Kansas Pregame, Volume 10
Page 109
E Hwy 56
Elkhart
ELKHART, KS
364 US Hwy 56 | Toll Free: 800-445-5917 | 620-697-2182
Good Luck Wildcats!
COTTONWOOD FALLS-CHASE COUNTY
A solid group of juniors and seniors return to lead Chase County this season, and the Bulldogs should have a very tough defense led by a pair of three-year starters in Colton Haney and Jake Wessel. “Colton and Jake return for the third starting campaign as inside linebackers,” coach Derick Budke said. “Joining them will be a talented group of d-linemen; Calvin Montgomery, Doyle Conley, Troy Conley, Breck Schlup, Chase Koehn, and Josesph Stout.” The Bulldogs return eight starters on defense, including defensive backs Brett Engle and AJ Swift, both seniors. “The other defensive back position is up for grabs,” Budke said. “Joel Jirak, Eli Dorsey and Hunter O’Brien expect to compete for the outside linebacker positions.” Chase County’s offense should be paced by Wessel, the team’s leading rusher last year, and Swift, who returns to the lineup after missing most of the 2014 season. Engle will move to the quarterback position after two years as a receiver. “Alec Keller will demand respect in the slot position where he earned all state honors a year ago,” Budke added. Cade Gibb, Chase Koehn and Haney return to anchor the offensive line. “We expect Breck Schlup, a part time starter from a year ago, to compete with Troy Conley and Joseph Stout for the other guard position,” Budke said. “Garret Jackson could have the inside track at center.” 2-7 in 2014 / 1-3 in district / 2-1A Flint Hills League Coach: Derick Budke (7th year, 25-39) Assistants: Brody Vandegrift, Cade Witte, Brady Stout Offense: Spread Defense: 4-2-5 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: 4 Offense, 8 Defense Cade Gibb, OT, Sr.; Colton Haney, OT/ILB, Sr.; Chase Koehn, OG, Jr.; Brett Engle, QB/DB, Sr.; AJ Swift, RB/DB, Sr.; Jake Wessel, RB/ILB, Sr.; Alec Keller, Slot, Sr.
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ELKHART
Khris Buckner left for Wilburton, Okla. after a successful five-year run as the Wildcat head coach. His assistant, Travis Johnson, takes over. Johnson has served as an assistant at Elkhart for several seasons. Elkhart won Class 2-1A, District 8 with a 4-0 mark last season, and then lost 28-14 against Oakley in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year. The Wildcats defeated Meade, 27-26, in Week 8 to win the district title. It marked the Buffs’ only district loss in its last 48 contests. Elkhart had lost six in a row to the Buffs in the previous decade. One game was within five points, another 22; the rest were blowouts. Senior Tanner Burnett is one of Kansas’ top players and a returning first team all-state Class 2-1A selection. Burnett helped the Wildcats finish No. 2 in scoring defense in the classification with 145 points. Burnett rushed 264 times for 1,713 yards and 17 scores, all team highs. Junior quarterback Tyler Sklener completed 49 of 96 passes for 931 yards with a 10/5 TD/ INT ratio. The Wildcats graduated all-state wide receiver Izzy Barco and lineman Wes Higgins. Defensively, Burnett paced the Wildcats with 100 tackles and finished second to Higgins with 16 TFLs. Elkhart forced 29 turnovers and finished plus-10 in turnover margin. 7-3 in 2014 / 4-0 in district / 2-1A Hi-Plains League Coach: Travis Johnson (1st year; 4th overall, 13-15) Assistants: N/A Offense: Spread Defense: 4-4 Returning lettermen: N/A Returning starters: N/A
Conor Nicholl
Melanie McGee
ELLIS
In May, Rock Creek, Butch Hayes’ alma mater, contacted Hayes and his family about open positions with the district. Shortly thereafter, Hayes and his wife accepted positions. Hayes went 48-34 in nine years as head football coach at Ellis and was entering his 13th year with the program. He also served as longtime assistant track coach in charge of sprints, and several years with boys’ basketball, including head coach last winter. Ellis won 12 straight games at one point and went to the Class 2A state basketball tournament. Hayes’ longtime assistant Craig Amrein takes over the football program. Amrein is an Ellis graduate who played football at Dodge City Community College, and collected second team all-Jayhawk Conference honors as a free safety. He was an assistant at La Crosse for two years and has coached at Ellis for the last eight years. Ellis returns eight starters on both sides of the ball, including junior quarterback Easton Smith and senior lineman/linebacker Dylan Haas. Smith helped Ellis outscore opponents 214-197 and completed 101 of 196 passes for 1,599 yards with an 18/10 TD/INT ratio. Smith was sixth alltime in MCL history and second in Ellis annals for single season passing yards. Haas has 166 tackles in 21 career contests. Two of the top three targets – Dalton Hensley (27 catches, 444 yards, 5 TDs) and Brendon Brenner (28 catches, 516 yards, four scores) – also return for the spread offense. Haas collected a teamhigh 102 tackles, 39 more than any other Railer. Ellis had 19 turnovers and finished minus-2 in turnover margin. Ellis is 4-5, 3-6 and 4-5 the last three years after six straight district titles. 4-5 in 2014 / 1-4 in district / 2-1A Mid-Continent League Coach: Craig Amrein (1st year) Assistants: Jake Dreiling Offense: Spread Defense: 3-5 Returning lettermen: 16 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Easton Smith, QB, 6-3, 155, Jr.; Dalton Hensley, WR/OLB, 5-8, 155, Jr.; Brendon Brenner, TE/DE, 6-5, 210, Sr.; Brevin LaBarge, WR/DB, 5-11, 160, Jr.; Dylan Haas, G/LB, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Daniel Carbajal, OT, 5-10, 240, Jr.; Josh Smith, C/DE, 5-10, 205, Jr.; Ryan Herl, OT, 6-3, 215, So.; Clay Feik, OLB, 5-8, 150, Jr.; Austin Meis, NG, 5-8, 230, Jr.; Joseph Eck, DB, 6-0, 165, So.
ESKRIDGE-MISSION VALLEY
In 2014, the Vikings achieved their goal of making it to the postseason, and this year they are gunning for more. Mission Valley returns eight starters on both sides of the ball and third year coach Cody Witte said his team’s main goal is to “take the next step.” “Last year we wanted to make the playoffs, we did, but nothing more,” he said. “We want to make it past round one.” The Vikings return six linemen with starting experience, in addition to quarterback Clay Phillips, two running backs and three receivers. The offensive line will be anchored by AJ Moncrief, Tyler Phillips, Austin Masters, Logan Whitlock and Rob Phillips, while Mateo Lisk and Blake Roberts return to the backfield. Cole Hodge, Sam Gleason and Andrew Metzger are back at the receiver positions. On defense, Hodge and Roberts will lead the linebackers, and the secondary will be anchored by Gleason, Metzger and Clay Phillips. “We have solid players at all positions, but not a lot of depth,” Witte said. “We are changing some things offensively and defensively to better fit our players. Execution early will be key.” 5-5 in 2014 / 3-1 in district / 2-1A Flint Hills League Coach: Cody Witte (3rd year, 8-11) Assistants: Justin Duncan, Josh Parker, Rick Horton Offense: Pro Style Defense: 4-3 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 8 Offense, 8 Defense Cole Hodge, WR/LB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Andrew Metzger, WR/ DB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Clay Phillips, QB/DB, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Sam Gleason, WR/DB, 5-8, 130, Jr.; Blake Roberts, RB/LB, 5-8, 175, So.; Tyler Phillips, OL/DL, 6-2, 235, Sr.; AJ Moncrief, OL/ DL, 6-1, 195, Sr.; Rob Phillips, OL/DL, 6-3, 330, So.; Austin Masters, OL/DL, 5-10, 225, Jr.; Logan Whitlock, OL/DL, 6-1, 225, Jr.; Mateo Lisk, RB/DL, 5-8, 140, So.
Melanie McGee
Conor Nicholl
HIGHLAND-DONIPHAN WEST
A new league (Twin Valley) and new coach (Rod Pittam) typically requires a bit of an adjustment period, and Doniphan West’s three victories last year might reflect that transition, none coming against its new league foes. At the same time, however, it didn’t prevent the Mustangs from making the postseason, a 3-1 district run locking up the first Every opponent but West Franklin put up at least 29 berth since 2011. points on Herington. Half of the Mustangs’ six regular-season losses Despite only one victory in the past three years, came to playoff teams and West bookended its the Railers were a respectable 5-4 as recently as season with tough losses to Onaga — a 16-8 defeat 2011. Herington has only been in the state bracket in the opener and 26-13 loss in the first round of once in the past 20 years – that was in 2002. The the playoffs. program’s deepest postseason run was a semifinal Year two under Pittam could be even better journey in 1976. with nine starters back on both sides of the ball. Herington’s district includes Marion, Mission The Mustangs had only two seniors a year ago and Valley, Northern Heights and Chase County. The will look to ride the momentum built with a playoff first three of that bunch all hovered around .500 berth and the basketball team’s runner-up finish in this past year. the Class 1A Division I state tournament. With all that experience, the Mustangs should 1-8 in 2014 / 0-4 in district / 2-1A be able to hit the ground running, which is someFlint Hills League thing they’ll need to do better to gain a foothold in Coach: Tom Flax (3rd year, 1-17; 8th overall, 14-58) the bruising TVL. Assistants: N/A Last year, West rushed for only 1,094 yards as a Offense: N/A Defense: N/A team with Wade Joyce leading the way with a mere Returning lettermen: N/A 398 yards. The inability to establish the run put an Returning starters: N/A extra load on freshman quarterback Levi Watts, who did respond reasonably well by throwing for Kyle McCaskey 773 yards. Cooper Leach and Lane Spiker each caught at least 19 passes and combined for 481 receiving yards. Better offensive production (West was shut out three times and scored just 128 points) can only
HERINGTON
Herington’s lengthy streak of losses met its end in 2014 with a 13-10 triumph over West Franklin in week four. That placed a halt to a 25-game skid that stretched back to 2011. However, Herington will hope to lasso its latest losing streak as soon as possible, entering 2015 having lost its past five games. Herington is coming off a 1-8 season. The Railers offense has a versatile athlete to throw around in its scheme in Justin Biehler. He piled up more than 500 combined rushing and receiving yards and accounted for six touchdowns. He will have to be even more potent for a team that only scored more than one touchdown in a game three times, and topped out at 21 points in a battle with Mission Valley. Jonathan Lollar and Richard Hagerman are two more developing options at the skill positions. Tate Becker and Nate Backhus form a strong duo in the front seven of the defense. Becker, a linebacker, found his way into 121 tackles as a sophomore. Backhus helped break down offensive lines, registering 1-1/2 sacks in his sophomore campaign. Like Biehler with the offense, Becker and Backhus will have to ratchet up their impact another notch after Herington was clocked for more than 40 points per game. That was fourth-worst in the 2-1A class.
Golden Belt Coop Serving the community for over 100 years.
Ellis, Kansas
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M E M O RIA L H E A LTH SYSTE M
help a defense that played solid outside of three blowout losses to Washington County, Centralia and Troy — those games accounting for 143 of the 255 points allowed. Joyce and Garret Dunlap each were in on more than 70 tackles and six players return that had at least 40 stops. The Mustangs jump right into TVL play with their first four games before opening district play with Maranatha. Immaculata is off the schedule after forfeiting the last half of its season a year ago and has been replaced by Heritage Christian, a recently started program in Olathe. Troy will be the major challenge again in district play, but another playoff berth looks promising. 3-7 in 2014 / 3-1 in district / 2-1A Twin Valley League Coach: Rod Pittam (2nd year, 3-7) Assistants: Marty Allen, Derek Shelton, Craig Smith Offense: Double Wing Defense: 50 Returning lettermen: 15 Returning starters: 9 Offense, 9 Defense Lane Spiker, RB/DB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Garret Dunlap, RB/LB, 6-0, 170, Sr.; Wade Joyce, FB/LB, 5-11, 220, Sr.; Cooper Leach, SE/DB, 6-4, 175, Sr.; Hunter Idol, WR/DE, 6-0, 150, Sr.; Justin Clark, OL/DL, 6-1, 240, Sr.; Houston Cluck, OL/DL, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Kody Collins, OL/DL, 6-2, 185, Sr.; Carson Lackey, RB/DB, 5-5, 140, Jr.; Clayton Ridout, FB/LB, 5-8, 190, So.; Levi Watts, QB, 6-0, 175, So.
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