Kansas Pregame, Volume 9
Page 73
NORTON BLUEJAYS
OSAGE CITY INDIANS
OSKALOOSA BEARS
PITT-ST. MARYS COLGAN PANTHERS
Traditional football power Norton fell from 7-3 in 2012 to 5-4 last fall, but the Bluejays narrowly missed the playoffs with a 20-16 loss to rival Phillipsburg in the final game of the season. Norton opened the season with back-to-back losses to Smith Center and Goodland, but rebounded for five straight wins before closing out district play with losses to Beloit and Phillipsburg. Ninth year coach Lucas Melvin says team goals for 2014 are to “win league and districts,” and with nine returning starters, 19 lettermen and what appears to be a manageable district schedule, the Bluejays could do just that. The Bluejays return two linemen, a tight end, and their entire offensive backfield to run their I-formation offense and all of their defensive front seven from a year ago. Norton will alternate road and home contests with five different league foes to open the season - including a home game with new league addition, and 2-1A power Oakley in week two - before hosting Colby to end their non-district portion of the season in week six. The Bluejays face Russell, Beloit, and new MCL member TMP in district play and could play Beloit for the district championship in week eight. “We want to prepare well and take each day as the blessing it is, and use it to get better,” coach Melvin said.
Osage City coach Andrew Gantenbein doesn’t expect his team to overwhelm its opponents with size, but he believes the Indians can use their speed to be competitive in the Flint Hills League. “We will be undersized, but should have decent speed overall,” he said. “The league should be very competitive. I think there are several teams that are capable of winning it with Northern Heights, Lyndon and Council Grove leading the way. We hope to be in the conversation as well.” The Indians return junior quarterback Ryan Haskins, an honorable mention all-league and all-state performer last season as well as senior receivers JT Lincoln and Blake Stromgren to lead the offense. Lincoln was an honorable mention all-leaguer in 2013 after catching 10 touchdown passes while Stromgren hauled in five touchdowns. Haskins threw for 19 touchdowns and ran for 792 yards and four more scores. Osage City also returns junior Travis Gustafson to anchor the offensive line. Defensively, the Indians will lean on sophomore linebacker/defensive back Jason Cooley, senior linebacker Hawk Goad and senior lineman Mason Cozad. “We suffered some graduation losses on the offensive line and graduated two all-state players on defense,” Gantenbein said. “We return the majority of our skill players from last season, but depth is a concern, especially on the offensive line.” Osage City also returns junior kicker Duncan Fort, an honorable mention all-leaguer, and senior punter JT Lincoln.
Despite having a relatively young team, Oskaloosa made the playoffs for the first time in three years last year, falling in the first round of the 2-1A postseason to eventual champion Centralia. The Bears return to Class 3A this year and land in one of the toughest districts in the state with returning 3A champion Silver Lake and semifinalist Rossville, getting the Mid-East League powers in back-to-back weeks to start district play. How well the Bears can build some momentum entering the tough closing stretch could depend largely on how well Luis Rodriguez transitions from running back to quarterback to lead the offense. The senior has never taken a snap under center, but ran for 948 yards last year and has been a starter for four years. Fellow senior Justin Sharp will serve as a nice complement in the backfield after racking up more than 1,000 total rushing and receiving yards and the line should be improved with four returners who cut their teeth as sophomore starters last year. There’s not a lot of size in the group with Austin Tavis (6-0, 230) the lone returning bigger than 180. Oskaloosa has doubled its win total each of the last two years, improving from a winless campaign in 2011 to a four-win team last year.
In St. Mary’s-Colgan’s two seasons at the Class 3A level, the Panthers have advanced to the state quarterfinals both times. But both seasons ended with a loss to a Mid-East League team. Colgan fell 17-7 to Rossville in 2012, and lost 41-7 to eventual state champion Silver Lake during the quarterfinals last season. The Panthers will try to break through that level with a fairly inexperienced team in 2014. Colgan, which was one of the most successful Class 2-1A teams in the 2000s, returns only four starters on offense and three on defense. The Panthers return no skill position players as starters on offense. However, offensive linemen Nate Brown, Freddie Elmer, Orion Battaglia and Brock Jameson will provide some experience up front. Brown earned first-team all-Crawford Neosho Cherokee League honors as a junior last year. Linebacker Austin Commons and defensive ends Ian Duncan and Garrett Normand return to a defensive unit that held opponents to eight points or fewer in seven games last season. Colgan will look to replace such all-league performers as quarterback Luke Marquardt, running back Drew Dawson, lineman Nolan Higginbotham, linebacker Christian Cedeno, wide receiver Tucker Hoffman, defensive back Colton Gilbert and 2013 Kpreps.com All-State kicker Aaron Twarog. However, reloading has never been anything new for Colgan. Entering his 35th season as head coach for the Panthers, Chuck Smith is one of the winningest coaches in state history with a 320-70 record. The perennial power hasn’t had a losing season since 1997.
5-4 in 2013 / 1-2 in district / 3A Mid-Continent League Coach: Lucas Melvin (9th year, 56-27) Assistants: Tony Fiscus, Jeremy Hawks, Ben Gordon, Kevin Jilka Offense: I-formation Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 19 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 8 Defense Breven Sondergaard, OL/DL, 6-0, 215, Sr.; Mickey Hahn, TE/LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.; Jared Tallent, RB/LB, 5-7, 160, Sr.; Kobie Unterserher, WR/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Christian Boser, RB/LB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Stewart Whitney, DL, 5-8, 175, Sr.; Jordan Dole, QB/DE, 6-0, 200, Jr.; Gavin Lively, DB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; Jacob Green, OL/DL, 5-11, 230, Jr.
4-5 in 2013 / 1-2 in district / 3A Flint Hills League Coach: Andrew Gantenbein (6th year, 24-24) Assistants: Will Kerns, Chris Kirkpatrick, Derek Patterson Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 9 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Ryan Haskins, QB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; JT Lincoln, WR/P, 5-10, John Baetz 185, Sr.; Blake Stromgren, WR, 5-9, 145, Sr.; Travis Gustafson, OL, 6-4, 305, Jr.; Jason Cooley, LB/DB, 5-10, 170, So.; Hawk Goad, LB, 5-10, 170, Sr.; Mason Cozad, DL, 5-9,195, Sr.; Duncan Fort, K, 6-5, 200, Jr. Melanie McGee
W. US Hwy 36 Norton 785-877-3359 Dine-in, Carryout, & Delivery
201 S Broadway Pittsburg 620-232-2220 Delivery & Carryout
102 E Quincy Pittsburg 620-231-8990 Dine-in & Carryout Limited Delivery Area
4-6 in 2013 / 3-1 in districts / 3A Northeast Kansas League Coach: Scott Whaley (9th year, 35-38, 12th overall, 57-47) Assistants: Will Kerns, Chris Kirkpatrick, Derek Patterson Offense: N/A Defense: N/A Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 6 Offense, 6 Defense Luis Rodriguez, QB/DB, 5-8, 165, Sr.; Justin Sharp, RB/DB, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Josh Lutze, FB/LB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Dusty Bammes, RB/DB, 5-9, 145, Sr.; Kyle Hopkins, OL/ LB, 6-4, 180, Jr.; Tommy Molder, OL/DE, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Austin Tavis, OL/DT, 6-0, 230, Jr.; Dillion Grother, TE/LB, 6-0, 165, Jr.; Scott Coates, RB/LB, 5-10, 175, Jr.; Austin Fowler, OL/DL, 5-10, 165, Jr. Brent Maycock
Supplying Team Sporting Goods and Office Supplies.
END Find Your Zone! Perry Owens Manager
9-3 in 2013 / 2-1 in district / 3A Crawford Neosho Cherokee League Coach: Chuck Smith (35th year, 317-64; 36th overall, 320-70) Assistants: Wayne Cichon, Kyle Wolf, Brad Snow, Dan Humble, Mike Watt, Virgil Winn Offense: I-formation Defense: 5-2 Returning lettermen: 17 Returning starters: 4 Offense, 3 Defense Nate Brown, G, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Austin Commons, LB, 6-1, 185, Sr.; Ian Duncan, DE, 6-4, 180, Sr.; Freddie Elmer, G, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Orion Battaglia, C, 5-10, 210, Sr.; Garrett Normand, DE, 6-2, 185, Jr.; Brock Jameson, OT, 6-0, 225, Jr. Mark Schremmer
1444 Mulberry Rd. Minneapolis, KS Office785-392-2184 Cell 620-874-1078
102 South Second Norton, KS 67654
(785) 877-2611 717 Laurel St. Minneapolis 785-392-3511 Dine-in or Carryout