WASHBURN RURAL JUNIOR BLUES

By Keegan McCullick, Staff Writer

At 8-3, Washburn Rural was a tough matchup for all who faced them last season, including league rival and eventual state champs Manhattan, who barely edged out the Junior Blues in a Week 4 contest, 28-25.

Rural only returns five starters on both sides of the ball in 2023, but what they lack in quantity, they make up for in quality with six of that group holding All-State honors and nine of them All-League.

Defensively, the Junior Blues have some particularly impactful players back from that 2022 team, none more so than senior All-State defensive end Packson Bettis as he comes off a 66 tackle, 16 sack, 19 tackle-for-loss season.

Bettis currently held offers from Northwest Missouri State, the University of Central Missouri, and Benedictine this offseason, but an early August offer from FCS University of North Dakota was too good to resist, and Bettis verbally committed to the Fighting Hawks on August 2nd

Along with his personal goal of earning Defensive Player of the Year honors and earning an athletic scholarship to KU, Bettis and company have high hopes for team goals as well.

”I think our whole team can agree our goal has always been to go to the state championship and bring home a trophy,” Bettis said.

At the other end spot, Jamond Lane earned All-League honors and helped to create dilemmas for offensive coordinators deciding which side of the field to attack.

Adding to Lane’s frenetic production, twin brothers and senior All-State outside linebackers JC (73 tackles, 15 TFLs, 5 sacks, 5 FFs, 3 FR, Def TD) and Jaren Heim (79 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 FRs) are also among the state’s top defensive players. The dynamic duo both hold several offers from MIAA programs and in may, JC picked up an offer from the Air Force Academy.

Junior safety King Leonard rounds out the defensive unit after he put together a strong sophomore performance on a team loaded with talented upperclassmen.

The Junior Blues early season schedule is one of the toughest in the state opening at home with good Wichita East and De Soto teams, followed by a road trip to strong 4A program Piper, then back home for a game with defending 6A champs Manhattan, before a road trip to a consistently successful Junction City program.

Weeks 5 through 8 present what are likely more forgiving contests with Topeka High, Emporia, and Topeka West. If the Junior Blues can stay healthy the schedule will leave them battle-tested for a postseason run.

“Last year was a successful season for us with a lot of opportunities for growth and improvement,” Bettis said. “I think our senior group really believes this will be one of our best seasons.”