2 Thursday, September 1, <strong>2011</strong> <strong>2011</strong> Football <strong>Preview</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong> Salthawks eager to start new title streak BY PAT SANGIMINO <strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong> psangimino@hutchnews.com For the first time in seven years, <strong>Hutchinson</strong> High enters a football season without a state championship to defend. <strong>The</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong>’ 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.” <strong>The</strong> remedy for that? <strong>Hutchinson</strong> 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/<strong>The</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>Hutchinson</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong>re’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. <strong>The</strong> 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 <strong>2011</strong> STORYLINES Cover story............................Page 15 Preseason Elite 8....................Page 16 Central Christian....................Page 16 Class 6A capsules....................Page 18 Class 5A capsules....................Page 18 Class 4A capsules....................Page 18 Class 3A capsules....................Page 20 Class 2-1A capsules.................Page 22 Eight-Man I capsules..............Page 24 Area schedules.......................Page 26 For most, the <strong>2011</strong> 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 - <strong>Hutchinson</strong> 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 <strong>The</strong> <strong>News</strong>’ 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 <strong>Hutchinson</strong> 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. <strong>The</strong> 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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