 

well. 

“I hope the seniors’ expectations 

that they set last 

year carry over,” Heinlein 

said. “I’ve seen good intensity 

from them so far, and I 

think that’s a carryover 

from last year.” 

Nickerson won’t have as 

many seniors on its roster 

this season – the Panthers 

have seven in 2011 compared 

to nine last year – but 

many of those seniors have 

starting experience. 

Crandall and Justin Engelland 

both started in the 

secondary and each intercepted 

six passes last season. 

Hunter Thiessen was 

and he believes things can only go 

in one direction. 

“We’re getting better,” Self said. 

“We have to get better. We know 

that.” 

The numbers indicate things 

are on the rise. Haven has nearly 

50 players out for football this year 

– an increase of about 25 percent 

from the previous season. It’s a 

numbers game. The programs 

that fare best are the ones able to 

get the most members of its student 

body into uniform. 

Sprinkle in some good football 

players and the Wildcats have the 

opportunity to pull off a couple of 

surprises this year. 

Junior running back Trae Regier, 

at 5-foot-8, 165 pounds, is expected 

to be the playmaker in 

Haven’s spread offense. He made 

plays in all phases of the game. He 

was the leading rusher, made big 

an all-league linebacker, 

while Lupe Ramirez and 

Taylor Goldsberry started 

on the line. Bailey Zulkoski 

also returns at linebacker. 

The Panthers also have a 

good group of juniors, including 

last year’s leading 

rusher, Isaac Warman. Warman 

finished with 751 yards 

and 11 touchdowns for the 

run-oriented Panthers. 

“In past years where we 

were relying on freshmen 

and sophomores, now we’re 

relying on juniors and seniors,” 

Heinlein said. “We 

have juniors and seniors 

with lots of varsity experience.” 

Junior Sean Rodriguez 

also will get his share of 

carries, while Ryan O’Toole 

could step in at quarterback. 

Last year’s quarterback, 

Brandon Owen, 

See PANTHERS / 28 

plays in the passing game and 

peeled off a few long kick returns. 

“He’s a very explosive player,” 

Self says. “He’s one of those kids 

who you look at his stature and 

it’s very misleading. If he gets out 

in space, he can make anything 

happen against any team.” 

Regier was Haven’s leading 

rusher last year and also caught 30 

passes for more than 500 yards 

and six touchdowns. 

The biggest void the Wildcats 

need to fill is in replacing the 

graduated Ridge Foster at quarterback. 

Senior Dylan Miller is 

poised to take over. While he hasn’t 

taken many snaps at the varsity 

level, Self says that Miller is up 

for the challenge. 

“He is everything you want in a 

quarterback,” Self says. “He is inspirational. 

He has a solid work 

ethic and he is a leader.” 


Nickerson’s Isaac Warman gains yards while Pratt’s Payson Maydew tries to tackle him last season. 

Warman rushed for a team-best 751 yards last season as a sophomore. 

Haven has a strong junior class, 

according to its coach. In addition, 

the team speed appears to be improved 

this year. 

“We’ll have strength in our 

overall speed and quickness as a 

team,” Self says. “Perhaps our 

greatest attribute as a team, however, 

is our resolve. This team has 

had to overcome many obstacles 

and hardships. It has left us with a 

strong appreciation for each other 

and a work ethic that has served 

us well.” 

The Wildcats will have to overcome 

a lack of practical game experience, 

but that will come with 

time, Self says. Youngsters Zach 

Henderson, Eric Shive, Dalton Arbuckle, 

Cody Crabtree, Austin 

Fritzmeier, Cole Long and Tyler 

Skomal figure to get touches at 

some point in an offense that will 

look to spread the defense and 

take advantage of mismatches. 

The offensive line will be anchored 

by returning starters 

Austin Eikleberry and Caden 

Ford. Junior Taylor Carlson will 

play one of the tackle positions. 

Defensively, the Wildcats have to 

be better than they were last year 

when they allowed opponents to 

score more than 44 points in six of 

their nine games. Hesston scored 86 

points against Haven last year, while 

the Wildcats were outscored in their 

three sub-state district games by a 

combined score of 181-20. 

“Stopping the run with an aggressive 

style of play will always 

be our first goal,” Self said. 

Senior linebacker T.J. Jacques, 

who was in on 79 tackles last year, 

will be the cornerstone of the defense, 

while Justin Weve, Isaac 

Ensz and Cyris Raigoza will anchor 

the defensive line.




8 Thursday, September 1, 2011 The Hutchinson News 

Sterling heading in 

right direction after 

doubling win total 




The strides the Sterling High 

football team made between 

Matt Hendricks’ first season as 

head coach and the second were 

apparent. 

The Black Bears averaged nearly 

11 more points per game last 

season than they did in Hendricks’ 

first season in 2009. But more importantly, 

Sterling doubled its win 

total, going 6-4 last season. 

“We built a lot of confidence 

last year, had some success,” 

Hendricks said. “The guys started 

to realize we could play with 

anyone on our schedule.” 

And with a strong nucleus returning 

this season, the Black 

Bears look to continue that trend. 

Sterling enters the 2011 season 

with six offensive and seven 

defensive returning starters. 

“We have some guys back who 

have a couple of years of experience 

and they know what it 

takes to be competitive and what 

it takes to be successful,” Hendricks 

said. 

That has been developed over 

the past few years. Hendricks 

said he saw the difference in his 

team from that first season as 

coach to 2010. 

“A lot of it was just understanding 

the system. The first 

year, we weren’t playing football, 

we were thinking too much – trying 

to remember where they 

should be, what they should do,” 

Hendricks said. “Now we’re at 

the point where we know the 

system, understand the system. 

We could play free.” 

Sterling’s skill players hope to 

run free again this season. 

The entire starting backfield returns 

for the Black Bears. Bryant 

Patterson rushed for 758 yards 

and 14 touchdowns to lead the 

way last season, while quarterback 

Seth Humphreys (565 yards), 

Alex Burgess (450) and Chad Bennett 

(431) weren’t far behind. 

All four of the backs enter 

their senior years. 

“Our backs are our biggest 

strengths on both sides of the 

ball,” said Hendricks, who also 

has three starters back in the 

secondary. Patterson averaged 

10 tackles per game. 

On the flip side, Sterling returns 

only one starting lineman. 

But while the Black Bears lack 

starting experience, Hendricks 

said upperclassmen could fill 

those roles. 

“We have juniors and seniors 

who have paid their dues. It’s neat 

for those guys to get the opportunity,” 

Hendricks said. “If you tell 

any coach that you’re going to 

lose all but one of your linemen, 

they’d be pretty apprehensive. We 

have juniors and seniors that can 

step in there right away.” 

Another facet in Sterling’s 

factor is better depth – the Black 

Bears have 35 players out this 

season compared to 28 last year. 

With depth and solid upperclassmen, 

the Black Bears are 

ready to take the next step. 

“The games we lost last year, 

we really weren’t in those games 

because of the mistakes we 

made,” said Hendricks, referring 

to his team’s five turnovers in a 

28-6 playoff loss to Smith Center. 

“This year, I feel we’re going 

to be more composed, more competitive 

in those games. We want 

an opportunity to win those 

games, not just be there.” 

Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News 

Trinity Catholic’s Joe Schrock, left, sacks Sedgwick quarterback Trent Stucky during their game last October. Schrock recorded 

eight sacks from the defensive line last season. 

Celtics aren’t expecting dropoff 




The players and coaches within 

the Trinity Catholic football team 

know what others are saying about 

them. 

No Derek Racette. No Michael 

Mesh. A great senior class gone. 

Trinity’s going to be ripe for a few 

beatings this year. 

“Everyone thinks we’ll be down,” 

fourth-year coach Sean Racette 

said. “But these kids don’t think 

that way.” 

The Celtics aren’t naïve. They 

know how good some of those seniors 

last year were. Derek Racette, a 

three-year starting quarterback, 

threw for 2,656 yards and 34 touchdowns 

while running for 568 yards 

and nine scores. Mesh, who was 

also one of the top kickers in Class 

3A, caught 40 passes for 1,034 yards 

and 10 touchdowns. 

It wasn’t just those two, however. 

Will Bothwell had 11 touchdown 

catches. Brandon Koenigsman and 

Tyler Dyer combined to rush for 

more than 450 yards while scoring 

six touchdowns. 

But to think the Celtics have 

nothing left also is naïve. 

“We like people to think that 

we’re down,” junior linebacker 

Tom Mailloux said. “People are 

doubting us, but we’re all stepping 

up. We like to be the underdog and 

surprise people.” 

Trinity hasn’t been an underdog 

lately. Trinity has become a state 

power the last three years, reaching 

See CELTICS / 28

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New group ready for chance to lead Pretty Prairie 

Travis Morisse/The Hutchinson News 

Pretty Prairie’s Stetson Broce holds off a Macksville defender during their game last October in Pretty Prairie. 

Broce is a returning starter for the Bulldogs this season. 




Chuck Bisbee is an optimist. In 

his world, the glass is always half 

full, there is a silver lining to 

every dark cloud and there is the 

potential for something great 

right around the next bend. 

And with that in mind, should 

anyone really be surprised that 

Bisbee is predicting that his Fairfield 

Falcons, who went winless in 

seven district games last year and 

were outscored in those setbacks 

by a combined score of 449-79, will 

make the state playoffs this season? 

“We’re going to the playoffs,” he 

said, tempering the bold Namathlike 

guarantee by adding that the 

state playoffs should always be an 

expectation. “We’re going to find a 

way. We’re going to have to beat 

some teams people don’t expect us 

to beat, but we are going to try to 

get it done.” 

Is it a valid prediction? 

Why the heck not? 

In his third year at Fairfield, 

Bisbee has watched his numbers 

grow each year. More important, 

the kids he rebuilt the program 

with in his first year – freshmen 

and sophomores – are now upperclassmen 

and ready to compete 

on equal footing with the best 

teams around. 

“It makes such a difference to 

play kids your own age,” Bisbee 

said. “When you and I were freshmen, 

we didn’t go chasing around 

the seniors. We played at our own 

level. That’s not the way it was 

here, but every year we have gotten 

more and more experienced 

and it’s gotten easier.” 

In 2009, the Falcons had four 

seniors, but no juniors. Last year, 

there were a couple of juniors, but 

no seniors. Now the Falcons have 

a nice mix of upperclassmen. And 

with 28 players out for the team, 

that’s nearly double the size of 

Bisbee’s first season. 

That will allow Fairfield to have 




In the course of one year, CT Young 

has seen his role as coach at Pretty 

Prairie change about as much as you 

can imagine. 

Consider that a year ago the Bulldogs 

started the season as the state’s topranked 

team in Eight-Man I. A seniorled 

team, Pretty Prairie scored at least 

37 points in each game it played, held 

the opposition out of the end zone seven 

times in nine regular-season games 

and didn’t stumble until it reached the 

state quarterfinals. 

It was an amazing season in spite of 

the abrupt and disappointing finish. 

And now the Bulldogs start over with 

nearly a new group. There are a few 

holdovers, but replacing the likes of 

Hunter Pittman and Daniel Krehbiel 

could prove to be a challenge – one from 

which Young doesn’t shy away. 

“Last year was fun, but this is fun, 

too,” Young says. “Last year was fun for 

different reasons. This year is fun because 

you have kids who have been 

waiting for the opportunity to get onto 

the field.” 

The experience level might be lacking, 

but with any elite program, new 

the spirited practice sessions necessary 

to compete on Friday 

nights and could provide some 

much-needed depth. 

“It will be a better year for us,” 

he says. “We will be able to rest 

some kids and not play as many 

both ways.” 

Senior team captain Hunter 

Bayse will be the leader. At 6-foot, 

190 pounds, Bayse will play tight 

end and defensive end. 

P.J. Lewis will play linebacker 

and tight end, while John Dienst 

will man the line on both sides of 

the ball. Senior cornerback Jay 

Keeling has an ankle injury that 

has sidelined him in the early going 

of camp, but he will be needed 

“Most of these kids have 

never lost more than two 

games in a season. They 

know what it takes to win. 

They have seen the people 

in front of them win. They 

don’t want to be the group 

that doesn’t win.” 

Pretty Prairie coach CT Young 

players are not afforded that as an excuse 

not to execute. The hope is that 

this group of players learned something 

by watching last year’s run of 

dominance and is ready to take the 

reins. 

“That’s what you hope for as a 

coach,” Young said. “You hope that winning 

breeds winning.” 

Keep in mind that the Pretty Prairie 

junior varsity team won all five of its 

games last year by a combined score of 

248-20. 

“Most of these kids have never lost 

more than two games in a season,” 

Young says. “They know what it takes 

to win. They have seen the people in 

See BULLDOGS / 28 

One way or another, Fairfield wants to earn berth in playoffs 

in the regular season. 

Meanwhile, junior D.J. Serviss 

might be Fairfield’s most imposing 

player. The 6-foot, 230-pound 

defensive end is also a hard-running 

fullback who figures to be 

key in the Falcons’ rushing game. 

Another junior expected to contribute 

is lineman Brennyn 

Pankratz, while sophomore 

Wayne Schoenecker will play tailback 

on offense and linebacker on 

defense. 

“We have been improving every 

year,” Bisbee said. “We’re getting 

there. We had a good summer in 

the weight room and we’ve been 

working hard in practice. I think 

we’re going to be better this year.”

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Buhler duo heads Preseason Elite 11 squad 




Tanner Fisher led the state by rushing for 

2,360 yards and 40 touchdowns last season. 

Topping that might be tough for the Buhler 

High senior, but he’s going to try. 

“I’d be a liar if I said I didn’t care about 

my stats,” says Fisher, who prepared for his 

final season of high school football by 

adding 12 pounds of muscle. “I want to follow 

up last season. I want to be just as good. 

“But realistically, I don’t know if that can 

happen.” 

Fisher is up to 185 pounds – more than 

thick enough to handle the rigors of being 

the guy who touches the ball upwards of 

30 times a game – but he hasn’t lost any of 

the quickness that allowed him to get 

through the holes and tear off huge gainers. 

Fisher headlines The Hutchinson News’ 

Preseason Elite 11, which also includes 

Buhler teammate JP Lohrentz after he intercepted 

11 passes last year to earn The 

News’ area defensive player of the year 

award. He added 36 receptions for a schoolrecord 

934 yards and 11 touchdowns. 

Posting those kinds of numbers could be 

a challenge for a Buhler team that will replace 

three of its offensive linemen from a 

year ago. But coach Steve Warner said the 

unit is making strides. 

“They just need some game experience,” 

he says. 

Here is the rest of the Preseason Elite 11: 

l Trey Hallman, Dodge City – Hallman 

is the top returning receiver from an offense 

that lit up the scoreboard with its 

spread formation and came within a Hail 

Mary of advancing to the Class 6A title 

game. He averaged nearly 50 yards per 

game in receptions last year and will be a 

security blanket for new starting quarterback 

Brandon Blankman. 

l Tyler Matthews, McPherson – The 

TCU-bound quarterback enters his senior 

season as the No. 5 pro-style quarterback in 

the country, according to one scouting service. 

Last year, he completed 74 percent of 

his passes for more than 2,600 yards and 30 

touchdowns. He was intercepted just three 

times. 

l Justin McPhail, Liberal – The senior 

rushed for more than 400 yards last year but 

PRESEASON ELITE 11 

Colborn Couchman, Scott City, sr., RB-DE 

Tanner Fisher, Buhler, sr., RB 

Trey Hallman, Dodge City, sr., WR-DB 

Josh Jarnigan, Ulysses, sr., RB-DB 

Weston Kroth, Meade, sr., OL-DT 

JP Lohrentz, Buhler, sr., WR-DB 

Tyler Matthews, McPherson, sr., QB 

Justin McPhail, Liberal, sr., RB-LB 

Joe Schrock, Trinity Catholic, sr., OL-DL 

Tayler Stull, La Crosse, sr., QB-S 

Jess Westmoreland, Hutchinson, sr., OT 

made his biggest impact on the defensive 

side of the ball. He was in on 128 tackles, 

recorded nine sacks, forced two fumbles, 

had an interception and a fumble recovery 

from his outside linebacker position. 

l Jess Westmoreland, Hutchinson – At 6foot-2, 

268 pounds, Westmoreland has the 

size to dominate up front for the Salthawks, 

who have had 2,000-yard rushers (Josh 

Smith in 2009 and Ben Heeney last year) in 

each of the last two seasons. 

l JP Lohrentz, Buhler – The most enduring 

image from a magical junior season for 

Lohrentz came in the rain in Topeka, when 

he jumped an out route, intercepted the 

pass – his 11th of the season – and returned 

it 47 yards for a touchdown that was the 

biggest play in Buhler’s 21-0 state-playoff 

thumping of Hayden. 

l Josh Jarnigan, Ulysses – The senior 

running back is the heart of a team that has 

a reputation for playing a full 48 minutes 

each night. Jarnigan earned all-state honors 

by rushing for more than 1,500 yards 

and leading the Tigers to a lengthy playoff 

run. 

l Colborn Couchman, Scott City – On offense, 

the 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior rushed 

for 508 yards and nine touchdowns for the 

Beavers. On defense, he was in on 90 tackles 

Buhler’s Tanner 

Fisher (3) runs 

ahead of 

Mulvane’s 

Jaman Rogers 

on his way to a 

touchdown last 

season. Fisher 

returns this season 

after rushing 

for 2,360 

yards and 40 

touchdowns as 

a junior. 

Lindsey Bauman/The 

Hutchinson News 

in helping Scott City be one of the state’s 

dominant 3A teams. 

l Joe Schrock, Trinity Catholic – 

Schrock, a senior, will be a two-way starter 

on the line for the Celtics – one of the mainstays 

on an offensive line that graduated 

three seniors and the team’s leading tackler 

with more than 100 stops a year ago. 

l Tayler Stull, La Crosse – The senior 

quarterback threw for 842 yards and 16 

touchdowns on just 88 attempts last season, 

while rushing for 949 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

He’s one of the area’s best dualthreat 

quarterbacks. 

l Weston Kroth, Meade – Kroth is the 

leader of a unit that was dominant in its 

run to a state Class 2-1A crown a year ago. 

The 6-foot, 260-yard lineman was an all-state 

performer this year and figures to dominate 

again, considering the Buffs return eight 

players on defense.




The Hutchinson News The Hutchinson News 2011 Football Preview 

Thursday, September 1, 2011 15 

Mac looks to overcome 

loss of solid senior class 




McPHERSON – McPherson has gotten 

used to being a playoff team as well 

as a squad annually mentioned as a 

state championship contender. 

That likely won’t change this fall. 

Although the Bullpups graduated a 

majority of their starters, they bring 

back plenty of playmakers from a 9-2 

team. 

“Our starters should be about as 

good as ever,” said Tom Young, who enters 

his sixth season as McPherson’s 

head coach. “But a lot of them are going 

to start both ways because of the 

number of kids we lost last year.” 

No doubt the Bullpups lost their share 

of talented players from a year ago. 

Offensively, that group includes 

Christian Ulsaker, who had 67 catches 

for 1,154 yards and in the spring was 

The News’ high school boys athlete of 

the year. Also gone are Nick Gawanda, 

who had 30 catches last season; Kevin 

O’Conner, who rushed for 1,284 yards 

and averaged nearly 11 yards a carry; 

and Tommy Crayton, a two-year starter 

on the line. 

Defensively, Kenan Warren, a threeyear 

starter in the secondary, graduated, 

as did Heath Collins, a two-year 

starter at outside linebacker. 

That leaves McPherson with three offensive 

and four defensive starters, and 

the Bullpups have only eight seniors on 

the roster. But six of those seniors are 

returning starters, and Young, who is 

42-12 in his first five years at McPherson, 

has a big junior class to work 

with. 

“I think winning is kind of expected,” 

senior quarterback Tyler 

Matthews said. 

Matthews triggers an offense that 

put up points on the ground and 

through the air last season – McPherson 

scored 42 or more points nine 

times last season. 

Matthews, who has verbally committed 

to play quarterback at national 

power Texas Christian next season, 

had a standout season last year as he 

threw for 2,658 yards and 30 touchdowns. 

He completed 74 percent of his 

passes. 

Ulsaker and Gawanda were 

McPherson’s top two receivers last 

year, but Jordan Hart returns after 

catching 21 passes and should be 

Matthews’ top option this season. 

Matthews said a number of other receivers 

have looked good in the preseason, 

including Alex Bahr and Marcus 

Houghton. 

At tailback will be junior Austin 

O’Bannon, whom Young said has 

speed and power similar to O’Conner. 

Defensively, senior linebacker Logan 

Williams leads the way as he was 

second on the team in tackles with 90. 

He was the team’s leading tackler until 

he was injured and missed two 

games late in the season. 

With so many changes, Young said 

30 Number of touchdowns 

Matthews threw during his junior 

season. He also had only 

three interceptions. 

74 Percent of passes 

Matthews completed last season. 

His quarterback rating for 

the season was 221.5. 

2,658 Yards Matthews 

threw for during last year’s 9-2 

season. As a sophomore at 

Goddard, he threw for 1,047 

yards in six games. 

Bullpups’ pure passer 

Texas Christian recruit Matthews leads high-scoring McPherson offense again 

McPHERSON – Remind Tyler Matthews how things 

have changed for him over the past 12 months and he 

shakes his head a bit and smiles. 

That’s understandable. 

Last August, Matthews was getting used to being at a 

new high school and trying to mesh with his new teammates 

on the football field. 

It didn’t take his new coach long to find out what 

kind of player had transferred in. 

“The way he picked up the offense,” said McPherson 

coach Tom Young when asked what impressed him the 

most about Matthews last summer. “He 

practiced for a week and pretty much 

had the offense down. He’s a pretty 

smart kid. 

“He’s strong-armed, very accurate. His 

mechanics are really good. And he anticipates 

really well. He knows where his 

receivers are going to be before they 

make their breaks. The ball’s in the 

air before they break.” 

And last season, Matthews proved 

how productive a quarterback he can 

be. The 6-foot-3, 198-pound senior 

threw for 2,658 yards, 30 touchdowns 

and just three interceptions in 11 games. 

In the process, he completed 74 percent 

of his passes. 

So did Young, who has won 313 

games in 40 seasons as a football 

coach, think Matthews would be 

that type of quarterback when he 

transferred to McPherson from 

Goddard? 

”Not really,” Young admitted. “Actually, when he enrolled 

here, we got film from Goddard and we were 

pretty impressed. But to have the kind of year he had, 

that was pretty remarkable. You really can’t anticipate 

something like that.” 

Matthews actually had some big shoes to fill when he 

first arrived at McPherson last summer. 

The Bullpups had a prolific passing attack in 2009 as 

Joel Piper threw for 1,979 yards and 20 touchdowns. 

That fall while playing for Goddard, Matthews threw 

for 1,047 yards in six games. 

But the summer before his junior year, Matthews began 

to work with his McPherson teammates at a couple 

of 7-and-7 camps. And once September arrived, 

McPherson’s offense didn’t miss a beat with Matthews 

as quarterback. 

“I kind of expected it from myself, but there was a 

lot of help – great line, great receivers,” Matthews 

said. “We’re hoping to do the same thing this year, put 

up big numbers. But the main thing we want to do is 

win.” 

McPherson consistently won last season, going 9-2 

before losing 30-22 to Bishop Carroll in Class 5A quarterfinals. 

McPherson’s other loss a year ago came in 

one of the regular season’s most anticipated matchups 

that lived up to its billing. 

The Bullpups hosted Gardner-Edgerton and its 

standout quarterback, Bubba Starling, on Oct. 8. Both 

quarterbacks rose to the pregame hype. 

Starling, who committed to play football at Nebraska 

before opting for professional baseball, ran wild, gaining 

273 yards on 20 carries and throwing for 119 yards. 

Meanwhile, Matthews went 26 of 35 for 375 yards and 

four touchdowns, but Gardner-Edgerton was able to 

outscore the Bullpups 49-42. 

“That was a lot of fun with the crowd and TV. It was 

fun being in a game like that,” Matthews said. 

Young could have had more fun on the sidelines. 

“People say what a great game it was. Both offenses 

played great, but it wasn’t a great game for the defenses,” 

Young said. “We were happy we were competitive 

and everything to the end. You play good people, it 

helps you get better. We definitely got better.” 

That game got Matthews attention from college 

coaches. And after the season, it didn’t take Matthews 

long to decide where he wanted to play his college ball. 

In February, he verbally committed to national power 

Texas Christian, which is coached by Rozel native Gary 

Patterson. 

“I was looking for a few things – great coaching staff, 

great depth chart and a willingness to win – and they 

had that. And it’s not that far from home,” said 

Matthews, who added that Kansas State offered him a 

scholarship the week before TCU’s offer. “I thought to 

myself, ‘What else am I looking for?’ So I decided then 

to commit. 

“It was very exciting to get that out of the way going 

into my senior year. I can just go play and not worry 

about after high school.” 

Matthews will be playing with different personnel 

with the Bullpups this season. McPherson returns just 

three offensive starters – its top two receivers graduated. 

So this summer the Bullpups competed in a couple of 

7-on-7 camps, winning one at Blue Valley. 

”You can get your timing down with your receivers,” 

Matthews said. That was the best part because we lost a 

lot of seniors.” 

Story by Gene Schinzel Photo by Travis Morisse



Fullmer likes football, no matter how many are on field 




Eight-man or 11-man, it’s simply 

football to Dighton senior Guy 

Fullmer. 

He’s been a 1,000-yard rusher each 

of the last two seasons, once as an 

11-man player when Dighton had a 

co-op team with Ness City. Then last 

year, when each school fielded its 

own eight-man team, Fullmer ran 

for 1,668 yards and 28 touchdowns. 

“Football is football, but I kind 

of like 11-man better,” Fullmer 

said. “You have a couple more 

blockers and more room to run. 

It’s not much different, but that’s 

what I like.” 

With Fullmer back to try to lead 

the Hornets into the playoffs – 

they missed out last year despite a 

6-3 record – they already know 

they have one of the best running 

backs in Eight-man II. 

“I got here when he was a freshman,” 

said first-year Dighton 

coach Ken Simon, who has been 

an assistant the last three years. 

“He’s a good kid who works hard 

for us. When we get him in space, 

he knows how to follow his blocking. 

He has really good vision and 

he reads his blocks well. When he 

gets into the open field, he has 

breakaway speed.” 

Fullmer, who headlines The 

News’ preseason area Top Eight 

list, played most of his youth and 

Central Christian brings three full-time starters back to club team 




Coaching the Central Christian 

club football team isn’t easy. 

With 17 players this year, coach 

Jay Walter has a decent number to 

work with. Enough for the eightman 

team to scrimmage. The 

Cougars will also have a junior 

varsity schedule this year. 

middle-school football going back 

and forth between eight man and 

11 man in Laverne, Okla., so the 

switch last year didn’t bother him. 

“It’s mostly the field. That’s the 

only difference I notice,” Fullmer 

said. 

But only six players are from 

Central Christian. Six others 

come from Elyria Christian. The 

rest are home-schooled. It’s a different 

challenge compared to most 

high schools. 

“It is pretty difficult,” Walter 

said. “There’s no concurrency one 

year to the next. You play together 

for three months and they go back 

for nine months. But we still try to 

put a team together. 

After racking up nearly 3,000 

rushing yards and 43 touchdowns 

the last two years, you might 

think Fullmer has lofty aspirations 

for this season. Maybe go for 

2,000 yards or 40 touchdowns? 

“I really haven’t thought about 

“We’re trying to get our numbers 

back up to have a regular 

school team.” 

The Cougars will try to come 

back from a 0-8 season with a roster 

that returns three starters. 

Senior lineman Scott Thiesen is 

back, along with sophomore end 

Trey Heneha and sophomore 

quarterback Jacob Blessing. Junior 

lineman Josh Nichols started 

early last season before suffering a 

Otis-Bison 

quarterback 

Trevor Keller 

looks for running 

room during 

last year’s 

Eight-Man II 

state championship 

game 

against 

Baileyville 

B&B in 

Newton. Keller 

looks to help 

the Cougars 

return to the 

state final. 

Travis Morisse/The 

Hutchisnon News 

it,” said Fullmer, who as a middle 

linebacker had 95 tackles and two 

interceptions last season. “I just 

expect to do my best. I haven’t really 

set any personal goals, but I 

guess it would be neat to get 2,000 

yards. For the team, I want to help 

season-ending ankle injury. 

Walter said the roster features 

plenty of athleticism but has a 

ways to go, from a football standpoint. 

“We’ve got a lot to learn,” Walter 

said. “But it seems it’s been 

like this the last couple of years. 

We’re athletic, but we have to 

learn football.” 

The Cougars will have four 

freshmen and just two seniors – 

PRESEASON ELITE 8 

Ross Binford, Kiowa County, sr., QB 

Chet Cordell, Little River, jr., TB-S 

Seth Filbert, Macksville, sr., QB-DB 

Giles Fox, Ashland, sr., FB-LB 

Guy Fullmer, Dighton, sr., RB-DB 

Trevor Keller, Otis-Bison, sr., QB 

Breck Roop, Moscow, sr., QB-DB 

Luke Yearout, So. Barber, sr., TE-DL 

us improve on last year. I hope we 

can make the playoffs this year.” 

Fullmer is one of three players 

on the preseason Top Eight that 

made the postseason Top Eight 

last season. Kiowa County senior 

quarterback Ross Binford threw 

for 2,334 yards and 32 touchdowns 

while rushing for 883 yards and 

nine scores. Ashland linebacker 

Giles Fox averaged 14½ tackles a 

game while also playing on the offensive 

line. 

Others on the preseason list are 

Little River junior running back 

Chet Cordell, who accounted for 

nearly 1,000 yards of offense and 

15 touchdowns; Macksville senior 

quarterback Seth Filbert, who had 

more than 1,600 yards of offense; 

Moscow senior quarterback Breck 

Roop, who had more than 1,400 

yards of offense and 23 touchdowns; 

Otis-Bison senior quarterback 

Trevor Keller, who completed 

65 percent of his passes and accounted 

for 24 touchdowns; and 

South Barber tight end Luke 

Yearout, who had 36 catches for 

650 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

Thiessen and Doug Calam. 

Central Christian will play a 

full nine-game schedule, as well as 

a pair of JV games. One recent 

change to the schedule could 

make for an interesting matchup 

as Central Christian will play Wichita 

Word of Life. Word of Life 

plays eight-man like Central 

Christian, but the difference is 

World of Life plays on an 11-man 

field.

s 

- 





CAMPUS COLTS 

Coach: Mike Schartz (third year, 4-15) 

League: AVCTL I 

2010 record: 3-7 (2-1 district) 

Top returners: Cody Walker (5-10, 170, sr., RB-S); Semaj 

Brehon (5-10, 170, sr., RB-CB); Lalo Palacio (5-6, 180, sr., RB- 

LB); Nick Lemmons (6-0, 260, sr., C); Austin Crump (6-3, 320, 

sr., OL); Johnny Burke (6-3, 280, sr., TE-DL); J.T. Harlmon 

(5-10, 160, jr., QB); Kaden Ivy (5-6, 190, so., RB) 

Outlook: Campus started 1-6 last season before winning its 

last two district games to reach the playoffs. Schartz hopes 

to carry that momentum into this season as he likes the 

team’s senior class and leadership. The Colts, who return 

three offensive and six defensive starters, have good size on 

their lines. 

DERBY PANTHERS 

Coach: Brandon Clark (sixth year, 29-24) 


ANDOVER TROJANS 

Coach: Mike Lee (fourth year, 21-11, 59-39 overall) 

League: AVCTL II 


Top returners: Jon Nye (6-0, 220, sr., FB-LB); Alex Wreath 

(6-4, 300, sr., OL); Bryce Ayers (6-1, 185, sr., LB); Ryan 

Hoover (6-0, 200, sr., TE-DE); Thane Bulmer (5-10, 210, sr., 

OL-DL) 

Outlook: Andover had its first losing season since 2003 last year 

as the Trojans were hurt by injuries. They try to bounce back 

this season with three starters back on both sides of the ball. 

ARKANSAS CITY BULLDOGS 

Coach: Jon Wiemers (first year) 



Top returners: Keegan Murphy (5-10, 185, sr., WR-SS); Justin 

Spencer (6-0, 190, sr., RB-LB); Tyler Dorsey (6-2, 245, sr., OL- 

DL); Zach Noah (5-11, 245, sr., OL-DL); Clayton Swanson (5- 

10, 190, jr., OL-LB); Derrick Banks (6-0, 170, sr., WR-DB); 

Marcus Banks (6-2, 217, sr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Wiemers takes over as coach for Darrin Wegner, 

who didn’t have a winning season in his five years. The 

Bulldogs return Spencer, who rushed for 793 yards last season, 

and Swanson, who had 75 tackles. 

ANDOVER CENTRAL JAGUARS 

Coach: Tom Audley (10th year, 69-26, 142-94 overall) 



Top returners: Alex Bontz (5-8, 165, sr., RB); Colton Koenigs 

(6-2, 180, sr., QB-FS); Taylor Lock (6-2, 185, sr., WR-DB); 

Matt Clements (6-1, 175, sr., TE-SS); Preston Solomon (6-0, 

215, sr., LB); Matt Henrikson (6-6, 270, sr., OL-DL); Sam 

Arndt (6-0, 240, sr., OL-DL); Jacob Redden (6-0, 230, sr., OL- 

DL); Derek Honeywell (6-0, 200, jr., OL-DE) 

Outlook: Andover Central brings back its key skill position 

players. That includes Bontz, who rushed for 1,653 yards and 

17 TDs last season. Lock had 29 catches and 10 TDs. The key 

will be on the line –- the Jaguars graduated all its starters on 

the offensive line. They will have good size on the line. 

ANDALE INDIANS 

Coach: Gary O’Hair (ninth year, 95-16, 165-49 overall) 

League: AVCTL IV 


Top returners: Trent Horsch (5-11, 190, sr., RB-LB); Taylor 

Harp (5-8, 210, sr., OL-DL); Andrew Bergkamp (6-6, 205, sr., 

TE-DE); Jake Beckman (5-10, 180, sr., RB-LB); Jake Brand 

(6-0, 210, jr., OL-LB); Daniel Carney (6-2, 200, jr., C-DL) 

Top newcomers: Ethan Jones (5-11, 185, sr., OL-LB); Luke 

Elpers (6-1, 170, sr., WR-DB); Garrett Krehbiel (6-2, 270, sr., 

OL-DL); Kyle Banz (270, sr., OL-DL); Alan VenJohn (190, sr., 

TE-DL); Jonah Ungles (165, sr., RB-DB); Clay Kear (140, sr., 

QB-DB); Derek Mobley (155, sr., WR-DB); Jaxon Burwell 

(165, sr., RB-DB); Joe Eck (160, sr., RB-DB); Tyler Bugner 

(165, jr, RB-DB); Jake May (165, jr., QB-DB) 

Outlook: Andale enters the season with a lack of varsity 

experience but not senior leadership. Twenty seniors are on 

the team and most have played football all four years. 

Andale should have good team speed. 

AUGUSTA ORIOLES 

Coach: Roger Robben (second year, 1-8, 29-66) 

League: AVCTL III 


Top returners: Alex Clausing (6-2, 170, sr., QB-FS); Joey 


Top returners: Tanner Greiving (5-10, 170, sr., WR); Colby 

Liston (5-8, 150, sr., WR); Dillon Call (5-11, 200, sr., LB); Clay 

Gordon (6-0, 225, sr., OL); Randy Werdell (5-10, 200, sr., DL); 

Logan Duff (5-10, 24,5 sr., DL); Connor Littleton (6-1, 215, jr., 

DL); Tyler West (5-11, 190, so., RB) 

Outlook: The Panthers graduated key seniors as they return 

just two offensive and five defensive starters. Offensively, 

its top players in the backfield from a team that averaged 33 

points per game are gone, including QB Tyler Harrison. 

Derby returned just one defensive starter in 2010, but the 

Panthers have better back experience back this year. 

DODGE CITY RED DEMONS 

Coach: Dave Foster (second year, 11-1, 83-64 overall) 

League: Western Athletic 

2010 record: 11-1 (3-0 in district) 

Top returners: Trey Hallman (5-11, 180, sr., WR-DB); Todd 

Middleton (6-1, 205, sr., LB); Rodney Rojas (6-2, 215, sr., LB); 

GREAT BEND PANTHERS 

Coach: Bo Black (11th year, 70-34) 



Top returners: Jace Bowman (6-2, 160, sr., WR); Conner Sell 

(5-9, 153, sr., WR-DB); Jeremy Sigler (5-10, 175, sr., TB-LB); 

Spencer Bayless (6-2, 180, sr., TE-DL); Dannen Levingston 

(5-10, 228, sr., C); Tyler Uselton (6-3, 315, sr., OG-DT); John 

Verbeck (6-2, 301, sr., NG); Jacob Graham (6-3, 190, sr., OT); 

Chad Touslee (6-3, 171, jr., DL) 

Outlook: Great Bend returns good experience with seven 

offensive and six defensive starters back. The strength of 

the returners is on the line where the Panthers have good 

size. They did graduate Greg Hildebrand at quarterback. 

HAYS INDIANS 

Coach: Ryan Cornelsen (third year, 14-4, 67-17 overall) 



Top returners: Austin Unrein (sr., QB-K); Brandon Weigel 

(sr., OL); Josh Rounkles (sr., OL); Luke Madden (sr., OL); 

Zach Binder (sr., OL-LB); Brad Desbien (sr., WR-DB); Cade 

Sharp (jr., OL-NG); Adam Deterding (jr., WR) 

Outlook: Despite missing the 5A playoffs last season, Hays 

had another solid season. Hays returns six offensive starters. 

The offensive line is a team strength and Unrein returns 

from a knee injury. The defense, which lost the likes of linebacker 

Casey Sedbrook, returns three starters. 

HUTCHINSON SALTHAWKS 

Coach: Randy Dreiling (15th year, 134-29, 159-68 overall) 



Top returners: Jess Westmoreland (6-2, 270, sr., OT); Quentin 

Barnes (5-8, 173, sr., C); Austin Kethum (5-11, 196, sr., DE); 

Ja’mon Cotton (5-6, 167, sr., FB); Erik Roberts (5-9, 160, sr., 

WR-SS); Jerome Roehm (6-5, 190, sr., TE-DL); Tanner 

Blakesley (5-11, 165, sr., WR-DB); Tanner Higgins (5-5, 123, 

sr., DB); Najahaun Tipton-Wylie (5-6, 222, sr., DL); Trevor 

Turner (5-9, 150, jr., QB) 

Hasting (6-0, 195, sr., RB-LB); Colton Robinson (6-1, 230, sr., 

RB-LB); Brian Prentice (5-11, 230, sr., OL-DT);Mike 

Gambale (6-0, 184, sr., OL-LB); Colby Willis (5-10, 205, jr., OL- 

DL); Tyler Roberts (5-9, 180, jr., RB-LB) 

Top newcomers: James Sutton (5-10, 205, sr., OL-DT); Brant 

Spires (5-9, 175, sr., WR-DB); Cody Smith (5-8, 165, sr., WR- 

DB); Mike Morgan (6-3, 175, sr., WR-DB); Brett Hamilton (5- 

11, 155, jr., WR-LB); Jake Ehrlich (5-10, 255, jr., OL-DT); Roy 

Chen (6-2, 210, jr., OL-DL); Caleb Dunn (5-10, 170, jr., RB-LB) 

Outlook: The Orioles, who adjusted to a new system last 

year, return five offensive and seven defensive starters. 

Augusta will have good experience on the offensive line and 

at linebacker. Augusta is looking for its first winning season 

since 2005. 

BUHLER CRUSADERS 

Coach: Steve Warner (fifth year, 46-14, 167-75 overall) 



Top returners: Tanner Fisher (5-10, 190, sr., TB); JP 

Lohrentz (6-3, 175, sr., WR-S); Jadyn Garcia (5-8, 200, sr., TE- 

LB); Mason Engel (5-11, 250, sr., OG); Josh Long (6-0, 180, sr., 

OL-DE); Adam Massey (6-0, 180, sr., SE-DB); Jake Kern (6- 

0, 160, sr., DB); Levi Boman (6-0, 170, sr., DB); Chandler 

Shantz (6-3, 180, jr., QB) 

CLASS 6A CAPSULES 

Tim Spencer (6-0, 210, sr., OL); Marcos Gutierres (6-3, 235, 

sr., OL-DL); Isaiah Bradshaw (6-2, 175, sr., DB); Parker 

Davis (6-0, 205, jr., RB); Taylor Murphy (6-0, 175, jr., WR- 

DB); Justin Gemaehlich (6-1, 235, jr., DL) 

Outlook: Dodge City was oh-so-close to reaching the 6A state 

final last season as the Demons dropped a 42-38 heartbreaker 

to eventual champion Wichita Heights in the semifinals. 

The Demons return five offensive and four defensive 

starters from that team, and Foster likes the senior leadership 

on this team. Dodge returns Davis, who rushed for nearly 

1,000 yards as a sophomore, and 600-yard receiver 

Hallman, but must replace Jared Helfrich, who threw for 

2,384 yards in 2010. 

GARDEN CITY BUFFALOES 

Coach: Brian Hill (second year, 5-5) 


2010 record: 5-5 (2-1 in district) 

Top returners: Seth Alexander (6-2, 210, sr., FB-DL); Gabe 


Outlook: Hutchinson looks to start another streak. Its string 

of six straight state titles ended with a semifinal loss to 

Bishop Carroll. Hutch has very good experience on the lines, 

but one key is replacing the productivity of The News’ offensive 

player of the year Ben Heeney, who topped 2,000 yards 

last season. Turner is back at QB, while Cotton had 603 rushing 

yards. 

LIBERAL REDSKINS 

Coach: Cliff Abbott (first year) 



Top returners: Justin McPhail (6-1, 225, sr., RB-LB); Isaac 

Gallegos (5-9, 165, sr., RB-DB); Bram Abbott (5-9, 180, sr., 

DL); Mike Sena (6-1, 180, sr., WR-DB); Gabe Beltran (6-1, 

280, sr., OL-DL); Adebayo Braimah (5-10, 180, sr., RB-DB); 

Zach Stout (5-11, 246, sr., OL-DL); Brad Denten (6-3, 230, sr., 

DL); Mike Begley (6-0, 230, jr., OL-DL); Jorge Nunez (5-10, 

220, jr., OL-DL); J.J. Richards (6-3, 210, jr., RB-DB); Britton 

Abbott (6-2, 180, so., QB-LB); Trenton Hammond (6-0, 160, so., 

WR-DB) 

Outlook: Liberal returns seven offensive starters and five 

defensive starters as it adjust to Abbott as coach – he’s the 

sixth different head coach at Liberal in the last 10 years. 

Liberal lost some key skill position players, but it returns its 

top defender in McPhail, who had 128 tackles as a junior. 

MCPHERSON BULLPUPS 

Coach: Tom Young (sixth year, 42-12, 313-98 overall) 



Top returners: Tyler Matthews (6-3, 198, sr., QB); Jordan 

Hart (6-1, 175, sr., WR-CB); Andrew Archer (6-1, 243, sr., OT- 

DT); Taylor Krier (6-1, 229, sr., C-DE); Zach Lanning (6-3, 

243, sr., OG-DT); Logan Williams (6-2, 210, sr., TE-LB); 

Marcus Houghton (6-1, 171, jr., WR-S); Austin O’Bannon (5-9, 

184, jr., TB-S) 

Outlook: McPherson had a prolific offense last season, led by 

Matthews, who has committed to TCU. The ’Pups graduated 

Christian Ulsaker, an all-state receiver, but Hart had 21 catch- 


Top newcomers: Blake Redenbaugh (sr.); Sam Massey (sr.); 

Brandon Keeler (jr.); Jess Neufeld (jr.); Quenton Gould (jr.); 

Luke Berblinger (so.); Riley Allen (so.) 

Outlook: Buhler has turned itself into a 4A powerhouse, winning 

23 games the last two seasons. Now the Crusaders, with 

tremendous skill players back, look for a 4A title. Fisher ran 

for 2,360 yards and 40 TDs, Shantz threw for 1,281 yards and 

Lohrentz had 934 receiving yards last year. Garcia recorded 

152 tackles and Lohrentz had 11 interceptions. Buhler needs 

linemen to step into starting roles. 

CHENEY CARDINALS 

Coach: Jason Nichols (first year) 

League: Central Plains 


Top returners: Adam Wentworth (6-0, 150, sr., QB-FS); Josh 

Keiter (5-9, 170, sr., WR-LB); Dalton Gould (6-1, 180, sr., RB- 

LB); Jaren Allen (6-2, 220, sr., OL-DE); Anthony White (6-3, 

300, sr., DL); Chad Harbour-Nordahl (5-9, 140, jr., WR-SS); 

Clayton Hufford (6-1, 300, jr., OL-DE); Gabe Schomacker (6- 

2, 280, jr., OL); Tanner Wulf (6-2, 250, jr., C-DE) 

Outlook: Nichols takes over for Dustin McEwen, who 

coached the Cardinals for six years. Cheney, which returns 

four starters on both sides of the ball, wants to be better 

defensively as it allowed at least 40 points in all five losses a 

year ago. 

Luna (6-3, 265, sr., OL-DL); Jake Curran (6-3, 180, sr., QB- 

DB); Asa Gottsponer (5-7, 160, sr., DB); Steven Fowler (5-8, 

170, sr., RB-DB); Taylor Foley (6-1, 200, jr., TE-DE) 

Outlook: Garden City returns six starters on both sides of the 

ball. Hill said the Buffs must find success on the road early 

with four of their first five games away from home. He said 

they also must overcome some fourth-quarter mistakes from 

a year ago. Garden City also graduated Cody Bernbeck, a 

three-year starter at quarterback. 

GODDARD LIONS 

Coach: Charlie Nally (second year, 3-6, 149-86 overall) 



Top returners: James Watkins (6-0, 185, sr., QB); Nick Betts 

(5-11, 175, sr., RB); Austin White (5-6, 150, sr., RB); Cade 

Nolte (6-1, 215, sr., LB); Austin Killian (6-3, 255, sr., DT); 

James Lawson (6-1, 200, sr., OL); Tylor Woodruff (6-0, 220, 

sr., DE) 

es last season. O’Bannon, a speedy junior, steps in as the feature 

tailback. One key will be building depth as McPherson 

returns just three offensive and four defensive starters. 

NEWTON RAILERS 

Coach: Brent Glann (12th year, 49-57, 61-64 overall) 



Top returners: Dominic Davis (5-11, 213, sr., RB); Jared 

Fromm (6-1, 255, sr., C); Kendall Schmidt (6-0, 240, sr., OG); 

Austin Vermillion (6-1, 220, sr., DE); Ben Koerner (5-10, 170, 

sr., DB); Matt Lawrence (6-1, 170, sr., WR); Hugh McConnell 

(6-0, 195, sr., LB); Levi Blaylock (6-0, 255, sr., DT); Coleman 

Kingsley (5-10, 175, jr., QB); Jordan Johnson (6-0, 155, jr., WR); 

Jacob Bartel (6-3, 225, jr., LB); Etric Jones (5-11, 156, jr., CB); 

Seth Hill (5-8, 150, so., RB); Cory Martens (6-2, 200, so., DE) 

Outlook: Last year, Newton went through its first losing season 

since 2005. The Railers, though, bring back seven 

starters on both sides. Kingsley compiled more than 1,400 

yards of offense as a sophomore. Davis rushed for 706 yards, 

while Bartel and McConnell each had more than 70 tackles 

last season. 

SALINA CENTRAL MUSTANGS 

Coach: Mike Hall (sixth year, 31-21) 



Top returners: Taylor Bradley (6-1, 210, sr., RB); Charles 

Scott (6-0, 305, sr., OL); Alex Furst (5-10, 212, sr., OL); Nathan 

Garlow (5-10, 175, jr., LB); Kade True (6-2, 205, jr., LB); Mark 

Vaughn (6-1, 200, jr., LB); Will Oaks (5-7, 145, jr., DB) 

Top newcomers: Jackson Rolfs (6-2, 210, sr., QB); Aden Olson 

(6-2, 245, sr., OL); Kyle McQuaige (6-0, 170, sr., WR); Blake 

Cormack (5-8, 140, sr., FB); Cordell Wilcome (6-1, 250, jr., OL) 

Outlook: The Mustangs were hit hard by graduation as they 

return just three offensive and four defensive starters. They 

have experienced linemen back on offense, while three of 

their four starting linebackers return. Rolfs is set to take 

over at quarterback for Shay Wooten, who is at Washburn. 

The Mustangs also graduated top running back Cale Sharp. 

CIRCLE THUNDERBIRDS 

Coach: Bob Pool (first year, 19-13 overall) 



Top returners: Caleb Kirkpatrick (6-1, 175, sr., RB); John 

Nicholas (6-4, 205, sr., WR); Adam Ronnebaum (6-3, 200, sr., 

TE-LB); Garrett White (5-9, 170, sr., QB); Nik Lytton (6-0, 

220, sr., OL); Josh Tillitson (6-0, 200, sr., NG); Jordan Moore 

(6-0, 220, jr., DL); Drew Daharsh (6-2, 225, jr., C) 

Outlook: Circle looks to reload after it graduated standout 

lineman Jordan Phillips, who is at Oklahoma, and QB Alex 

Gardinier. Circle returns five starters on both sides of the 

ball. Pool takes over as head coach after being defensive 

coordinator last season. 

CLEARWATER INDIANS 

Coach: Dirk Ankerholz (third year, 8-11) 



Top returners: Jarrod Nickelson (6-0, 190, sr., RB-DB); 

Austin True (6-0, 172, sr., RB-S); Lucas Rinke (6-0, 200, sr., 

RB-LB); Clint Lewis (6-1, 325, sr., OL-DL); McLain Whalen 

(6-0, 200, sr., OL); Dakota Vaughn (5-7, 180, jr., RB-DB) Colin 

Frickey (6-2, 200, jr., TE-DE); Cody Hamilton (5-9, 165, jr., 

TE); Garrett Hoover (QB) 

Outlook: Clearwater returns a strong running game as nine 

Outlook: The Lions have gotten used to Nally’s coaching system 

and that, along with a strong senior class, could turn 

Goddard’s fortunes. Goddard did have its share of close losses 

last season, including its final two games against Garden 

City (28-26) and Maize (24-21). 

MAIZE EAGLES 

Coach: Gary Guzman (first year, 100-87 overall) 



Top returners: Blake Pontius (6-2, 194, sr., QB); Drew 

DeOrsey (6-3, 187, sr., WR); Ryan Hall (5-9, 165, sr., DB); 

Lucas Larkin (5-10, 206, sr., LB); Blaise Fountain (6-0, 256, 

jr., OL); Joseph Hamer (6-0, 235, jr., OL): Matt Mar (5-9, 245, 

jr., DL); Colin Nitcher (5-8, 175, jr., OL) 

Outlook: Maize is learning under a new coach in Guzman, a 

former City League coach. Pontius, one of the team’s 16 seniors, 

passed for 531 yards last season, but he’ll be counted on 

to lead a more consistent offense as the Eagles scored a total 

of 30 points in a four-game stretch last season. 

SALINA SOUTH COUGARS 

Coach: Sam Sellers (third year, 8-9) 



Top returners: Darius Peterson (6-6, 263, sr., OL); Josh 

Hatfield (6-0, 253, sr., OL); Brady Munsch (6-1, 202, sr., LB); 

Derek Baxa (6-2, 221, sr., DE); Cooper Brown (6-2, 203, sr., 

DT); Cody Busby (5-6, 198, jr., RB); Christian Linenberger (6- 

2, 196, jr., QB); Mike Shirk (5-10, 187, jr., FB); Grant 

Flemming (5-11, 244, jr., OL); Chase Turner (5-10, 173, jr., 

FS); Tevin Grace (6-0, 183, jr., SS); Andy Jewell (5-9, 210, jr., 

LB) 

Top newcomers: Chance Thomason (5-11, 168, sr., WR); 

Michael Gier (5-10, 181, sr., WR); Zach Nachbar (6-1, 172, so., 

DB); Aaron Mar (5-10, 158, so., DB) 

Outlook: A more experienced squad should allow the 

Cougars to improve as they return six offensive and seven 

defensive starters. Busby, who rushed for 1,000 yards as a 

freshman before going through an injury-plagued sophomore 

year, is back, as is Linenberger, who rushed and 

passed for more than 800 yards. Turner had 67 tackles last 

season. 

VALLEY CENTER HORNETS 

Coach: Pat Haxton (second year, 0-9, 69-54 overall) 



Top returners: Tyler Gentry (6-0, 210, sr., RB); Mike Off (6- 

0, 180, sr., LB); Kirby McCallum (6-2, 215, sr., DE); Alex 

Charles (5-8, 260, sr., OL); Ben Marten (6-2, 200, sr., DE); 

Mike Off (5-11, 175, sr., LB); Tate Anderson (6-1, 180, jr., 

QB); Braden Tormey (5-8, 170, jr., WR); Zac Sander (6-4, 

270, jr., OL); Ryan Scheibmeir (6-4, 185, jr., WR); Justin 

Holdawy (6-0, 210, jr., WR-LB); Keaton Canaday (5-11, 180, 

jr., SS) 

Outlook: The Hornets, who lost all but one game by at least 

20 points, went through growing pains during Haxton’s first 

season as coach. Haxton is trying to improve the team’s 

overall strength. Valley Center needs to improve offensively 

as the Hornets scored a total of 72 points last year. 

starters are back on offense. Nickelson leads the rushing 

attack. Ankerholz said the team needs to improve its passing 

game. The Indians have more holes to fill defensively as 

10 players who started at least one game graduated. 

EL DORADO WILDCATS 

Coach: Dustin Dooley (first year) 



Top returners: Garrett Armstrong (5-9, 219, sr., OL-DL); 

Justin Bailey (6-2, 205, sr., OL-DL); Aryton Stewart (5-6, 143, 

sr., RB-LB); Tyler Riffel (5-8, 175, sr., OL-DL); Quentin 

Cluster (6-0, 276, jr., OL-DL); Trevor Crain (6-2, 190, jr., WR- 

LB); Matt Harvey (5-11, 141, so., RB-DB); Travis House (6- 

1, 170, so., QB-DB); Isaac Johnson (6-1, 158, so., WR-DB); 

Tucker Sherman (5-8, 146, so., WR-DB) 

Top newcomers: Thomas Hays (6-2, 178, sr., TE-D); Cole 

Reinhardt (5-7, 134, jr, WR-DB); Fred Winsor (5-9, 173, jr., RB-LB) 

Outlook: Dooley takes over a program that has only one way 

to go. The Wildcats haven’t won since 2008 and scored a total 

of 13 points last season. Dooley knows there’s no quick fix as 

he tries to build depth and confidence within the program. 

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BELLE PLAINE DRAGONS 

Coach: Brian Seba (third year, 3-15, 16-21 overall) 



Top returners: Dakota Richardson (6-0, 190, sr., TB-LB); 

Greg Moore (6-1, 170, sr., WR-LB); Storm Scott (6-1, 200, sr., 

FB-LB); Gabe Stewart (5-11, 165, sr., QB-S); Eric Martin (5- 

10, 175, sr., RB-LB); Jeremiah Brent (5-10, 165, sr., RB-CB); 

Caleb Throop (5-9, 150, jr., QB-S); Dalin Mead (5-8, 155, jr., 

WR-CB); Ryan Willms (6-0, 220, jr., OL-DL); Austin Johnson 

(6-3, 200, jr., OL-DL) 

Top newcomers: Zach Thornbrush (5-10, 190, jr., FB-LB); 

Sebastian Brown (5-11, 200, jr., OL-DL); Bryson Gann (6-2, 

150, jr., WR-CB); Quay Hervey (5-10, 155, jr., WR-LB); Chase 

Curl (5-10, 165, so., RB-LB); Harry Busick (5-11, 180, so., WR- 

LB) 

Outlook: Belle Plaine has won just three games in the past 

three years, but Seba sees signs of the program improving. 

The roster size has nearly doubled since 2010 and the team’s 

leading rusher, passer, receiver and tackler all are back this 

season. Overall, the Dragons return nine starters on both 

sides of the ball. 

BLUESTEM LIONS 

Coach: Kyle Wallis (first year) 



Top returners: Cade Minnick (6-0, 180, sr., WR-DB); Blake 

Bolander (5-10, 165, sr. QB-DB); Augie Schmidt (5-10, 220, sr., 

OL-LB); John Moore (6-3, 245, sr., OL-DL); Chad Izzo (5-10, 160, 

sr., WR-DB); Ty Young (5-10, 185, sr., WR-LB); Patrick Hurd 

(6-4, 230, jr., OL-DL); Cody Easterday (6-0, 175, jr., RB-LB) 

Outlook: Bluestem is looking to snap a 24-game losing streak. 

The Lions turn to Wallis to take over the program – he was 

head coach at Wichita Independent the past two seasons. 

CHAPARRAL ROADRUNNERS 

Coach: Justin Burke (second year, 7-3, 68-37 overall) 



Top returners: Justin Fagan (5-9, 140, sr., WR-DB); Torry 

Hamill (5-8, 130, sr., WR-DB); Ryan Masenthin (5-11, 165, sr., 

SB-LB); Scotty McCartney (6-5, 300, sr., OL-DL); Zack Duwe 

(5-10, 145, jr., QB-DB); Jeremy Gaug (6-0, 255, jr., OL-DL); 

Nick Shaw (6-1, 155, jr., SB-LB); Justin Struble (5-10, 175, jr., 

SB-LB); Clay Wilcox (6-1, 303, jr., OL-DL); Cade Stierwalt (6- 

0, 185, jr., OL-DL) 

Top newcomers: Devin Beasley (5-10, 240, jr., OL-DL); Zach 

Darnell (6-0, 210, jr., OL-DL); Mason Beasley (5-11, 165, so., 

SB-LB); Adam Capps (5-11, 1745, so., QB-DB) 

Outlook: Chaparral had its first winning season since 2002. 

Now Burke hopes the Roadrunners can reload. Offensively, 

Chaparral returns good experience on the line, but it must 

replace three backs who combined for 3,000 yards last year. 

It also returns five starters on defense. 

CIMARRON BLUEJAYS 

Coach: Doug Minneman (fourth year, 8-20) 

League: Hi-Plains 


Top returners: Tyler Siek (5-10, 180, sr., QB-LB); Ed Rameriz 

(5-8, 250, sr., OL-DL); Zach Fields (6-0, 210, sr., OL-DL); Joey 

Franzitta (6-0, 175, sr., TE-DL); Alex Neuschafer (6-0, 210, jr., 

FB-LB); Aidan Shaughnessy (5-8, 160, jr., OL-DL) 

Top newcomers: Bryan Durham (6-0, 195, sr., OL-DL); Josh 

Meis (5-10, 165, jr., FB-LB); Eddy Trevino (5-10, 145, so., WR- 

DB) 

Outlook: After making the playoffs for the first time in 10 

years, there’s excitement around Cimarron’s program following 

its breakthrough season. Siek, who also return at 

quarterback, and Neuschafer were all-league linebackers 

last season. The Bluejays also have good size, but Minneman 

said a lack of speed is a concern. Cimarron also lost all its 

starters in the secondary. 

CONWAY SPRINGS CARDINALS 

Coach: Matt Biehler (third year, 23-2) 



Top returners: Brian Doffing (5-11, 195, sr., RB-LB); Cory 

Misak (5-7, 175, sr., RB-LB); Matt Seiwert (6-3, 250, sr., FB- 

LB); Kyle Hill (6-3, 225, sr., TE-DE); Trenton Ebersole (6-2, 

220, sr., OL); Tyler Fisher (5-10, 215, sr., OL); Joseph Gerber 

(6-3, 170, sr., DB); Marcus Hilger (6-2, 260, sr., DE); Tanner 

Wood (6-5, 235, jr., QB-LB) 

Top newcomers: Cody Andra (5-8, 150, sr., RB-LB); Jordan 

Ast (5-7 160, sr., RB-DB); Ryan Pauly (5-10, 150, jr., RB-DB); 

Carl Leahy (6-1, 180, jr., OL-LB); Derek Martin (5-10, 195, jr., 

OL-LB) 

Outlook: Conway Springs’ unbeaten 2010 season ended with a 

loss to Silver Lake in the 3A final. The Cardinals will be a 

favorite to get back to the title game. Doffing rushed for 1,782 

yards last year, while Misak gained 1,129 yards. Wood 

accounted for 1,000 yards. The skill players also make up the 

linebacking corps. A key will be replacing veteran linemen. 

DOUGLASS BULLDOGS 

Coach: Jeffrey Ast (second year, 1-8) 



Top returners: Kyle Troxler (sr., QB-DB); Jesse Cramner 

(sr., RB-LB); Mika Kaylor (sr., C); Ryker Greenbaum (FB- 

LB); Tyler Beauchamp (sr., TE-DE) 

Top newcomers: Avery McNelly (RB-CB) 

Outlook: The Bulldogs, a playoff qualifier in 2009, had growing 

pains last season under a new coach. This year, Douglass 

looks to improve with five starters back on both sides of the 

ball. 

ELLSWORTH BEARCATS 

Coach: Ken WIndholz (12th year, 37-65) 

League: NCAA 


Top returners: Tyler Goding (OL-DL, sr., 215); Ben Murrell 

(180, sr., WR-LB); Jacob Froese (195, sr., QB-LB); Chyler 

Hudson (165, sr., RB-DB); McGregor Jones (195, sr., WR-LB); 

Clint Glaser (165, sr., WR-DB); Shane Wilson (170, sr., WR); 

Trevor Miley (225, jr., OL-DL); Josh Bahr (195, jr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Ellsworth doubled its win total from 2009 and the 

Bearcats return plenty of experience with nine offensive and 

eight defensive starters back. Froese is back to lead their 

spread offense and he also is part of a strong linebacker 

corps. Ellsworth, which started 0-3 last year before winning 

six straight, also has good experience at receiver. 

GARDEN PLAIN OWLS 

Coach: Todd Puetz (10th year, 105-18) 



Top returners: Joey Capul (205, sr., RB-LB); Lucas Jennings 

(195, sr., QB-DB); Jake Balestracci (230, sr., OL-DL); Cale 

Walsh (185, sr., RB-LB); Josh Becker (165, sr., WR-DB); Nathan 

Dooley (175, sr., RB-DB); Ethan Hays (190, sr., OL-DL); 

Denver Doyle (195, jr., RB-LB); Tyler Puetz (220, jr., OL-DL); 

Tim Bugner (180, jr., QB-DB); Dylan Clark (170, jr., RB-DB) 

Outlook: Garden Plain returns five offensive and six defensive 

starters from a season when it lost to rival Conway 

Springs twice. Overall, the Owls return 28 lettermen, which 

will help provide depth. Capul finished last year with 769 

rushing yards and 16 TDs, while Jennings was an all-league 

defensive back. 

HALSTEAD DRAGONS 

Coach: Marc Svaty (fifth year, 18-20) 

League: Central Kansas 


Top returners: Karsen Garnett (5-11, 225, sr., OL-LB); Tyler 

Henning (5-6, 200, sr., OL-DL); Tucker Kaufman (6-2, 200, sr., 

OL-LB); Peyton Wingert (5-7, 150, sr., RB-LB); Ryan Bibb (5- 

7, 145, sr., RB-DB); Devon Bibb (5-7, 145, sr., RB-DB); Alex 

Thibault (5-3, 150, jr., RB-DB) 

Top newcomers: Chance Spicer (6-1, 175, sr., WR-DB); Jonah 

McKee (5-2, 135, jr., QB); Dakota Hoffman (6-1, 170, jr., OL- 

LB); Brendan Gundy (6-1, 165, jr., OL-LB); Mike Mendez (5- 

11, 200, jr., OL-DL); Blake Bohling (5-10, 150, jr., WR-DB); 

Timmy Glassco (5-10, 175, jr., OL-DL); Jessie Aguirre (5-10, 

185, jr., DL); Cory Armendariz (5-5, 165, jr., RB-LB) 

Outlook: The Dragons try to follow up last year with solid 

upperclassmen. Halstead returns just three offensive starters 

as it must replace QB Simon McKee and top running back 

Tanner Strohl. Seven defensive starters are back as Wingert 

recorded 86 tackles as a junior and Devon Bibb had 72. 

HILLSBORO TROJANS 

Coach: Max Heinrichs (third year, 12-9, 57-45 overall) 



Top returners: Brandon Rooker (6-2, 235, sr., OL-DL); Luke 

Moore (5-8, 170, sr., QB-LB); Aaron Klassen (6-2, 180, sr., TE- 

DE); Derek Kelsey (6-0, 175, sr., WR-DB); Devin Dick (6-0, 

195, sr., TE-LB); Dylan Jirak (6-1, 215, jr., OL-DL); Nathan 

Unruh (6-1, 215, jr., OL-DL); Shaq Thiessen (6-0, 150, jr., WR- 

DB); Tyler Proffitt (6-0, 160, jr., WR-DB); Tyrell Thiessen (5- 

11, 265, jr., FB-LB); Evan Ollenberger (5-11, 135, so. WR-DB) 

Top newcomers: Aaron Slater (6-1, 235, sr., OL-DL); Mitchell 

Day (5-7, 130, jr., RB-DB); Tanner Jones (5-9, 165, jr., RB- 

LB); Josh Wiebe (6-2, 175, jr., TE-DE); Lucas Sinclair (5-11, 

160, jr., QB-DB) 

Outlook: Hillsboro returns good experience on the line, which 

Heinrichs believes will be one of the team’s strengths, as well 

as Moore, who threw for 1,173 yards last season. Tyrell 

Thiessen is a big, mobile linebacker. Overall, roster numbers 

are down this season, so it’s important Hillsboro 

remains healthy. 


HOISINGTON CARDINALS 

Coach: Jason Ingram (first year) 

League: MCAA 


Top returners: Eric Hellerud (5-10, 200, sr., RB-LB); Dylan 

Bell (5-8, 175, sr., C-DT); Cody Batt (5-6, 210, sr., DL); 

Anthony Broeder (sr., K-P); Derrick Kaiser (sr., DB); Cody 

Stetler (6-7, 210, jr., TE-DE); Brady Moore (6-2, 225, jr., OL- 

DL); Trevor Williams (5-9, 220, jr., OL-DL); Jacob Durrett 

(jr., FS); Peyton Bullard (jr., OL); Cody Richter (jr., OL- 

DL); Chance Demel (5-9, 170, jr., OT-DE) 

Outlook: Hoisington returns six starters on both sides of the 

ball from a team that missed the playoffs for the first time 

since 2003. Ingram takes over as coach for Lonnie Irvin, who 

won 82 games during his tenure. Ingram is a former Great 

Bend and Bethany College assistant. 

KINGMAN EAGLES 

Coach: Curtis Albin (first year) 



Top returners: Brian Suenram (6-3, 170, sr., WR-DB); 

Mikabe Erdman (6-0, 190, sr., QB-DB); Mike Meng (5-11, 180, 

sr., TE-DB); Will Cousins (6-0, 225, sr., RB-DT); Blaine 

Boswell (6-0, 180, sr., C-DE); Skyler Goyen (5-8, 225, sr., G- 

DL); Austin Massey (6-0, 170, jr., FB-LB) 

Outlook: Kingman snapped a 27-game losing streak last season, 

but the Eagles still are trying to build up its program. 

Albin, who had been head coach at Minneola the past seven 

years, will try to do that. The Eagles have a large senior 

class and return six players who started both ways. They 

should have good team speed. 

LAKIN BRONCS 

Coach: Jeff Fuss (first year) 



Top returners: Caden Helberg (6-1, 299m sr., C-DE); Blake 

Guebelle (5-10, 175, sr., RB-LB); Bryant Miller (6-1, 170, sr., 

QB-DB); Bryce White (6-1, 265, sr., OT-DT); Joe McCombs (5- 

10, 155, sr., RB-LB); Raul Beltran (5-10, 215, sr. OG-DE); 

Reno Armstrong (6-2, 165, sr., WR-DB); Cody Kinnier (6-2, 

170, sr., TE-DE); Kevin Dasenbrock (6-0, 170, jr., WR-LB); 

Ty Adams (6-0, 175, jr., RB-LB); Montana Fuller (6-2, 240, so., 

OL-DL) 

Top newcomers: Pedro Chavez (6-0, 165, jr., RB-LB); Dalton 

Shalberg (6-2, 150, jr., WR-DB); Daylon Gilliland (6-0, 240, jr., 

OL-DL); Gage McAtee (5-8, 150, so., RB-LB) 

Outlook: After spending eight seasons at Pratt, Fuss takes 

over at Lakin. He’s greeted by a large senior class – 17 – that 

will lead the team and provide depth. Fuss said the Broncs, 

who were 6-4 in 2009 before slipping last season, have the 

potential to be very competitive. Eight starters are back on 

both sides of the ball with Miller leading the offense. 

LYONS LIONS 

Coach: Clancy Moses (first year) 



Top returners: Ryon Thurston (5-9, 155, sr., RB-DB); Zach 

Loesch (6-1, 215, sr., OL-DE); Brenden Lewis (6-0, 135, sr., 

WR-CB); Kregg Clarke (6-0, 155, sr., WR-CB); Evan Barber 

(6-0, 170, sr., C-DL); Matthew Vincent (5-10, 165, jr. QB-DE); 

Luis Rascon (5-7, 150, jr., DB); Lukas Padilla (5-9, 155, jr., 

RB-CB); Adrian Lange (5-5, 140, jr., LB) 

Outlook: Moses takes over for a Lyons team that struggled 

a year ago but returns good experience. Lyons has seven 

offensive and nine defensive starters back as Vincent 

returns at QB after throwing for 717 yards in 2010. Lewis had 

21 catches and four TDs. Loesch and Barber are two-year 

starters. 

MARION WARRIORS 

Coach: Grant Thierolf (24th year) 

League: Heart of America 


Top returners: Colten Johnson (5-9, 174, sr., RB-LB); Mikael 

Antoszyk (5-4, 140, sr., SB-CB); David Helmer (6-2, 224, sr., 

OT-DT); Jon Tacha (6-1, 285, sr., C-DT); Spencer Fugitt (5-11, 

198, jr., OG-LB); Brody Carroll (5-9, 150, jr., SB-S); Dakin 

Ledford (6-2, 218, jr., TE-DE); Isaac Baldwin (5-11, 222, jr., 

OT); Cole Lewman (6-0, 150, jr., QB-LB) 

Top newcomers: Jacob Harper (6-2, 168, jr., WR); Ethan Hett 

(5-10, 166, jr., OG); Wiley Lundy (6-0, 178, jr., DE); Eric 

Regnier (5-6, 135, jr., CB); Caleb Williams (5-8, 176, so., LB) 

Outlook: Marion will have a young team this season as 

Thierolf will heavily count on his junior class. Lewman takes 

over at quarterback after playing receiver last season. 

Thierolf believes the offensive line will be a strength with 

three starters back. Seven starters are back on defense, 

including three on the line and three linebackers. 

MEDICINE LODGE INDIANS 

Coach: Faron Kraft (first year, 16-19 overall) 



Top returners: Bryan Hellman (6-3, 180, sr., WR-DB); Kelvin 

Shinliver (6-0, 210, sr., RB-LB); Sheldon Bayliff (5-10, 215, sr., 

OL-LB); Tim Morford (5-9, 230, sr., OL-DL); Tyler Ward (5- 

10, 150, sr., WR-DB); Chris Coultas (5-11, 165, sr., QB-DB); 

Jake Beecher (5-10, 190, sr., RB-LB); Ty Boor (6-0, 155, sr., 

WR-DB); David Miller (6-1, 180, jr., RB-LB); Logan Bertholf 

(6-0, 175, jr., OL-LB); Bryant Wornkey (6-0, 190, jr., RB-LB); 

Scott Angel (6-8, 235, so., OL-DL); Scott Beecher (5-10, 155, 

so., RB-DB) 

Outlook: Kraft takes over as coach after spending the past 

three seasons with Dighton. Medicine Lodge will have a good 

group of seniors to lead the way, but one area of concern is 

there’s not a lot of depth provided by the freshmen and sophomore 

classes. 

REMINGTON BRONCOS 

Coach: Chris Lawler (eighth year, 45-23) 



Top returners: Corbin Mitchell (6-1, 200, sr., OL-DL); Luke 

Igo (5-9, 165, sr., RB-DL); Kyle Regier (6-1, 175, jr., WR-LB); 

Will Johnson (5-10, 205, jr., OL-DL); Eric Janzen (5-10, 175, jr., 

OL-DL); Caleb Cherryholmes (5-10, 170, jr., QB-LB)\ 

Top newcomers: Patrick Nelson (5-11, 195, sr., OL-DL); 

Tyler Atwood (5-9, 160, sr., WR-DB); Ty Coats (6-0, 160, sr., 

WR-LB); Kale Zonnefeld (6-1, 160, jr., WR-DB) 

Outlook: Remington, which lost by two in the playoffs to 

Trinity Catholic last year, will be led by Cherryholmes, who 

passed for more than 2.000 yards last season. The Broncos 

also return good experience on the line, but need to plug some 

holes at receiver. Regier will anchor Remington’s defense. 

SCOTT CITY BEAVERS 

Coach: Glenn O’Neil (fifth year, 38-9) 

League: Great West 


Top returners: Braeden Robinson (5-10, 145, sr., WR-CB); 

Dakota Farr (5-10, 210, sr., OT); Colbon Couchman (6-2, 200, 

sr., DE); Jesse Eitel (6-0, 210, sr., OG); Dylan Ellis (6-0, 240, 

sr., OT); Luke Hayes (6-4, 255, sr., TE-DE); Dalton Smith (5- 

7, 165, sr., RB); Dalton Buehler (5-10, 190, jr., RB-CB); 

Michael McEachern (5-11, 250, jr., OG-DT); Tyler Hess (6-0, 

185, jr., LB)Brett O’Neil (6-0, 150, jr., QB-FS) 

Top newcomers: Manny Carrillo (5-11, 175, sr., C); Jake 

Arkebauer (6-6, 270, sr., DT); Colten Yager (6-0, 190, jr., LB) 

Outlook: Scott City returns a solid nucleus from one of the top 

teams in 3A last year as eight offensive and seven defensive 

starters are back. O’Neil likes the team’s experience and speed 

at the skill positions. The defensive line had will be a strength 

as Couchman had 90 tackles and Hayes 64 last season. 

SEDGWICK CARDINALS 

Coach: Jeff Werner (sixth year, 28-19) 



Top returners: Trent Stucky (6-0, 180, sr., QB-S); Elliott 

Money (5-6, 150, sr. WR-DB); Dalton Gulick (5-11, 185, sr., 

WR-DB); Levi Vogt (6-2, 175, sr., WR-DB); Daniel Vogt (6-1, 

175, sr., WR-DB); Logan Thompson (6-2, 220, jr., OL-LB); 

Dayln Anderson (5-10, 170, jr., WR-LB); Ivan Wood (5-9, 225, 

jr., OL-DL); Dalton Brandt (5-9, 180, so., RB-LB) 

Top newcomers: Zak Smalling (6-2, 235, sr., OL-DE); Jason 

Eggleston (5-8, 145, sr., WR-DB); Drake Standefer (5-8, 145, 

jr., WR-DB): Nic Johnson (5-10, 155, jr., WR-LB); Jason 

Huebert (5-9, 165, jr., OL-DE); Grier Chandler (5-10, 165, so., 

RB-LB); Trey Tucker (6-1, 235, so., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Sedgwick returns seven offensive and eight defensive 

starters with Stucky leading the way – he rushed for 

1,074 yards, passed for 1,758 and accounted for 36 TDs last 

season. Money and Daniel Vogt catch eight TD passes each 

last year. Sedgwick also will have good depth in the secondary. 

A concern is replacing starters on the lines. 

SW HEIGHTS MUSTANGS 

Coach: Matt Scripsick (second year, 1-8, 31-25 overall) 



Top returners: Ruben Chavez (sr., RB); Jeffrey Dutton (sr., 

LB); Junior Herrera (sr., WR-CB); Dillan Tracy (sr., OL- 

DL); Ben Johnsrud (jr., QB-CB); Luis Juarez (jr., OL-DL); 

Rogelio Martinez (jr., RB-LB); Josh Winkler (jr., OL-DL); 

Alexis Loya (so., OL-DL); Saul Sanchez (so., RB-LB); Sandy 

Rodriguez (OL-DL) 

Outlook: The Mustangs went through a transition last year 

during Scripsick’s first season. Not only will the Mustangs be 

more familiar with the coach’s sets, they also have a lot of 

experience with nine offensive and 10 defensive starters 

back. Johnsrud returns at quarterback. 

STERLING BLACK BEARS 

Coach: Matt Hendricks (third year, 9-11) 



Top returners: Seth Humphreys (5-9, 165, sr., QB); Alex 

Burgess (5-11, 165, sr., FB-DE); Chad Bennett (6-2, 185, sr., 

RB-DB); Bryant Patterson (6-0, 165, sr., RB-DB); Taylor 

Fair (5-11, 195, sr., OL-DL); Austin Maxwell (6-4, 210, jr., WR- 

LB); Kirk Engelland (6-0, 165, jr., DB); Jed Dierksen (6-0, 235, 

so., DL) 

Top newcomers: Tanner Stallings; Riley Galyon; Trevonte 

Bell; Calvin Jones 

Outlook: Sterling doubled its win total last season and 

returns plenty of experience with six offensive and seven 

defensive starters back. Sterling returns its entire starting 

backfield, while it must fill holes on the offensive line. A lack 

of depth also is a concern. 

TMP-MARIAN MONARCHS 

Coach: Jon Borer (second year, 2-7) 

League: MCAA 


Top returners: Nick Hammeke (6-0, 155, sr., QB); Taylor 

Pfeifer (6-4, 180, sr., WR-DE): Dylan Lang (5-10, 160, sr., 

RB); Joe Roth (6-0, 170, sr., OL-LB); Dylan Schumacher (5-7, 

125, sr., WR-DB); Austin Werth (5-10, 170, sr., OG-LB); Jacob 

Fouts (5-10, 165, sr., WR-DB); Anthony Walters (6-0, 170, jr., 

OL-DL); Shane Zimmerman (5-11, 150, jr., WR-DB) 

Outlook: With a switch to a spread offense last year, TMP 

saw its offense improve last season as it averaged 21.1 points 

per game. The Monarchs return Hammeke, who passed for 

1,599 yards, and experienced receivers. The Monarchs need 

to improve defensively as they allowed 34.3 points per game. 

TRINITY CATHOLIC CELTICS 

Coach: Sean Racette (fourth year, 29-6) 



Top returners: Austin Rea (5-11, 175, sr., RB-FS); Joe 

Schrock (6-3, 220, sr., OL-DL); Alex Mailloux (6-1, 200, sr., 

WR-LB); Dalton Rodriguez (6-1, 235, jr., OL-LB); Tom 

Mailloux (6-0, 200, jr., RB-LB); Jerome Miller (6-5, 250, so., 

OL-DL) 

Top newcomers: Holden Thielen (6-1, 175, sr., QB); Caleb 

Brening (5-10, 170, sr., DB); Ivan Guerrero (5-10, 200, sr., RB- 

LB); Jose Garcia (6-0, 200, sr., OL-DL); Josh Hermes (6-1, 220, 

jr., OL-DL); Issac Thibault (5-8, 160, jr., RB); Greg Flores (6- 

3, 205, jr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Trinity graduated a talented senior class. Hit hard 

was the skill positions as the Celtics lost the likes of QB 

Derek Racette and WR Michael Mesh and Will Bothwell. The 

Celtics return just three starters on both sides of the ball, but 

a lot of players saw playing time last season. Trinity will be 

strong on the line and should be good defensively again. 

WICHITA COLLEGIATE SPARTANS 

Coach: Bill Messamore (sixth year, 54-12, 66-36 overall) 



Top returners: William Short (5-10, 160, sr., WR-DB); Curtis 

Beent (5-10, 226, sr., LB); Clay Holden (6-0, 220, sr., OL); 

Myles Copeland (6-1, 220, sr., OL-LB); Trace Clark (6-5, 225, 

sr., OL-DE); Isaiah Franklin (5-8, 165, jr., RB-DB); Spenser 

Schooler (6-1, 165, jr., WR-DB); Markus Phox (5-11, 65, jr., 

QB-DB); Forrest Short (5-10, 160, jr., QB-WR); Conor 

Flemming (5-11, 160, jr., DB); Hunter Cusick (5-10, 185, jr., 

OL-DL); Seth Carder (5-9, 171, so., LB) 

Top newcomers: Edgar Corrigan (5-11, 190, sr., OL-DL); 

Giovanni Pavetto (5-10, 185, sr., OL-DL); Houston Cusick (5- 

8, 155, jr. WR-LB); Sonny Frank (6-0, 165, jr., OL-DL); 

Brandon Lee (6-2, 231, jr., OL-DL); Patrick Maloney (5-11, 

160, jr., OL-LB); Elliot Mann (6-1, 185, jr,, OL-DL); Mitch 

Copeland (5-11, 240, so., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Collegiate will be a much more experienced team this 

season with nine starters back on both sides of the ball. The 

Spartans will be strong on the line as Clark and Myles 

Copeland are three-year starters. Phox is back at quarterback 

after he suffered a season-ending injury midway through 2010. 

WICHITA INDEPENDENT PANTHERS 

Coach: Jarrod Hibler (first year) 



Top returners: Tre Williams (5-7, 155, jr., WR-CB); Kevin 

Jarvis (6-1, 190, jr., TE-LB); Matt Medrano (6-2, 235, jr., C- 

DT); Casey Kolbeck (5-10, 140, jr., RB-S); Matt Loveland (6- 

2, 185, jr., S); Grant Campbell (5-7, 145, jr., LB); Karson 

Rowe (5-9, 170, so., TB) 

Outlook: Wichita Independent comes off its first playoff in 

school histroy. This season, the Panthers will be young and 

undersized as they will count on their junior class. Hibler formerly 

was head coach at Eureka.

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BENNINGTON BULLDOGS 

Coach: David Butler (second year, 2-7, 77-99 overall) 



Top returners: Kyle Murphy (5-10, 210, sr., OG-DL); Cody 

Lampe (5-10, 210, sr., OG-DL); Nathan Komarek (6-2, 210, sr., 

OT-DL); T.K. Glissman (5-10, 180, sr., RB-DL); Zach Fief (5- 

11, 170, jr., QB-SS) 

Newcomers: Jake Stewart (5-7, 170, jr., RB-LB); Adam 

Schieferecke (6-5, 170, jr., SE-FS) 

Outlook: Bennington will count on its upperclassmen as the 

Bulldogs have good experience on the lines. Murphy was an 

all-league lineman last season. Butler said his concerns are 

a lack of overall numbers and depth. 

ELKHART WILDCATS 

Coach: Khris Buckner (second year, 7-2) 



Top returners: Brian Neuman (6-4, 280, sr., OL); Junior 

Moreno (6-2, 185, sr.); Levi Coen (6-0, 185, sr.); Oliver Barco 

(5-9, 160, sr.); Nick Lewis (6-2, 185, jr., RB); Alex Gomez (5- 

11, 180, so., QB) 

Outlook: Elkhart, which as recently as 2008 snapped a 42game 

losing streak, looks to keep building its program after 

just missing the playoffs last season. The Wildcats return 

five starters on both sides of the ball. Buckner said the team 

will have a strong senior class and a solid backfield. 

ELL-SALINE CARDINALS 

Coach: Terry King (13th year) 



Top returners: Keenan Toll (6-1, 185, sr., OL); Mason Unruh 

(6-0, 240, sr., OL); Cain Fouard (5-11, 285, sr., OL-DL); Cody 

Johnson (5-11, 170, sr., DE); Colten Johnson (5-9, 150, sr., 

WR); Kaleb Whitehair (6-3, 185, jr., WR-DB) 

Outlook: Ell-Saline will try to replace the productivity of QB 

Tate Omli, who was injured duirng last season but still led 

ASHLAND BLUE JAYS 

Coach: Jesse Stebens (second year, 10-1) 

League: SPIAA 


Top returners: Gerald Callahan (6-1, 243, sr., C-DL); Kolton 

Mead (5-10, 220, sr., OG-DL); Jay Luerman (6-2, 160, sr., 

OE-S); Austin Stebens (6-1, 155, sr., QB); Giles Fox (6-1, 

196, sr., FB-LB); Chance Stebens (5-10, 160, sr., TB-LB); 

Carl Clawson (5-10, 212, sr., DE) 

Outlook: Ashland reached the state semifinals last season 

and it has the talent and experience to take the next step 

this year. Six senior starters are back, including Fox, who 

was The News’ defensive player of the year after he 

recorded 159 tackles. Chance Stebens had nine sacks. 

Offensively, Austin Stebens threw for more than 1,200 

yards and Luerman had 21 catches and nine touchdowns. 

ATTICA BULLDOGS 

Coach: Lance Vandeveer (14th year) 

League: Heart of the Plains 


Top returners: Derik Prescott (5-5, 175, sr.); John Orr (5-9, 

155, sr.); Jacob Westerman (5-9, 122, jr.); Tyler Nemechek 

(5-8, 215, jr.); Jack Deviney (5-7, 154, so.); Matt Woods (5-9, 

148, so.); Nathan Orr (5-2, 105, so.); Dylan Prescott (5-4, 141, 

so.); Justin Newberry (5-6, 105, so.) 

Outlook: After graduating four players who earned allleague 

honors last season, Attica will be rebuilding in 2011. 

For the most part, Attica will be young and undersized. The 

Bulldogs allowed at least 40 points in all eight losses a year 

ago. 

BUCKLIN RED ACES 

Coach: Scott Tilley (first year) 

League: SPIAA 

2010 record: 0-9 (last in district) 

Top returners: Isaac Vasquez (6-0, 180, sr., OE-DE); Brian 

Scacat (5-11, 175, jr., OE-DE); Brett Halling (5-9, 165, jr., 

RB-LB; Blake Demoret (5-8, 155, jr., QB-S) 

Top newcomers: Brock Demoret (6-2, 260, sr., OG); 

Anthony Ledesma (5-11, 180, jr., RB); Jacob Irvin (6-0, 260, 

fr., G); Colten Downey (6-0, 200, fr., C) 

Outlook: Bucklin remains in rebuilding mode as the Aces 

look to improve with a young team. One thing Tilley likes 

is that the Aces have better numbers out this season. 

BURRTON CHARGERS 

Coach: Tyler Hoopes (first year) 

the Cardinals to the playoffs. Ell-Saline will be able to run 

behind an experienced line, while they also will try to get the 

ball in the hands of Whitehair at receiver. The Cardinals 

return four starters on the defensive side. 

ELLINWOOD EAGLES 

Coach: Dustin Beam (first year) 

League: MCAA 


Top returners: Marcus Brown (5-9, 180, sr., RB-LB); 

Cameron Williams (6-4, 180, sr., TE-DE); Ian Goering (6-2, 

225, sr., OT-DT); Garrett Hayes (5-11, 230, sr., OG-LB); 

Patrick Ringering (6-1, 175, jr., RB-SS) 

Newcomers: Vaughn Jenkins (6-0, 225, sr., OG-DT); Cody 

Isern (6-0, 170, jr., QB-CB); Colton Churchill (5-11, 180, so., 

RB-LB) 

Outlook: Ellinwood returns five starters on both sides of the 

ball. Beam said the Eagles won’t have much depth, but he 

likes the summer the players had in the weight room. He 

believes that pay dividends this season. Ellinwood lost its 

last five games last season, allowing an average of 48.6 

points per game. 

LACROSSE LEOPARDS 

Coach: Jon Webster (third year, 17-4) 

League: Central Prairie 


Top returners: Tayler Stull (6-2, 171, sr., QB-SS); Austin Webs 

(6-1, 158, sr., WR-CB); Tanner Yohe (6-0, 205, sr., TE-LB); 

Dylan Engel (6-0, 171, sr., OG-DE); Kyle Sramek (6-0, 243, sr., 

C-DT); Kip Keeley (6-3, 195, jr., RB-LB); Matt Wagner (6-1, 

235, jr., OT-DT); Trey Renz (6-1, 202, jr., OG-DE) 

Top newcomers: Levi Morss (6-0, 185, jr., RB-LB); William 

Storie (5-8, 145, jr., WR-FS); Nate Ruff (5-8, 232, jr., OT); 

Clayton Basgall (6-0, 159, jr., CB) 

Outlook: LaCrosse returns good experience – seven starters 

on both sides of the ball – and have a nice mix of talented 

young players. Stull accounted for 30 touchdowns last year, 

rushed for 842 yards and passed for 949. Keeley added 567 



Top returners: Brady Fernandez (sr., OL-DL); Jaxson 

Pohlman (sr., QB-DB); Andre Byrd (sr., OL-DL); Austin 

Baldridge (sr., RB-LB); Taylor King (sr., OE-DE) 

Top newcomers: Ruben Flores; Caleb Hurst 

Outlook: Burrton has good experience at the top as its five 

returning seniors have played all four years. Hoopes said 

roster numbers are up, so he hopes that carries over to success 

on the field. The Chargers want to improve defensively 

as it allowed 49 points a game last season. 

CHASE KATS 

Coach: John Wellman (first year) 

League: Northern Plains 


Top returners: Zack Oberle (175, sr., QB-LB); Lucas 

Ingham (200, sr., FB-DL); Christian Miller (210, sr., OG- 

DE); Cole Brady (170, jr., RB-LB); Eric Root (258, jr., OG- 

NG) 

Outlook: Chase returns five starters on both sides of the ball 

from a team that break through and made the playoffs for 

the first time since 1986. Chase’s only losses last year were 

to state powers Otis-Bison and Ashland. A good group of seniors 

return to lead this season, but the Kats will be very 

short on depth. 

CUNNINGHAM WILDCATS 

Coach: Lance McGuire (sixth year, 20-25) 



Top returners: Hunter Hope (150, sr., RB-LB); Dustin 

Hageman (285, jr., OL-DL); Jordan Schaller (180, jr., RB- 

LB); Steele Ward (150, jr., (OL-LB); Nick Huhman (160, jr., 

QB-DB); Conor Hamilton (160, jr., RB-LB); Zach 

Chambers (180, jr., OE-DL) 

Outlook: Cunningham graduated several seniors, but the 

Wildcats do return four starters on both sides of the ball. 

Schaller and Chambers were all-league players last season 

– Schaller scored 10 touchdowns. Cunningham won four of 

its last five games last season. Hope is the lone seniors, but 

the Wildcats have nine juniors on their roster. 

DIGHTON HORNETS 

Coach: Ken Simon (first year) 

League: Western Kansas Liberty 


Top returners: Guy Fullmer (5-10, 170, sr., RB-LB); Devon 

CLASS 2-1A CAPSULES 

rushing yards. Defensively, Webs and Stull combined for 12 

interceptions in 2010. 

LEOTI INDIANS 

Coach: Gary Campas (third year, 8-19) 



Top returners: Chris Kreutzer (5-11, 180, sr., RB-DB); Mikel 

Roeltz (6-1, 165, sr., OL-DE); Gabe Martinez (5-10, 168, sr., 

RB-DB); Bryer Porter (5-7, 145, sr., DB); Denton Tankersley 

(5-6, 150, sr., NG); Bryce Nickelson (5-9, 165, jr., RB-DB); 

Neil Fletcher (6-2, 175, jr., OL-DE); Brock Shepard (6-1, 221, 

so., OL-DL); Jantz Budde (5-11, 155, so., QB-DB); Colton 

Northup (5-8, 160, so. LB); Brice Mason (6-0, 175, so., LB) 

Outlook: Leoti went through some growing pains at the end 

of last season, having to play a lot of underclassmen. That 

means the Indians bring back a pretty experienced team 

with seven offensive and nine defensive starters back. They 

do return just 11 lettermen, so they won’t have much depth. 

MEADE BUFFALOES 

Coach: Scott Moshier (sixth year, 49-10, 100-96 overall) 



Top returners: Adrian Pfanenstiel (5-10, 225, sr., RB-DB); 

Weston Kroth (6-0, 260, sr., OL-DL); Manny Castillo (6-0, 240, 

sr., OL-DL); Dylan Bolton (6-0, 185, sr., C-NG); Dylan Reimer 

(5-11, 185, sr., RB-LB); Randy Friesen (6-9, 225, jr., TE-DL); 

Trevin Wiens (6-0, 180, jr., RB-DB); Chris Hardaway (5-9, 170, 

jr., TB-DB); Morgan Olvera (5-9, 175, so., FB-LB) 

Top newcomers: Nick Borth (5-11, 170, sr., RB-DB); Kelby 

Ross (6-0, 200, sr., TE-DL); Cooper Clawson (5-10, 235, jr., OL- 

DL); Ethan Reichmann (5-11, 235, jr., OL-DL); Morgan 

Davis (6-3, 220, so., TE-LB) 

Outlook: Meade returns very good experience from a team 

that won the 2-1A state title and is on a 12-game win streak. 

Pfanenstiel, Kroth and Castillo were all-state linemen last 

year, a comforting thought considering the Buffaloes will have 

new starters in the backfield. Eight starters are back on a 

defense that allowed 8.8 points a game during its win streak. 

EIGHT-MAN II CAPSULES 

Shapland (6-0, 215, sr., OL-DL); Ryan Kuhlman (6-2, 160, jr., 

QB-DB); Dirk Torson (6-2, 175, jr., DE); Ben Speer (6-3, 210, 

so., TE) 

Top newcomer: Pruitt Loomis. 

Outlook: Dighton returns some good skill players, led by 

Fullmer who rushed for 1,668 yards last season. Kuhlman 

threw for 638 yards for an offense that averaged 44.9 points 

per game. Fullmer also had 95 tackles on defense. Simon, 

an assistant coach the past three seasons, takes over for 

Faron Kraft, now the coach at Medicine Lodge. 

FOWLER GOLDBUGS 

Coach: Scott Brown (first year) 

League: SPIAA 

2010 record: 7-3 

Top returners: No players listed 

Outlook: Last season, Fowler reached the playoffs for the 

first time since 2005 and now they carry that momentum 

with a new coach. Brown said the Goldbugs have some 

good athletes returning, but they must replace the production 

of 1,400-yard rusher Cosme Estrada, who graduated. 

INGALLS BULLDOGS 

Coach: Ted Brown (first year) 

League: SPIAA 

2010 record: 4-5 

Top returners: Landon Vanderee (6-0, 175, sr., QB-LB); 

Chance David (6-3, 175, sr., RB-LB); Jacey Mahin (5-11, 165, 

sr., TE-DE); Jordan Irsik (6-0, 190, jr., RB-LB); Nate Hale 

(6-2, 230, jr., OL-DL) 

Top newcomers: Mike Barnet (6-0, 260, sr., OG-DT); Cale 

Hoskinson (6-2, 255, fr., C); Edgar Flores (6-0, fr.); Zeke 

Cox (5-11, 160, fr., WR) 

Outlook: Team speed had been a weakness for Ingalls, but 

Brown said it improved with offseason training. The 

Bulldogs, who return five starters on both sides of the ball, 

will have good size. 

MOSCOW WILDCATS 

Coach: Travis Johnson (first year) 

League: Santa Fe Trail 


Top returners: Breck Roop (5-10, 175, sr., QB-DB); Osvaldo 

Granillo (6-0, 180, sr., WR-DB); Jonathon Manriquez (6-0, 

195, sr., RB-LB); Lane Miller (6-1, 165, jr., OE-DB); Jaron 

Thompson (6-0, 210, jr., C-DL) 

Outlook: With six starters back on both sides of the ball, 

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCATS 

Coach: Courtney Moddelmog (third year, 7-14) 



Top returners: Todd Beyer (5-11, 190, sr., OL-DL); Ethan 

Blouin (5-6, 130, sr., SE-DB); Alex Otte (5-10, 155, sr., RB- 

DB); Trey Unrau (5-11, 180, sr., RB-DB); Dusty Vogel (5-10, 

185, sr., OL-LB); Cooper Wedel (5-11, 175, sr., QB-LB); Jon 

Jackson (6-0, 245, sr., OL-DL); Daniel Ratzlaff (5-10, 175, jr., 

RB-LB); Matt Castor (5-8, 170, so., RB-LB) 

Top newcomers: Spencer Fast (5-9, 180, sr., OL-LB); Shelby 

Sparks (5-8, 155, sr., RB-DB); Dale Asher (5-11, 160, so., RB- 

DB); Hunter Enyart (6-3, 180, so., SE-DB); Garrett Higgins 

(6-1, 170, so., TE-LB); Briar Thiessen (5-9, 180, so., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Moundridge returns good experience in its offensive 

backfield, but Moddelmog knows it starts the season 

inexperienced across the line with two starters back. 

Moundridge also has good experience at linebacker and in 

the secondary. Depth will be an issue as the Wildcats have 

just two juniors on their roster. 

SATANTA INDIANS 

Coach: Dirk Canon (second year, 1-8) 


2010 record: 1-8 

Top returners: Alan Caro (sr., TE-DB); Eli Stalker (sr., OL- 

DL); Camron Creeden (sr., WR-DB); Mathew Leggett (jr. 

U); Garrett Miller (so., QB-DB) 

Outlook: Canon said the Indians are improved on both sides 

of the ball, but they will be undersized. Caro was the team’s 

leading receiver last season. 

STANTON COUNTY TROJANS 

Coach: Bret Kendrick (19th year, 151-85 overall) 



Top returners: Fabian Sierra (5-10, 160, sr., RB-DB); Tarquin 

Trujillo (6-0, 215, sr., OL-DL); Seth Holliday (5-8, 145, sr., WR- 

Moscow returns the core of last year’s team. Moscow has 

good skill players back as Roop threw for 965 yards, rushed 

for 354 and accounted for 23 touchdowns, while Granillo, 

who won the Class 1A 100 and 200 at state track in May, had 

640 rushing yards. Roop also had seven interceptions 

defensively. Johnson is a former Moscow assistant coach. 

NORWICH EAGLES 

Coach: Lucas Schroeder (first year) 


2010 record: 2-7 

Top returners: Jake VanGieson (6-1, 200, sr., QB-LB); Will 

Vulgamore (5-9, 165, sr., OL-LB); Harrison Magruder (6-2, 

200, sr., WR-DL); Brandon DePriest (6-0, 175, jr., WR-FS) 

Outlook: Norwich returns four starters on both sides of the 

ball as Schroeder takes over as coach. While Schroeder feels 

the team has good leadership and the Eagles have some 

experience returning, but lack an experienced quarterback 

and offensive line. A lot of underclassmen will be on the field 

with minimal varsity experience. 

OTIS-BISON COUGARS 

Coach: Travis Starr (seventh year, 32-28) 



Top returners: Brandon Pechanec (sr., TE); Dominic 

Manley (sr., OG-DE); Trevor Keller (sr., QB); Patrick 

Piper (RB-LB, sr.); Matt Crotinger (sr., WR-S); Zachary 

Stejskal (sr., LB); Dylan Wissman (jr., RB-S) 

Outlook: Otis-Bison returns five offensive and four defensive 

starters from a team that reached the Eight-Man II title 

game. Otis-Bison graduated some good linemen, but return 

solid skill position players. Keller completed 65 percent of his 

passes and 19 touchdowns last season, while Piper rushed for 

876 yards and Wissman for 729. Piper also was second on the 

team in tackles. 

STAFFORD TROJANS 

Coach: Jeff Lowther (second year, 4-4) 



Top returners: Gus Stueve (5-11, 175, sr., RB-LB); Chris 

Lowe (5-4, 140, sr., RB-LB); Eric Shelton (6-0, 162, jr., QB- 

DE); Andy Flores (5-7, 145, jr., TE-DB); Taylor Newell (5- 

10, 239, jr., OL-DL); Beau Weber (5-7, 224, so., OL-DL); 

Tristin Paulsen (5-8, 212, so., RB-LB); Kris Lewis (5-9, 147, 

so, TE-DE); Chad Hildebrand (5-8, 124, so., TE-DB) 

Top newcomers: James Buchanan (5-11, 215, jr., OL-DL); 

DB); Kyle Rodriguez (6-0, 210, jr., OL-LB); Quinn Kendrick 

(5-10, 165, jr., QB-DB); Marques Logan (6-1, 195, jr., 6-1, 195); 

Colby Overturf (6-0, 195, jr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Stanton County had a great turnaround last season, 

going from four wins in 2009 to 10. It returns seven starters 

on both sides of the ball. The offense is led by Kendrick and 

Logan, who rushed for 14 TDs last saeson. Defensively, 

Sierra intercepted 12 passes. 

SUBLETTE LARKS 

Coach: Steve Simpson (eighth year, 34-27) 



Top returners: Cole Sjeklocha (6-0, 190, sr., QB); Omar 

Parra (5-10, 210, sr., OL-DL); Garre Tatman (5-10, 220, sr., 

OL-DL); Seth Rigel (6-1, 210, sr., TE-LB); Avigael Gonzalez 

(5-9, 180, jr., FB-LB); Eric Miller (6-0, 160, jr., DB); Laramie 

Lumley (6-1, 205, jr.); Poncho Teichrobe (6-1, 205, so., TE- 

DE); Octavio Arredonde (5-10, 175, so., DB) 

Outlook: The Larks struggled offensively last season, 

scoring 18 or fewer points seven times. But they will be a 

more experienced squad this season with seven starters 

back, including five on the line. Sublette, which also 

returns six defensive starters, should have pretty good 

speed. 

SYRACUSE BULLDOGS 

Coach: Jared Eddy (second year, 0-9) 



Top returners: Luis Zapata (5-8, 120, sr., WR-DB); Leonel 

Romero (6-0, 180, jr., RB-LB); Kyle Dupree (6-2, 170, jr., WR- 

LB); Kalob Newton (5-11, 180, jr., WR-DB); Tyler Timm (5-7, 

210, jr., OL-DL); Austin Wilson (6-3, 230, jr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Syracuse looks to get some positive momentum 

going after scoring a total of 32 points last season. The 

Bulldogs return five offensive and eight defensive starters. 

Eddy knows his team must do a better job at the line of 

scrimmage. 

Austin Ceniti (6-0, 160, fr., RB-DB); Ethan Johnson (5-7, 152, 

fr. RB-LB); Marcus Foos (5-5, 158, fr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Stafford is making strides as it doubled its win 

total from 2009 and returns four offensive and six defensive 

starters. The Trojans, who graduated some good seniors, 

will play a mix of underclassmen and upperclassmen this 

season. 

TRIBUNE JACKRABBITS 

Coach: Greg Brown (12th year, 82-38) 

League: Western Kansas Liberty 


Top returners: Isaiah Stone (5-7, 136, jr., RB-DE); AJ 

Govert (jr., OE-DB) 

Outlook: A young Tribune team faces a rebuilding season 

after graduating a talented senior class that included quarterback 

Jonathan Miller and end Stephen Houston. And 

hurting Tribune’s cause is that its roster number is down as 

well. 

VICTORIA KNIGHTS 

Coach: Doug Oberle (sixth year, 50-9) 



Top returners: Zach VonLintel (214, sr., OL-DL); Kelton 

Unrein (196, sr., OL); Austin McAlonan (175, sr., TE-LB); 

Corey Dinkel (159, sr., QB-DB); Dalton Dreiling (168, jr., 

RB-LB); Clayton Roth (131, so., RB-DB) 

Outlook: Perennial state power Victoria lost in the first 

round of last year’s playoffs after Kameron Dinkel, the 

team’s top rusher and tackler, suffered a season-ending 

injury late in the regular season. With four starters back on 

both sides of the ball, Victoria looks to improve this season. 

WILSON DRAGONS 

Coach: Tony Brokes (15th year, 54-79) 

League: Northern Plains 


Top returners: Evan Just (5-10, 210, sr., G); Jake Stoppel (6- 

5, 190, sr., E); Alex Borrell (5-9, 180, jr., C); Cole Zelenka 

(5-9, 140, jr., E); Jorden Bess (5-11, 160, jr., QB) 

Top newcomers: Braydon Browning (6-0, 175, jr.); Marcus 

Denham (5-11, 175, so.) 

Outlook: Brokes said he returns a few seasoned players 

with a bunch of youth and limited experience. Wilson has 

three starters returning, including Stoppel who had 29 

catches for 587 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. 

Wilson, however, did graduate last year’s starting quarterback.





CANTON-GALVA EAGLES 

Coach: Darrin Fisher (second year, 1-8) 



Top returners: Nick Vogts (5-7, 150, sr. QB); Kolby 

Moddelmog (5-10, 200, sr., C-LB); Cody Peary (5-11, 205, sr., 

LB); Tyler Miller (6-0, 170, sr., CB); Devan Stos (6-1, 165, sr., 

RB); A.J. Medley (5-10, 200, so., FB) 

Outlook: Fisher will count on a solid senior class to improve 

on last season. The Eagles have a lot of players with varsity 

experience and should be a strong rushing team led by 

Vogts, who rushed for 964 yards last year. Overall, the 

Eagles are young and need underclassmen to fill spots. 

CENTRAL PLAINS OILERS 

Coach: Chris Steiner (second year, 1-8) 


2010 record: Claflin was 1-8; Quivira Heights was 7-3 

Top returners: Patrick Hubbard (6-3, 190, sr., TE-DE); 

Benn Kirmer (5-9, 185, sr., RB-LB); Kevin Klug (5-11, 170, 

sr., QB-DB); Dylan Prosser (5-10, 212, sr., RB-LB); Will 

Radenberg (6-0, 210, sr., C-DE); Nick Schepmann (6-3, 210, 

sr. RB-DE); Tim Stueder (5-9, 175, sr., WR-LB); Skylar 

Turner (5-8, 162, sr., LB); Joe Barton (6-3, 190, jr., TE- 

DL); Bryce Steiner (5-8, 155, jr., DB); Kyler 

Schlochtermeier (5-10, 238, jr., G); Tanner Woolf (6-2, 200, 

jr., C-DL); Evan Liebl (6-0, 198, so., DE); Colton Zink (5- 

8, 173, so., FB-LB) 

Outlook: This is the year for the merger of Claflin and 

Quivira Heights, two former rivals who now are teammates. 

Claflin had just 18 players on its roster last season, so depth 

will be much better as 13 players return with starting experience. 

Schepmann had 12 sacks last season. Steiner is a 

Claflin graduate. 

HAVEN WILDCATS 

Coach: Mike Self (first year) 



Top returners: Dylan Miller (sr., QB); Caden Ford (sr., T); 

T.J. Jacques (sr., LB); Trae Regier (jr., RB); Zach 

Hendrickson (jr., RB); Austin Eikleberty (jr., C) 

Top newcomers: Eric Shive (jr., RB-QB); Dalton Arbuckle 

(jr., WR); Cody Crabtree (jr., WR); Cole Long (jr., RB); 

Taylor Carlson (jr., OT); Tyler Skomal (jr., WR); Justin 

Weve (jr., DT); Isaac Ensz (jr., DE); Cyris Raigoza (jr., 

DE); Austin Fritzemeier (so., RB) 

Outlook: Self takes over a program still looking to gain its 

footing. He will count on his upperclassmen, especially a 

strong junior class. The Wildcats should have good quickness, 

but depth is a weakness. Haven also graduated fouryear 

starter Ridge Foster, who threw for more than 1,000 

yards last season. 

HESSTON SWATHERS 

Coach: Marc Marinelli (second year, 8-3) 



Top returners: Kyle Perry (sr., RB-S); Eyan Roth (sr., WR- 

S); Cody Lowery (sr., LB); Trevor Pauls (sr., QB); Lorenzo 

Jenkins (sr., DB); Christian Krehbiel (sr., OL); John Birch 

(jr., DL); Marcos Duran (jr., RB-LB); Bryan Medina (jr., 

OL-DL) 

Top newcomers: Adam Ferguson (sr., WR-DB); Chance 

Gehrer (jr., TE-DE); Ryan Lorimor (jr., TE-DE); Ryan 

Schadler (so., RB-DB); Wyatt McKinney (so., LB) 

Outlook: With 15 starters back from a year ago, Marinelli 

feels his team’s depth is much better than his first year. 

Overall numbers are up and seven players who earned allleague 

honors are back. Perry accounted for 1,400 offensive 

yards last season, while Pauls threw for 1,500. Team speed 

will be a plus on defense. 

HOLCOMB LONGHORNS 

Coach: Jerry Johnson (sixth year, 31-18) 



Top returners: Dylan Hawkins (6-1, 180, sr., OL-DT); Jose 

Munoz (5-7, 150, sr., RB-LB); Shane Bennett (6-4, 205, jr., OL- 

DE); Salvador Aldana (5-9, 190, jr., OL-DT); Andrew Homer 

(6-0, 200, jr., TE-LB); Tyler LaSalle (5-11, 150, jr., QB-CB); 

Max Ramsey (6-2, 215, jr., OT); Jeremy Cox (5-10, 175, jr., 

WR); Heath Tucker (6-1, 155, so., WR-CB); Brandon 

DuCharme (5-9, 175, LB) 

Outlook: Holcomb tries to get back to the playoffs as it 

returns six offensive and seven defensive starters. LaSalle 

will trigger the offense once again, while the Longhorns also 

bring back good experience on the lines. Munoz is the team’s 

top returning rusher. Lack of depth is a concern. 

DEERFIELD SPARTANS 

Coach: Shane Burns (first year) 

League: Santa Fe Trail 

2010 record: 4-5 

Top returners: Robert Dinkel (6-0, 195, sr., RB); Alex 

Calderon (6-0, 240, sr., OL); Roberto Martinez (5-11, 175, sr., 

QB-FS); Enich Guerrero (5-10, 175, sr., OL-DL); Eric Rincon 

(5-9, 165, jr., RB-LB); Alex Mata (6-1, 165, so., C) 

Outlook: Burns takes over a program that returns five offensive 

and four defensive starters. He likes the team’s leadership 

and work ethic. The Spartans will start the year with a 

lot of underclassmen thrown into the lineup. 

FAIRFIELD FALCONS 

Coach: Chuck Bisbee (third year, 6-12, 19-21 overall) 



Top returners: Hunter Basye (sr., TE-DE); P.J. Lewis (sr., 

TE-LB); John Dienst (sr., TB-NG); Jay Keeling (sr., FB-CB); 

D.J. Serviss (jr., OG-DE); Brennyn Pankratz (jr., C-DE); 

Steven Knoche (jr., TB-CB); Trace Basye (jr., TE-CB); 

Aaron Ewy (jr., OG-FB); Wayne Schoenecker (so., FB-LB); 

Eric Schoenecker (so., QB-S); Ryan Ewy (so., QB-S); Jared 

McKinney (so., OG-NG) 

Top newcomers: Jack McLaurine (jr., OG-NG); John Dealy 

(so., TE-DE); Cannon Burns (fr., TB-CB) 

Outlook: A young Fairfield team lost its last seven games last 

season, but those growing pains could pay off this season. It 

has eight starters back on both sides of the ball and, as important, 

its roster number has doubled to 28. Serviss, Knoche and 

Hunter Basye were all-league players a year ago. 

GOESSEL BLUEBIRDS 

Coach: Tyler Schroeder (first year) 

League: Wheat State 

HUGOTON EAGLES 

Coach: Clint Merritt (sixth year, 23-25, 35-41 overall) 



Top returners: Cody Frederick (5-10, 170, sr., QB-FS); Dillon 

Hawk (6-1, 200, sr., OT-LB); Colten Lissolo (6-3, 225, sr., C- 

DE); Ty Haller (6-2, 190, sr., TE-DE); Miguel Degollado (5- 

10, 180, sr., RB-LB); Dillon Taylor (5-10, 195, sr., FB-LB); 

Russell Guerrero (5-10, 160, sr., LB); Isidro Mora (5-6, 150, 

sr., WR-CB); Alfredo Licon (6-1, 275, jr., OG); Ross Davis (6- 

0, 175, so., LB) 

Top newcomers: Raul Pena (6-0, 185, sr., WR); Michael 

McCormack (jr., OT-DT); Cordell Barnes (5-10, 175, so., LB) 

Outlook: After losing a big senior class that led Hugoton to a 

10-win season in 2009, the Eagles slipped last year. This 

year’s seniors want to put the Eagles back on the winning 

track behind a solid line that wants to control the trenches. 

Frederick is back at quarterback. 

LARNED INDIANS 

Coach: Al Troyer (fourth year) 

League: MCAA 


Top returners: Ashton Glover (6-0, 243, sr., OL-DL); Chad 

Wallace (5-10, 185, sr., RB-LB); Brendon Lewis (5-10, 140, sr., 

WR-DB); Brady Keith (5-6, 140, jr., QB-DB); Jacob 

Hardiman (6-1, 165, jr., WR-DB); Kaiden Reed (5-10, 227, so., 

OL-DL); Easton Palmer (5-8, 145, so., QB-DB) 

Other seniors: Josh Larsen (5-7, 237, sr., OL-DL); Raul 

Davila (6-0, 205, sr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: Larned played a lot of underclassmen last season, so 

it will still be a young team this season. Larned has five seniors 

and nine juniors on its roster. Troyer said the team will have 

good team speed. Larned also added players from Pawnee 

Heights this fall as the Tigers gave up their football program. 

MAIZE SOUTH MAVERICKS 

Coach: Brent Pfeifer (third year, 6-12) 



Top returners: Cody Weston (6-4, 270, sr., OL-DL); Drake 

Dukes (6-0, 175, sr., QB); Joe Hobert (6-1, 255, sr., OL-DL); 

Taner Thurman (6-1, 175, sr., TE-LB); Zach Tilson (6-0, 250, 

sr., OL-DL); Wes Phillips (5-9, 155, jr., WR-DB); Nevada 

Harlan (5-10, 200, jr., OL-LB); Jake Murdock (5-9, 190, jr., FB- 

LB); Jesse Rogers (5-6, 155, jr., RB-DB) 

Outlook: Maize South continues to grow its program in its 

third year as a school. Pfeifer said the Mavericks have a 

strong senior class to lead the way. Weston is being recruited 

by numerous schools. The Mavericks should be strong on 

both lines, and Dukes is a dual-threat behind center. 

MULVANE WILDCATS 

Coach: Dave Fennewald (20th year, 96-85, 123-99 overall) 

EIGHT-MAN I CAPSULES 

2010 record: 3-6 

Top returners: Joe Campbell (5-10, 185, sr., OL-DL); Drake 

Sterk (6-0, 170, sr., OL-LB); Trey Schmidt (6-0, 165, jr., QB- 

LB); Alex Schmidt (6-2, 265, jr., OL-DL); Bruce Benjamin (5- 

6, 223, jr., OL-DL); Shane Goerzen (5-1, 107, jr. RB-DB); Nic 

Buller (5-11, 155, so., OE-DB); Brian Hiebert (6-1, 195, so., OL- 

DL); Mark Schmidt (5-6, 145, so., FB-LB) 

Top newcomers: Peter Voth (5-11, 195, sr., OL-DL); Zach 

Showalter (5-7, 160, so., OE-LB) 

Outlook: Schroeder said Goessel, which returns five offensive 

and four defensive starters, should be pretty good on the 

line this season. Goessel will look to fill the offensive production 

of John Berkholz, who scored 202 points as a senior last season. 

Goessel put up points last season, but it must be better 

defensively – it allowed an average of 61.8 points last season. 

HODGEMAN COUNTY LONGHORNS 

Coach: Matt Housman (second year, 9-2, 15-5 overall) 

League: SPIAA 


Top returners: Austin Pfannenstiel (165, jr., QB); Jared 

Borger (160, jr., RB); Dakota Coats (135, jr., RB); Tanner 

Cure (160, jr., E); Blade Torline (155, jr., S); A.J. Moore (215, 

jr., G); Zach Blurton (170, jr., E) 

Outlook: Hodgeman County counts on its junior class to continue 

its winning ways. The Longhorns return five offensive 

and six defensive starters, including Pfannenstiel at quarterback. 

But the Longhorns graduated The News’ Eight-Man 

offensive player of the year in Evan Kreger, who rushed 

2,529 yards in 2010. 

KINSLEY COYOTES 

Coach: Jeff Chambers (second year, 5-4) 



CLASS 4A CAPSULES (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18) 



Top returners: Michael Bird (5-9, 180, sr., RB); Todd Parton 

(5-8, 165, sr., RB); Austin Duncan (6-2, 180, sr., WR); Payton 

Doramus (6-3, 195, sr., LB); Oliver Hughes (5-7, 140, sr., CB); 

Tanner Thrash (5-10, 225, sr., DE); Jimmy Beyer (6-0, 250, sr., 

OT); Trevor Shelton (5-9, 175, sr., LB); Ty Redington (6-2, 

155, jr., QB); Cornelius Ukene (5-9, 235, jr., NG) 

Top newcomers: Zac Haynes (5-11, 180, jr., LB); Kolby 

Fennewald (6-1, 170, jr., FS); Nick Christian (5-9, 210, jr., DE) 

Outlook: Mulvane returns three offensive and four defensive 

starters. Mulvane graduated standout QB Gus Strunk, 

who passed from nearly 2,000 yards in 2010, but return two 

good backs in Bird and Parton. They will run behind a rebuilt 

line. Fennewald likes his junior class and he plans to start 

seven juniors on defense. 

NICKERSON PANTHERS 

Coach: Max Heinlein (sixth year, 15-34) 



Top returners: Quinton Crandall (5-9, 160, sr., QB-CB); 

Hunter Thiessen (5-11, 190, sr., C-LB); Lupe Ramirez (5-8, 

235, sr., OL-DT); Taylor Goldsberry (6-2, 240, sr., OL-DE); 

Justin Engelland (5-11, 155, sr., CB); Isaac Warman (5-7, 165, 

jr., FB-CB); Cody Thomas (6-0, 187, jr., WR); Austin 

Goldsberry (6-1, 280, jr., OT-DT); Tyler Owen (5-11, 180, jr., 

WR); Sean Rodriguez (5-11, 180, jr., RB-S); Bailey Zulkoski 

(5-10, 180, jr., LB) 

Top newcomers: Caleb Stewart (6-0, 195, jr., NG); Ryan 

O’Toole (6-1, 170, jr., QB); Jalen Karber (5-6, 145, jr., WR- 

CB); Duncan Ensminger (5-8, 165, jr., LB); Tanner Vick (6-1, 

160, jr., LB); Tommy Shea (5-8, 145, so., RB); Nate Hiatt (6- 

1, 210, so., OL); Cade Hawver (5-11, 230, so., OL) 

Outlook: Nickerson enjoyed its best season during Heinlein’s 

tenure behind a senior class that led the way on and off the 

field. Heinlein said now it’s time for a new group of leaders 

to take those roles. Warman was the team’s leading rusher 

last year with 751 yards, while Thieseen was third on the 

team in tackles. Nine juniors likely will start on offense. 

PRATT GREENBACKS 

Coach: Forrest Mazey (first year) 



Top returners: B.J. Dean (6-0, 185, sr., QB-DB); Kasey 

Crump (6-1, 215, sr., OL-DL); Payson Maydew (6-3, 200, sr., 

WR-TE); Dylan Besser (5-11, 165, sr., WR-DB); Jordan Wels 

(6-2, 275, jr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: It will be a new look for the Greenbacks as Mazey 

takes over as coach for Jeff Fuss, who had been at Pratt for 

eight seasons. Pratt will switch to a spread offense with an 

experienced quarterback in Dean leading the way. Pratt 

returns four starters on both sides of the ball. 

Top returners: Levi Hirsh (6-0, 165, sr., WR-DB); Angel 

Gardea (5-7, 155, sr., DB); Austin Ditges (5-8, 175, sr., FB- 

LB); Hayden Petty (6-0, 265, sr., OL-DL); Eli Zwiezen (6-2, 

210, sr., DL); Greg Newsom (6-3, 250, jr., C); Nathan Frame 

(5-9, 150, jr., QB); Tyson Espinosa (5-8, 150, jr., DB) 

Outlook: Kinsley enjoyed its first winning season in 17 years 

in 2010, and with five offensive and six defensive back, the 

Coyotes look to make it two years in a row. Frame with for 

669 yards last year, while Hirsh had 393 receiving yards. 

Kinsley allowed 35.2 points per game last year. 

KIOWA COUNTY MAVERICKS 

Coach: Clint Young (sixth year, 29-23) 

League: SPIAA 


Top returners: Ross Binford (6-1, 190, sr., QB-RB); Lymon 

Morehead (6-3, 300, sr., OL-DL); Montana Ralstin (5-10, 160, 

sr., WR-DB); Jordan Wyrick (6-1, 180, sr., OL-DL) 

Outlook: One of 8-man’s most explosive offensive players, 

Binford, is back to lead the Mavericks. He rushed for 2,334 

yards, passed for 883 yards and scored 32 TDs last season. 

He’s one of four starters back on both sides of the ball. Young 

said his team’s defense must improve as it allowed more 

than 40 points six times, including its last five games. 

LITTLE RIVER REDSKINS 

Coach: Paul Dold (second year, 6-3) 

League: Wheat State 


Top returners: Cody Schafer (6-0, 185, sr., OE-DE); Matt 

Wickstrom (OG-DE, 5-10, 175, sr.,); Derek Dean (6-0, 210, sr., 

FB-LB); Chet Cordell (5-10, 170, jr., TB-S); Tanner Hodgson 

(OE-CB); Ethan Wright (QB-CB) 

Other seniors: Michael Weaver; Kody Cox 

Outlook: Little River returns six starters on both sides of the 

ball as it looks to return to the playoffs. Cordell and Dean 

ROSE HILL ROCKETS 

Coach: Greg Slade (14th year, 79-54) 



Top returners: Derrick Decker (6-5, 215, sr., QB-S); Caleb 

Braddy (6-0, 1280, sr., WR-CB); Hunter Lewis (5-10, 180, sr., 

RB-LB); Cody Carlson (5-8, 175, sr., LB); Kyle Anderson (6- 

4, 210, sr., TE-DE); Parker Whitney (6-3, 275, sr., OG-DT); 

Austin Shaffer (6-2, 210, sr., OT-DE); Cody Walther (6-3, 250, 

jr., OG-DT) 

Outlook: Rose Hill again will gauge where its at during the first 

three games as the Rockets play state powers Buhler, Wichita 

Collegiate and Andale. Rose Hill lost the first two last year, 

then beat Andale and went on a seven-game win streak. The 

Rockets lost a strong senior class, but Decker is back as starting 

QB and Carlson was Rose Hill’s leading tackler in 2010. 

RUSSELL BRONCOS 

Coach: David King (sixth year, 19-27) 

League: NCAA 


Top returners: Brennan Walter (6-2, 220, sr., OL-DL); Nash 

Karst (6-0, 170, sr., RB-DB); Chance Pitcock (5-7, 150, jr., RB- 

DB); Dylan Walker (5-8, 170, jr., FB-LB); Jesse Boomhower 

(6-2, 260, jr., OL-DL); Dalton Davis (5-7, 160, jr., OL-LB) 

Outlook: With six starters back on both sides of the ball, Russell 

looks to finish with a winning record after three straight 4-5 

years. Russell has good experience on the line, while Karst was 

a first-team all-NCAA defensive back last season. 

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS 

Coach: Chris Hattabaugh (third year, 5-13) 



Top returners: Nick Deterding (6-0, 165, sr., QB-CB); Zeb 

O’Loughlin (6-0, 215, sr., OT-DL); Greyson Pihl (6-0, 165, sr., 

RB-CB); Taylor Base (6-0, 170, sr., RB-LB); Alex Wolf (5-7, 

130, sr., DL); Tyler Base (6-0, 195, sr., DE); Mark Klaasen (6- 

4, 200, jr., OT-DE); Jake Rogers (5-10, 165, jr., WR-LB); 

Trevor Whittaker (6-2, 190, jr., LB); Curtis Carlson (5-11, 180, 

jr., RB-S); Spencer Bird (5-11, 175, so., C-LB) 

Outlook: Lots of experience returning have the Vikings optimistic 

about 2011. Deterding is back to lead a spread offense 

and he also was an all-league cornerback. Taylor Base was 

an all-league running base. The Vikings allowed more than 

40 points five times last year, but they return good experience 

on that side of the ball. 

ULYSSES TIGERS 

Coach: Jason Kenny (12th year, 91-32) 



Top returners: Josh Jarnagin (6-0, 180, sr., RB-DB); Braden 

Langston (5-11, 185, sr., QB); Eloy Torres (5-11, 200, sr., OG- 

DT); Craig Bohl (6-5, 240, sr., OT); Chase Newell (5-8, 155, sr., 

WR-DB); Armando Sandoval (6-1, 190, jr., RB-DB); Gerardo 

combined for more than 1,400 rushing yards and 28 TDs last 

season. Little River also has a large freshman class that can 

help provide depth. 

MACKSVILLE MUSTANGS 

Coach: Jeff Kuckelman (second year, 7-3) 


Record: 7-3 (4-1 district) 

Top returners: Seth Filbert (5-11, 175, sr., QB-DB); Adam 

Oak (6-0, 170, sr., RB-DB); Javy Ortiz (5-11, 175, sr., G); 

Jeremy Huffman (5-10, 230, sr., NG); Colten Ary (6-3, 215, sr., 

DE); Clayton Wood (5-11, 210, jr., C) 

Top newcomers: Jorge Baray (5-10, 155, sr., RB-LB); Taylor 

Tranbarger (6-1, 165, sr., OE-DB); Adolfo Ibarra (6-1, 175, jr., 

OE-LB); Tanner Tranbarger (5-10, 150, so., SE-DB) 

Outlook: Kuckelman is looking for a balanced offense and is 

counting on Filbert and Oak to lead the way. Filbert accounted 

for nearly 2,000 yards last year. Defensively, the Mustangs 

should be strong in the secondary, but need to find linebackers. 

Baray returns after being injured last season. 

MINNEOLA WILDCATS 

Coach: Seth Mills (first year) 

League: SPIAA 


Top returners: Matt Edwards (sr., RB); Brandy Schmute 

(jr., QB); Trale Yost (jr., WR); Gary Stewart (jr., OL-DL); 

Lawson Wideman (jr., OL-DL); Erik Esplund (jr,, OL-DL) 

Outlook: After losing a solid senior class during an unbeaten 

2009 season, Minneola struggled last season. Minneola had only 

eight upperclassmen last season, so it will be more experienced 

with six starters back on both sides of the ball. Mills was offensive 

coordinator in Balko, Okla., the past two seasons. 

More Eight-Man I on 28 

Porras (6-3, 225, DT) 

Top newcomers: Javier Velasquez (5-8, 210, sr., LB); Garret Kissell 

(6-6, 200, sr., TE-DE); Edwin Porras (6-0, 200, sr., DE); Razzy 

Morales (5-11, 175, sr., RB-LB); Tate Annis (6-3, 170, jr., SE-DB); 

Kiano Sosa (6-0, 220, jr., OG-DT); Otto Orosco (5-11, 225, so., DT) 

Outlook: Ulysses returns half its starters as the Tigers rebounded 

from a subpar 2009. They will be very good at the skill spots 

as Jarnagin ran for 1,448 yards and 24 TDs and Langston passed 

for 1,132 yards and 17 TDs last year. Jarnigan also is part of an 

experienced secondary. Team speed will be a plus for the Tigers, 

although Kenny would like to develop more depth up front. 

WELLINGTON CRUSADERS 

Coach: Dylan Schmidt (first year) 



Top returners: Taylan Ybarra (6-3, 225, sr., RB-LB); Connor 

Vaughn (6-4, 220, sr., OL-DL); Bryar Moore (6-2, 200, sr., TE- 

LB); Ryan Jenkins (6-4, 185, sr., QB-DB); Cody Martin (5-10, 

190, sr., RB-LB); Dillon Cypert (6-0, 180, sr., TE-LB) 

Outlook: A changing of the guard for Wellington as Schmidt 

takes over for Hibbs, who won 116 games in his 14-year run 

at Wellington. Wellington, which returns six starters on both 

sides of the ball, will be strong at the skill positions as Ybarra 

rushed for 1,411 yards and Jenkins passed for 991 last year. 

Moore made 89 tackles on defense. Schmidt said a key is 

developing young players. 

WICHITA TRINITY KNIGHTS 

Coach: Tyler Ryan (second year, 5-4) 



Top returners: Scott Kempin (6-0, 180, sr., QB-RB); Wilson 

Alexander (6-3, 180, sr., QB-TE); Matthew Sondergard (5-9, 170, 

sr., RB); Christian Davis (5-9, 205, sr., C-DT); Adam Kriwiel (5- 

11, 190, sr., OL-LB); D.J. Green (5-9, 180, jr., RB); Jamen Mork 

(5-9, 260, jr., OL-DL); Grant Meyerhoff (6-3, 235, jr., OL-DE) 

Outlook: Trinity, who won its first four games last season, 

moves forward after graduating its top offensive weapon in 

Morgan Burns, who had 1,338 yards and 16 TDs last season. 

Austin Kessinger, who rushed for 792 yards, also is gone. 

WINFIELD VIKINGS 

Coach: Justin Price (fifth year, 17-29) 



Top returners: Tyler Crandall (6-1, 145, sr., WR-DB); Marty 

Hawkins (5-10, 190, sr., RB-LB); Nick Jones (5-8, 140, sr., WR- 

DB); Tito Tellez (5-5, 155, sr., RB-DB); Jakob Brown (5-10, 

185, sr., OL-LB); Trevor Richardson (6-1, 205, jr., OL-LB); 

Anthony Soto (5-8, 140, jr., WR-DB) 

Outlook: After going 4-5 the past two seasons, Winfield, which 

has four offensive and five defensive starters back, will count 

on younger players as it won’t have a large senior class.

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ANDALE 

S 2 Wellington 

S 9 Mulvane 

S 16 at Rose Hill 

S 23 at Wichita Collegiate 

S 30 Clearwater 

O 7 at Circle 

O 14 at Cheney 

O 21 at Wichita Trinity 

O 27 Maize South 

ANDOVER 

S 2 McPherson 

S 9 at Newton 

S 16 Valley Center 

S 23 at Maize 

S 30 Derby 

O 7 Goddard 

O 14 at Andover Central 

O 21 at Kapaun 

O 28 Arkansas City 

ANDOVER CENTRAL 

S 2 at Goddard 

S 9 Salina Central 

S 16 at McPherson 


S 30 at El Dorado 

O 7 at Campus 

O 14 Andover 


O 28 at Kapaun 

ARKANSAS CITY 


S 9 Winfield 


S 23 Coffeyville 

S 30 at McPherson 

O 7 at Wellington 

O 14 Kapaun 

O 21 at Andover Central 

O 28 at Andover 

ASHLAND 

S 2 Minneola 

S 9 at Bucklin 

S 16 at Spearville 

S 23 Fowler 

S 30 Dighton 

O 7 at Rolla 

O 14 Moscow 

O 21 at Ingalls 

O 27 Open 

ATTICA 

S 2 Oxford 

S 9 at Fairfield 

S 16 at Norwich 

S 23 Burrton 

S 30 Argonia 

O 7 at South Barber 

O 14 Caldwell 

O 21 at Chase 

O 27 at South Haven 

AUGUSTA 

S 2 at Winfield 


S 16 at Nickerson 

S 23 Mulvane 

S 30 Anderson County 

O 7 at Buhler 

O 14 Rose Hill 

O 21 El Dorado 

O 27 at Circle 

BELLE PLAINE 

S 2 Conway Springs 

S 9 at Haven 

S 16 at Bluestem 

S 23 Chaparral 

S 30 Medicine Lodge 

O 7 at Garden Plain 

O 14 Wichita Collegiate 

O 21 at Douglass 

O 27 at W. Independent 

BENNINGTON 

S 2 Ell-Saline 

S 9 at Sedgwick 

S 16 Marion 

S 23 at Trinity Catholic 

S 30 at Herington 

O 7 Sacred Heart 

O 14 at Inman 

O 21 at Moundridge 

O 27 Chase County 

BLUESTEM 

S 2 Garden Plain 

S 9 at Wichita Trinity 

S 16 Belle Plaine 

S 23 at Cheney 

S 30 Douglass 

O 7 Wichita Independent 

O 14 at Eureka 

O 21 Fredonia 

O 27 Neodesha 

BUCKLIN 

S 2 Ingalls 

S 9 Ashland 

S 16 Open 

S 23 Central burden 

S 30 at Chase 

O 7 Stafford 

O 14 at Otis-Bison 

O 21 Cunningham 

O 27 at Fowler 

BUHLER 

S 2 at Rose Hill 



S 23 Winfield 

S 30 at Mulvane 

O 7 Augusta 

O 14 Pratt 

O 21 Haven 

O 27 at Nickerson 

BURRTON 


S 9 at Safford 

S 16 at Caldwell 

S 23 at Attica 

S 30 South Haven 

O 7 Norwich 

O 14 Kinsley 

O 21 at Argonia 

O 27 South Barber 

CAMPUS 

S 2 Salina South 

S 9 at Maize 

S 16 Salina Central 

S 23 at Derby 

S 30 Newton 

O 7 Andover Central 

O 14 at Wichita Northwest 

O 21 Wichita South 

O 28 at Wichita North 

CANTON-GALVA 

S 2 Central Christian 

S 9 at Veritas Christian 

S 16 at Peabody-Burns 

S 23 Lincoln 

S 30 at Central Plains 

O 7 Solomon 

O 14 at Little River 

O 21 Goessel 

O 27 at Clifton-Clyde 

CENTRAL CHRISTIAN 

S 2 at Canton-Galva 

S 9 Norwich 

S 16 at Stafford 

S 23 Veritas Christian 

S 30 at Little River 

O 7 Caldwell 

O 14 Flinthills Christian 

O 21 at Word of Life 

O 27 St. John’s Military 

CENTRAL PLAINS 

S 2 at W. Word of Life 

S 9 Otis-Bison 

S 16 at Little River 

S 23 Goessel 

S 30 Canton -Galva 

O 7 at Peabody-Burns 

O 14 Lincoln 

O 21 Victoria 

O 27 at Solomon 

CHAPARRAL 

S 2 at Holcomb 

S 9 Wichita Independent 

S 16 Cheney 

S 23 at Belle Plaine 

S 30 Wichita Trinity 


O 14 Kingman 

O 21 at Conway Springs 

O 27 at Medicine Lodge 

CHASE 

S 2 Wilson 

S 9 at Tescott 

S 16 at Otis-Bison 

S 23 Cunningham 

S 30 Bucklin 

O 7 Open 

O 14 at Hope 

O 21 Attica 

O 27 at Stafford 

CHENEY 

S 2 Trinity Catholic 

S 9 at Garden Plain 

S 16 at Chaparral 

S 23 Bluestem 



O 14 Andale 

O 21 at Maize South 

O 27 Wichita Trinity 

CIMARRON 

S 2 at Elkhart 

S 9 Satanta 

S 16 Sublette 

S 23 at Meade 

S 30 Larned 

O 7 at TMP-Marian 

O 14 Lakin 

O 21 at SW Heights 

O 27 Scott City 

CIRCLE 

S 2 at Maize South 

S 9 at Valley Center 


S 23 at Wellington 

S 30 Wichita Collegiate 

O 7 Andale 

O 14 at El Dorado 

O 21 at Rose Hill 

O 27 Augusta 

CLEARWATER 


S 9 at Augusta 

S 16 at Circle 

S 23 Maize South 

S 30 at Andale 

O 7 at Council Grove 

O 14 Winfield 

O 21 at Mulvane 

O 27 Wellington 

CONWAY SPRINGS 


S 9 Douglass 

S 16 at W.Independent 


S 30 at Cheney 

O 7 Wichita Trinity 


O 21 Chaparral 

O 27 Kingman 

CUNNINGHAM 

S 2 at South Barber 

S 9 Skyline 

S 16 at St. John 

S 23 at Chase 

S 30 Stafford 

O 7 Otis-Bison 

O 14 Fairfield 

O 21 at Bucklin 

O 27 Open 

DEERFIELD 

S 2 at Sharon Springs 

S 9 Rolla 

S 16 at Ness City 

S 23 Minneola 

S 30 at Jetmore 

O 7 Spearville 

O 14 at South Gray 

O 21 Kinsley 

O 27 Hoxie 

DERBY 

S 2 at Salina Central 

S 9 at Hutchinson 

S 16 Maize 

S 23 Campus 

S 30 at Andover 

O 7 at Salina South 

O 14 Wichita Southeast 

O 21 at Wichita East 

O 28 Wichita Heights 

DIGHTON 

S 2 at Triplains-Brewster 

S 9 Golden Plains 

S 16 at Weskan 

S 23 Tribune 

S 30 at Ashland 

O 7 at Moscow 

O 14 Fowler 

O 21 at Rolla 

O 27 Ingalls 

DODGE CITY 

S 2 at Wichita Southeast 

S 9 Wichita Northwest 

S 16 at Wichita North 

S 23 Liberal 

S 30 at Great Bend 

O 7 Hays 

O 14 at Goddard 

O 21 Maize 

O 28 at Garden City 

DOUGLASS 


S 9 at Conway Springs 

S 16 at Garden Plain 



O 7 Chaparral 

O 14 at W. Independent 

O 21 Belle Plaine 

O 27 Wichita Collegiate 

EL DORADO 

S 2 Mulvane 


S 16 Buhler 

S 23 at Baldwin 

S 30 Andover Central 

O 7 Winfield 

O 14 Circle 

O 21 at Augusta 


ELKHART 

S 2 Cimarron 

S 9 SW Heights 

S 16 at Lakin 

S 23 at Leoti 

S 30 at Sublette 

O 7 Satanta 

O 14 Stanton County 

O 21 Meade 

O 27 at Syracuse 

ELL-SALINE 

S 2 at Bennington 


S 16 at Remington 

S 23 Sedgwick 

S 30 at Ellinwood 

O 7 Plainville 

O 14 at La Crosse 

O 21 Inman 

O 27 at Moundridge 

ELLINWOOD 

S 2 at TMP-Marian 

S 9 at Larned 

S 16 Hoisington 

S 23 at Haven 


O 7 Sunrise Academy 

O 14 at Plainville 

O 21 La Crosse 

O 27 at Inman 

ELLIS 

S 2 at Norton 

S 9 Plainville 

S 16 at Smith Center 

S 23 at Phillipsburg 

S 30 Atwood 

O 7 at Leoti 

O 14 St. Francis 

O 21 at Oberlin 

O 27 Oakley 

ELLSWORTH 

S 2 at Clay Center 

S 9 Beloit 

S 16 Russell 

S 23 at Southeast of Saline 

S 30 Belleville 

O 7 Minneapolis 

O 14 at Sterling 

O 21 Lyons 

O 27 at Hoisington 

FAIRFIELD 

S 2 Burrton 

S 9 Attica 

S 16 at Macksville 

S 23 at Kiowa County 

S 30 St. John 

O 7 Skyline 

O 14 at Cunningham 

O 21 at South Central 

O 27 Pretty Prairie 

FOWLER 

S 2 at Kinsley 

S 9 St. John 

S 16 at Moscow 


S 30 at Rolla 

O 7 Ingalls 

O 14 at Dighton 

O 21 Moscow 

O 27 Bucklin 

GARDEN CITY 

S 2 at Scott City 

S 9 Woodward, Okla. 

S 16 at Great Bend 

S 23 at Hays 

S 30 at Liberal 

O 7 Wichita East 

O 14 at Maize 

O 21 Goddard 

O 28 Dodge City 

GARDEN PLAIN 


S 9 Cheney 

S 16 Douglass 

S 23 at Conway Springs 

S 30 at W. Independent 


O 14 at Trinity Catholic 

O 21 Sedgwick 

O 27 Halstead 

GODDARD 


S 9 at Hays 

S 16 Arkansas City 

S 23 McPherson 

S 30 at Valley Center 

O 7 at Andover 

O 14 Dodge City 

O 21 at Garden City 

O 28 at Maize 

GOESSEL 

S 2 at Wakefield 

S 9 Hope 

S 16 at Lincoln 


S 30 Solomon 

O 7 Little River 

O 14 at St. John’s Military 

O 21 at Canton-Galva 

O 27 Peabody-Burns 

GREAT BEND 

S 2 at St. Thomas Aquinas 

S 9 Open 

S 16 Garden City 

S 23 at Wichita Heights 

S 30 Dodge City 

O 7 Liberal 

O 14 at Hays 

O 21 Salina Central 


HALSTEAD 

S 2 Hillsboro 

S 9 at Hesston 

S 16 Smoky Valley 

S 23 Sterling 

S 30 Lyons 

O 7 at Pratt 

O 14 at Sedgwick 

O 21 Trinity Catholic 


HAVEN 

S 2 Kingman 

S 9 Belle Plaine 

S 16 at Lyons 

S 23 Ellinwood 

S 30 at Sterling 

O 7 Hesston 


O 21 at Buhler 

O 27 Pratt 

HAYS 

S 2 at Chapman 

S 9 Goddard 

S 16 at Liberal 


S 30 at Wichita South 

O 7 at Dodge City 

O 14 Great Bend 



HESSTON 

S 2 Pratt 

S 9 Halstead 

S 16 at Kingman 

S 23 at Hillsboro 

S 30 Nickerson 

O 7 at haven 

O 14 Smoky Valley 

O 21 at Abilene 

O 27 Chapman 

HILLSBORO 

S 2 at Halstead 

S 9 Lyons 

S16 at Sterling 

S 23 Hesston 

S 30 Kingman 

O 7 at Smoky Valley 

O14 SE of Saline 

O 21 at Remington 

O 27 at Marion 

HOISINGTON 

S 3 Sedgwick 


S 16 at Ellinwood 

S 23 Ulysses 


O 7 Larned 

O 14 at Lyons 

O 21 at Sterling 

O 27 Ellsworth 

HODGEMAN CO. 

S 2 Open 

S 9 WaKeeney 

S 16 at South Gray 

S 23 Kinsley 

S 30 Deerfield 

O 7 at Ness City 

O 14 Minneola 

O 21 at Kiowa County 

O 27 at Spearville 

AREA SCHEDULES 

HOLCOMB 

S 2 Chaparral 

S 9 at Scott City 

S 16 at Goodland 

S 23 Colby 

S 30 SW Heights 

O 7 at Lakin 

O 14 Ulysses 

O 21 at Hugoton 

O 27 Larned 

HUGOTON 


S 9 Colby 

S 16 at Guymon, Okla. 

S 23 at Oakley 

S 30 Scott City 

O 7 SW Heights 

O 14 at Larned 

O 21 Holcomb 

O 27 at Ulysses 

HUTCHINSON 

S 2 at Rockhurst, Mo. 

S 9 Derby 

S 16 Newton 



O 7 Maize 

O 14 at Wichita West 

O 21 Liberal 

O 28 at Bishop Carroll 

INGALLS 

S 2 at Bucklin 

S 9 Spearville 

S 16 Satanta 

S 23 Stafford 

S 30 Moscow 

O 7 at Fowler 

O 14 Rolla 

O 21 Ashland 

O 27 at Dighton 

INMAN 

S 2 at Moundridge 

S 9 Marion 

S 16 at Trinity Catholic 

S 23 Remington 

S 30 at Plainville 

O 7 La Crosse 

O 14 Bennington 

O 21 at Ell-Saline 

O 27 Ellinwood 

KINGMAN 

S 2 at Haven 

S 9 at Pratt 

S 16 Hesston 

S 23 Nickerson 


O 7 Sterling 

O 14 at Chaparral 

O 21 Medicine Lodge 

O 27 at Conway Springs 

KINSLEY 

S 2 Fowler 

S 9 South Barber 

S 16 at Minneola 

S 23 at Jetmore 


O 7 South Gray 

O 14 at Burrton 

O 21 at Deerfield 

O 27 Ness City 

KIOWA COUNTY 

S 2 South Gray 


S 16 at Skyline 

S 23 Fairfield 

S 30 South Central 

O 7 at Pretty Prairie 

O 14 Macksville 

O 21 Hodgeman County 

O 27 at St. John 

LA CROSSE 

S 2 at Larned 

S 9 at KC Christian 

S 16 at Oberlin 

S 23 TMP-Marian 

S 30 at Sacred Heart 

O 7 at Inman 

O 14 Ell-Saline 

O 21 at Ellinwood 

O 27 Plainville 

LAKIN 

S 2 at Stanton County 

S 9 Meade 

S 16 Elkhart 

S 23 at Sublette 


O 7 Holcomb 

O 14 at Cimarron 

O 21 at Scott City 

O 27 SW Heights 

LARNED 

S 2 La Crosse 

S 9 Ellinwood 


S 23 Beloit 

S 30 at Cimarron 

O 7 at Hoisington 

O 14 Hugoton 

O 21 Ulysses 

O 27 at Holcomb 

LEOTI 

S 2 at Satanta 

S 9 at Stanton County 

S 16 Syracuse 

S 23 Elkhart 

S 30 at Oakley 

O 7 Ellis 

O 14 Atwood 

O 21 at St. Francis 

O 27 Oberlin 

LIBERAL 

S 2 at Ulysses 

S 9 Guymon, Okla. 

S 16 Hays 

S 23 at Dodge City 


O 7 at Great Bend 

O 14 Bishop Carroll 

O 21 at Hutchinson 

O 28 at Wichita West 

LITTLE RIVER 

S 2 White City 

S 9 at Centre 

S 16 Central Plains 

S 23 at Solomon 


O 7 at Goessel 

O 14 Canton-Galva 

O 21 at Peabody-Burns 

O 27 Lincoln 

LYONS 

S 2 at Marion 


S 16 Haven 




O 14 Hoisington 

O 21 at Ellsworth 

O 27 Sterling 

MACKSVILLE 

S 2 at Victoria 

S 9 Wichita Word of Life 

S 16 Fairfield 

S 23 at South Central 

S 30 Pretty Prairie 

O 7 Minneola 

O 14 at Kiowa County 

O 21 St. John 

O 27 at Skyline 

MAIZE 

S 2 Newton 

S 9 Campus 

S 16 at Derby 

S 23 Andover 


O 7 at Hutchinson 

O 14 Garden City 

O 21 at Dodge City 

O 28 Goddard 

MAIZE SOUTH 

S 2 Circle 

S 9 El Dorado 


S 23 at Clearwater 


O 7 at Wichita Collegiate 

O 14 at Wichita Trinity 

O 21 Cheney 

O 27 at Andale 

MARION 

S 2 Lyons 

S 9 at Inman 

S 16 at Bennington 

S 23 Moundridge 

S 30 at Sedgwick 

O 7 Trinity Catholic 

O 14 Remington 

O 21 at Southeast of Saline 

O 27 Hillsboro 

MCPHERSON 


S 9 at Salina South 



S 30 Arkansas City 

O 7 at Gardner-Edgerton 

O 14 at Valley Center 

O 21 Emporia 

O 28 Newton 

MEADE 

S 2 Canadian, Texas 

S 9 at Lakin 

S 16 at SW Heights 

S 23 Cimarron 

S 30 Stanton County 

O 7at Syracuse 

O 14 at Satanta 

O 21 at Elkhart 

O 27 Sublette 

MEDICINE LODGE 


S 9 at Hoisington 


S 23 at Douglass 


O 7 Cheney 

O 14 Conway Springs 

O 21 at Kingman 

O 27 Chaparral 

MINNEOLA 


S 9 Kiowa County 

S 16 Kinsley 

S 23 at Deerfield 

S 30 Ness City 

O 7 at Macksville 

O 14 at Hodgeman Co. 

O 21 Spearville 

O 27 at South Gray 

MOSCOW 

S 2 Balko, Okla. 

S 9 Tribune 

S 16 Fowler 

S 23 Satanta 

S 30 at Ingalls 

O 7 Dighton 

O 14 at Ashland 

O 21 at Fowler 

O 27 Rolla 

MOUNDRIDGE 

S 2 Inman 


S 16 Sedgwick 

S 23 at Marion 

S 30 at Chase County 

O 7 Herington 

O 14 at Sacred Heart 

O 21 Bennington 

O 27 Ell-Saline 

MULVANE 


S 9 at Andale 

S 16 Pratt 

S 23 at Augusta 

S 30 Buhler 


O 14 at Wellington 

O 21 Clearwater 

O 27 Winfield 

NESS CITY 

S 2 at WaKeeney 

S 9 Victoria 

S 16 Deerfield 

S 23 Hill City 



O 14 at Spearville 

O 21 South Gray 

O 27 at Kinsley 

NEWTON 

S 2 at Maize 

S 9 Andover 



S 30 at Campus 


O 14 at Emporia 

O 21 Valley Center 

O 28 at McPherson 

NICKERSON 


S 9 at Abilene 

S 16 Augusta 

S 23 at Kingman 


O 7 Lyons 

O 14 Haven 

O 21 at Pratt 

O 27 Buhler 

NORWICH 

S 2 Pretty Prairie 

S 9 at Central Christian 

S 16 Attica 

S 23 at South Haven 



O 14 Argonia 

O 21 at South Barber 

O 27 Caldwell 

OTIS-BISON 

S 2 St. John 


S 16 Chase 

S 23 at Thunder Ridge 

S 30 Beloit-St. John’s 

O 7 at Cunningham 

O 14 Bucklin 

O 21 at Stafford 

O 27 Frankfort at Salina 

PEABODY-BURNS 

S 2 Centre 

S 9 at Wakefield 

S 16 Canton-Galva 

S 23 at Hope 

S 30 at Lincoln 

O 7 Central Plains 

O 14 at Solomon 

O 21 Little River 

O 27 at Goessel 

PRATT 


S 9 Kingman 

S 16 at Mulvane 

S 23 Rose Hill 

S 30 at Smoky Valley 

O 7 Halstead 

O 14 at Buhler 

O 21 Nickerson 

O 27 at Haven 

PRETTY PRAIRIE 

S 2 at Norwich 

S 9 at Cedar Vale-Dexter 


S 23 South Barber 

S 30 at Macksville 

O 7 Kiowa County 

O 14 at St. John 

O 21 Pratt Skyline 

O 27 at Fairfield 

REMINGTON 

S 2 at Sterling 

S 9 Moundridge 


S 23 at Inman 


O 7 at Sedgwick 

O 14 at Marion 

O 21 Hillsboro 

O 27 at Southeast of Saline 

ROLLA 

S 2 Tyrone, Okla. 

S 9 at Deerfield 

S 16 at Granada, Colo. 

S 23 at Boise City, Okla. 

S 30 Fowler 

O 7 Ashland 

O 14 at Ingalls 

O 21 Dighton 

O 27 at Moscow 

ROSE HILL 

S 2 Buhler 

S 9 at Wichita Collegiate 

S 16 Andale 

S 23 at Pratt 


O 7 Mulvane 

O 14 at Augusta 

O 21 Circle 

O 27 El Dorado 

RUSSELL 

S 2 Southeast of Saline 

S 9 TMP-Marian 

S 16 at Ellsworth 

S 23 Minneapolis 

S 30 at Beloit 

O 7 at Belleville 

O 14 Clay Center 

O 21 Concordia 

O 27 at Colby 

ST. JOHN 

S 2 at Otis-Bison 

S 9 at Fowler 


S 23 Skyline 


O 7 at South Central 

O 14 Pretty Prairie 

O 21 at Macksville 

O 27 Kiowa County 

SALINA CENTRAL 

S 2 Derby 

S 9 at Andover Central 

S 16 at Campus 

S 23 Hutchinson 

S 30 Maize 

O 7 at Newton 

O 14 Salina South 

O 21 at Great Bend 

O 28 at Hays 

SALINA SOUTH 

S 2 at Campus 

S 9 McPherson 

S 16 Junction City 

S 23 at Newton 


O 7 Derby 

O 14 at Salina Central 

O 21 Hays 

O 28 Great Bend 

SATANTA 

S 2 Leoti 



S 23 at Moscow 

S 30 at Syracuse 


O 14 Meade 

O 21 at Sublette 

O 27 Stanton County 

SCOTT CITY 


S 9 Holcomb 

S 16 at Colby 

S 23 Goodland 

S 30 at Hugoton 

O 7 at Ulysses 

O 14 at SW Heights 

O 21 Lakin 

O 27 at Cimarron 

SEDGWICK 


S 9 Bennington 

S 16 at Moundridge 

S 23 at Ell-Saline 

S 30 Marion 

O 7 Remington 

O 14 Halstead 


O 27 at Trinity Catholic 

SKYLINE 

S 2 Stafford 

S 9 at Cunningham 

S 16 Kiowa County 

S 23 at St. John 

S 30 Norwich 

O 7 at Fairfield 

O 14 South Central 

O 21 at Pretty Prairie 

O 27 Macksville 

SMOKY VALLEY 

S 2 at Nickerson 

S 9 Sterling 


S 23 at Lyons 

S 30 Pratt 

O 7 Hillsboro 

O 14 at Hesston 

O 21 Chapman 

O 27 Abilene 

SOUTH BARBER 



S 16 Argonia 

S 23 at Pretty Prairie 

S 30 at Caldwell 

O 7 Attica 

O 14 at South Haven 

O 21 Norwich 


SOUTH CENTRAL 


S 9 at South Gray 

S 16 at Pretty Prairie 

S 23 Macksville 


O 7 St. John 

O 14 at Skyline 

O 21 Fairfield 

O 27 Argonia 

SOUTH GRAY 



S 16 Hodgeman County 

S 23 at Spearville 

S 30 Open 

O 7 at Kinsley 

O 14 Deerfield 

O 21 at Ness City 

O 27 Minneola 

SE OF SALINE 

S 2 at Russell 

S 9 Sacred Heart 

S 16 at Republic County 

S 23 Ellsworth 

S 30 at Minneapolis 

O 7 Beloit 

O 14 at Hillsboro 

O 21 Marion 

O 27 Remington 

SW HEIGHTS 

S 2 Sublette 

S 9 at Elkhart 

S 16 Meade 

S 23 Stanton County 

S 30 at Holcomb 

O 7 at Hugoton 


O 21 Cimarron 

O 27 at Lakin 

SPEARVILLE 

S 2 at South Central 


S 16 Ashland 

S 23 South Gray 


O 7 at Deerfield 

O 14 Ness City 

O 21 at Minneola 


STAFFORD 


S 9 Burrton 



S 30 at Cunningham 

O 7 at Bucklin 

O 14 Open 

O 21 Otis-Bison 

O 27 Chase 

STANTON COUNTY 

S 2 Lakin 

S 9 Leoti 

S 16 Atwood 


S 30 at Meade 

O 7 Sublette 


O 21 Syracuse 

O 27 at Satanta 

STERLING 

S 2 Remington 

S 9 at Smoky Valley 

S 16 Hillsboro 


S 30 Haven 

O 7 at Kingman 

O 14 Ellsworth 

O 21 Hoisington 

O 27 at Lyons 

SUBLETTE 


S 9 Oakley 


S 23 Lakin 

S 30 Elkhart 

O 7 at Stanton County 

O 14 Syracuse 

O 21 Satanta 

O 27 at Meade 

SYRACUSE 

S 2 Oakley 

S 9 Oberlin 

S 16 at Leoti 

S 23 at Atwood 

S 30 Satanta 

O 7 Meade 

O 14 at Sublette 

O 21 at Stanton County 

O 27 Elkhart 

TMP-MARIAN 

S 2 Ellinwood 

S 9 at Russell 

S 16 Larned 

S 23 at La Crosse 

S 30 Hoisington 

O 7 Cimarron 

O 14 at Phillipsburg 

O 21 Norton 

O 27 at Goodland 

TRIBUNE 

S 2 Hoxie 

S 9 at Moscow 

S 16 Golden Plains 

S 23 at Dighton 

S 30 at G-Wheatland 

O 7 Sharon Springs 

O 14 at Triplains-Brewster 

O 21 Cheylin 

O 27 Weskan 

TRINITY CATHOLIC 

S 2 at Cheney 

S 9 at Ell-Saline 

S 16 Inman 

S 23 Bennington 


O 7 at Marion 

O 14 Garden Plain 

O 21 at Halstead 

O 27 Sedgwick 

ULYSSES 

S 2 Liberal 

S 9 Goodland 

S 16 Clayton, N.M. 


S 30 at Colby 


O 14 at Holcomb 

O 21 at Larned 

O 27 Hugoton 

VALLEY CENTER 

S 2 at Arkansas City 

S 9 Circle 


S 23 at Andover Central 

S 30 Goddard 

O 7 at Spring Hill 

O 14 McPherson 

O 21 at Newton 

O 28 Emporia 

VICTORIA 

S 2 Macksville 

S 9 at Ness City 

S 16 at Beloit-St. John’s 

S 23 Natoma 

S 30 Logan 

O 7 at Northern Valley 

O 14 Palco 

O 21 at Central Plains 

O 27 at Thunder Ridge 

WAKEENEY 

S 2 Ness City 

S 9 at Hodgeman County 

S 16 Thunder Ridge 

S 23 Quinter 

S 30 at Stockton 

O 7 at Hoxie 

O 14 Hill City 

O 21 at Osborne 

O 27 Sylvan-Lucas 

WELLINGTON 

S 2 at Andale 

S 9 at Buhler 


S 23 Circle 



O 14 Mulvane 

O 21 at Winfield 

O 27 at Clearwater 

WICHITA COLLEGIATE 

S 2 at Clearwater 

S 9 Rose Hill 

S 16 at Wellington 

S 23 Andale 

S 30 at Circle 


O 14 at Belle Plaine 

O 21 Wichita Independent 


W. INDEPENDENT 

S 2 at Medicine Lodge 



S 23 at Wichita Trinity 


O 7 at Bluestem 

O 14 Doglass 

O 21 at Wichita Collegiate 


WICHITA TRINITY 

S 2 at Douglass 

S 9 Bluestem 

S 16 at Medicine Lodge 



O 7at Conway Springs 


O 21 Andale 

O 27 at Cheney 

WILSON 

S 2 at Chase 

S 9 at Natoma 

S 16 Central Burden 

S 23 at Oxford 

S 30 Hope 

O 7 Beloit-St. John’s 

O 14 at Linn 

O 21 at Northern Valley 

O 27 at Tescott 

WINFIELD 

S 2 Augusta 

S 9 at Arkansas City 

S 16 Maize South 

S 23 at Buhler 

S 30 Rose Hill 

O 7 at El Dorado 

O 14 at Clearwater 

O 21 Wellington 

O 27 at Mulvane





Reminder: 

NESS CITY EAGLES 

Coach: Chris Bamberger (second year, 5-5) 


Record: 5-5 (5-1 district) 

Top returners: Dalton Gantz (6-0, 185, jr., RB-LB); 

Koltyn Ratliff (5-8, 142, jr., QB-DB); Garrett Flax (5- 

9, 155, jr., TB-DB); Tucker VonLehe (6-0, 171, jr., OL- 

DE); Blake McVicker (5-11, 172, jr., OL-LB) 

Top newcomers: Drew Clarke (6-2, 165, sr., QB-DB); 

Matthew Frank (5-10, 135, jr., TE-DB); Jaiden 

Richardson (6-1, 193, jr., OL-DL); Joey Rufenacht (5- 

8, 186, jr., OL-DL); Will Frusher (6-0, 141, jr., TE-DL) 

Outlook: Five starters are back on both sides of the 

ball for a team that made the playoffs out of a very 

competitive district. Gantz was an all-league running 

back and linebacker last season. Bamberger said the 

team will have good quickness, but is a bit undersized. 

PRETTY PRAIRIE BULLDOGS 

Coach: CT Young (10th year, 61-26) 



Top returners: Tanner Cooper (5-9, 190, sr., RB-DB); 

Jared McMillian (5-10, 195, sr.); Kyle Danahy (5-10, 

200, sr., RB-LB); Tyler Gehring (5-7, 192, sr., OL-DL); 

Alex Mains (5-9, 135, jr., QB); Stetson Broce (6-4, 205, 

jr., OE-DB); Mark Schnittker (5-8, 165, jr., OE-DL) 

Top newcomers: Justin Haflich (6-0, 161, jr., RB-DB); 

Tyler Markus (5-10, 160, jr., RB-DB); Troy Nagle (6- 

3, 180, jr., OL-DL); Jacob Welker (5-6, 127, jr., OE-DB) 

Outlook: Behind a strong senior class, Pretty Prairie 

was a dominant team last season. Now the Bulldogs 

try to reload with three offensive and one defensive 

Bulldogs 

l From Page 10 

front of them win. 

“They don’t want to be the 

group that doesn’t win.” 

In other words, they may be 

green, but this program is 

supposed to win. 

“Our expectation doesn’t really 

change,” Young says. “We 

try to pride our kids to believe 

they have the opportunity to 

win no matter who we are 

playing. That expectation hasn’t 

changed.” 

The Bulldogs have just 21 

players this year, including a 

Panthers 

l From Page 6 

graduated after passing for 726 

yards as a senior. 

starter back.Young said the Bulldogs have had good 

competition for those spots as 14 lettermen return. 

ST. JOHN TIGERS 

Coach: Nick Garcia (seventh year, 34-25) 



Top returners: Pat Prescott (5-9, 170, sr., RB-LB); 

Kinser Crissman (5-8, 160, sr., QB-DB); Jacob Blunt 

(5-9, 235, sr., OL-DL); Levi Tucker (6-0, 185, sr., OL- 

DL); Ethan Long (6-0, 180, jr., TE-DL); Schuyler 

Brown (5-7, 150, so., DB) 

Outlook: St. John returns a solid nucleus with five 

offensive and six defensive starters back, and Garcia 

said he likes the senior leadership that is being provided. 

He expects 23 players to be on the roster, so 

depth on the lines is a question mark. Garcia also said 

the Tigers gave up too many big plays on third down 

last season. 

SKYLINE THUNDERBIRDS 

Coach: Jon Novotny (fifth year, 9-27) 



Top returners: Brennan Stotts (5-9, 160, sr., RB-DB); 

Brandon Broce (5-9, 150, sr., QB-DB); Jake Harts (5- 

9, 220, sr., OL-DL); Easton Burgardt (6-4, 215, sr., OL- 

DL); Adam Flowers (5-10, 210, sr., OL-DL); Chase 

Lykins (5-10, 170, sr., TE-LB); Brandon Baird (5-9, 

190, jr., FB-LB) 

Outlook: A strong group of seniors who have played 

since their sophomore year leads the Thunderbirds. 

Skyline will have plenty of size and strength with 

core group of four seniors that 

Young is counting on to lead. 

Stetson Broce, Jared McMillian, 

Kyle Danahy and Tanner 

Cooper will be two-way 

starters this year. Broce was an 

all-state defensive back who 

will also play tight end on offense. 

McMillian will anchor 

the offensive and defensive 

lines, while Danahy will play 

fullback and middle linebacker. 

Cooper inherits Krehbiel’s 

role as the featured back – 

something that isn’t completely 

foreign to him at the varsity 

level. Spelling Krehbiel during 

Pretty Prairie’s string of 

blowouts allowed him to earn 

all-league honorable mention 

Coaches should submit the scores of their games on 

Friday nights. 

Games can be submitted by sending an email to 

sports@hutchnews.com or fax to (620) 662-4186. Games 

can also be phoned in by calling 1-800-766-5742 

EIGHT-MAN I CAPSULES (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24) 

“Speed-wise, we’re probably a 

little faster than we were last year 

on the defensive side of the ball. 

Depth-wise, we’ll have good 

backs,” said Heinlein, who said 

depth on the lines is a concern. 

Nickerson’s new starters will be 

seven starters back on both sides of the ball, but it 

won’t have much depth. 

SOUTH CENTRAL TIMBERWOLVES 

Coach: Matt Smith (sixth year, 23-25) 

League: SPIAA 


Top returners: Clay Jarnagin (6-0, 170, sr., QB-DB); 

Austin Mounts (6-0, 165, sr., TE-DB); Steve Westrup 

(6-3, 190, sr., TE-LB); Jordan Sanders (6-0, 170, sr., 

LB); Joey McCleary (6-0, 175, sr., TB-NG); Cole 

Cronin (6-4, 275, jr., OL-DL); Coby Lindsay (5-10, 230, 

so., FB-DL); Nate Brooks (6-2, 190, so., OL-DL); Alex 

Bruckner (5-10, 155, so., DB) 

Top newcomers: Kestyn Fredrickson (6-0, 215, jr.); 

Terry Moree (6-1, 160, jr.); Austin Darnell (5-8, 220, 

jr.); Kelby Edelman (6-3, 280, so.); Sam Mosshart (5- 

10, 205, so.); Stetsen Underwood (5-10, 150, so.) 

Outlook: South Central returns plenty of experience 

as it returns seven offensive and eight defensive 

starters. Those players were productive last season. 

Jarnagin leads the way as he passed for 1,156 yards 

and rushed for 712 last year. McCleary rushed for 

1,023 yards, while Mounts caught 45 passes. 

Defensively, Westrup recorded 138 tackles last year. 

SOUTH GRAY REBELS 

Coach: Jeff Blattner (third year, 13-5) 

League: SPIAA 


Top returners: Coulter Croft (5-9, 165, sr., RB-DB); 

Storm Mosher (5-9, 180, sr., RB-DB); Luis Gallegos (5- 

11, 190, sr., RB-LB); Joe Carter (6-0, 220, sr., OL-DL); 

recognition last year. 

Now he is the man – even if 

replacing Krehbiel, now a 

freshman at Tabor College, is 

far easier said than done. 

“Daniel is Daniel,” Young 

says. “I don’t know that anyone 

is going to replace him. 

Tanner is not trying to be the 

next Daniel. He’s trying to be 

the first Tanner.” 

Replacing Pittman, the area 

eight-man player of the year 

last season, could prove to be 

challenging, too. 

Junior Alex Mains will lead 

the Pretty Prairie offense as 

the quarterback, and so far he 

is relishing the opportunity. 

It’s the first time Young has 

tested right away as the Panthers 

open against Smoky Valley and 

Abilene. 

“The good thing is we have some 

tough tests at the start, so we can 

gauge where we’re at,” Heinlein said. 

And with a new leadership 

Brett Bullinger (5-10, 165, sr., OE-DB); Hunter Brown 

(5-10, 175, sr., OE-DB); Caleb Watts (5-11, 215, jr., OL- 

DL); Colten Dirks (6-1, 190, jr., OE-DL) 

Top newcomers: Wyatt Slaven (6-1, 165, sr., QB-DB); 

Ronald Martin (6-1, 200, sr., OE-LB); Henry Friesen 

(5-11, 190, so., OL-LB); Ryan Griebel (5-7, 135, so., OE- 

DB); Jake Peters (5-11, 200, fr., OL-DL); Tate Skinner 

(5-7, 135, fr., RB-DB); Carson Skidmore (6-1, 160, fr., 

QB-LB) 

Outlook: Blattner, a former coach at Haviland, now 

is consistently winning with the Rebels. South Gray 

returns six all-league players from a team that suffered 

two close losses. It also has solid upperclassmen. 

Blattner said the team will have good team 

speed and decent size. The Rebels need to replace its 

quarterback. 

SPEARVILLE ROYAL LANCERS 

Coach: Matt Fowler (third year, 4-14) 

League: SPIAA 

2010 record: 1-8 (1-5 overall) 

Top returners: Hunter Heiland (6-1, 175, sr., QB-DB); 

Chad Barnett (5-8, 145, sr., RB); Blake Loder (5-10, 

150, sr., RB-DB); Weston Stein (6-4, 185, sr., OL-DL); 

Aaron Gunkel (6-2, 170, sr., TE-LB); Lucas Baker (6- 

1, 260, sr., C); Raul Flores (5-10, 165, sr., DL); Seth 

Stroud (5-10, 160, jr., TE) 

Outlook: A strength for the Lancers this season is 

experience as seven offensive and six defensive 

starters are back. Most of the starters are seniors. 

Heiland rushed for 737 yards last season, while 

Barnett had 392. Loder amassed 96 tackles. Fowler 

said a key is developing his offensive and defensive 

lines. 

had an upperclassman step 

into the position as a firsttime 

starter. In the past, he 

has had to bring in a sophomore 

after a senior graduated. 

Mains is ready for this, 

Young said. 

“He is excited,” Young says. 

“You can see it.” 

The Bulldogs might not be as 

explosive – at least early on – as 

they were last year, but they 

will be ready by the time substate 

play begins, Young said. 

“We’re going to do a few 

things differently,” he says. 

“We won’t be as wide open as 

we were at the start of last 

year, but we’re going to get 

there.” 

Celtics 

l From Page 8 

group of upperclassmen, the Panthers 

are eager to follow up last 

year’s breakthrough season. 

“I think we can do it with this 

group of kids. They came here 

this summer and worked hard,” 

Crandall said. 

the quarterfinals the last two. Many of its wins 

have been dominant. 

Three starters return on each side of the ball, 

led by senior lineman Joe Schrock. By the end of 

last season, Schrock became one of the top defensive 

players in 3A, finishing with 75 tackles and 

eight sacks. 

“Joe’s one of those kids who has been starting 

since his sophomore year,” Racette said. “He does 

things the right way, he had a strong offseason and 

he makes a lot of plays for us. He’s been successful, 

and he knows what it takes to be on a winning football 

team.” 

Schrock is now in the same position that talented 

senior class occupied last year. 

“I’m in that leadership role,” Schrock said. “I’ve 

started for three years, and I’ve got to step it up 

now and lead this team.” 

Other returning starters include senior running 

back Austin Rea (800 yards from scrimmage), senior 

linebacker Alec Mailloux (60 tackles), Tom 

Mailloux, sophomore lineman Jerome Miller and 

junior lineman Dalton Rodriguez. 

Many of last year’s seniors were two- or three-year 

starters. This year, a good number of junior varsity 

players are moving up to start on Friday nights. 

“They’ve had success at JV,” Racette said. 

“They’ve played in some of those varsity games, 

but you’ve got to learn how to start and finish 

games. There’s no pressure in a varsity blowout, 

but they’ve had success at the JV level.” 

Senior Holden Thielen, a three-year JV starter, 

will be the quarterback. Senior Ivan Guerrero and 

junior Issac Thibault will join Rea in the backfield. 

Other top newcomers include senior defensive 

back Caleb Brening, senior lineman Jose Garcia, 

junior defensive lineman Josh Hermes and junior 

lineman Greg Flores. 

Many new faces for the Celtics, but that doesn’t 

necessarily mean the Celtics are in for a long season. 

“I’m really excited,” Racette said. “These guys 

have been putting in a lot of time. They really got 

after it in the offseason. It was as good participation 

as we’ve had (in the offseason), and I think the 

kids will do well. We’re not to the point where 

we’re playing a lot of freshmen. We have a lot of 

guys who have played at the varsity level.” 

“A lot of these kids tasted winning 

last year, so hopefully they 

know what it takes to get over the 

hump,” Heinlein said. “But they 

also know that that season is over. 

Anything can happen this year and 

they need to establish themselves.”

Fall Sports Preview 2011 - The Hutchinson News

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