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NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS August 2026

FREE

Griffin Hall SALINA CENTRAL

Ashton Malm MCPHERSON

Noah Hines SALINA SOUTH

IT’S GO TIME! 2026 NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Tristan Swank SE-SALINE

Malachi Brunk INMAN

Jaren Garrison LITTLE RIVER

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PRESEASON RANKINGS LEAGUE RANKINGS

WICHITA LARGE

WICHITA SMALL

SALINA AREA

2. Maize

2. Garden Plain

2. Salina Central

3. Derby

3. Hesston

3. Hanover

4. Wichita Northwest

4. Haven

4. SE-Saline

5. Bishop Carroll

5. Cheney

5. Lincoln

6. Buhler

6. Wichita Trinity

6. Sylvan-Lucas

7. Wichita Southeast

7. Conway Springs

7. Salina South

8. Goddard

8. Hutchinson Central Christian

8. McPherson

9. Maize South

9. Argonia-Attica

9. Hillsboro

10. Mulvane

10. Wichita Collegiate

10. Inman

1. Kapaun Mount Carmel

1. Andale

1. Sterling

Salina Area Preseason All-VYPE OFFENSE

DEFENSE

QB - Griffin Hall, Salina Central

DL - Cael Casteel, Abilene

RB - Dane Becker, McPherson RB - Armane Redmond, Salina South

DL - Preston D’Albini, Hillsboro DL - Om Patel, Republic County DL - Garrett Wedel, Moundridge

WR - Ashton Malm, McPherson

LB - Cooper Bruna, Hanover

WR - Xavier Miller, Lincoln

LB - Jaren Garrison, Little River

Utl - Jeremiah Miller, Lincoln

LB - Jacob Lewis, Sterling DB - Benjamin Bell, Lincoln

OL - Armando Franco, Salina South

DB - Malachi Brunk, Inman

OL - Dylan Hall, McPherson

DB - Dom Matteucci, Salina Sacred Heart

OL - Kross Kemmerer, Beloit OL - Tristan Swank, SE-Saline OL - Warrick VanBlaricon, Salina Central 4

DB - Tiernan Ptacek, SE-Saline K - Jaxon Hoover, McPherson P - Cyrus Blough, Moundridge Ret - Ayden Krier, Concordia

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League Predictions AVCTL DIVISION I 1. Maize 2. Derby 3. Salina South 4. Maize South 5. Valley Center 6. Hutchinson 7. Campus

CENTRAL PLAINS (VYPE AREA TEAMS ONLY)

AVCTL DIVISION II 1. Goddard 2. Salina Central 3. Andover Central 4. Andover 5. Eisenhower 6. Ark City 7. Newton

1. Garden Plain 2. Cheney 3. Wichita Trinity 4. Conway Springs 5. Douglass 6. Kingman 7. Chaparral 8. Belle Plaine

GREATER WICHITA ATHLETIC

AVCTL DIVISION III 1. Buhler 2. McPherson 3. Mulvane 4. Augusta 5. Winfield 6. Circle

1. Kapaun Mount Carmel 2. Wichita Northwest 3. Bishop Carroll 4. Wichita Southeast 5. Wichita East 6. Wichita Heights 7. Wichita West 8. Wichita South 9. Wichita North

HEART OF AMERICA (11-MAN)

NORTH CENTRAL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION

(VYPE AREA TEAMS ONLY)

1. SE-Saline 2. Beloit 3. Salina Sacred Heart 4. Republic County 5. Ellsworth 6. Minneapolis 7. Lyons

NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS

(VYPE AREA TEAMS ONLY)

1. Abilene 2. Clay Center 3. Concordia 4. Chapman

NORTHERN PLAINS

(VYPE AREA TEAMS ONLY)

1. Lincoln 2. Sylvan-Lucas 3. Beloit-St. John’s 4. Rock Hills 5. Pike Valley 6. Linn 7. Lakeside

1. Sterling 2. Inman 3. Moundridge 4. Marion 5. Hutchinson Trinity 6. Remington 7. Sedgwick

SOUTH CENTRAL BORDER

CENTRAL KANSAS

HEART OF PLAINS

WHEAT STATE

(VYPE AREA TEAMS ONLY)

1. Hesston 2. Haven 3. Hillsboro 4. Nickerson 5. Halstead 6. Smoky Valley

1. Hutchinson Central Christian 2. Argonia-Attica 3. Cunningham 4. Pretty Prairie 5. Norwich 6. Fairfield

1. Little River 2. Canton-Galva 3. Rural Vista 4. Solomon 5. Goessel 6. Centre 7. Herington 8. Wakefield

AVCTL DIVISION IV 1. Andale 2. Wellington 3. Wichita Collegiate 4. Rose Hill 5. Clearwater 6. El Dorado

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(VYPE AREA TEAMS ONLY)

1. Cedar Vale-Dexter 2. Flinthills 3. South Sumner 4. Oxford 5. Udall 6. Central Burden

(VYPE AREA TEAMS ONLY)

Composite Schedule Week 1

Republic County at Minneapolis

Valley Heights at Republic County

Abilene at Concordia

Rock Creek at Chapman

Augusta at McPherson

Rural Vista at Goessel

Beloit at SE-Saline

Salina Central at Goddard

Abilene at Rock Creek

Blue Valley Randolph at Clifton-Clyde

Salina Sacred Heart at Ellsworth

Beloit at Smith Center

Clay Center at Wamego

SE-Saline at Lyons

Beloit-St. John’s at Lakeside

Elyria Christian at Peabody-Burns

Sedgwick at Moundridge

Bennington at Lincoln

Goessel at Canton-Galva

Smoky Valley at Ellinwood

Canton-Galva at Solomon

Inman at Sedgwick

Solomon at Bennington

Chapman at Wellsville

Hanover at Thayer Central, Neb

Sterling at Hutchinson Trinity

Circle at McPherson

Hillsboro at Hoisington

Sylvan-Lucas at Beloit-St. John’s

Clay Center at Smoky Valley

Larned at Smoky Valley

Thunder Ridge at Rock Hills

Clifton-Clyde at Herington

Lincoln at Lakeside

Wamego at Abilene

Council Grove at Minneapolis

Little River at Ell-Saline

Washington County at Hanvoer

Ell-Saline at Wakeeney-Trego Comm

Week 4

Ellinwood at Lyons

Lyons at Republic County Week 3

Marysville at Chapman

Ellsworth at Russell

Minneapolis at Ellsworth

Beloit St. John’s at Lincoln

Goessel at Burlingame

Moundridge at Sterling

Buhler at McPherson

Hanover at Linn

Remington at Marion

Chapman at Abilene

Hesston at Concordia

Rock Hills at Beloit-St. John’s

Clifton-Clyde at Linn

Inman at Hutchinson Trinity

Salina Sacred Heart at Valley Heights

Concordia at Marysville

Marion at Chaparral

Salina South at Salina Central

Ell-Saline at Hanover

Moundridge at Conway Springs

Solomon at Rural Vista

Ellinwood at Moundridge

Osborne at Pike Valley

Stockton at Pike Valley

Ellsworth at SE-Saline

Remington at Hillsboro

Thunder Ridge at Sylvan-Lucas

Goessel at Hartford

Republic County at Salina Sacred

Hillsboro at Haven

Heart

Hutchinson Trinity at Marion

Rock Hills at Washington County

Axtell at Clifton-Clyde

Inman at Sterling

SCC at Peabody-Burns

Canton-Galva at Blue Valley Randolph

Little River at Canton-Galva

Salina Central at Eisenhower

Concordia at Beloit

Lyons at Salina Sacred Heart

SE-Saline at Marysville

Ell-Saline at Central Plains

Minneapolis at Beloit

Stafford at Sylvan-Lucas

Herington at Little River

Nickerson at Smoky Valley

Sterling at Sedgwick

Larned at Hillsboro

Osawatomie at Clay Center

Valley Center at Salina South

Maize at Salina South

Peabody-Burns at Elyria Christian

Victoria at Little River

Marion at Inman

Pike Valley at Rock Hills

Marysville at Clay Center

Salina Central at Ark City

McPherson at Great Bend

Salina South at Hutchinson

Altonna-Midway at Peabody-Burns

Peabody-Burns at Tescott

Solomon at Wakefield

Concordia at Chapman

Pike Valley at Lincoln

Sylvan-Lucas at Osborne

Clifton-Clyde at Chase County

Week 2

Week 5

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Composite Schedule Clay Center at Abilene

Hutchinson Central Christian at

Salina Central at Andover Central

Ellsworth at Thomas More Prep

Solomon

Smoky Valley at Concordia

Frankfort at Hanover

Hutchinson Trinity at Marion

Salina South at Campus

Haven at Marion

Inman at Remington

SE-Saline at Riley County

Herington at Canton-Galva

LaCrosse at Little River

Sterling at Syracuse

Hillsboro at Inman

Lincoln at Oxford

Thunder Ridge at Pike Valley

Hoxie at Ell-Saline

Lyons at Hoisington

Tonganoxie at McPherson

Hutchinson Trinity at Moundridge

Maize South at Salina South

Trego at Lincoln

Larned at Lyons

Marion at Garden Plain

Lincoln at Rock Hills

McPherson at Mulvane

Little River at Stafford

Moundridge at Hillsboro

Abilene at Marysville

McPherson at El Dorado

Norton at Minneapolis

Beloit-St. John’s at Thunder Ridge

Minneapolis at Riley County

Peabody-Burns at MDVC

Blue Valley at Hanover

Newton at Salina Central

Republic County at Thomas More Prep

Chapman at Hesston

Phillipsburg at Beloit

Rock Hills at Trego

Concordia at Clay Center

Pike Valley at Lakeside

Salina Central at Hutchinson

Derby at Salina South

Plainville at Republic County

Troy at Hanover

Ellis at Little River

Salina Sacred Heart at Smith Center

Wamego at Concordia

Hillsboro at Smoky Valley

Week 8

Lincoln at Ell-Saline

Salina South at Ark City Week 7

SE-Saline at Wichita Collegiate

Lyons at Pratt

Smoky Valley at Hesston

Abilene at Circle

Marion at Douglass

Solomon at Washington County

Beloit at Russell

McPherson at Winfield

Sterling at Halstead

Canton-Galva at Bennington

Medicine Lodge at Sterling

Sylvan-Lucas at LaCrosse

Centre at Peabody-Burns

Minneapolis at SE-Saline

Wakefield at Goessel

Clay Center at Chapman

Moundridge at Inman

Clifton-Clyde at Washington County

Norton at Beloit

Council Grove at Inman

Peabody-Burns at Chetopa

Augusta at Abilene

Cunningham at Goessel

Phillipsburg at Ellsworth

Beloit at Ellsworth

Ell-Saline at Rock Hills

Pike Valley at Stockton

Beloit-St. John’s at Pike Valley

Ellsworth at Norton

Rock Hills at Bennington

Bennington at Ell-Saline

Halstead at Marion

Salina Central at Andover

Canton-Galva at Clifton-Clyde

Hanover at Axtell

Salina Sacred Heart at Thomas More

Chapman at Smoky Valley

Herington at Solomon

Prep

Council Grove at SE-Saline

Hillsboro at Hutchinson Trinity

Smith Center at Republic County

Ellinwood at Sterling

Little River at Sylvan-Lucas

Solomon at Clifton-Clyde

Ellis at Sylvan-Lucas

Marysville at Minneapolis

Sylvan-Lucas at Victoria

Goessel at Lebo

Plainville at Salina Sacred Heart

Washington County at Canton-Galva

Hesston at Clay Center

Remington at Moundridge

Waverly at Goessel

Week 6

Republic County at Doniphan West VYPE KANSAS FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026 | KSVYPE.COM

CLASS 5A

5A GA MES T O WAT CH Week 1 Salina South at Salina Central

Week 7 Salina Central at Andover Central

Week 2 Maize at Salina South Salina Central at Goddard

Week 8 Derby at Salina South

Week 6 Maize South at Salina South

ANDOVER CENTRAL

Last Season: 5-5

Andover Central enters 2026 with a strong experience base after a 5-5 season, returning 26 lettermen plus six starters on each side of the ball from a team that lost in the regional round. Derek Tuttle’s Jaguars also return both kickers and add new schedule challenges with Maize and Maize South crossover games.

Jaxson Green is the offensive centerpiece after rushing for 1,641 yards and 17 touchdowns at 8.04 yards per carry, while Cooper Mason, Bryce Skahan, Tucker Taggart, Tommy Inkelaar and Sawyer Ramsey give the Jaguars proven help around him. Tuttle also highlighted rising quarterback Ty DeGarmo as the likely new starter, and Inkelaar already holds Division I offers from Kansas State, Kansas and Oklahoma State. Defensively, Central returns key pieces in Mason, Brenton Findley, Ben Greenfield, Cooper Green, Taggart and Bobby Sands, with added depth from Sam Tamas, Brayden Breese and Jared Cables. The Jaguars lost important seniors including

quarterback Max Olson, center Paxton McLeod and defensive lineman Jaylen Wilson, but the amount of returning experience still gives them the look of a team that should stay in the 5A mix.

ANDOVER TROJANS

Last Season: 6-3

Andover comes off a 6-3 season, a 6-0 league title run and now heads into Jamie Cruce’s third season at the school with a roster that must replace major defensive graduation losses. Cruce said the biggest challenge is replacing eight defensive starters, but the Trojans are counting on this year’s seniors to carry the program forward and continue its development. The offense returns five starters and will again run the flexbone, with Will Quinn and Pete Vega forming one of the more productive backfields in this batch. Quinn rushed for 752 yards and 14 touchdowns while also throwing for 428 yards and four scores, and Vega added 1,011 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Tyson Ross, a first-team all8

state offensive lineman, and Zane Tucker, an honorable mention all-league center, give Andover proven experience in the trenches. Defensively, Jeremiah Guillot, Leland Schumacher and Jacob Thiel are the three returning starters, so how quickly the new pieces grow will likely decide whether the Trojans can repeat as league champions.

BISHOP CARROLL GOLDEN EAGLES Last Season: 6-4

Bishop Carroll enters Chris Jaax’s second season with strong optimism after a 6-4 year, and the Eagles believe returning 15 starters plus a productive offseason in the weight room gives them a chance to take a step forward. The staff said the end of last season built real confidence, and the focus now is turning that momentum into wins in bigger games and a stronger playoff push.

Offensively, Bishop Carroll uses a spread scheme with multiple formations designed to create mismatches and explosive plays. Jonah Mull returns at quarterback after rushing for 500 yards in just three games before injury,

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while Cooper Herrman, Brittyn St. Vrain, Harrison King, Aedyn Acosta and a veteran offensive line give the Eagles plenty of experience around him. Defensively, the Eagles will base from a 4-2-5 and want to control the line of scrimmage while pursuing hard with all 11 defenders. Mitchell Frank is the defensive headliner after producing 41.5 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, while Cole Steven, Same Iseman and Luke Roberts also bring proven production back.

EISENHOWER TIGERS Last Season: 2-7

Eisenhower went 2-7 last year, but the Tigers return enough experience to believe they can be more competitive in 2026, especially on defense. Darrin Fisher’s team brings back eight defensive starters and a senior-heavy core, even though it must replace major offensive production at quarterback, running back and wide receiver. The offense returns linemen Landon Salazar and Drake Brecheisen, plus experienced

2026 5A TEAMS TO WATCH receivers Braylon Lies, Trenton Erbert and Trenton Taylor. Fisher said the Tigers averaged 31 points per game and rushed for 1,600 yards last year, so the challenge now is finding new playmakers to replace all-state back Brayden Pappas and other graduated standouts.

Defensively, Andre Robinson, Drake Berning and allconference linebacker Julian Gallegos anchor the front, while Timi Moronfolu, Nate Martens, Ethan McAninch, Dimond Mundy and Leighton Hawkins give Eisenhower five returning starters in the secondary. Strong senior leadership and better depth are listed as strengths, so the Tigers look like a team that could outperform last year’s record if the new offense settles in.

giving Goddard one of the best returning backfields in AVCTL-II.

Ethan Strickert leads the offensive line, and Corbin Sullivan, Brexton Madden and Cooper Glasscock are the main senior defensive returners as the Lions try to rebuild their aggressive defensive identity. Goddard still looks capable of competing because of its backfield talent and program stability, but the defensive rebuild will probably determine how high the Lions can climb this fall.

form the heart of that unit, giving Hutchinson a veteran defensive core to lean on.

KAPAUN MT. CARMEL CRUSADERS

Last Season: 12-1, 4A state champion

Kapaun moves back up to 5A after winning the 4A state title and going 12-1 last season, so the Crusaders clearly enter 2026 as one of the strongest teams in this batch. Weston Schartz’s team also won the GWAL title and returns a large share of its offensive production from a group that averaged 50.8 points per game.

believes improved health and the experience gained by younger defenders could make the Mavericks a fun and competitive 5A team this fall. The Mavericks return five offensive starters and eight defensive starters, so there is a decent base to build from. The offense starts with quarterback Reign Illian, who threw for 2,507 yards and 25 touchdowns, giving Maize South one of the best returning passers in this set of teams. Hayden Nuss, Stratten Ebers, Carson Cantu and Riley Brown also return, with Ebers coming off 75 catches for 832 yards and 12 touchdowns.

GODDARD LIONS

Last Season: 6-4

Goddard enters 2026 after a 6-4 season and four straight winning years, but Tommy Beason says this is the program’s biggest rebuilding challenge in recent memory. The Lions return 37 lettermen, but only three offensive starters and two defensive starters from game one, while also trying to replace a senior class of 31 players that included eight college signees. The biggest bright spot is the offensive backfield, where quarterback Brock Sullivan and running back Erik Olivas return as third-year starters. Olivas posted more than 2,200 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns last season, while Sullivan added 14 passing touchdowns and eight rushing scores,

HUTCHINSON SALTHAWKS Last Season: 7-3

Hutchinson starts 2026 under first-year head coach Luke Berblinger after a 7-3 season, with the Salthawks emphasizing team culture, physical play and discipline. The schedule is demanding right away with Andover, Derby, Salina South, Campus, Maize, Salina Central, Maize South and Valley Center all on the slate. Offensively, Hutchinson returns six starters and will operate from a spread attack built around running the ball, creating explosive passing plays and protecting the football. Taylor Riemen, Lamar Govain, Larry Jeremiah, D’Angelo Gray and Cedrick Gardner give the Salthawks proven size and athleticism at receiver and along the line. Defensively, Hutchinson brings back eight starters in a 4-3 system focused on stopping the run, playing physically and forcing takeaways. Oaken Williams, Davin Williams, Brodie McCuan, Cooper Harris, Max Harris and Deshawn Adams

Ken Huff is the offensive centerpiece after rushing for 1,618 yards and 21 touchdowns, while Cole Rapp adds a proven dualthreat presence after throwing for 875 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for 444 yards and 12 more scores. Max Worrell, Ethan Burr, Axel Pondei and Jackson Gosch give Kapaun more experience and size in the option-based I-formation attack.

Defensively, the Crusaders lost major all-state talent, but Pete Keller, Aidan Flucas and Gage Nye return to lead a unit that still has depth from players who saw extensive action late last season. Kapaun’s own outlook says the Crusaders should again contend for both the City League and state championships, and the returning firepower makes that believable.

MAIZE SOUTH MAVERICKS Last Season: 4-5

Maize South comes off a 4-5 season, but Brent Pfeifer

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Defensively, Jackson Riley is expected to set the tone as a leader, while Kade Cary, Cole Haynes, Cale Caruth, Tristen Hiebert, Karson Davis, Jackson Carpenter and John Strobel strengthen the returning core. Maize South still has to replace experienced receivers and improve the offensive line, but the quarterback play and defensive continuity give it a real chance to rise.

NEWTON RAILERS

Last Season: 0-9

Newton is coming off a winless season, but Taylor Counts said the program’s 2026 focus is on taking another step forward and finally creating momentum and excitement around Railer football. The message is simple: start faster, win games and show clear progress in Counts’ third season.

The returning roster gives Newton more experience than a typical 0-9 team, especially with veterans like

2026 5A TEAMS TO WATCH Kane Wise, Clyde Thomas, Christian Henderson, Cason Horton, Kingston Henry, Jaxson Hiebert and Landyn Rains back. Henderson is the most proven two-way difference-maker after posting 403 receiving yards, three touchdowns, 34 tackles, three sacks and 10 tackles for loss, while Horton had 41 tackles and Hiebert added 36. Kingston Henry, Thomas and Rains also bring back production on offense, and the Railers should be more competitive if that experience translates early. With Valley Center, Arkansas City, Andover Central, Goddard, Salina Central, Eisenhower, Andover and Maize on the schedule, Newton will find out quickly whether the rebuild is gaining traction.

Parker Pinks among the key returners.

Defensively, the Mustangs believe their athleticism on the back end is a strength, and players like Trae Wise, Eli Kreighbaum and Alex Garcia provide proven playmaking ability. The team goals are clear: beat Salina South in the opener, win AVCTL-II and keep winning in November.

SALINA SOUTH COUGARS Last Season: 3-8

Salina South enters 2026 looking to break through after a 3-8 season, and second-year head coach Christien Ozores said the Cougars are a hungry team that believes the work of the past two years is ready to show up on Friday nights. He pointed to a strong offseason filled with effort and energy as a reason for optimism.

play fast.

Kobie Henley, Maddox Girard, Jaxon Anthony, Caden Stauffer, Corbin Sparks Beason and Conner Riley headline that defensive core. Anthony’s six interceptions, Henley’s 74 tackles and Girard’s 68 tackles with five sacks suggest Salina South has enough returning production to be more dangerous than last year’s record indicates.

VALLEY CENTER HORNETS Last Season: 4-5

Valley Center tries to climb in a difficult AVCTL-I race.

WICHITA WEST PIONEERS Last Season: 1-8

Wichita West looks like a team with a real chance to improve on last year’s 1-8 record because Jeremy Moss says the Pioneers return nine defensive starters and a larger group of players with meaningful varsity experience. Moss believes that continuity should help West play a tougher, faster and more disciplined brand of football in 2026.

SALINA CENTRAL MUSTANGS

Last Season: 12-1, 5A state champion

Salina Central enters 2026 as one of the top teams in 5A after going 12-1 and beating Basehor-Linwood 51-34 for the state title last season. Mark Sandbo’s Mustangs return only four starters on each side, but they still bring back 21 lettermen and an elite quarterback, so the ceiling remains high.

The offense should again be dangerous in the spread because Griffin Hall returns after throwing for 1,827 yards and 29 touchdowns with just two interceptions while also rushing for 982 yards and nine more scores. Salina Central also brings back three of five offensive linemen from a group that averaged more than 300 rushing yards per game, with Warrick VanBlaricon and

The offense returns seven starters and should have a real chance to be productive in a power spread scheme built on multiple formations, motion and getting playmakers into space. Junior quarterback Izrael Telles is the centerpiece after throwing for 2,269 yards and 24 touchdowns, while senior running back Armane Redmond added 1,053 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and senior receiver Jay Curtis caught 49 passes for 772 yards and nine scores. Armando Franco, Simon Flores and Cooper Anderes also give Salina South experience in the trenches. Defensively, the Cougars return six starters and will use an odd-front system that mixes looks up front while keeping things simple in the secondary so players can 10

Valley Center comes off a 4-5 season and heads into Scott L’Ecuyer’s ninth year at the school needing a lot of younger players to mature quickly, because only four total starters return on each side of the ball. Even with that turnover, the Hornets have reason for optimism because the offense gets back its top five targets in the passing game. RayJ Logan, Spencer Crumrine and Evan Chavez headline that returning receiving corps after combining for 125 catches and nearly 1,700 yards in 2025. Crumrine had 50 catches for 735 yards and seven touchdowns, Logan had 51 catches for 678 yards and five scores, and Chavez added 24 catches for 263 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson Child is the lone returning starting offensive lineman, Preston Looney gives the backfield a dualthreat option, and Layne Loganbill plus Isaac Duncan will compete at quarterback. Defensively, Dylan Fetty, Corbin Holdaway, Jace Schwartz, Landen Taylor and Shawn White provide the returning experience as

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The defense is clearly the strength of the team, led by junior defensive back Treshawn Johnson after his 80-tackle, all-city season. Wyatt Powell returns at linebacker after 60-plus tackles and a team-leading interception total, while senior Landon Hauser adds another all-city presence with 50 tackles and leadership value.

Offensively, West returns five starters and will operate from a spread scheme. Senior lineman Jacobe Copes, a three-year starter and allcity selection, anchors the front, while junior JeVaun Darnell gives the Pioneers an all-state, all-city playmaker and Landon Hauser plus Jeremiah Copes add experience in the backfield. Hauser is also the team’s MVP nominee because Moss describes him as a natural leader who sets the tone with effort and toughness. Sophomore Ceaser Muniz is the underclassman to watch after already starting on defense last year, which adds to the sense that West has more returning substance than a typical one-win team.

NEX-TECH ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Salina Central’s Griffin Hall Griffin Hall isn’t spending much time looking back on last season. Instead, the Salina Central quarterback has his sights firmly set on another opportunity to compete for a state championship while helping lead a team with plenty of new faces.

“I am excited to get another chance to compete for a state championship,” Hall said. “I also am looking forward to playing with this team. We have a lot of new guys, and I’m excited to bring them along and compete with them.”

After an impressive junior campaign in which he threw for 1,887 yards and 29 touchdowns while completing 68% of his passes, Hall has dedicated his offseason to becoming an even more dynamic quarterback. He also rushed for 980 yards and nine touchdowns, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. Hall’s offseason has been built around improving the areas he believes can elevate both his individual game and Salina Central’s offense.

“I have been doing a lot of speed training and quarterback drills with a coach,” Hall said. “I have worked out a lot at Sharp Performance, and

I have also attended a couple college camps.”

Improving his athleticism and arm strength became priorities immediately after last season ended.

“One of my main focuses was my speed for the offseason and arm strength,” Hall said. “I have done a lot of explosive and speed work at Sharp Performance while also getting work in on my own and sprinting. For my arm strength I have continued to work on my lower-body strength and doing med-ball throws and a lot of rotational movements.” Hall hopes those improvements translate into another productive season statistically, but he believes team success comes first.

“My most important goal this year is to win all of our regular-season games and continue to a deep playoff run,” Hall said. “I want to individually be a great leader for the people around me.” If the numbers follow, Hall has lofty expectations for himself. He is aiming to throw for more than 2,000 yards while rushing for more than 1,200. He also wants to improve his completion percentage to 70% while taking better care of the football.

“I want to have a 2,000-plus passing year while rushing for 1,200plus,” Hall said. “I also want to have a 70% completion percentage and limit turnovers by being smart with the ball.” Those goals reflect Hall’s confidence, but they also underscore his commitment to constant improvement. With another offseason of speed training, quarterback instruction and strength work behind him, he enters the season ready to lead Salina Central through another championship chase.

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S A L I N A R E G I O N A L O R T H O P E D I C C L I N I C C OAC H O F T H E M O N T H

Salina South’s Christien Ozores Entering his third season as Salina South’s head football coach, Christien Ozores believes building a successful program goes well beyond wins and losses. For Ozores, the ultimate goal is preparing young men for life while creating a culture the Cougars can take pride in long after their playing days are over.

Ozores arrived at Salina South after spending four seasons at Russell High School, where he served two years as the Broncos’ defensive and special teams coordinator before taking over as head coach for two seasons. His coaching career began seven years ago at Victoria Junior High, and each stop has helped shape the philosophy he has brought to Salina.

“I’m a big believer in setting kids up for both short- and long-term success during and post high school,” Ozores said. “Teaching them the importance of discipline, work ethic and being a good person to others. I want kids to be proud of the football program they played for and to cherish those memories for a lifetime.” That mindset was evident from his very first meeting with the Cougars after accepting the job.

“The first memory that comes to mind is the first time I met the kids in person about a week after I got the job,” Ozores said. “I was brutally honest with the kids with what our program expectations will be, what we have to do to take steps forward and asked them to buy into our process of what we need to be successful.” While Ozores acknowledges there is still work to be done before Salina South becomes a consistently successful program, he believes the foundation is firmly in place.

“We still have a lot of work to do to become a consistent successful program, but I am proud that our athletes and coaches have bought into our vision for success,” he said. Ozores credits much of that progress to the support surrounding

the program. From the school’s administration to parents, local businesses and assistant coaches, he says the entire Salina South community has embraced the vision. “The Salina South community has been great,” Ozores said. “South High has a good culture and school pride continues to develop more and more each year. The administration is awesome and very supportive in what we are trying to accomplish.”

He also points to the collective effort required to build a successful program.

“Our community members, parents and local businesses have been very supportive and understand that it takes a village to develop something special,” Ozores said. “We preach family and community to our kids, and they do a great job of representing that in the Salina community.” Just as important, Ozores appreciates the commitment of the coaching staff that has helped establish the culture. “I’ve been lucky to have a great coaching staff as well that has helped tremendously with getting things going in the right direction,” he said. “We are lucky to have such a great staff that puts countless hours into our kids.”

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SALINA QUARTERBACK POLL WINER

Salina South’s Izzy Telles Salina South quarterback Izzy Telles enters the 2026 season with unfinished business after helping the Cougars make a late-season playoff push a year ago. Now, with experience under his belt and lofty expectations for both himself and his team, the junior signal-caller is focused on taking the next step.

game from one of the state’s best to an even higher level.

“The thing I’m most excited for is the Mayor’s Cup (South vs. Central) and building on the playoff run we had late season last year,” Telles said.

The numbers from last season suggest Telles is already among Kansas’ top quarterbacks. He earned first-team AllLeague honors and was named first-team AllState Non-Senior after accounting for 2,269 total yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 153 passes.

For Telles, few games on the schedule generate more excitement than Salina South’s annual showdown with crosstown rival Salina Central in the Mayor’s Cup.

The postseason appearance gave the Cougars valuable momentum entering the offseason, and Telles has spent the past several months making sure he’s ready to lead the offense even further this fall.

His offseason included a mix of college camps, 7-on-7 competitions and the team’s summer strength program, all designed to sharpen his skills and prepare him for another demanding campaign.

“This offseason I have been going to college camps, going to 7-on-7 and we’ve had summer weights,” Telles said. While his production last season earned statewide recognition, Telles isn’t satisfied. He identified pocket movement and footwork as the areas that could elevate his

“One area I’m wanting to improve is pocket movement and footwork,” he said. “I’ve been doing footwork drills and training like an athlete.”

Those accomplishments have only fueled bigger goals heading into the new season.

“Some goals I have are winning first-team All-League, reaching 3,000 yards,” Telles said. “Some team goals I have are to have a winning record and make a deep run in the playoffs.”

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K E L LY K I T C H E N E R ’ S S H E LT E R AT H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Salina South’s Noah Hines After a standout season a year ago at Salina Sacred Heart, Noah Hines is looking forward to a new challenge and the opportunity to compete at a higher level with his teammates at Salina South.

Hines, who earned first-team all-league and first-team all-state honors last season, is focused on helping the Cougars succeed while continuing to improve his game. “I’m just excited to play with these boys and see what we can do,” Hines said. “Ready to compete at a high level and hopefully succeed with my brothers alongside. I’m also excited for the atmospheres that we will play in this upcoming season.” Last season, Hines was one of the top receivers in the state, recording 38 receptions for 738 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 20.7 yards per catch and 82 yards per game while earning recognition as a first-team all-state receiver in Class 1A and on the all-state non-senior team for Classes 3-1A.

“Just my route running and getting used to better coverage at the 5A level and creating more separation,” Hines said. “Also wanting to improve my catch radius for my QB and become a more reliable target for him.” Hines has also spent time working with Telles to develop timing and consistency before the season begins.

As he prepares for the upcoming season at the 5A level, Hines has spent his offseason building chemistry with his teammates and sharpening his skills.

“I’m just working with trainers and going to the field with QB Izzy Telles and just getting used to his ball speed and working on our timing on routes,” Hines said.

One of Hines’ main areas of focus has been improving as a route runner and becoming a more dependable target for quarterback Izzy Telles.

“Just making big plays for the team in big moments,” Hines said. “Having a winning season. Make a deep playoff run. I also want to make all-state again like last year and all-league. Mostly just want to win with the guys around me and have fun during our time together this season.”

“I’ve just been working out at the field with the team trying to build chemistry and learn the signals for our plays,” Hines said. “I’ve been training with trainers and going to team camps and scrimmages. Also going to morning weights.”

While individual goals remain important, Hines said his biggest goal is helping Salina South win.

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THE STEAM TEAM’S ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Salina South’s Cruz Carlos While many freshmen spend their first high school football season simply adjusting to the speed of the game, Salina South’s Cruz Carlos has bigger aspirations.

attending the team’s camp at Fort Hays State.

“The Fort Hays State camp really helped me learn plays and build relationships,” Carlos said.

Carlos enters the fall eager to contribute at the varsity level while continuing to develop alongside the Cougar program’s veteran leaders.

One of Carlos’ biggest priorities has been refining his route running. Knowing that creating separation is essential for a receiver, he has spent months working on the finer details of his game.

“What I’m most excited about this season is performing in big moments and learning from the upperclassmen,” Carlos said.

he hopes to earn varsity playing time as a freshman while making a name for himself. He also wants to help Salina South continue building a stronger foundation for the future. “A goal I have individually is getting my name out there and getting some varsity reps as a freshman,” Carlos said. “Teamwise, my goal is to get more wins than last year, continue to build the culture and keep lifting and building strength to make us better for the season.”

“My route running was something I wanted to work on,” Carlos said. “I’ve been working on that for the past few months with Sharp Performance, by myself, or even getting around with my friends and running routes.”

That mindset has fueled an offseason dedicated to improvement. Carlos has trained at Sharp Performance’s Football Academy, where he has focused on increasing his speed, agility, strength and receiving skills. He has also participated in Salina South’s summer strength and conditioning program while

Although he’s just beginning his high school career, Carlos has already set ambitious goals for himself and his team. Individually,

SPENCER CLEANING’S ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Salina South’s Kobie Henley After years of falling short of expectations, Salina South senior Kobie Henley believes the Cougars are poised to change the narrative in 2026.

With the Class of 2027 now leading the program and a new head coach establishing a strong culture, Henley said the confidence surrounding the team is higher than it has been in years.

“I’m most excited to see how our team does this season because in the past years we haven’t been the fully put together team I know we could be,” Henley said. “Now that my ‘27 class is seniors and our new head coach has built chemistry with us, I believe we will make some serious noise this season.” Henley has done everything he can during the offseason to ensure he is ready to help lead that turnaround.

His days often started with 6:30 a.m. weightlifting sessions at Salina South before continuing with additional work on the practice field. He also sought out competition at four college prospect camps, attending events at Hutchinson Community College, Kansas State, Lindenwood and Pittsburg State. The Cougars stayed busy as a team as well, competing in camps and scrimmages at Fort Hays State and Mill Valley while adding several summer scrimmages to prepare for the fall. “I’m putting in as much work as possible,” Henley said. “Most of the time after morning weights, I was at the field working on my craft.”

Henley has focused much of that extra work on becoming a more complete defensive back. Working alongside defensive backs coach Isaiah Wills of 1of1 Training, he has emphasized improving his footwork, speed and ability to diagnose plays more quickly.

“I want to improve the most in the aspect of going and making more plays on the ball in the air and filling my alley with more intent and speed,” Henley said. “I’ve been working on my footwork, speed and ability to read an alley.” The foundation for an even bigger senior season is already in place.

As a junior, Henley recorded 75 tackles, one interception and 10 pass breakups while also contributing offensively with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. Those numbers have fueled ambitious goals for his final high school campaign.

Henley hopes to finish the season with at least four interceptions, more than 12 pass breakups and another strong tackling performance as one of the Cougars’ defensive leaders. While individual success would be rewarding, Henley said the team’s accomplishments will ultimately define the season.

“My goals this season are to end with at least four picks and 12-plus PBUs along with racking up quite a few tackles,” he said. “For the team, I want to win our rival game and make a huge playoff run, at least ending the season with a winning record, which South hasn’t done in over 10 years.”

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SALINA OFFENSIVE LINEMAN POLL WINNER

Salina South’s Armando Franco After falling just short in recent seasons, Salina South senior center Armando Franco believes the Cougars have all the pieces in place to make a championship run this fall. “The thing that I am most excited for the next football season is finally being able to put everything together,” Franco said. “It felt as if we were missing just a small piece in past years. However, this season we have everything put together and I am excited to show what the Salina South program has grown to.”

As one of the Cougars’ veteran leaders, Franco has embraced the responsibility that comes with helping lead a team with high expectations. A three-year starter and two-time all-league center, he has made leadership a priority throughout the offseason. “One way that I have been wanting to improve on this season has been my leadership skills,” Franco said. “I lacked a little in that area and throughout this entire offseason I have been leading multiple player-led practices and player-led meetings, as well as holding others accountable for showing up to weights and practices.”

Franco has paired that leadership development with an intense offseason training regimen. Along with participating in Salina South’s strength and conditioning program, he has continued lifting outside of football, attended multiple camps and dedicated extra time to refining his footwork. “This offseason, in order to prepare for this, I have been continuing my strength program outside of football,” Franco said. “Likewise, I’ve been to multiple camps, and I’ve also been doing footwork practice outside of everything to make sure my craft is perfect.”

That work has already translated into one of the state’s top offensive linemen. Franco allowed minimal pressure last season while earning second straight allleague honors at center. His dominance has also extended to the weight room, where he owns Salina South’s alltime squat record at 655 pounds and previously set the school’s 220-pound class squat record with a 590-pound lift. Still, Franco believes his best football is ahead of him.

His individual goals include not allowing a sack all season while earning first-team all-state recognition and capturing a third consecutive all-league selection. More importantly, he wants to help Salina South make a deep postseason run.

“Some goals I have for myself this year is to not allow any sacks all season and also be first-team all-state,” Franco said. “A goal for the team is to dominate the playoffs and get a chance to play in the state championship.”

SALINA RECEIVER POLL WINNER

Salina South’s Jay Curtis With plenty of familiar faces returning to the lineup, Salina South senior wide receiver Jay Curtis believes the Cougars are positioned to build on last season’s playoff success and take another step forward in 2026.

After advancing to the third round of the postseason a year ago, Curtis said the experience changed the mindset of the program and raised expectations entering his final high school season.

“This season, I am excited to be heading into my senior year with many returning teammates who are dedicated to having a great year,” Curtis said.

That continuity has been a focal point throughout the offseason. Curtis has spent much of the summer strengthening his chemistry with his quarterback, believing that added familiarity will pay dividends once the season begins. “During the offseason, I have been building with my quarterback, creating a better connection between us on the field,” Curtis said. 16

Curtis also made improving his physicality a priority. While he established himself as one of Salina South’s top receiving threats last season, he wanted to become a more complete receiver by developing his run-blocking ability.

“The biggest area of my game that I wanted to improve on was my run blocking,” Curtis said. “I improved by hitting the weights hard and showing more aggression than ever before, and it has shown all throughout summer during scrimmages.” The hard work comes after an impressive junior campaign in which Curtis hauled in 49 receptions for 772 yards and nine touchdowns. His production earned him all-league honors as well as honorable mention all-state recognition. Now entering his senior season, Curtis has set an ambitious individual goal while keeping the team’s success at the forefront.

“My only personal goal this year is being a 1,000-yard receiver who is a threat on all levels of the field,” Curtis said.

Team goals, however, remain the biggest motivation. Curtis believes last season’s playoff run provided proof that Salina South can compete with the state’s top programs and that the returning core is capable of making an even deeper postseason push. “This year as a team the goal is making it to state,” Curtis said. “Making it to the third round of the playoffs really flipped a switch within everybody, seeing the hard work and dedication we’ve put into the game turn into real progress. With many of our key guys returning on both sides of the ball, I truly believe great things are going to be shown from Salina South football this year.”

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FIRST BANK OF KANSAS ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Abilene’s Dayven Cuba

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Dayven Cuba knows Abilene faces a new challenge this season after graduating a talented senior class, but the Cowboys’ senior leader is embracing the opportunity to help shape the next generation. Rather than focusing on what was lost, Cuba is excited about what can be built.

“I’m very excited to see how our young guys will perform,” Cuba said. “We lost a great group of seniors, and we know we have to get this young group ready, and they are looking promising.”

Cuba, who earned All-North Central Kansas League honorable mention honors at defensive back after recording 92 tackles last season, enters his senior year as one of the Cowboys’ most experienced defensive leaders. With many new faces expected to contribute, he understands his responsibilities extend beyond making plays on Friday nights.

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During the offseason, Cuba continued to sharpen his athleticism by spending much of his time on the wrestling mat, believing the sport provides benefits that carry over directly to football.

“In the summer I usually focus on my wrestling and work,” he said. “Wrestling helps me all around the board as an athlete and gets me prepared for football season.” While Cuba expects to once again be a key contributor on defense, he believes his biggest improvement this year won’t necessarily show up on the stat sheet. As one of the few juniors in the starting lineup last season, Cuba was surrounded by veteran seniors who naturally filled leadership roles. Now, he has become one of the players younger teammates look to for guidance.

“I think the area that I’ve personally been working on and am excited to display is my leadership,” Cuba said. “Last year I was a junior starting with all seniors with two other juniors. I didn’t have as much of a role with leadership then as I do now. It just comes down to leading my guys even when things don’t go right. Stuff isn’t going to always go our way, we know that, but it’s how we react to it that dictates everything else.”

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Cuba also has personal goals on the field after narrowly missing a milestone in 2025. He finished with 92 tackles and has his sights set on reaching triple digits this fall.

“My personal goal is to hit 100 tackles,” he said. “On a loaded defense last year I fell just short of that mark, so I’m in search of it this time around.”

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High school sports: A winning part of a complete education.

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CLASS 4A

4A GA MES T O WAT CH Week 2 McPherson at Great Bend Wamego at Abilene

Week 5 Clay Center at Abilene

Week 6 McPherson at Mulvane

Week 3 Buhler at McPherson

Week 7 Tonganoxie at McPherson

Week 4 Abilene at Rock Creek ABILENE COWBOYS

Last Season: 5-4 Abilene High enters 2026 looking to turn a solid winning season into something more, leaning on a strong culture and veteran leadership to steady an otherwise inexperienced roster. The Cowboys are guided by seventh-year head coach Brad Nicks, who believes the foundation built over the past six seasons will keep Abilene competitive as new faces step into bigger roles. “I am excited to see what this team can do this year. We will rely on our leadership and culture that we have built the previous six years to help us be successful this season. This group will be inexperienced at the start but have worked very hard in the off-season and they are looking to make 2026 special,” Nicks said. Senior Ethan Evans is the centerpiece after three varsity seasons, sliding from tight end to quarterback while remaining a tone-setter on defense at Sam linebacker. Evans brings

production and versatility after an 81-tackle year that earned him All-NCKL honorable mention, and his move under center gives Abilene a smart, physical leader on both sides of the ball. Running back/safety Dayvan Cuba and two-way lineman Cael Casteel join Evans as key returners who can anchor all three phases. Cuba made 88 tackles and was an AllNCKL honorable mention safety, while Casteel stacked 51 tackles and five tackles for loss on his way to second-team All-NCKL honors in the trenches. Together, that experienced core gives Abilene a proven defensive backbone and enough playmaking on offense to chase another winning season in 2026.

AUGUSTA ORIOLES

Last Season: 5-6 Augusta heads into Dawson Elliott’s second season looking to build on a 5-6 year that the staff described as a foundationsetting season marked by growth, resilience and a regional playoff push. 18

The Orioles believe their defensive returners, team chemistry and veteran leadership can help carry momentum forward even as they replace major offensive production from a strong senior class. Roman Bridwell, Jadyn Harris, Jackson Ingram, Mason Pringle, Daltin Apel, Jett Highfill and Cale Wills headline the key returners. Pringle and Apel give Augusta proven linebacker production after 60 and 55 tackles respectively, while Ingram brings two-way value with 10 catches, four total touchdowns and three sacks. The team lists skill positions, chemistry and leadership as strengths, which should help younger players settle into bigger offensive roles. With games against McPherson, Independence, Circle, Winfield, Rose Hill, Abilene, Mulvane and Buhler, Augusta should get a clear early read on whether that growth is arriving quickly enough.

ARK CITY BULLDOGS

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Last Season: 2-7 Arkansas City enters 2026 after a 2-7 season with Chet Pobolish in his third year and a roster that returns five starters on each side of the ball. The Bulldogs will continue to operate from a multiple spread offense and a 4-2-5 defense, with the schedule again featuring tough league tests like Newton, Andover, Andover Central and Goddard. Trevin Miller is the top returning offensive producer after posting 36 catches for 680 yards and six touchdowns. Dray Camp and Stratton Bruce give Ark City size in the trenches, while Noah Parr anchors the defense after recording 68 tackles and six tackles for loss last season. The file gives a shorter personnel snapshot than some others, but the returning pieces suggest Ark City’s clearest path forward is through Miller’s playmaking and Parr’s presence in the middle of the defense. If the Bulldogs improve up front and get more complementary

2026 4A TEAMS TO WATCH production around those two, they should be more competitive than last year’s record.

BUHLER CRUSADERS

Last Season: 6-4 Buhler comes off a 6-4 season and first place in league play, and Steve Warner believes the Crusaders should be very good offensively despite a demanding 2026 schedule. Warner said the program’s goal every year is to win a state championship, but that staying healthy will be critical given early matchups with Maize South, Mulvane, Great Bend, McPherson and Wellington. The offense returns a strong group around quarterback Asher Zachary, including Nixon Standlee, John Aldrich, Jax Pratt, Asher McConnaughy, Landon Martinez, Kolbi McCarty and Gabe Edmund. Warner specifically pointed to the offense as a likely strength, and the roster includes multiple returning linemen with all-league or allstate recognition plus experienced skill talent. Defensively, the file is slightly inconsistent about the total number of returning starters, but it clearly identifies Jacob Burklow, Noah Hays, Layne Burkhart, Jax Pratt, Dylan Scripsick and Garrett Gleason among the returning pieces. Buhler appears to have enough talent to contend again, especially if it quickly finds the right defensive combinations around an offense that

should already be ahead.

CIRCLE THUNDERBIRDS

Last season: 1-8 Circle heads into 2026 with a new voice and a clear developmental focus under first-year head coach Travis Rauh, who inherits a young team that he says is “improving every day” and learning what it takes to be successful consistently. The Thunderbirds are intent on finishing the summer strong and carrying that growth into a schedule that includes Pratt, Winfield, Augusta, McPherson, Buhler, El Dorado, Abilene and Mulvane. Offensively, Circle returns five starters and will operate out of a spread scheme designed to force defenses to defend the entire field while still maintaining a physical running game. Junior running backs Jason Smith (669 rushing yards, 7 TDs) and Aymon Oliver (669 rushing yards, 6 TDs) give the Thunderbirds a potent one-two punch on the ground, while junior quarterback Cole Wilbur (650 rushing yards, 4 TDs) adds another dynamic runner from under center. Senior receiver Rocky Cosby (197 receiving yards) and sophomore linemen Weston Johnson and Carter Jenkins help balance the attack with perimeter and interior strength. Defensively, Circle also brings back five starters and will use multiple looks, primarily a 4-2-5 and 3-3-5. Smith returns

at strong safety after recording 27 tackles, with Aiden Frischenmeyer (DT), Boston Avery (DE, 28 tackles), Oliver (LB, 63 tackles), Trevor Stewert (LB) and Luke Owens (CB) forming the core of a unit coaches want playing “fast and physical” with everyone on the same page. The defensive emphasis remains simple: get a lot of bodies to the ball and tackle well. Smith is the team’s MVP nominee after posting 1,000 all-purpose yards as a sophomore and earning second-team allconference honors, and he’ll again be a two-way engine. Underclassman tackle Weston Johnson, who started the back half of last season as a freshman, is tabbed as a key young piece up front. If Circle’s leadership core continues to grow and the spread run game clicks, this young roster has a chance to turn last year’s struggles into a more competitive 2026.

Morrison, Maddix Soper and Peyton Wight headline the senior returners, while Landon Bright, Hunter Conrad, Kingston Klein, Cooper Meese, Jackson Remsberg, Britton Wescott, Nellieon Williams and Brailin Wright form a strong junior core. Bowlin earned honorable mention all-league honors at quarterback, Conrad was honorable mention all-league at running back, Bright earned honorable mention allleague on the offensive line, and Williams earned honorable mention recognition on special teams. From the returningstarter markers in the sheet, El Dorado appears to have a broad base of experienced skill players and linemen to work with in 2026. If you want, I can turn the spreadsheet into a cleaner capsule too, but based on this file alone, the Wildcats look deeper than a typical roster-only upload would suggest.

4A EL DORADO WILDCATS

Last Season: 0-9 The El Dorado workbook reads more like a roster sheet than a full season preview, but it still shows a strong amount of returning experience for a 4A team under head coach Dan Adelhardt. The Wildcats have returning starters spread across both senior and junior classes, which suggests a solid nucleus on each side of the ball even though the file does not include a full outlook or team record. Daniel Bowlin, Kael

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MCPHERSON BULLPUPS

Last Season: 5-4 McPherson heads into 2026 with one of the more experienced rosters in this batch, returning nine offensive starters, 10 defensive starters and 24 total lettermen from last year’s 5-4 team. Jace Pavlovich said the Bullpups are processdriven and believe this group has the pieces for a postseason run, especially if it improves basic alignment and tackling on defense. Offensively, McPherson brings back a loaded

2026 4A TEAMS TO WATCH core led by quarterback Carter Bengston, running backs Dane Becker and Brody Milleson, receiver Ashton Malm and multiple experienced linemen and skill players. Bengston threw for 1,900 yards and 17 touchdowns, Malm had 58 catches for 1,134 yards and 13 scores, and Becker plus Milleson combined for 1,247 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. The Bullpups describe their offense as deep with gamebreakers across the board, while Dylan Hall returns as a defensive anchor after at least 55 tackles and two sacks. With Augusta, Great Bend, Buhler, Circle, El Dorado, Mulvane, Tonganoxie and Winfield on the schedule, McPherson should be tested enough to prove whether it is ready to move from solid to dangerous.

total touchdowns. Hudson Myers, Colter Light and Tanner Hargrove round out the top returning offensive group, giving Mulvane veteran pieces at receiver, tight end and up front. Defensively, the Wildcats return eight starters led by Damien Nicholson, Ensley, Myers, Hargrove, Caleb Holle and Cooper Brown. The schedule includes Chanute, Buhler, Winfield, Wamego, Wellington, McPherson, Augusta and Circle, so Mulvane should get tested quickly. If the rebuilt line comes together fast enough, the returning skill talent gives the Wildcats a real chance to build on last year’s strong record.

also have skill players they want to feature more this year. Defensively, Rose Hill returns six starters in a 4-2-5 built on tackling and pursuit. Merlau, Kirchoff-Jones, Nick Jones and Nottingham form the core of that unit, while Williams is the underclassman to watch as a gritty OL/DL player expected to help immediately.

WELLINGTON CRUSADERS

several departures. Easton Lynnes, Fisher Elder, Djurovic, Curry, Ethan Boyd and Zeka give Wellington a strong defensive core, highlighted by Elder’s 113 tackles and Lynnes’ 97 tackles.

WINFIELD VIKINGS

Last Season: 1-8 Winfield sees 2026 as a rebound opportunity, with Monty Lewis saying the Vikings must reestablish the physical, competitive identity that defined the program over the previous four years. With eight returning offensive starters and seven returning defensive starters, the experience is there for a better season than last year’s 1-8 finish. Offensively, Winfield will stay multiple, ranging from two-tight-end sets to five-wide looks, but Lewis said running the football effectively will remain the top priority. Dane Chattam, Rafael Ecot, Carson Meeker, Elijah Bergesen, Eli Tagg and Cason Reams form the main returning offensive group, with Chattam serving as the team’s MVP nominee because of his leadership, athleticism and speed. Defensively, the Vikings base out of a 4-2-5 with some 3-3 stack looks and want to play a bend-butdon’t-break style. Elias Moon, Jerimiah Lange, Carver Muxlow, Tayquan Brown, Bergesen and Ecot headline that side of the ball, giving Winfield a chance to be more rugged and consistent if the team regains its edge.

MULVANE WILDCATS

Last Season: 8-2 Mulvane enters 2026 coming off an 8-2 season, and Daniel Myears said the key challenge will be replacing the offensive line that helped power last year’s success. Even so, the Wildcats are optimistic because they expect the classes of 2027 and 2028 to step into major roles around an experienced senior core. The offense returns five starters and will continue to work from a spread look. Grady Myers is the headliner after rushing 149 times for 1,194 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Hays Ensley adds major versatility with 184 rushing yards, 263 receiving yards and six

ROSE HILL ROCKETS

Last Season: 6-4 Rose Hill heads into Reece Petty’s second season after a 6-4 year, and the Rockets believe their senior-heavy roster can keep them competitive despite losing 10 seniors from last season. Petty pointed to the return of all five starting offensive linemen and a strong defensive line as the foundation of the team. The offense returns eight starters and will again lean heavily on 12 and 20 personnel, which means plenty of two-tight-end and two-back looks with a run-first mindset. Kai Kirchoff-Jones, Luke Nottingham, Remington Merlau, Zander Ford, Caleb Williams and Myles Easley headline the returning group, and Petty said the Rockets 20

Last Season: 8-3 Wellington comes off an 8-3 season and returns a strong offensive nucleus under Jeremiah Meeks, especially at quarterback, along the line and in the skill group. Meeks said the Crusaders lost important defensive pieces and an all-state running back, but young players gained enough experience last year to be ready for bigger roles now. The offense will operate from a spread system and should be led by junior quarterback Colton Elmore, who threw for 1,760 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 460 rushing yards and five more scores. Jackson Curry, Cole Zeka, Jonathan Armstrong, Boston Bernd, Goran Djurovic and Cameron Rosenberg give Wellington proven production at receiver, tight end, running back and across the offensive front. Defensively, the Crusaders will play a 3-4 and may still be dangerous because of their speed and athleticism even while replacing

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HORIZON REAL ESTATE ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

McPherson’s Ashton Malm Ashton Malm knows this fall will be one he’ll remember long after the final whistle.

For the McPherson senior wide receiver, the upcoming season represents one last opportunity to share the field with the teammates who have become some of his closest friends while pursuing another memorable postseason run. “I am really excited to play the sport I love most with my best friends,” Malm said. “It’s the last season I will ever play with the guys I’ve grown up with, so it is definitely something special.”

Malm enters his senior campaign after putting together an impressive junior season. In just nine games, he totaled 1,131 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns while adding a kickoff return touchdown. He finished the year with 1,500 all-purpose yards, establishing himself as one of Kansas’ most productive playmakers.

Rather than relying on last season’s success, Malm has spent the offseason focused on refining his game.

He credited McPherson’s summer program, led by the Bullpups’ coaching staff, for helping prepare the team for the challenges ahead. Outside of team workouts, Malm has continued training with Jake Sharp and Brian Butler to improve his overall performance. “We have a phenomenal training program ran by our coaches that our entire team attends during the summer,” Malm said. “I also work out with my trainers Jake Sharp and Brian Butler.” Malm has also concentrated on becoming a more polished receiver by improving one of the most important aspects of his position. “Really trying to improve my route running by watching film and taking advice from college coaches,” he said.

His goals for the season reflect both personal ambition and a team-first mindset. While Malm hopes to establish himself as the state’s premier wide receiver, helping the Bullpups make a deep postseason run remains at the forefront.

“My goals are to make a deep playoff run with my squad and be the best WR in Kansas,” Malm said.

SALINA RUNNING BACK POLL WINNER

McPherson’s Brody Milleson After gaining valuable experience as a young player last season, McPherson’s Brody Milleson believes the Bullpups are in position to take the next step in 2026.

With much of last year’s roster returning, Milleson said the combination of experience and continuity has created plenty of excitement heading into the fall. “I’m very excited for this season because we brought back many guys and were pretty young last year,” Milleson said. “I’m excited to see what we can do.”

McPherson’s offseason has been built around hard work and consistency. The Bullpups have spent the summer in early morning weightlifting sessions before taking the field for additional work, while also testing themselves against quality competition at team camps. The extra work has allowed Milleson to focus on refining the details of his game, particularly as a running back.

“During the offseason I really tried to improve reading my blocks and trusting the people in front of me,” he said. Milleson flashed his potential during the 2025 season, carrying the ball 82 times for 530 yards and

eight touchdowns while adding three receptions for 35 yards. His role expanded late in the season when he began playing defense over the final three games, recording 15 total tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss.

That versatility is something he hopes to build on this fall.

While Milleson has individual goals of becoming one of the state’s top running backs, he said team success remains the priority.

“My biggest goal is to help my team win games, and I want to be a playmaker on the defensive side,” Milleson said. “Individually I want to be a top running back in the state, taking care of the football, and improving my blocking. Our team wants to make a deep playoff run.”

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D O N ’ S T I R E & S U P P LY ’ S AT H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Abilene’s Ethan Evans After helping anchor one of the best defenses in Abilene High School history, Ethan Evans believes the Cowboys have something to prove in 2026.

Despite returning a new-look roster, Evans said the team’s confidence hasn’t wavered. Instead, the senior linebacker has embraced the opportunity to lead a fresh group while silencing doubters. “The thing I’m most excited for this upcoming season is getting to go and ball out with a brand new group of guys and prove everyone wrong who is saying we won’t perform as well as we have been,” Evans said.

Preparing for the challenge has required a demanding offseason. Evans has participated in Abilene’s summer weightlifting and football practices four days a week for the past six weeks while adding extra work outside of the team’s schedule. He trains twice a week with Kegan Schumann at Revive Performance and makes nightly trips to the gym in an effort to be ready for the season.

The extra work comes after a junior campaign in which

Evans recorded 84 tackles and two sacks while earning All-League honors at middle linebacker. Although those numbers were impressive, Evans believes they could have been even better. An injury forced him to miss two games last season, preventing him from reaching one of his biggest individual goals.

“Individually I want to surpass 110 tackles,” Evans said. “I missed two games last year due to injury and that held me back from meeting this goal, but this year I will fulfill it.” While Evans remains focused on his own production, he said the Cowboys’ biggest improvements must come collectively on the offensive side of the ball.

Abilene’s defense carried much of the load a year ago, but the coaching staff and players spent the offseason reshaping the offense to better fit the team’s personnel. “The main thing as a group we want to improve on is production on the offensive side of the ball,” Evans said. “We had one of the best defenses in school history last year, but the offense was lacking. To change that we’ve completely flipped our playbook to better match our personnel as well as moving some guys around to different positions.” The Cowboys are also determined to take the next step in the postseason. After first-round playoff exits in each of the past two seasons, Evans said the team has set its sights on extending its season into November.

“As a team we want to be playing November football and make it over the hump of being first-round exits, as we have been the past two years,” Evans said.

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SALINA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Abilene’s Ryan McKinney setback, McKinney attacked his rehabilitation with the same determination he hopes to bring onto the field this fall.

“After fracturing my femur, I wasted no time and spent hours with the physical trainer to shorten my recovery time,” McKinney said. “In the offseason, I’ve been grinding in the weight room to build my strength and endurance as I felt undersized last season.”

Beyond rebuilding his body, McKinney has worked to sharpen the mental side of his game. He believes better decision-making will allow him to play faster — and smarter.

“I have really been trying to improve my decisionmaking on the field,” McKinney said. “I tend to play too fast, which may lead me to misreading the play.”

Ryan McKinney doesn’t need a reminder that every Friday night is special.

A season-ending fractured femur during his junior year gave the Abilene senior a new appreciation for the game he loves, and as the Cowboys prepare for the upcoming season, McKinney is determined to make every opportunity count.

“After a season-ending injury my junior year, I’m mostly excited to showcase my dedication to the team,” McKinney said. “Having my season get taken away from me made me understand that I can’t take Friday nights for granted.” For McKinney, it’s not just about the wins and losses. It’s the experience of high school football that he’s eager to embrace one last time.

“The atmosphere of a Cowboy football game is what I’ll appreciate the most,” he said. “Getting fired up with my teammates in the locker room pregame, running out of a tunnel that makes me feel like I can run through a brick wall, and the crowd on their feet after a big play.”

His road back to the field began almost immediately after the injury. Rather than dwelling on the

Studying film became a major part of his offseason routine, allowing him to learn from previous mistakes and gain confidence before stepping back onto the field. “Watching film of my games in the offseason allowed me to replay and reevaluate my mistakes,” he said. “This leads to faster processing on the field because I can recognize scenarios that I have already seen before.” The lessons extended beyond X’s and O’s.

“My coaches have always told me, ‘Patience is key,’ and I’ve learned that patience comes from confidence in your play, rather than reacting blindly in the game,” McKinney said. Abilene enters the season with plenty of new faces after graduating 14 seniors from last year’s team, leading some to question how quickly the Cowboys can reload. McKinney embraces that challenge.

“After losing fourteen closely bonded seniors last year, many people are underestimating us this season due to our inexperience,” he said. “My team goal is to prove our doubters wrong with a winning record and a home playoff game, while continuing to build our team culture.” As for his personal goals, they’re much simpler.

“Individually, I simply want to have fun enjoying my final season of football and making lifelong memories with my teammates,” McKinney said.

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CITIZENS BANK AND TRUST’S TEAM SPOTLIGHT

Ellsworth Bearcat Football After finishing 5-4 a season ago, the Ellsworth Bearcats believe the foundation is in place to take another step forward this fall.

Head coach Josh Homolka enters his ninth season at Ellsworth with a roster that returns six starters on both sides of the ball, including a talented junior class that has already logged significant varsity experience. “We have had a really good summer in the weight room,” Homolka said. “We do have experience coming back this season. We have a very large junior class that will have to carry a heavy load.”

While the Bearcats don’t boast a large senior class, Homolka said the leadership from those veterans has been a major strength throughout the offseason. “Our senior class is not large in numbers but has provided some very good leadership this summer,” Homolka said. “Between our junior and senior class we are returning a good number of players that have taken meaningful snaps in the last two seasons.”

offensive line.

Homolka believes Jacobs’ leadership is just as valuable as his production.

“Carson is a great leader,” Homolka said. “He had a really good season as a sophomore at quarterback. He brings leadership both vocally and by example. He is all in on whatever sport he is playing for the Bearcats.” The coach even compared Jacobs to one of the program’s recent standouts.

“We have had great leaders — Will Cravens comes to mind,” Homolka said. “Carson reminds me of him.”

Defensively, Ellsworth will again rely on an aggressive, attacking approach from its 4-4 scheme. The Bearcats return six starters, including defensive lineman Valen Vague, linebacker Bo Kyler, cornerback Carson Jacobs, outside linebacker Ret

Bohl and defensive backs Jace Thomasson and Liam Stone. “We are an attacking style defense,” Homolka said. “We try to play with great pursuit, play with physicality and play gap responsible.”

Another player expected to make an impact is sophomore Gage Laas, who impressed the coaching staff during his freshman season. “Gage had a great JV season and filled vital roles on our special teams last season,” Homolka said. “He has the ability to be a physical player and has the football intelligence to put his teammates in the right spots at the right times pre-snap. We are excited about what Gage will bring to the team this season. He has had a tremendous offseason.”

Leading the offense is junior quarterback Carson Jacobs, who emerged as one of the top young signalcallers in the area during his sophomore campaign. Jacobs directs a power spread attack that features two backs and should have plenty of familiar faces surrounding him. Junior Bo Kyler returns as a versatile tight end/ fullback, while junior Liam Stone and senior Jace Thomasson provide experience at receiver. Junior Ret Bohl adds another playmaker at wide receiver and tailback, and senior Drew Davis anchors the

B OY D E X C AVA T I N G ’ S A T H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Abilene’s Cameron Boyd Cameron Boyd isn’t shying away from the expectations that come with helping lead the Abilene football program into a new era. Instead, he’s embracing the opportunity.

After a productive seven-game campaign that saw him account for 14 total touchdowns and one interception on offense while adding 30 total tackles and three interceptions on defense, Boyd enters the upcoming season focused on something bigger than individual numbers.

“I’m most excited about competing at a higher level,” Boyd said. “I’m always ready to attack and conquer a new challenge. It’s a great opportunity to learn from the veteran players and coaches while working to gain their trust and respect. At the end of the day, I want them to know I’m here for the team, whatever that role may be.” That team-first mindset has driven Boyd throughout the offseason. His primary objective wasn’t simply improving physically, but becoming an integral part of the Cowboys’ culture.

“My biggest goal this offseason was to get established into the program,” Boyd said. “This summer has been filled with tons of field work with the team, 7-on-7, thud scrimmages, overall strength and 24

conditioning work. Besides that, I have been focusing on growing my body physically and mentally.”

While the offseason included countless hours on the practice field and in the weight room, Boyd also spent time developing a deeper understanding of the game. He believes becoming an effective leader starts with seeing football through a coach’s eyes.

“My goal coming into this offseason was to become that leader on the field,” Boyd said. “So I’ve focused on growing my mind, trying to gain a coach’s perspective of the game so I could be that voice on the field.” Boyd’s aspirations extend beyond personal success. He wants to help return Abilene football to prominence and give the community a team it can rally behind each Friday night. “I want to reestablish Abilene football as a statewide brand,” Boyd said. “This school, this town, this community deserve to have a great product come Friday night, and that’s our goal, to go out and provide for this community each and every Friday night. Individually, I hope to be a key piece of bringing this program to be a top team.”

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CLASS 3A

3A GA MES T O WAT CH Week 1 Clay Center at Wamego

Week 5 Clay Center at Abilene

Week 4 Clay Center at Smoky Valley

Week 8 Chapman at Hesston Concordia at Smoky Valley

Week 3 Chapman at Abilene

Week 6 Hesston at Clay Center

3A PL AY ERS T O WAT CH Audiel Becker, RB, Chapman

Ayden Krier, DB, Concordia

Auley Boughfman, DL, Smoky Valley

Rebel O’Ferell, OL, Smoky Valley

Colton Bell, DB, Chapman

Drake Blochlinger, QB, Concordia Crew Elliott, LB, Smoky Valley Noah Gibson, LB, Clay Center Braytin Hake, RB, Concordia

ANDALE INDIANS

Last Season: 13-0, 3A state champion

Andale enters 2026 as the defending Class 3A state champion after a 13-0 season and another dominant postseason run under Dylan Schmidt. Even with major graduation losses, the Indians still look dangerous because they return proven all-state talent, a huge overall roster of around 88 players, and a program that has won state titles in 2024 and 2025. The biggest challenge is replacing a senior class that lost only two games over the last four years, especially at quarterback and along an offensive line that graduated

four of five starters. Still, Afton Allaire, Jrayton Dansel, Brody Winter, Parker Lies and Cruz Kaiser give Andale a strong spine, with Dansel coming off 81 tackles and all-state honors and Winter returning as a first-team allleague, all-state lineman.

Schmidt said the offense returns only three starters from a unit that averaged 60.2 points per game, while the defense brings back three from a group that allowed just 6.8 points per game. That makes development and health the major storylines, but Andale’s track record suggests the Indians will again be one of the teams everyone in 3A is chasing.

Dominic Krogman, DB, Chapman Ethan Leitzel, RB, Clay Center

Cayden Schwab, WR, Clay Center Xander Young, LB, Lyons CHAPMAN IRISH Last Season: 1-8

Chapman had a difficult 2025 season at 1-8, but the Irish return a large amount of experienced skill-position talent that could make them much more competitive in 2026. Head coach Jason Grider, entering his third year at Chapman, brings back eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters, including several all-league performers in the secondary and backfield. Senior Audiel Becker is the headliner after rushing for 804 yards and seven touchdowns while also recording 87 tackles and earning all-league and

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honorable mention 3A honors. Junior quarterback Bo Rothchild returns after taking over midway through last season, while Colton Bell, Kaicen DeWeese and Dominic Krogman give Chapman an experienced supporting cast around him. The Irish believe their skill positions are a strength, especially with Becker, Bell and DeWeese in the backfield and a loaded defensive backfield featuring Becker, Bell, Krogman and AJ Scott. Grider’s outlook is straightforward: if the offensive and defensive lines improve from last season, Chapman could be much improved in 2026.

2026 3A TEAMS TO WATCH CHENEY CARDINALS Last Season: 7-4

Cheney comes into 2026 off a 7-4 season and another deep postseason push, and Shelby Wehrman’s program still looks like one of the strongest teams in 3A. The Cardinals have a large senior class, a talented junior group and a long recent track record of success that includes the 2023 state championship and playoff appearances in each of the last several seasons. The roster is packed with returning playmakers, including Ayden Koehn, Gus Morehead, Colton Young, Casen Fowler and Landon Meng. Young gives the offense proven production after rushing for 706 yards and adding 254 receiving yards, while Fowler and Sam Johnson provide versatility and Morehead leads a secondary that returns with strong numbers and allstate-level recognition.

players in new roles. Henry said the Tigers have had a strong summer and believe they can put together a successful season if they stay healthy. A big part of that outlook depends on Ethan Lietzel, who is expected to step in at quarterback and lead the offense in his first year at the position. He is joined by Jarrin Brumfield, Cayden Good, Cayden Schwab, Noah Gibson and Brody Bowser as the top listed offensive performers.

Schwab is a notable name to watch because the staff wrote that he is “only a soph, but will be a dominat player for us.” Gibson and Bowser give Clay Center size and stability in the trenches, which should be important for a team breaking in new faces.

Curtis Campa is one of the key leaders after earning honorable mention all-league honors and recording 70 tackles with six tackles for loss in 2025. Junior two-way contributors like Emmit Ohlde, Dallen Kanngeisser, Julian Sanchez and Noah Manheim give Clearwater a promising core, while sophomore Bear Bailey and sophomore quarterback/ defensive back Talen Tjaden add upside. Bjostad noted that this younger group has been committed all offseason, and the roster should fit Clearwater’s shotgun offense and 4-3 defensive approach better with added speed. If the younger players mature quickly, the Indians have enough talent to be more dangerous than last year’s record suggests.

Wildeman, Kale Schroeder, Parker Jackson, Braytin Hake and Liam McNutt, with Jackson returning as the leading receiver at 399 yards and two touchdowns.

Up front, Jakub Brooks, Koehn Williams, Ian Loudermilk, Brody Knox and Caden Stein give Concordia experience in the trenches. Williams is also the top returning defensive producer after posting 81 total tackles, which should help anchor the Panthers on that side of the ball.

Defensively, Koehn, Morehead, Young and Meng headline a fast, experienced group, with Koehn coming off 66 tackles and all-state honors and Morehead posting 76 tackles and 11 pass breakups. Cheney’s concerns are a new quarterback, untested backups, leadership and staying healthy, but the Cardinals still have enough talent to expect another strong run.

CLAY CENTER TIGERS Last Season: 6-4

Clay Center heads into 2026 after a 6-4 season with head coach Marc Henry entering his seventh year and a roster that will feature several

Defensively, Clay Center lists Lietzel, Brumfield and Good in the secondary, with Schwab and Gibson at linebacker and Bowser on the defensive line. With early games against Wamego, Marysville, Osawatomie, Smoky Valley and Abilene, the Tigers should find out quickly how fast this new group can come together.

CLEARWATER INDIANS Last Season: 3-6

Clearwater is retooling after a 3-6 season and the graduation of a 14-player senior class, but head coach Jake Bjostad believes the next group is faster and highly committed. The Indians return six offensive starters, four defensive starters and 19 lettermen, and the coaching staff expects a more speed-based identity in 2026. 26

CONCORDIA PANTHERS

Last Season: 4-5

Concordia heads into 2026 with a veteran core under third-year head coach Brad Wildeman after finishing 4-5 last season. The Panthers run a spread offense and 4-2-5 defense, and they return a long list of experienced seniors that should give them a chance to take a step forward. Senior quarterback Drake Blochlinger is the centerpiece after throwing for 1,449 yards and 10 touchdowns while also rushing for 459 yards and 10 more scores. He is joined by senior skill players Ryker

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HESSTON SWATHERS

Last Season: 6-4

Hesston returns a veteran, productive core from a 6-4 team, and Tyson Bauerle enters his 10th season at the school with a group that brings back six offensive starters, seven defensive starters and 19 letter winners. The Swathers operate from 21 personnel on offense and an even front on defense, and much of their outlook centers on an accomplished senior class.

Senior quarterback Jerick Humphreys is one of the top returning players in this batch after already throwing for 3,178 career yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 12 rushing scores as a starter. He is surrounded by experienced weapons like Kason Landes, Tim Rhodes, Drew Bartell, Gavin Larson and Eli Haug, giving Hesston proven production in both the run and pass game. Defensively, Josh Duerksen and Landes lead a physical front seven after posting 107 and 104 tackles, while Gunner Goalden gives the Swathers an all-state-level force up front and Larson

2026 3A TEAMS TO WATCH anchors the secondary after four interceptions. With this many established contributors back, Hesston looks built to remain a strong 3A contender.

LYONS LIONS Last Season: 1-8

Lyons enters 2026 under new head coach Wyatt Seidl after a 1-8 season, and the Lions are leaning heavily on a hungry senior class to help turn the program forward. Seidl wrote that the team is built on hunger, hard work and purpose, and that the summer has provided a strong starting point.

real foundation late last year and now bring back more experience than the record suggests. Nickerson returns multiple offensive weapons, a large roster of 50-plus players and a team entering its second year in the same playbook. The offense will revolve around junior running back Rylan Morrell after his 830-yard, seven-touchdown season, while Connor White, Zein Rector, Conner Bower and junior tight end KC Keeler are also key pieces. A major question is quarterback, where Noah Weber is expected to step in after two years as the JV quarterback and replace three-year starter Kris Monroe Jr.

The Vikings will run a shotgun Wing T offense and a 3-3-5 defense, with senior Crew Elliot, senior Auley Boughfman, senior Rebel O’Ferell and senior Mason Jowers forming much of the experienced core. Sophomore quarterback Mason Riedel is projected to start right away, while sophomore Eli Lambert and juniors Nicholas Carlson, Owen Ratcliff and Collin Opat are among the young players expected to take on major roles. Lambert said one of the biggest keys will be for the younger players to grow up quickly while the upperclassmen play like upperclassmen. With Elliot, Boughfman and O’Ferell bringing experience and leadership, Smoky Valley should be more competitive if the young pieces settle in fast.

on the perimeter.

Defensively, Collegiate returns six starters in a 4-2-5 scheme led by Blake Sprole, who posted 76 tackles, four sacks and eight tackles for loss. Carson Malaise, Mason Bond, Ethan Eyster and Blake Dudley add more experience to a unit that wants to stop the run and pressure the quarterback, while senior lineman Gavin Schmitter is the team’s MVP nominee.

WICHITA TRINITY KNIGHTS

The Lions list eight returning starters, including seniors Landen Birzer, Detrell Stanley, Teagan Link, Jace Thompson and Quanick Hamilton, along with juniors Ismael Chico, Logan Ferguson and Xander Young. Lyons also has a group of newcomers that includes Isaac Johansen, Jackson Smith, Ethan Cereceres, Adahir Rivera, Alex Lara, Lowen Ferguson, Jordan Gomez and Gage Grizzle. “Our eight seniors are committed to leading by example,” Seidl said, adding that the team is focused every day on becoming part of the solution and taking another step forward. After several difficult seasons, Lyons’ immediate goal is simple and clear: be ready to compete when the season opens on September 4.

NICKERSON PANTHERS Last Season: 1-8

Nickerson heads into 2026 coming off a 1-8 season, but head coach Parker Bruce believes the Panthers built a

Defensively, the Panthers bring a lot back in the front and secondary despite graduating top tacklers Riley Brawner and Gabe Taylor. Bruce highlighted returning players such as Connor White, Keeler, Brady Engelland, Aaden Vedder, Zein Rector, Kagyn Rice, Dagan Schneider, Corbin Shelton, Chase Welch, Maxx White and Jeffren Rodriguez, giving Nickerson a bigger base to build from in 2026.

SMOKY VALLEY VIKINGS Last Season: 3-6

Smoky Valley begins a new era with Caleb Lambert taking over as head coach after serving as an assistant, and the Vikings enter 2026 after a 3-6 season. Lambert said the team will be very young in some key positions, but he also believes the mix of experienced seniors and promising younger players gives the program real excitement.

WICHITA COLLEGIATE SPARTANS Last Season: 3-6

Wichita Collegiate enters 2026 under first-year head coach Brian Hill looking to reset after a 3-6 season that was heavily affected by injuries, especially at quarterback. Hill said the Spartans want to turn last year’s adversity into growth by building consistency, staying healthy and establishing a clear identity in all three phases.

The offense returns five starters and will operate from a spread pistol system designed to get playmakers the ball in space. Jacobi Salyers threw for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns last season, Landon Langston is back after being injured in Week 1, and receivers Mason Bond and Ethan Eyster provide proven production

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Last Season: 4-5

Wichita Trinity heads into Year 2 under Ryan Schadler with real optimism after returning eight of 11 starters on both offense and defense from last year’s 4-5 team. Schadler said the Knights have lots of experience up front on both sides of the ball and are eager to build off last season against a challenging schedule.

The offense runs a power spread system with RPO elements, shifts and motion, and it features one of the more explosive returning receivers in junior Bryton Baty. Baty caught 28 passes for 628 yards and 10 touchdowns and earned all-state and all-league honors, while senior Korie Murphy, junior quarterback Cam Killgore and senior linemen Jonah Morris and Kaden Chalashtari give Trinity a strong supporting cast. Defensively, Kaufman, Killgore, Baty and Chalashtari headline a versatile 4-2-5 unit that uses multiple fronts, coverages and stunts. Baty is also the MVP nominee, and Schadler said he is one of the best high school receivers he has seen, noting that he was all-state on both sides of the ball last season.

COLTON MONUMENTS’ ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Clay Center’s Cayden Schwab Cayden Schwab has built his reputation as a disruptive linebacker, but the Clay Center standout is eager to make an impact on both sides of the ball this fall.

said. “I want to see the game slow down in my head and be to the ball right when and where I need to be.”

“Though defense is my main focus at strong-side OLB, I am excited to be moving to a new position on offense from tight end freshman season to fullback this season,” Schwab said. “I’m excited that Coach Henry has given me the opportunity to get more carries to help our team win this year.”

“I worked on my ground speed a lot during track season as well as exercises to improve lateral movements,” Schwab said. “To get the game to slow down I have watched hours of film and done live reaction drills.”

After spending his freshman season at tight end, Schwab will transition to fullback, giving him a larger role in the Tigers’ offense while continuing to anchor the defense at strong-side outside linebacker.

Schwab has attacked the offseason with the same physical style he brings to the field. His days often begin before sunrise with team workouts before shifting his attention to refining the finer points of his game. “I have been hitting the weights every morning at 6:30 a.m. with our team,” Schwab said. “Even though that’s the bare minimum, I make sure to hit it hard every day. Then I go up to our football field and work on my craft as a linebacker.”

His offseason also included attending several prospect camps, where he sharpened his skills, improved his football IQ and earned opportunities to make college game-day visits.

“I have gone to multiple prospect camps this summer to work on my skills as a linebacker and boost my football IQ,” Schwab said. “At these camps I was blessed with the opportunity to go on a few game-day visits as well this fall.” Schwab’s focus entering the season has been improving his speed, both physically and mentally. He believes becoming quicker and processing the game faster will allow him to make even more plays. “This year I want to show improvement in my overall speed,” Schwab

To accomplish that, he turned to both track and film study.

The work comes after an impressive season in which Schwab totaled 53 tackles, including 21 solo stops, 12.5 tackles for loss, one sack, eight quarterback hurries and an interception that he returned 41 yards for a touchdown against Louisburg. Now, his goals are even more ambitious.

“This year I want to get 80-plus tackles as well as double my tackles for loss as a linebacker,” Schwab said. “I also want to record four or more interceptions in pass coverage. On offense I would like to record 1,000plus rushing yards.” Those individual numbers, however, take a back seat to what Schwab hopes will be a memorable season for Clay Center.

“For our team our goal is to host a playoff game, and personally I would like to host a few,” Schwab said. “But we need to start the season off strong with a big win against Wamego.”

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MONEY CATTLE’S ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Smoky Valley’s Crew Elliott Change is nothing new in high school football, but for Smoky Valley senior Crew Elliott, this season will bring a different kind of adjustment.

For the first time in his football career, Elliott’s father won’t be on the sidelines coaching him. After serving on the Vikings’ coaching staff for years, his father is now an assistant principal at Salina Central, leaving Elliott to navigate his final high school season without the familiar presence he’s always known.

“My senior season is going to be very different, as my dad has always been on the sidelines with me as a coach, but is now an assistant principal at Salina Central,” Elliott said. “We lost a great group of seniors and a veteran coaching staff, but I am excited to continue to embark on a new challenge and improve as a team with many positions being filled by new people.” The Vikings also enter the season with a revamped coaching staff and plenty of new faces expected to contribute. Rather than viewing those changes as obstacles, Elliott sees opportunity.

“I am also excited about our new group of young coaches and their ideas,” he said. “I hope our team can surprise some people.” As one of the team’s veteran leaders, Elliott understands his role extends well beyond making tackles on Friday nights. “I am really looking forward to being a good leader on and off the field, as a senior,” he said. “It is a goal of mine to try to lead by example in all areas of my life, not just football.” That leadership has been evident throughout the offseason. Elliott said he has not missed a single day of the team’s summer lifting and conditioning program while also training at Sharp Performance Football

this year,” Elliott said. “I also want to help my team offensively as a running back and get more points on the scoreboard. I am also our long snapper, so I have been working hard on my accuracy and speed.”

Academy. He attended Kansas State’s Elite Camp, a Specialist Snapping Camp and a Top Prospect Camp to sharpen every aspect of his game.

While personal accolades remain on his list of goals, Elliott’s priorities begin with the success of the Vikings as they look to exceed expectations.

In addition to individual training, Elliott has helped the Vikings prepare through Thursday night 7-on-7 competitions and team camps at Bethel and Buhler. After a shoulder injury limited him to seven games last season, Elliott’s primary focus has been regaining his strength while becoming a more explosive athlete.

“I want to continue to work on my foot speed and get stronger,” he said. “I injured my shoulder last year, and it has taken time to regain my strength. I have spent a lot of time working in the weight room and with a trainer to help with both.” Despite missing time, Elliott still made a significant impact on defense, finishing with 60 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He also contributed 352 rushing yards offensively while earning second-team Central Kansas League honors at linebacker along with honorable mention all-state recognition.

“Honestly, for our team, I just want to continue improving and help instill confidence in my teammates that we can be competitive,” he said. “I think we can improve our record to .500.”

For Elliott, the message he’ll continue delivering throughout his senior season is one that puts the team first.

“I guess my main goal is to continue to stress the ‘WE, not ME’ mentality so we can be the best we can be,” he said.

This fall, Elliott hopes to expand his role. In addition to anchoring the defense, he expects to contribute more at running back while continuing his duties as the team’s long snapper. “My individual goals would include being first-team allleague defensively and, hopefully, all-state honors again

CITY SUNDRIES’ ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Smoky Valley’s Auley Boughfman As Smoky Valley prepares for the upcoming football season, senior Auley Boughfman is looking forward to more than just Friday nights under the lights. He is eager to embrace the responsibility that comes with being one of the team’s upperclassmen and use his experience to help lead the Vikings.

Boughfman said the opportunity to be a senior leader is what excites him most heading into the season. “I’m super excited for this upcoming football season,” Boughfman said. “There is so many things that I am ready for, but the thing that I am most excited about is the leadership that comes with being a senior. I’m excited to be able to influence teammates more and set the tone for games.”

While leadership is a major focus, Boughfman is also looking forward to simply competing and enjoying the game he loves.

“We have had some more special opportunities that we have had this summer like going to a lot of camps to see what the team is looking like and how we stack up against our competition,” Boughfman said. Heading into his senior season, Boughfman is focused on controlling what he can and continuing to make an impact wherever he is needed. He hopes to become more involved offensively while maintaining a positive mindset throughout the year. “For individual goals I really just look to give my best effort no matter what and maintain a good attitude throughout the season,” Boughfman said. “I want to get thrown the ball more as I have been overlooked on the offensive side, but other than that I just focus on the things that I can control.” Beyond individual accomplishments, Boughfman believes the Vikings have the potential to make a strong run as long as the team continues to grow together.

“As for team goals I feel that we could easily have a winning record and even go past the regular season,” he said. “Apart from just winning, I want stronger team bonding than in the past and more effort as a whole.”

“Again, I am just excited for the opportunity to play and the fun that comes with football,” he said.

Boughfman and the Vikings have put in plenty of work during the offseason to prepare for the challenges ahead. Smoky Valley’s summer schedule has included four days a week of team weights followed by skills practice, creating a consistent routine focused on improvement. “That is the everyday expectation for our team,” Boughfman said.

The Vikings have also taken advantage of several opportunities to compete against other programs during the summer. The team attended a weeklong camp and traveled to camps at Buhler and Bethel while also participating in weekly 7-on-7 competition in Hillsboro. Those experiences have allowed Smoky Valley to evaluate its progress and measure itself against other teams.

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C E N T R A L O F F I C E S E R V I C E A N D S U P P LY ’ S AT H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Clay Center’s Ethan Leitzel As one of the senior leaders for Clay Center this season, Ethan Leitzel is embracing a challenge unlike any he has faced before. After spending the past two seasons making plays as a running back, return specialist and safety, Leitzel is stepping into the quarterback role with the goal of leading the Tigers both on and off the field.

“I am excited to be one of the leaders on the team with my fellow seniors, whom I’ve played with since youth football, and being given the opportunity to learn a new position and lead the team as QB,” Leitzel said.

The transition to quarterback has defined Leitzel’s offseason. Rather than relying solely on his athletic ability, he has immersed himself in learning the nuances of the position, from mastering the playbook to developing the mechanics needed to direct the offense.

“After being a running back, kick and punt returner on offense my last two varsity seasons, I was asked to move to QB this year and I have been focused on learning this position,” he said.

Leitzel dedicated his offseason to making that transition as smooth as possible. Along with participating in team workouts, camps, 7-on-7 competitions and weightlifting sessions, he added extra skill work and followed a footballspecific strength program on his own. The work paid off with multiple personal records in the weight room, school records in the squat and hang clean, and the second-fastest time on the team’s 40-yard dash leaderboard.

“I’ve worked on learning the playbook, proper techniques for the position, including handoffs, reads, passing and receiver routes,” Leitzel said.

tackles, including 22 solo stops, along with one interception and one forced fumble. While learning quarterback is at the top of his priority list, Leitzel also wants to continue making an impact in the secondary.

“For individual goals, I want to be selected as a captain again by my teammates, be successful at my new offensive position, and continue to improve on defense as a safety,” he said. More importantly, Leitzel hopes the Tigers can build on the leadership of their senior class and translate it into team success.

“As a team, our goal is to have a winning record and make a deep playoff run,” he said.

His commitment to improvement follows an impressive junior campaign in which he was selected by his teammates as a team captain before the season. Leitzel rarely left the field, playing every snap on offense and defense while serving as the Tigers’ primary kick and punt returner.

Offensively, he rushed for 459 yards while averaging 7.4 yards per carry and scored five total touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 62

SALINA AREA ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Ellsworth’s Gage Laas Gage Laas isn’t measuring the upcoming football season by individual accolades alone. Instead, the Ellsworth standout is focused on earning a larger role and doing whatever his team needs to chase a deep postseason run. “I am most excited about becoming a contributor for the team,” Laas said. “I am excited to help the team out any way I can. I like playing with the guys, and I’m happy to help them out on the field.” That team-first approach has driven Laas throughout the offseason. He has spent the summer training at Sharp Performance while also taking part in Ellsworth’s strength program, building both his athleticism and his understanding of the game. “I have been training with Sharp Performance and lifting with the team to prepare for the season,” Laas said. One of Laas’ biggest priorities has been developing 30

confidence in his ability to play multiple positions. He believes repetition throughout the summer has helped him become more comfortable wherever the coaching staff needs him. “I am wanting to improve my confidence at my positions,” Laas said. “I worked on improving my confidence this offseason by getting reps at my positions at camps and doing drills to improve my footwork.” Laas has set ambitious individual goals for his season. He hopes to earn all-league recognition, record at least three interceptions on defense and expand his knowledge of the offense to maximize his versatility. “Some goals I have for this season are to make the allleague team, get at least three interceptions, and to learn the offensive playbook better so I know all the skill positions I might end up playing,” he said. While individual success would be rewarding, Laas is more focused on what the Bearcats can accomplish as a team. He believes Ellsworth has the talent to make a serious postseason push. “A team goal I have for this season is to make a deep playoff run,” Laas said. “I think we are a good team and can make it very far in the postseason.”

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THE GUARANTY / S&S DRUG ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Beloit’s Truitt King With another season of experience under his belt and lofty goals ahead, Beloit quarterback Truitt King believes the foundation has been laid for something special in 2026. After helping lead the Trojans last fall, King enters the season eager to see how a close-knit group can build on the progress it made a year ago. “I’m excited to just see how much this team has grown from last year,” King said. “I’m also excited to just work with these guys every day. They are like my family.”

That chemistry has fueled an offseason centered on improvement. King attended the Kansas State Elite Camp, trained twice a week with quarterback coach Nick Davenport and competed in multiple seven-on-seven events to sharpen Beloit’s passing attack.

201 South Mill, P.O. Box 607, Beloit, KS 67420 785-738-3501 • guarantystate.com

The biggest emphasis has been refining his footwork, an area he believes will elevate his game in the pocket.

“My footwork for sure,” King said. “As a quarterback I need to have good footwork to move around in the pocket. Every time I worked out with Coach Nick we always started with footwork.” The work comes after a productive freshman campaign in which King threw for 1,840 yards and 14 touchdowns. His performance earned him second-team All-League honors, honorable mention all-state recognition and Beloit’s Offensive MVP award. While those accomplishments provide confidence, King is focused on taking another step both statistically and as a leader.

“For myself I just want to be a leader with this group,” he said. “I also want to throw for over 2,000 yards and around 20 touchdowns.”

King’s biggest aspirations, however, extend well beyond individual numbers. He wants to help restore championship football to a community that has waited decades for another title. “As a team we want to bring home a state championship back to Beloit,” King said. “We haven’t won one in 30 years and this town deserves another one.”

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SALINA ORTHO’S ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

SE-Saline’s Tristan Swank Southeast of Saline senior Tristan Swank is looking forward to one more opportunity to compete alongside his teammates and build on the success the Trojans have established in recent seasons.

into bigger roles.

As the upcoming season approaches, Swank said one of the things he is most excited about is sharing the field with his friends while watching the next group of players step

“I am excited to play with all my friends,” Swank said. “Everyone has put in a lot of hard work this offseason, and I’m looking forward to seeing some younger guys step up and prove themselves.” Swank has spent the offseason preparing for his senior campaign by focusing on improving his strength and developing his skills against high-level competition. He has consistently worked through summer workouts, including weights and conditioning, while also attending multiple

football camps.

“I have been working hard all summer going to weights and conditioning,” Swank said. “I also attended multiple football camps this summer and gained lots of experience going against some of the best athletes from the surrounding states.” A key focus for Swank heading into the season is continuing to become a stronger and more effective player. He plans to accomplish that goal by continuing the work he started in the offseason.

“I would like to continue to improve my strength,” Swank said. “Continuing to be in the weightroom and lifting during the offseason.” Swank enters the season as one of Southeast of Saline’s top returning contributors after a strong junior year. He recorded 75 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two sacks while earning second-team all-league honors on both the defensive line and offensive line.

With another season ahead, Swank has set ambitious goals for himself and his team. Individually, he is aiming to reach 80 tackles and earn first-team all-state recognition. As a team, he wants the Trojans to maintain their winning culture and continue competing at a high level each week. “My goal as a team is to go 1-0 every week and have another undefeated regular season,” Swank said.

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CLASS 2A

2A GA MES T O WAT CH Week 1 Beloit at SE-Saline

Week 4 Beloit at Smith Center

Week 2 Marion at Inman

Week 3 Ellsworth at SE-Saline Hutchinson Trinity at Marion

Week 5 SE-Saline at Wichita Collegiate Haven at Marion Week 6 Beloit at Ellsworth Marion at Garden Plain

2A PL AY ERS T O WAT CH Joel Fuller, DB, Beloit

Tripp Peterson, DB, Marion

Kross Kemmerer, OL, Beloit

Hitch Soyez, LB, Marion

Jacob Hand, WR, Beloit

Carson Jacobs, DB, Ellsworth Truitt King, QB, Beloit

Bryson Lonberger, RB, Minneapolis

BELOIT TROJANS

Last Season: 6-4

Beloit enters 2026 with high expectations after a 6-4 season and a playoff win over Lakin before falling to Garden Plain in the regional round. Head coach Brad Gober, now in his 10th year at Beloit, returns a deeply experienced team with eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters back. Sophomore quarterback Truitt King gives the Trojans a major building block after throwing for 1,820 yards and 14 touchdowns while earning honorable mention all-state recognition. He has proven targets in first-team all-league receiver Jacob Hand, senior Joel Fuller and senior Kanean Olson, while Paxton Fouts adds balance after rushing for 263 yards and four touchdowns and

Tiernan Ptacek, DB, SE-Saline Jordy Raymer, WR, Marion

Tristan Swank, OL, SE-Saline

catching seven passes for 194 yards and two scores.

CHAPARRAL ROADRUNNERS

“We are very excited about the 2026 Football season as we have a lot of experience back from last fall,” Gober said, adding that the Trojans expect to take a big step forward but must keep working every day to improve. With a young quarterback already producing at a high level and veteran help around him, Beloit looks like a serious threat in 2A.

Senior quarterback Daniel Schmidt is the centerpiece as a three-year starter with speed, athleticism and the ability to impact the game at free safety. He is joined by senior Kenny Diaz, a tough runner and standout kicker, plus a big offensive front anchored by Brody Flores, Nick Brittain, Brandon Jones and other returning linemen.

The line should be a major strength with Griffin Johnson and Kross Kemmerer leading the way in the trenches, joined by Kale Wessling and several physical newcomers. Defensively, Kemmerer posted 52 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks, while Fuller had 44 tackles and two interceptions and Colton Adolph added 49 tackles.

Last Season: 5-4

Chaparral heads into 2026 with momentum after a five-win turnaround season and returns enough experience to believe another jump is possible. Veteran coach Justin Burke begins his 30th year in coaching and 22nd as a head coach, and he inherits a Roadrunners team that brings back 11 starters and 11 lettermen.

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Chaparral also has returning weapons in junior receiver/ cornerback Trace Hadsall, junior H-back/linebacker Mason Walker and junior tight end/defensive end Ian Whisman. Burke points to good size in the trenches and an excellent kicking game as strengths, while depth at the skill positions, new schemes and replacing pieces in the linebacker and defensive backfield remain concerns.

“Coach Burke returns to Chaparral and will try to get the Roadrunners back to the top of the CPL and being a contender in Class 2A,” the outlook states, noting a strong summer turnout with 37 players at camp and an average of more than 35 high school players per day in the weight room. If the offensive line

2026 2A TEAMS TO WATCH comes together and the defense settles in around new faces, the Roadrunners have the pieces to be a factor in the Central Plains League again.

DOUGLASS BULLDOGS Last Season: 3-6

Douglass heads into 2026 believing experience can translate into real progress after a 3-6 season and a playin loss to Garden Plain. Head coach Drew Carder begins his sixth year at DHS and third overall as a head coach, with the Bulldogs returning eight offensive starters and seven defensive starters.

ELLSWORTH BEARCATS Last Season: 5-4

Ellsworth enters 2026 with experience, leadership and a large junior class expected to carry the load after a 5-4 finish last fall. Ninth-year head coach Josh Homolka said the Bearcats have had a strong summer in the weight room, and he believes the returning players who have taken meaningful snaps over the last two seasons give this team a solid foundation.

Junior quarterback Carson Jacobs headlines the offense after rushing for 727 yards as a sophomore and earning MVP nominee honors from the program. “Carson is a great leader. Had a really good season as a Sophomore at QB. He brings leadership both vocally and by example,” Homolka said, adding that Jacobs reminds him of past standout leader Will Cravens.

Garden Plain enters 2026 off a 9-2 season and another deep playoff run, and head coach Todd Rice believes the Owls’ returning experience gives them a chance to do it again. Rice said last year’s team was very young, and while this group may be even younger, the amount of returning starters should help Garden Plain navigate another difficult schedule.

Junior Braylen Dold is the focal point after rushing for 641 yards and five touchdowns while also catching three passes for two more scores. Dold was also a playmaker on defense with 39 tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown, and the program nominated him as an MVP candidate entering his third year in the program.

that now features a strong senior class backed by talented underclassmen.

Junior quarterback Damien Whillock leads the offense after throwing for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns, while senior fullback Reece Carmichael rushed for 504 yards and four scores. Junior running back Edric Zorn is another centerpiece after totaling nine touchdowns, including seven rushing and two receiving, while also earning all-league recognition.

Halstead’s flexbone offense returns a solid front with Cruise Davison, Hudson Harrington, Noah Brantley, Cooper Hobbs and Greyson Swift all back. Racette said the Dragons’ ability to move players around and get athletes in space will be vital to offensive success.

Senior quarterback Kane Ast leads the way after throwing for 1,040 yards and 11 touchdowns last season while earning honorable mention all-league and all-district recognition at quarterback and defensive back. He will once again have senior tight end/linebacker Bronsyn Knisley, who caught 27 passes for 645 yards and eight touchdowns, and senior wide receiver/defensive back Wyatt Moore, who added nine catches for 92 yards. The Bulldogs also hope to get a full season from senior Carter Green, who rushed for 712 yards and 14 touchdowns in just 5.5 games before suffering a torn ACL and still made first team all-league and all-district at running back/linebacker. Up front, Logan Spradling, Tanner Allan, Trevor Allan and Cale Bahm give Douglass four returning linemen with starting experience. “The goals and expectations for this team are high heading into the 2026 season,” Carder said. “We will rely on a battletested senior group with plenty of varsity experience to help lead us throughout the year. We are also excited about the development of our incoming juniors and sophomores as they step into larger roles and gain valuable Friday night experience this season.”

Ellsworth returns six offensive starters and will operate from a spread two-back, power spread system. Jacobs is joined by junior Bo Kyler at tight end/ fullback, senior lineman Drew Davis, junior Ret Bohl and receivers Liam Stone and Jace Thomasson, giving the Bearcats a balanced mix of skill players and experience up front. Defensively, Ellsworth also brings back six starters and will stay with an attacking 4-4 scheme built on pursuit, physical play and gap responsibility. Bohl returns after 21 tackles, Kyler had 16, Jacobs added 13 tackles and two interceptions, and Thomasson picked off two passes, while Homolka also singled out sophomore Gage Laas as an underclassman to watch after a strong JV season and key special teams contributions.

GARDEN PLAIN OWLS Last Season: 9-2 34

The Owls’ flexbone attack returns multiple key pieces, including Trevor Catlin, Brock Randolph, Easton Pauly, Hunter Kampling and Carter Tasset. Rice said Garden Plain wants to establish a physical running game after averaging 280 rushing yards per game last season, and the triple option allows multiple players to touch the ball while demanding a team-first mentality. Defensively, Garden Plain returns seven starters in a 4-2-5 that emphasizes stopping the run and avoiding big plays. Randolph had 45 tackles and four tackles for loss, Kampling had 47 tackles and two interceptions, Pauly made 52 tackles, and Wyatt Stulhsaltz added 46 more, giving the Owls a strong core for another push in 2A.

HALSTEAD DRAGONS Last Season: 2-7

Halstead heads into 2026 believing the experience gained during a difficult 2-7 season can pay off this fall. Fourth-year head coach Derek Racette said the minutes younger players were forced to take last year should help a Dragons team

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Defensively, Halstead will operate out of a 4-2-5 and try to use multiple fronts and team speed to dictate the game. Carmichael returns after posting 83 tackles and eight tackles for loss, Zorn and Wyatt Hobbs each had two interceptions, and Jacob Bennett forced a fumble, giving the Dragons a core of experienced defenders to build around.

HAVEN WILDCATS

Last Season: 7-3

Haven comes into 2026 with plenty of proven firepower after a 7-3 season, and the Wildcats return six offensive starters and five on defense. Co-head coaches Thomas Cooprider and Drew Thalmann have veteran production back at the skill spots, led by senior quarterback Brogan Wray and junior running back Cole Brawner. Wray stepped into the starting quarterback role last year and produced 1,444 passing yards and 11 touchdowns while adding 431 rushing yards and five more scores. “Brogan stepped into the starting QB role last year as a junior and

2026 2A TEAMS TO WATCH executed the offense well. He’s very coachable, understanding the offense and serves as a coach on the field for us,” the coaches said.

Brawner gives Haven a true workhorse after rushing 232 times for 1,586 yards and 23 touchdowns, while senior receivers Kolton Altvater and Zade Turner combine for experience and production on the perimeter. The Wildcats describe themselves as a spread rushing team that is working to throw the ball more effectively, and with Cody Holzrichter back up front, the offense has a strong core in place. Defensively, Jon Williams returns after posting 65 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and an interception, while Wray added 59 tackles and four interceptions from the secondary. Turner and Holzrichter give Haven more experience on the second and third levels, and with this much proven production back, the Wildcats have the pieces to stay in the Central Plains League mix.

Boston Beck adds versatility after contributing as a runner, receiver and return man, while Brennan Van Wyhe gives the line an all-league anchor up front. Kingman’s spread offense should have enough skill talent to stress defenses if the line develops quickly around returning and emerging players. Defensively, the Eagles run a 3-3 stack and bring back first-team linebacker Boston Beck, first-team free safety Birkenbaugh and productive linebackers Campbell and Clark. Hageman said Kingman must take a giant step forward in competitive spirit, practice habits and fundamentals, and if that happens, the returning talent gives the Eagles a chance to make real progress in 2026.

the MVP nominee after earning a football offer from Butler CC.

Jymer Raymer is the underclassman to watch because, as a sophomore, he is stepping into a new offense and taking over at quarterback. With league games against Remington, Inman and Hutch Trinity plus district matchups with Haven, Garden Plain, Halstead and Douglass, Marion should get tested quickly in its jump to 2A.

MINNEAPOLIS LIONS Last Season: 3-6

Minneapolis enters 2026 looking to build off last year’s experience after a 3-6 finish in the NCAA and a playoff appearance in 2025. First-year head coach Garrett Galanski takes over after previously serving two years as head coach at the school and enters the season believing a young, hungry roster has something to prove.

Grove, Norton and Marysville, Minneapolis will have plenty of chances to show how far it has come.

SOUTHEAST OF SALINE TROJANS Last Season: 12-1

Southeast of Saline enters 2026 coming off a 12-1 season and a run to the Class 2A state final, where the Trojans fell to Nemaha Central. Even with only two starters back on offense and two on defense, expectations remain high as Chance Ptacek takes over as head coach after serving 22 years as an assistant.

KINGMAN EAGLES

Last Season: 2-7

Kingman heads into 2026 looking for a jump after taking its lumps with a young lineup during a 2-7 season in 2025. Head coach Tanner Hageman, now in his seventh year at the school, said the Eagles return nearly all of their key skill players but must rebuild much of the offensive line.

Junior quarterback Logan Birkenbaugh is the centerpiece after passing for 1,255 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 404 yards and eight scores, earning honorable mention recognition at quarterback. He will again have proven targets in senior Trent Clark, who led the team with 21 catches for 384 yards and six touchdowns, plus Jaxson Campbell and Chris Hepburn, who combined for 35 catches, 484 yards and five scores.

MARION WARRIORS

Last Season: 7-3

Marion enters 2026 after a 7-3 season with first-year head coach Jackson Schneider, and the Warriors believe their mix of returning upperclassmen and younger contributors gives them a solid base. Schneider noted that Marion has moved up to 2A and will be one of the smallest schools in the classification, so the program plans to lean into its athleticism and play hard, fast and physical every week. The offense returns seven starters and will use multiple formations and motions to get its athletes the ball in space quickly. Jackson Howard, Hitch Soyez, Isaac Wesner, Ryder Kraus and sophomore quarterback Jymer Raymer headline the key group, while Landon Hendricks gives the Warriors another young offensive piece.

Defensively, Marion returns six starters and plans to build around an aggressive unit that flies to the football and plays through the whistle. Soyez, Jordy Raymer, Tripp Peterson, Wesner, Howard and Kraus form the core of that defense, with Howard also serving as

Bryson Lonberger is one of the top returning pieces after rushing for 550 yards and four touchdowns, earning secondteam all-league honors. He is joined by senior wide receiver and defensive end Brayden Johnson, who posted 285 yards and four touchdowns last season and gives the Lions a proven two-way playmaker.

The returning core also includes Kingston Deromnet, Josh White, Logan Briggs, Jasper Johns and Bladen Johnson, giving Minneapolis seven offensive returning starters and six on defense. Jasper Johns and Deromnet should help anchor the defense at linebacker, while Lonberger and Johnson bring experience on both sides of the ball. Galanski’s notes on the upcoming season are brief but clear: “Young, hungry, out to prove doubters wrong, build upon last year.” With road games at Ellsworth, Beloit, Riley County and Southeast of Saline and home dates against Republic County, Council

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Senior quarterback/defensive back Tiernan Ptacek headlines the returning core after throwing for 1,174 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 338 yards and seven more scores. He also made a major impact defensively with 38 tackles and three interceptions, earning first-team NCAA honors at defensive back and secondteam all-state recognition. Junior lineman Tristan Swank gives the Trojans a proven force in the trenches after posting 75 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two sacks while earning second-team NCAA honors and honorable mention all-state recognition. Southeast of Saline also has a solid group of key contributors and newcomers to help reload, including seniors Lyrik Lilley and Josh Watkins, juniors Elijah Kejr, Kain Sawyers and Ryan Weller, plus sophomore Burton Brooks at quarterback/defensive back. “The Southeast of Saline Trojans lost a very talented and experienced group to graduation along with the winningest coach in Southeast of Saline history but our expectations remain the same for 2026,” the team outlook states. The Trojans plan to lean on new leadership, established program standards and daily improvement as they try to stay among the state’s top 2A programs.

S C O T T A U S H E R M A N A M E R I C A N FA M I LY AT H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Minneapolis’ Bryson Lonberger Bryson Lonberger can’t hide his passion for football.

For the Minneapolis senior, the excitement surrounding a new season isn’t centered on personal accolades or the spotlight. Instead, it’s about returning to the field with his teammates and embracing everything the sport demands.

“I am most excited about just playing football,” Lonberger said. “I know it’s pretty basic, but it’s true. Football is the best sport there is. It shows character, discipline and how tough you really are. Who doesn’t get excited about that?”

That enthusiasm has fueled a productive offseason as Lonberger prepares to take on an even bigger role in Minneapolis’ offense.

Rather than simply maintaining his game, Lonberger focused on expanding it. He dedicated extra time to individual offensive work to become a more versatile weapon while also helping prepare the Lions’ new quarterback for the upcoming season. His summer included attending camps, including one at Emporia State, to sharpen his skills against quality competition. “This offseason I’ve put more individual work offensively so I can be used in various different ways in our playbook,” Lonberger said. “I’ve also been getting our new quarterback ready for this upcoming season.” While his physical development has been important, Lonberger believes his greatest opportunity for growth comes as a leader.

With Minneapolis returning plenty of talent, he sees leadership as the missing ingredient that can help the Lions reach their potential.

“I’m wanting to improve on my leadership this season,” Lonberger said. “Our team has the players. We just need someone to give them motivation, and I want to fill that role to the fullest.” Lonberger has taken that responsibility seriously by investing time away from football to strengthen relationships throughout the roster.

“To work on that, I’ve spent time off the field with the guys I’m going to be playing with, as well as getting to know most of the younger guys,” he said. As for his goals, Lonberger isn’t shy about setting a lofty individual benchmark. He hopes to eclipse 1,200 rushing yards while helping Minneapolis compete every Friday night. “Individually, my goal is to get at least 1,200 yards on the ground,” Lonberger said. “For the team, I want us to do our best. If we give everything we’ve got, that’s all I can ask for.”

56 EXPRESS TIRE & SERVICE ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Marion’s Hitch Soyez The 2026 football season is about more than wins and accolades for Marion’s Hitch Soyez. It’s an opportunity to share one final campaign with the teammates who have been by his side since childhood while chasing a place in the school’s record book. “I am most excited to be able to play and compete one last time alongside the friends I have grown up playing with,” Soyez said.

After an impressive junior season, Soyez enters his senior year as one of the leaders of the Warriors’ defense. He earned first-team all-league honors at linebacker after recording 95 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick in just nine games.

His offseason, however, has centered on more than football drills. Soyez has spent months working his way back from a knee injury suffered last season. “I have been focusing on getting stronger and getting my knee back to 100% from last year’s injury,” he said. As his health has improved, Soyez has turned his attention toward becoming an even more instinctive defender. Rather than relying solely on athletic ability, he’s emphasizing the mental side of the game in hopes of making an even bigger impact. “I am wanting to improve on reading my keys so I can fly to the ball faster and make more plays that can change a game,” Soyez said. “I have been working on foot work and conditioning to be able to get around easier throughout the game.”

Those improvements could help Soyez accomplish one of his biggest personal goals before his high school career comes to an end. “The goal I am chasing is the single-season tackling record at Marion High School,” he said.

While individual milestones would be meaningful, Soyez’s primary focus remains on team success. He hopes Marion can put together a deep postseason run and make the most of its experienced senior class. “The goal for the team is to make a run in the playoffs,” Soyez said. 36

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LANNING PHARMACY’S ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Marion’s Jymer Raymer For most players, stepping into the starting quarterback role comes with plenty of pressure. For Marion sophomore Jymer Raymer, it also comes with an opportunity he has been waiting for his entire life.

Raymer is set to take over the Warriors’ offense this fall, and one of the things he is looking forward to most is sharing the field with his younger brother at wide receiver.

“Most excited definitely about going into a season with my brother as a wide receiver,” Raymer said. “Being able to play with him and translate our entire childhood of throwing routes and knowing what his strengths are, it’s a blessing as a quarterback to know what he’s going to do every play.” The Warriors also enter the season with a new coaching staff and a fresh offensive philosophy. After years of relying heavily on the running game, Marion is expected to feature a more balanced attack that gives Raymer more opportunities to throw.

“We also got a new coach, and he runs a different offense compared to what has been run for many years,” Raymer said. “He wants to shift away from the 9-to-1 run-pass ratio we used to run and get into a little passing game this year.” Raymer is equally motivated to prove that Marion can continue to compete despite significant changes.

“I am also excited about how we can prove to our community that we still will be good,” he said. “I think everyone is doubting our team after losing coaches and good senior players.” The Warriors have spent the offseason preparing for that challenge through a demanding summer program. Players

dedicated themselves to the weight room while emphasizing explosiveness through box jumps, hurdle hops, broad jumps and jump rope workouts. Marion also competed in weekly 7-on-7 scrimmages in Hillsboro against Hillsboro and Smoky Valley and attended team camp to build chemistry with both returning players and newcomers.

The coaching staff also kept practices competitive with a unique summer points competition. Senior captains drafted mini-teams that earned points by attending workouts, completing community service projects, raising money for the program, donating to charity and winning fun challenges, including finishing a breakfast pizza the fastest. Individually, Raymer has focused on preparing his body for the physical demands of playing quarterback. He added weight during the offseason and is working to improve his speed through sprint training and explosive exercises. “I never have been the fastest person, but it was just fast enough,” Raymer said. “Not sure if ‘fast enough’ will cut it now, so that’s the main priority to improve on.” Now he is concentrating on mastering the finer details of the position, particularly the short passing game.

“You can’t always throw the deep ball,” Raymer said. “Sometimes it’s just got to be a 5-yard out to advance the ball. If my receivers run good routes, I’ll get the ball to them where they can make plays in the open field, and we can be deadly.”

Although Raymer saw limited varsity action a season ago, he views the experience as valuable preparation. He spent most of last year learning from the sidelines, earned Scout Team Player of the Year honors and received a provisional letterman award while appearing on defense in the season finale. “To be honest, I was a benchwarmer last year,” Raymer said. “It was a whole lot of watching and learning about the game.”

Now, he hopes those lessons translate into success under center. More than statistics, Raymer wants to become the leader his teammates need during a season filled with uncertainty.

“My personal goal for the season is to not let the team give up on me or themselves,” he said. “A great way to flip that mindset is to help them believe in themselves and win games.”

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CLASS 1A

1 A PL AY ERS T O WAT CH Cyrus Blough, K/P, Moundridge

Dom Matteucci, DB, Salina Sacred Heart

Logan Greenwalt, LB, Moundridge

Bo O’Neill, LB, Inman

Malachi Brunk, QB, Inman

Preston D’Albini, DL, Hillsboro Zayne Haslett, QB, Hillsboro Tyler Jerrick, DB, Inman

Jacob Lewis, LB, Sterling

Alley Lichti, OL, Moundridge

Jaeten Loewen, DB, Hillsboro

BELLE PLAINE DRAGONS Last Season: 0-9

Belle Plaine starts over in 2026 under first-year head coach Curtis Albin after an 0-9 season, but the Dragons believe they have the pieces to become a tougher, more disciplined team. Albin said the focus will be on turnover ratio, pre-snap and post-snap penalties, and controlling the tempo of the game. Belle Plaine plans to be a ball-control team behind a double-tight wishbone and belly-option offense modeled after Smith Center’s approach. Mattix Bruner, Emmett Lawless, Daxxton Bird, Brooks McGinnis, Landon Hernandez and Grady Talbot headline a group that returns six starters on both offense and defense.

Defensively, the Dragons will base out of a 3-3 stack, mix in 4-2-5 and 3-4 looks, and rely heavily on Bruner at free safety as the “quarterback of the defense.” Albin said the

summer has started well and that the players are working together to build something better, which gives Belle Plaine a foundation even after last year’s struggles.

BLUESTEM LIONS Last Season: 3-6

Bluestem enters 2026 with a senior-heavy roster and real belief that it can build on what head coach Ethan Baker called the program’s best season in almost a decade. The Lions return six offensive starters and seven defensive starters, and Baker said this group will lean on its seniors to outperform last season. Axton Vice is the clear centerpiece after rushing for 791 yards and eight touchdowns while also posting 69 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions. Quarterback Ayson Shepherd adds dual-threat production after running for 528 yards and nine scores, while Logan Squire gives Bluestem

Korbyn McClellan, WR, Inman Cameron Morris, OL, Sterling

Om Patel, DL, Republic County Talon Regier, WR, Hillsboro

Garrett Wedel, DL, Moundridge Logan Wulf, OL, Moundridge another proven power option after 520 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Lions are shifting toward more of a spread look on offense, but Baker said they still want to run the ball and control the clock. Defensively, they will stay in a hard-hitting 4-4, with Vice, Shepherd, Squire, Tyllier Freeman and Deigan AshleyMoore anchoring a veteran front seven.

CONWAY SPRINGS CARDINALS Last Season: 3-6

Conway Springs is coming off its first losing season in 30 years, but the Cardinals believe the way they finished 2025 gives them momentum entering this fall. Matt Biehler, now in his 29th year at the school, returns 17 lettermen, seven offensive starters and five defensive starters for a team that wants to get back to its physical identity.

The offense will be built around Gabe Tarrant, Joseph 41 VYPE KANSAS FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026 | KSVYPE.COM

Howard, Zavier King, Bryce Osner, Lucas Billups and a returning offensive line led by Jacob Howard and Caleb Newell. Biehler said Conway Springs wants to control the line of scrimmage, play physical power football and use its big targets in the passing game.

Defensively, Lucas Pauly, Mason Zoglmann, Tarrant, Howard, King, Newell, Ethan Partika and Billups give the Cardinals a solid base. Conway Springs listed staying healthy and playing physical smash-mouth football as key concerns, but it also pointed to improved depth as a major strength for 2026.

HILLSBORO TROJANS Last Season: 6-4

Hillsboro returns a strong group from last year’s 6-4 team, and head coach Demetrius Cox believes the Trojans can be very good if their summer development and leadership continue to

2026 1A TEAMS TO WATCH grow. The season preview notes that Hillsboro graduated several standout players, but also brings back many key contributors from both sides of the ball. On offense, Hillsboro lists Zayne Haslett, Brayson Amstutz, Preston D’Ablini, Thurston Silhan, Braxton Hiebert, Talon Regier, Hudson Rogers, Daniel Blackmon-Richard and Peter Farha as key returning starters or contributors. Defensively, D’Ablini, Farha, Blackmon-Richard, Regier, Jaeten Loewen, Amstutz, Haslett, Silhan and Nate Oelke form the core of the returning group.

one of the smallest groups the program has had in several years.

Jake Kerns, Lucas Griffith, Beau Towell and Eli Bigger are among the key returning names, with Griffith projected to handle kickoff duties and Adahir Guerrero set to return kicks. Bell said previous non-letter winners will now have chances to play meaningful Friday night snaps, which makes leadership from the senior and junior classes especially important.

Sawyer said speed is a major strength, especially in the backfield and front seven, and that the team’s experience should allow it to open up more on both sides of the ball. Inman’s goals are clearly bigger than simply getting back to the playoffs, especially after beating defending state champion Conway Springs in the first round last season before falling to Moundridge.

after posting 45 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks. Logan Wulf, Atley Lichti, Josh Koehn and standout kicker Cyrus Blough also give Moundridge a proven senior foundation on both sides of the ball. Blough is a major special teams weapon after averaging 37.0 yards per punt, recording 20 touchbacks, hitting a 56-yard field goal and converting 39 of 41 PATs. Wulf also stands out as the MVP nominee and a tone-setter up front after helping pave the way for more than 2,136 rushing yards while earning all-league and allstate honorable mention recognition.

1A Trinity plans to stay multiple on offense with a roughly 50-50 run-pass split, while the defense will aim to play fast, physical and with great effort. The small roster and a demanding schedule that includes Sterling, Marion, Inman, Moundridge and Hillsboro make this a challenging setup, but Bell believes summer development and program strength can keep the Celtics competitive.

The Trojans went 6-4 in 2025 with wins over Larned, Halstead, Ellsworth, Lyons, Smoky Valley and Ellsworth again in the first round of the playoffs before losing to Hoisington in the second round. With experienced skill players back and a program that finished last season in the postseason, Hillsboro looks like a solid contender in the CKL again.

INMAN TEUTONS

HUTCHINSON TRINITY CATHOLIC CELTICS

Last Season: 8-2

Last Season: 8-3

after producing 2,425 allpurpose yards, including 1,089 passing yards, 1,336 rushing yards and 28 total touchdowns, while also making all-state on both sides of the ball. He is joined by an explosive supporting cast that includes Korbyn McClellan, Tyler Jerrick, Braxton Malloy, Kru Harris, Bo O’Neill, Gage Sisson and Cayden Gaeddert.

Hutchinson Trinity comes off an 8-3 season and a quarterfinal run, but 2026 will test the program’s depth after heavy graduation losses and only two returning offensive starters plus three returning defensive starters. Head coach Jordan Bell, entering his 13th year, said the Celtics are excited about a roster that is eager to learn and work hard despite being

Inman enters 2026 with one of the strongest returning groups in 1A after going 8-2, winning its district and reaching the second round of the playoffs last season. Lance Sawyer’s team brings back eight starters on offense, nine on defense, 100 percent of its rushing attack, 100 percent of its receiving yards and 74 percent of its tackles. Senior quarterback Malachi Brunk is the headliner 42

MOUNDRIDGE WILDCATS Last Season: 8-3

Moundridge enters 2026 after an 8-3 season, a district title and a secondround playoff run, but Tyler O’Connor’s team must replace 13 seniors from last year’s group. O’Connor said the expectation is that new faces will step into bigger roles, with a strong core already in place and a physical identity centered on its ball carriers and offensive line. Logan Greenwalt is one of the top returning all-around weapons after producing 279 all-purpose yards, two touchdowns, 47 tackles and three interceptions, while Garet Wedel returns

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The Wildcats will run a spread-option offense and a 3-4 defense, and their schedule quickly tests them with Sterling, Sedgwick, Conway Springs, Hutchinson Trinity, Hillsboro, Remington and Inman. If Moundridge’s new leaders emerge quickly, the returning line strength and overall physicality should keep the Wildcats in the 1A mix.

REMINGTON BRONCOS Last Season: 2-7

Remington heads into 2026 with a clear contrast in its roster: the Broncos are young up front but experienced at the skill positions, which Matt Headley said will shape the season. Headley believes the line’s development is the biggest swing factor, because if that group grows quickly, Remington has the athletes to put a strong product on

2026 1A TEAMS TO WATCH the field.

The offense returns seven starters and will operate from the spread, trying to get the ball to playmakers in space while keeping defenses honest with the run game. Sam Tillotson, Darian Schwind, Darius Hancock, Asher Irving, Easton Koehn and Elliott Hochstetler headline that group and give Remington multiple options on the perimeter and in the backfield.

Defensively, the Broncos bring back eight starters in a 3-4 scheme led by Rueben Jury, Hancock, Ryder Armstrong, Skylar Knowles, Irving and Tillotson. Headley called Jury the smartest and most physical player on the team, saying he directs the defense and thrives on contact, which makes him the centerpiece of Remington’s identity.

The Buffs run a multiformation option offense, which should again fit their personnel and keep Kendall at the center of the attack.

Defensively, Republic County will line up in a 4-4 with Kendall at middle linebacker and Siemsen, Om Patel, Greyson Novak and Owen Harms forming much of the returning front. Hodgson also pointed to freshman Halen Ludacka as an underclassman with strong long-term potential after already seeing special teams action last season.

Dom Matteucci adds versatility after 781 total yards and eight touchdowns, and Jonah Kaumans plus Landon Pfiefer help anchor a line that must grow despite graduation losses. Defensively, Matteucci, Kaumans and Luis Hernandez headline a unit that returns six starters, with Matteucci bringing 81 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles.

SEDGWICK CARDINALS

right away with Inman, Moundridge, Remington, Sterling, Nickerson, Bluestem and Conway Springs all on the slate, so Sedgwick should find out early how fast that development is happening.

STERLING BLACK BEARS Last Season: 13-0, 1A state champion

Sterling enters 2026 as the defending 1A state champion after a perfect 13-0 season, and there is still major optimism despite the graduation of several key leaders and a lot of production. Brent Schneider said the Black Bears return a deep upperclass group, strong overall numbers and enough varsity experience to keep expectations high.

REPUBLIC COUNTY BUFFALOES Last Season: 8-2

Republic County comes off one of the best seasons in school history after finishing 8-2, and Jesse Hodgson said the Buffs return plenty of players ready to take on bigger roles. The team lost important seniors, but it still brings back six offensive starters and five defensive starters from a highly successful group. Nick Kendall is the top returning name as both the lead back and the MVP nominee, while Levi White, Grady Siemsen, Colin White and Kolby Strnad give Republic County an experienced offensive core.

SALINA SACRED HEART KNIGHTS Last Season: 5-4

Salina Sacred Heart enters 2026 trying to build on the program’s first winning season in 11 years, and Ryan Krajicek believes the Knights have the competitiveness to handle a very difficult schedule. The biggest challenge is depth, because Sacred Heart is one of the smallest 11-man schools and must replace trench size while developing younger players into varsity contributors. The offense returns five starters and will stay multiple, using different looks from week to week rather than locking into one fixed system. Quarterback Maddox Wells returns after throwing for 1,492 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Noah Hines is the top big-play threat after 38 catches for 781 yards and 11 touchdowns and all-state recognition.

Last Season: 2-8

Sedgwick is looking to rebound from a 2-8 season, and head coach Doug Mabry says the Cardinals will lean heavily on a returning core of offensive and defensive linemen. Mabry called the line foundation the team’s biggest strength, while also noting that graduation losses, transfer losses and overall roster depth are the main concerns. Sedgwick returns five starters on offense and five on defense, along with six total returning lettermen. Michael Petersen, Landon Barrientos, Henry Morse, Max Lynch, Skyler Weber and Julien Grundy headline the main returning group, while Nate Hansen, Braelynn Heubach, Hayden Olinger, Lane McGinn and Jackson Calhoun give the Cardinals more varsity experience. Mabry said the 2025 record should not discourage the program because this group is hungry and has a chance to grow quickly if new faces step into key roles. The schedule is difficult

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The offensive line looks like the strength of the team with Derek Krone, Cameron Morris, Cody Schweizer, Maddox Link and Tucker Haas leading the way. The backfield also returns proven experience in Jace Darnauer and Deryn Maxwell, while quarterback Zac Wohler and linebacker Jacob Lewis are central two-way pieces. Lewis is one of the most productive defenders in this entire batch after recording 174 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and three sacks, while David Myers, Morris and Maxwell also bring strong defensive production back. Schneider added that Lane Weigel remains a weapon on special teams, which gives Sterling another edge as it tries to defend its title.

STERLING COLLEGE’S ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Sterling’s Cameron Morris While a new football season always brings excitement, Sterling’s Cameron Morris is looking forward to something beyond wins and losses. The senior is eager to help shape the next chapter of the Black Bears by building relationships with a new group of teammates and continuing to strengthen the program’s culture. “I’m most excited about getting to play with a new group of guys and growing with them and continuing to build a good culture,” Morris said.

for a team that features several younger players.

“Becoming more of a leader” has been his biggest offseason focus, Morris said. “Getting to know some younger guys and working with them to understand them and hold people accountable and be respectful men.”

That emphasis on leadership extends beyond the football field. Morris hopes to set an example through his work ethic and character while helping establish the standard for the program. His individual goals mirror that approach.

“I want to become more of a leader on and off the field,” Morris said. “As a group, we just want to keep growing our culture day by day and work hard every day on the small details.”

Morris has spent the offseason preparing for that opportunity both physically and mentally. His routine has included morning weightlifting sessions, speed training, twice-weekly football practices and a team camp, all designed to have him ready for another productive season.

After recording 98 tackles last fall — including 48 solo stops and 50 assisted tackles, averaging 8.9 tackles per game with three tackles for loss — Morris knows production alone won’t define his senior year. Instead, he wants to become a stronger leader

T H E H U B B R I C K OV E N & B R E W E R Y ’ S AT H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Moundridge’s Logan Wulf The 2026 football season represents more than just another year on the field for Logan Wulf of Moundridge. It is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and growth alongside teammates who have shared the journey with him since their youth football days.

As a senior, Wulf is eager to see what his team can accomplish with a veteran group leading the way.

“I’m really excited because we have a big group of returning seniors who have been putting in the work together for a long time,” Wulf said. “A lot of guys are stepping into new roles this year, so it’ll be exciting to play alongside them and see what we can accomplish as a team.” Wulf is also encouraged by the younger players who have emerged through the program.

“I’m looking forward to playing next to some younger guys who have proven they’re willing to work hard and compete,” he said.

The Wildcats enter the season motivated by lessons learned from last year’s challenges. Wulf believes those experiences will help the team take another 44

step forward.

“Another thing I’m excited about is getting another shot at some of the teams we played last year,” he said. “We learned a lot from those games, and I think we’re ready to correct our mistakes, play harder and show how much we’ve improved.”

Preparing for his final high school season has required a significant commitment. Wulf has spent the offseason balancing football workouts with powerlifting, track and field, and opportunities to compete at college prospect camps. “I’ve been lifting consistently, doing football workouts, powerlifting and track,” Wulf said. “I’ve also attended college prospect camps to compete and learn from coaches.”

Despite the individual accomplishments, Wulf’s focus remains on the team’s success and making the most of his final season.

“As a senior, I know this is my last opportunity to play high school football,” he said. “My goal is to have a ‘burn the ships’ mindset, knowing there’s no saving anything for later.” That mindset has become his guiding principle heading into the season.

“I want to leave everything on the field every game so that when the season is over, our team can look back knowing we gave everything we had and have no regrets,” Wulf said.

His offseason focus centered on becoming a more complete athlete, particularly in the areas of speed and technique. “I want to improve my speed and overall technique,” Wulf said. “During the offseason I’ve focused on footwork, mobility, conditioning and getting stronger in the weight room.”

The hard work is nothing new for Wulf. A four-year varsity football player and three-year letterman, he has established himself as a leader within the Wildcats program. Away from football, he has excelled in the classroom as an Honor Roll student and has set multiple school powerlifting records, including a 550-pound squat, a 315-pound hang clean and a school record in the pro-agility shuttle. He also unofficially surpassed the state squat record.

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PREP PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH Jacob Lewis / Sterling Jacob Lewis knows that successful football programs aren't built overnight. They're built through consistency, accountability and a culture that carries from one season to the next. That's exactly what the Sterling standout linebacker is focused on as the Black Bears prepare for the upcoming season. "The thing I'm most excited about is to continue building our culture with a new and different group of guys," Lewis said. "We want to keep moving forward no matter who's on the team." After putting together one of the most productive defensive seasons in Kansas last fall, Lewis has embraced the responsibility that comes with being one of Sterling's veteran leaders. He led the state in tackles across all classifications with 174 total stops, including 101 solo tackles and 73 assists. He also recorded 15.5 tackles for loss, five fumble recoveries, three sacks and an interception while earning first-team HOA honors at linebacker. Despite those impressive numbers, Lewis' offseason focus has centered less on statistics and more on leadership. "Becoming a more vocal leader on the team is definitely something I want to improve on," Lewis said. "I've worked on that by interacting with my younger teammates and trying to boost their confidence and build them up." Sterling's offseason program has emphasized both physical development and team chemistry. Lewis has been a regular participant in the Black Bears' summer weightlifting, speed training and football practices, using every opportunity to prepare for another demanding season. "Our team has weights and speed training sessions throughout the summer, and we also have football practice throughout the summer as well," Lewis said. While Lewis has already established himself as one of the state's top defensive players, his goals for this season reflect a team-first mentality. Rather than chasing personal accolades, he's focused on helping Sterling continue to improve each week. "My main individual goal is to do whatever my team needs to help us win games," Lewis said. "Our team goal is to get better every day and be playing our best football in November."

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Inman’s Malachi Brunk After a summer filled with weightlifting, team camps and countless hours refining his game, Inman quarterback Malachi Brunk is eager to get back under the Friday night lights.

For Brunk, representing his hometown means more than simply playing football. It carries the responsibility of leading a program and a community that rallies behind the Teutons every fall.

“I’m excited to get back out on the field with my teammates after we’ve been grinding over the summer getting better,” Brunk said. “It means a lot to play quarterback for this town underneath the Friday night lights and to just represent Inman and the community. Also it’s super fun seeing all the young kids coming and supporting us.” That commitment has been evident throughout the offseason. Brunk and his teammates have dedicated themselves to improving physically while also building chemistry before the season begins.

“We lift weights six times a week and we also get together to run plays or throw routes,” Brunk said. “Also we have gone to a couple team camps and scrimmaged other schools.” While Brunk is already one of the state’s most accomplished dualthreat quarterbacks, he believes there is still room to grow. His primary focus has been becoming even more efficient through the air by sharpening both his mechanics and his connection with his receivers.

“I would like to improve on my accuracy and timing on routes,” Brunk said. “I’ve done this by throwing to my receivers more and working on my throwing mechanics.” Those improvements could make an already dangerous offense even more explosive. Last season, Brunk accounted for 2,425 total yards, throwing for 1,089 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 1,336 yards and 18 scores. He also made a significant impact on defense with 61 tackles and two interceptions. His all-around production earned first-team All-League honors at both quarterback and defensive back, as well as first-team All-State recognition at both positions. Despite the individual accolades, Brunk’s focus remains on team success.

“The goal as a team is to win the state championship and go undefeated,” Brunk said. “As an individual I want to be first team all state and all classes Top 11.”

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Salina Sacred Heart’s Dom Matteucci Dom Matteucci’s final high school football season is going to be about more than statistics. It’s about leading a young team and making the most of every opportunity.

“As a senior, I’m very excited about having the opportunity to lead my team and make the most of my last high school season,” Matteucci said. “I’m looking forward to playing with a very fun and passionate group of guys.” Although Sacred Heart doesn’t return many upperclassmen, Matteucci believes the Knights’ younger players bring an energy that can fuel another successful season.

“While we don’t have many returning upperclassmen, we have a lot of underclassmen who bring great energy every single day,” he said. “That energy not only makes practices enjoyable, but it also helped us achieve a winning record last season.”

optimistic about what lies ahead.

“I’m excited to see what we can accomplish together this year, but no matter how the season goes, I’m grateful it’s with this group of guys,” he said.

Matteucci has spent the offseason preparing for a bigger role. His weekly routine includes morning strength and conditioning workouts at school every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, along with speed and agility training on Tuesdays and Thursdays. One area he has emphasized is becoming more explosive.

“I’ve been focused on improving my speed,” Matteucci said. “I want to be more explosive on offense, close space quicker on defense and create bigger plays when the ball is in my hands.”

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yards. He also earned second-team all-league honors from the NCAA League and received allstate honorable mention recognition. This fall, he’s aiming even higher.

“My individual goals are to record at least 100 tackles and reach 1,000 all-purpose yards this season,” Matteucci said.

Nicholas Larson, A 5813 E Central While individual milestones are important, team Ave success remains his primary focus. Wichita, KS 67208 “As a team, I want us to build on last year’s success and achieve another winning (316) season,” 618-0526 he said. “More importantly, I would love to end my high school career with at nlarson2@amfam.c least one playoff victory.”

PROTECTION FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST

He believes the combination of speed training and strength work will help elevate his game on both sides of the ball. “Combining those two together will hopefully help me play faster and make a bigger impact this season,” he said.

PROTECTION FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST

That positive atmosphere has Matteucci

After producing an impressive junior campaign, Matteucci has set lofty goals for his senior year. Last season, heMutual recorded 82 tackles, one American Family Insurance Company, S.I. & its Operating Companies,recoveries, eight interception, three fumble 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 touchdowns and approximately 800 all-purpose ©2015 006441-01 – Rev. 7/25 – 29473220

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accolades. Instead, he’s concentrating on doing the little things that help his team succeed.

“I’m excited to get back on the field with my teammates and compete every snap,” Pfeifer said. “I really enjoy the physical side of football and the challenge of playing offensive line. It’s a position where your job is to do the little things right, protect your teammates, and help the offense succeed. I’m looking forward to seeing all the work we’ve put in together pay off this season.” After earning a varsity letter as a freshman while starting on both the offensive and defensive lines, Pfeifer has spent the offseason working to elevate every aspect of his game.

While individual improvement remains important, Pfeifer’s goals center on helping the Knights win. “My personal goal is to keep improving every week and do my job every play,” he said. “If I can protect my quarterback, open up running lanes, and help our offense and defense, then I’ve done what my coaches and teammates need from me.” The team has its sights set on bigger accomplishments after last season ended in heartbreaking fashion.

“Our team wants a winning season and to bring home a district title,” Pfeifer said. “Falling short in overtime last year was tough, but we’re ready to put in the work and finish what we started.”

“Going into my sophomore year, my main focus has been getting stronger, faster, and improving my footwork and technique,” he said. “I learned a lot as a freshman playing on both sides of the ball, and I’ve worked hard to build on that experience.”

Pfeifer has taken advantage of every opportunity to improve, attending Top Prospect and Big Man camps while training at Sharp Performance Football Academy alongside offensive and defensive linemen from across central and western Kansas. “Working alongside other athletes and learning from great coaches has really helped me improve,” he said. One of Pfeifer’s biggest areas of emphasis has been becoming more physical at the line of scrimmage while sharpening his pass protection.

“I want to become more physical at the line of scrimmage and continue improving my pass protection,” he said. “As an offensive lineman, every play matters, and I want to be someone my teammates and coaches can count on in any situation.” He said the work has come through countless repetitions and competitive training sessions.

“I spent a lot of time working on technique through drills, footwork, and repetition during training sessions,” Pfeifer said. “Competing against other linemen at camps

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A PAC - K S I N C ’ S A T H L E T E S P O T L I G H T

Inman’s Tyler Jerrick into the playoffs,” Jerrick said. “Also, I am excited to enjoy my last year playing at my hometown and with my teammates.”

Jerrick has spent the offseason putting in the work necessary to help Inman contend this fall. His routine has included an aggressive strength program, team camps and consistent practice time to sharpen every aspect of his game.

“To improve I have had weight training five to six times a week along with attending camps with my team against other schools,” Jerrick said. “Along with weekly practices with my team.”

Tyler Jerrick is embracing the urgency that comes with his senior season at Inman. After helping the Teutons put together a successful 2025 campaign, Jerrick is focused on taking the next step both individually and as a team as he prepares for his final year in his hometown colors. “For this season I am most excited to try to improve from last year and make a deep run

While the physical preparation has been important, Jerrick believes the biggest area of growth has come mentally. He has dedicated extra time to understanding offensive and defensive concepts so he can react more confidently when the lights come on Friday nights.

Jerrick has established lofty goals for his senior season. Team success remains the priority, but he also hopes to make a greater impact offensively.

“A goal I have for the team is to have an undefeated regular season record,” Jerrick said. “If we could achieve this it would set us up really well for the playoffs. Individually, I would like to get to double-digit touchdowns for the year.” Jerrick already proved to be a valuable two-way contributor in 2025. Defensively, he recorded 46 tackles, including 22 solo stops, added three interceptions and two tackles for loss. On offense, he hauled in 14 receptions for 290 yards and three touchdowns.

“One thing that I am looking to improve is my decision making,” Jerrick said. “I have improved by running plays on offense to get a feel for what I would see in the game. Along with running defenses versus other teams at camps to be more confident with my decisions and make more accurate decisions.”

SALINA LINEBACKER POLL WINNER

Solomon’s Matt Hamm-Jones Solomon’s Matt Hamm-Jones gets the final opportunity this season to suit up alongside teammates who have become like family throughout his high school career.

As he enters his senior season at Solomon High School, HammJones is motivated by the relationships he’s built and the chance to help the Gorillas continue moving forward.

“I’m most excited about it being my senior year and playing with my teammates who I’ve gotten so close to over the past couple years,” Hamm-Jones said.

Determined to make the most of his final campaign, HammJones spent the offseason improving both his strength and athleticism. He competed in powerlifting, earning a second-place finish at the state meet in the clean, while also dedicating time to agility training after suffering a minor 48

injury during the first round of the playoffs last season.

The combination of powerlifting and mobility work has helped him prepare for the physical demands of the upcoming season.

“Out of season I’ve been doing powerlifting that I ended up getting second in the state for my clean and a lot of agility drills,” Hamm-Jones said. “I really wanted to be more mobile after a minor injury the first round of playoffs last year.”

Hamm-Jones has also focused on becoming a more explosive athlete. His goal has been to improve his acceleration and ability to separate from defenders once he reaches the second level. “I have been wanting to improve on my fast-twitch muscles so I can speed up fast and try to get through or away from defenders down field,” he said.

That extra work has fueled ambitious individual and team goals heading into the fall. Personally, Hamm-Jones is aiming to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark, a milestone that would reflect the effort he has invested throughout the offseason. More importantly, he wants to help Solomon take another step as a program. “I want to try and get 1,000 or more rushing yards this season, and I want to at least win six of our games as a team this year,” Hamm-Jones said.

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2026 8-MAN DIVISION I

8M GA MES T O WAT CH Week 1 Hanover at Thayer, Neb Little River at Ell-Saline

Week 4 Victoria at Little River

Week 2 Ell-Saline at Central Plains Sylvan-Lucas at Beloit-St. John’s Week 3 Beloit St. John’s at Lincoln Ell-Saline at Hanover Sylvan-Lucas at Osborne

Week 6 Hutchinson Central Christian at Solomon Week 7 Hanover at Axtell Little River at Sylvan-Lucas Week 8 Lincoln at Ell-Saline Solomon at Clifton-Clyde Sylvan-Lucas at Victoria

8M PL AY ERS T O WAT CH

Blayne Baldetti, WR, Little River

Xavier Miller, WR, Lincoln

Trenton Benne, DB, Clifton-Clyde

Julian Roche, LB, Ell-Saline

Benjamin Bell, DB, Lincoln

Cooper Bruna, DL, Hanover

Jhet Ewertt, RB, Little River

Jaren Garrison, LB, Little River Jeremiah Miller, QB, Lincoln

CANTON-GALVA EAGLES Last Season: 4-5

The Eagles return five offensive starters and appear to have better overall numbers than they have had since Regehr became head coach. Jaxon Nightingale, Jaxon Chrislip, Ethan Brozek, Mag Cathey and Wes Prieb headline the offense, and Canton-Galva’s optimism also comes from stronger dayto-day competition in practice.

Jaxon Nightingale, LB, Canton-Galva Elijah Stagner, OL, Little River

Zayne Maupin, LB, Sylvan-Lucas

Bryson Van Eaton, OL, Little River playoffs after missing out the last two seasons. The tone of the preview suggests this is a veteran, more stable team that expects to peak late rather than simply rebuild.

to build, but he likes the mix of returning upperclassmen and younger players and believes the group has real potential.

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Canton-Galva enters 2026 believing it is in a better roster cycle after graduating only two seniors last year and three the year before, which now leaves the Eagles with more seniors and upperclassmen to supply leadership and experience. Ted Regehr said this is the group he had been looking forward to when he took over two years ago, and he believes the team has finally found its identity.

Canton-Galva likes its new schedule and district draw and believes it can be competitive every Friday night with the goal of getting back to the

CEDAR VALE-DEXTER SPARTANS Last Season: 7-2

Cedar Vale-Dexter starts a new era in 2026 with Brad Cagle taking over for his first season as head coach and his first year leading a program. Cagle said the team still has plenty

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Junior quarterback Cooper Criss is the clear centerpiece after completing 96 of 156 passes for 1,611 yards, 24 touchdowns and three interceptions while also running for 425 yards and 10 more scores in eight games. Sophomore Easton Cole also returns with proven production after 26 catches for 458 yards and five

2026 8-MAN DIVISION I TEAMS TO WATCH touchdowns, and senior Jo Gage gives the roster another key two-way piece on the line.

Cagle made health the biggest issue for the Spartans after injuries derailed the end of last season. If Cedar Vale-Dexter can stay healthy, the returning quarterback production alone gives it a chance to be much more dangerous than a short questionnaire might suggest.

CLIFTON-CLYDE EAGLES Last Season: 6-3

Clifton-Clyde looks set up for another solid season after going 6-3 and returning a core group with starting experience on both sides of the ball. Russ Steinbrock said early games will be important for building depth and answering personnel questions, but expectations are high if the Eagles stay healthy into district play.

ELL-SALINE CARDINALS Last Season: 9-2

Ell-Saline enters 2026 trying to reload rather than rebuild after a 9-2 season and a fourth straight playoff appearance. Joe Roche said the Cardinals must replace eight graduates who started for two or more seasons, but he is confident in a group of varsity-ready players who had been waiting behind strong senior classes. Julian Roche is one of the biggest storylines after moving from the line to quarterback for his first varsity season at that spot. He already brings proven all-around production after recording 42 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions last year, while Jaxsen Seed, Branton Gosvener and Asher Kejr also return as core twoway contributors.

toughness, shared leadership and competitive fire as the traits that will matter most this fall.

The Bluebirds return several key pieces, led by senior quarterback and defensive back Brayton Base, who passed for 771 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while also contributing as a tackler and kicker. Senior Claudio Flores added 353 rushing yards, 26 catches and 108 tackles, while Wyatt Sommerfeld, Gage Abbott, AJ Hagewood and Josh Kahns give Goessel experience at tight end and in the trenches. Hiebert said one early challenge is finding the right mix of experienced players and newcomers in the right positions after graduating five seniors. Goessel also moves to Division II this fall with a new schedule and new opponents, so the Bluebirds’ progress may be measured as much by weekly improvement as by pure record.

also returns as the leading tackler at middle linebacker. Westerman calls him a tough, physical two-way player and the team’s MVP nominee, while senior Tyler Brown gives Oxford another major piece on defense at 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds.

Oxford’s base offense is the double wing, and Westerman says the goal is simple: run the ball, control the clock and force opponents to deal with a physical style. With Gaither back as the focal point and a veteran group around him, the Wildcats look capable of repeating as one of the tougher small-school teams on their schedule.

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The Eagles return five offensive starters and five defensive starters, with the same core expected to carry much of the load both ways. Senior Kyzler Damman takes over as the starting quarterback after helping run a dual-quarterback system last year, while Trenton Benne, Emitt Tiemeyer, Ryan LeClair, Striker Affolter and Jacob Newton give CliftonClyde experience at the skill spots and in the trenches. Clifton-Clyde runs a multipleset offense and a 3-2 defense. Damman is also the team’s MVP nominee, with Steinbrock praising his toughness, football intelligence, improved speed and strength, and leadership potential, all of which point to him being the player who most shapes the Eagles’ ceiling.

Ell-Saline will run a shotgun spread on offense and a 3-3 defense. Roche specifically pointed to players like JT Moye, Maddox Moore, Luke Walker, Lucas Swetson, Spencer Rains and Ty Tillberg as talented newcomers to full-time roles, so the season may depend on how quickly that next wave turns potential into consistency.

GOESSEL BLUEBIRDS Last Season: 1-8

Goessel heads into 2026 with a developmental mindset after a 1-8 season, as Garrett Hiebert says the program remains focused on controllable habits, individual growth and building a stronger foundation for the future. He identified mental 50

OXFORD WILDCATS Last Season: 7-2

Oxford looks built to lean into its identity again in 2026, with Kyle Westerman pointing to a big senior class, a run-heavy approach and a defense he expects to stay stout. The Wildcats return five starters on offense and five on defense, which should give them enough experience to stay productive after last year’s 7-2 finish. Everything starts with senior Logan Gaither, who ran for 1,200 yards last season and

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ROCK HILLS GRIZZLIES

Last Season: 0-8

Rock Hills heads into 2026 with a very simple message from first-year head coach Justin Abbott: this team is going to surprise people. After an 0-8 season, the Grizzlies return eight starters on both offense and defense, which gives them a much more experienced base than most winless teams usually bring back.

Offensively, Rock Hills will line up in the I formation and try to control the clock and wear defenses down. Senior Eli Welchel is the featured force at fullback, junior quarterback Layn Badger returns to run the offense, and sophomore Wayson Colson plus athletes Braden Juarez and Tuff O’Connor give the Grizzlies some younger skill talent to build around. Defensively, Welchel again stands out as the team’s MVP

2026 8-MAN DIVISION I TEAMS TO WATCH nominee at linebacker and defensive end, while Colson, Ty Vance, Badger, Juarez and O’Connor give Rock Hills returning experience at every level. Abbott also pointed to Colson as the underclassman to watch, which fits a roster that appears to mix a few key seniors with younger players expected to take on major roles immediately.

SOLOMON GORILLAS Last Season: 3-6, lost in 1st round to Lincoln

Solomon enters 2026 in rebound mode but with real momentum after posting three wins last fall, its best total in six seasons. Head coach Devin Rizzo, now in his third year leading the Gorillas, believes a large, experienced senior class and the program’s growing confidence can turn that progress into sustained success.

reach about 30 players, its largest in a decade. The main concern is offensive line depth, but the staff is optimistic that younger linemen can grow into roles as the season progresses.

SOUTH SUMNER OUTLAWS Last Season: 3-6

South Sumner looks like one of the more seasoned 8-Man Division I groups in the area, returning 10 starters on both sides of the ball from a 3-6 team. Head coach Sean Blosser, entering his fifth year with the Outlaws after previously leading Caldwell, said the team had a great summer and is excited to improve as it moves back to 8-man football fulltime.

SYLVAN-LUCAS MUSTANGS Last Season: 11-2

Sylvan-Lucas enters 2026 with high expectations after an 11-2 season, but Ben Labertew made it clear the Mustangs still have some important spots to fill if they want to stay at that level. He likes the core returning group, though, and believes the key will be having younger players grow into bigger roles quickly. The offense will stay true to Sylvan-Lucas’ identity with a double-tight, runheavy approach. Senior Zayne Maupin is the obvious centerpiece after rushing for 1,900 yards last season, while senior Cai Labertew and junior Lane Brokes give the Mustangs proven physical pieces around him.

coach Mike Wilhelm said the Eagles have had a decent summer in the weight room and on the practice field and are focused on learning how to get better every day. The emphasis is on competing, building on small successes and growing confidence in one another rather than expecting instant results.

Offensively, Udall returns just three starters and will work from a balanced I formation, though Wilhelm thinks the team’s early strength may be throwing the ball. Junior quarterback Jace Harness is the key piece under center, with sophomore running back Crayton Smith, sophomores Grayson Lawhon and Henry Erb up front and at tight end, and sophomore receiver Conner Akred giving the Eagles young skill talent to develop.

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The Gorillas return seven offensive starters and four defensive starters, highlighted by senior running back/ linebacker Matt Hamm-Jones, who rushed for 618 yards and seven touchdowns and finished second on the team in tackles. Senior quarterback Breken Coup is back after throwing for 963 yards and eight touchdowns, while seniors Jack Westhead, Koehn Duryea and Junior Gonzalez plus juniors Aiden Sreap and Ryder Sutton give Solomon veteran playmakers at receiver, fullback, linebacker and along both lines. Solomon will stay in its power spread offense with a 3-3 multiple defense, and Rizzo notes that the roster could

Up front, multi-year starters Tony Trillo, Dalton Kelly and Colt Schmidt anchor an experienced offensive line expected to open running lanes for senior quarterback/ running threat Mak Blosser and senior back Maddox Pond. Blosser also highlighted Caleb Boone, Cole Spencer and Tanner Clark at tight end and receiver as key pieces who can give the offense versatility. Defensively, the Outlaws again lean on their senior core, with Kelly, Trillo, Schmidt, Brody Heater and Ely Thompkins competing along the defensive line and Clark, Will Theurer and Boone returning at linebacker. In the secondary, Pond, Blosser, Spencer and Gabe Crampton provide depth, and the overall tone of the outlook suggests South Sumner expects to contend if its veteran group continues to lead week to week.

Maupin is also the team’s MVP nominee, with Labertew describing him as an extremely hard worker and a great overall football player. Cai Labertew adds another senior two-way anchor after recording 95 total tackles, and Brokes gives the team a major junior presence at 6-foot-7, 250 pounds after posting 70 tackles last year. With only four offensive starters back, Sylvan-Lucas may need a little time to settle its supporting cast. Still, when a team returns a 1,900-yard rusher and multiple physical two-way leaders from an 11-2 season, the baseline remains very strong.

UDALL EAGLES

Last Season: 0-9

Udall heads into 2026 in full rebuild mode after an 0-9 season, but first-year head 51 VYPE KANSAS FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026 | KSVYPE.COM

Defensively, Udall brings back two starters and will line up in a 3-3 base designed to limit big plays and keep the ball in front. Senior defensive end Frank Campbell and junior linebacker Harness headline the front seven, while Lawhon, Anthony Grahem, Braydon Akred and freshman safety Elijah Myers round out a group that will try to grow into a more consistent unit as the season goes on.

The schedule starts with three straight road games and includes matchups with Erie, Oxford, Central Burden, Cedar Vale-Dexter and South Sumner, so Udall will be tested early. For a young, inexperienced roster, the real measure of success may be how much tougher and more competitive the Eagles become by late October than the final record alone suggests.

2026 8-MAN DIVISION II TEAMS TO WATCH ARGONIA-ATTICA TITANS Last Season: 6-4

Argonia/Attica looks like an experienced 8-Man Division II contender again, returning a large group of starters on offense, defense and special teams from last year’s 6-4 squad that reached the second round of the playoffs. Head coaches Luke Greenwood and Wyatt Williams, now in their 14th year at the co-op, own a 94-40 record at the school and a 111-59 overall mark.

On offense, the Titans bring back senior quarterback Maddex Hemberger after a season with 1,073 passing yards and 14 touchdowns plus 456 rushing yards and seven scores. Senior lineman Spencer Beck (alldistrict second team), junior tight end Garrett Morrison, junior lineman Tanner McCurley, junior first-team all-district receiver Jack Alexander and sophomore running back Jordy Torres-Roman round out a strong returning skill group.

feeling like a program on the upswing after becoming more competitive and seeing the players buy into the staff ’s process last season. The Trojans faced several high-quality opponents in 2025, and coaches believe those challenges helped accelerate the team’s growth and set the stage for new accomplishments this year.

are coming off an 11-1 season and a KSHSAA 6-man state title, but they will now move up to 8-man football with a much younger roster. Head coach Lance McGuire, in his 21st year at Cunningham and 32nd overall, noted the program has lost five seniors for the second straight year and will rely heavily on underclassmen this fall.

Offensively, St. John’s-Tipton returns three starters and operates out of a very multiple attack with a variety of formations and motions. Junior quarterback/linebacker Brooks Dunstan, junior running back/ linebacker Kaden Phillips and senior fullback/tight end/ defensive end Dominic Eilert headline the offense, which aims to use the team’s athleticism to spread the ball among several ball carriers and receivers while expanding its passing concepts and run packages.

Cunningham’s schedule features home dates against Spearville, Norwich, Pretty Prairie and Sunrise Christian, plus road trips to Central Christian, Argonia/Attica, Fairfield and Goessel. Given the transition in both classification and age, this season is likely to be more about finding footing against newsized opponents than simply chasing another trophy.

Head coach Lance Bergmann, now in his third year, is supported by assistants Parker Gates, Scott Hartman, Dean Gengler and Kelly Griffith, with booster president Cheryl Germann helping on the program side. The staff ’s outlook emphasizes continuing to grow together and pushing toward higher goals rather than viewing last year’s 4-5 mark as a ceiling.

The Wildcats bring back 12 players, including two offensive starters, three defensive starters and one defensive rotator. Top prospects Stephen Kerschen, Kollin Fischer, Brody Bock, Tyler Osner, Liam McGuire and JP Kerschen headline the returning core as Cunningham tries to translate its recent 6-man success into competitiveness at the 8-man level.

Defensively, Fairfield brings back three starters and again leans on the same core. Witt returns at linebacker/safety, Foster and Sader anchor the defensive line, McIver is back at defensive back, and Goetz and Brown add size and versatility up front and on the edge. The coaches specifically highlight seniors Witt, Foster, Sader, McIver and James Short as the leaders on both sides of the ball, while underclassmen Lucas Goetz, Lukas Gard, Garrett Foster, Marshall McCammon, Thad Brown and Quirt Fry are mentioned as notable young contributors. If that younger group comes along quickly, Fairfield has a chance to look more like a program on the rise than a simple rebuilding team.

FLINTHILLS MUSTANGS Last season: 5-5

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Defensively, Hemberger returns at linebacker with all-league and all-district honors, Beck is back on the defensive line as a first-team all-district player, and Morrison, Alexander, TorresRoman, Mason Mans and Konner Nelson give A&A an athletic, aggressive unit with proven production. Torres-Roman and Alexander also headline special teams as kicker and returner.

Greenwood says the Titans should have good team speed and an athletic, aggressive defense but still lack ideal size and must replace graduated leader Carson Vineyard. With a young roster that gained experience last year and a schedule featuring South Sumner, Pretty Prairie, Cunningham, Sunrise Christian, Norwich, Hutchinson CC and Wichita County, A&A expects to compete each week and grow into a playoff-caliber team as the season progresses.

BELOIT ST. JOHN’S BLUJAYS Last Season: 4-5

St. John’s-Tipton enters 2026

Defensively, the Trojans base out of a 3-2 look but adjust as needed, playing aggressively with a wide range of blitzes. That aggressive identity meshes with their schedule against traditionally strong smallschool opponents and reflects a program that wants to dictate the action rather than sit back.

This fall is set up as a year where system familiarity, returning skill players and an attacking defensive mindset could turn last season’s competitive strides into more wins and a legitimate push toward postseason goals.

CUNNINGHAM WILDCATS Last Season: 11-1, 6-man state champion Cunningham enters 2026 in a unique position: the Wildcats 52

FAIRFIELD FALCONS

Last Season: 4-5

Fairfield goes into 2026 expecting to lean heavily on a small senior core while a large group of underclassmen grows into bigger roles. The staff describes this as a very young team that will need sophomores and juniors to replace graduated seniors, with the seniors providing much-needed experience and athleticism.

On offense, the Falcons return two starters and will operate from a power wing set, aiming to control time of possession and play more physically than opponents. Senior Braeden Witt (QB/RB), senior linemen Gavin Foster and Dominic Sader, senior back/receiver William McIver, and underclassmen linemen Lucas Goetz plus tight end/ fullback Thad Brown are listed as the primary offensive pieces.

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Flinthills enters 2026 with its highest expectations in years after posting the program’s best season since 2007 and upsetting top-seeded Cedar Vale-Dexter to reach the regional round. The Mustangs’ motto, “NOT FINISHED! PROVE IT AGAIN!”, reflects a belief that last fall’s success was a launching point, not a peak, and the staff has set explicit goals of a .750 regular-season record, a district championship, hosting a Week 10 regional game and advancing beyond regionals. Head coach Chase Casteel, now in his sixth year as HC and 12th with the program, returns five starters on both offense and defense, with confidence that last year’s second-stringers can step into larger roles thanks to meaningful varsity experience. He is joined by defensive coordinator Jon Dunbar and special teams/line coach Ryan Jenkins, underscoring a stable staff behind the team’s growth.

Offensively, Flinthills will again feature its playmakers out of a Twins Gun I formation. Senior running back Beau Hall is the clear focal point after a massive 2025: 208 carries for 1,807 rushing yards, 14 receptions for 175 yards and 29 total touchdowns, production that

2026 8-MAN DIVISION II TEAMS TO WATCH earned him first-team allstate, all-league and multiple all-district honors. Senior quarterback Tripp Carney (320 rushing yards, 565 passing yards) and junior receiver Ty Finley (251 receiving yards, seven TDs) give balance and bigplay ability, while junior tight end/lineman Deken Girty adds physicality up front.

Defensively, the Mustangs base out of a 3-3-2 look and lean on Hall again, this time as a tackling machine at linebacker with 94 total stops, three tackles for loss, six impact turnovers and a pick-six. Carney, end Luke Jenkins (team-high six sacks) and defensive back Finley (52 tackles, three interceptions) round out an experienced, productive core. Hall is the program’s MVP nominee and “heartbeat” of the offense, and sophomore Lane Jenkins is tabbed as an underclassman to watch after making his mark on special teams and as a backup RB/LB as a freshman.

moments, backed by solid depth. Bruna headlines a deep running back room, joined by Sedlacek, Ryder Sedlacek and Kickhaefer, while Sedlacek, Kickhaefer, Stallbaumer, Bruna and Ian Schlabach give the Wildcats a deep, dynamic receiver group. Dragastin anchors the line, with competition from Will Luppen, Michael Cook and others to rebuild a physical front. Defensively, Hanover has pieces at every level. Sedlacek, Dragastin, Luppen, Cook and Wyatt Simpson form the core of a new-look front, while linebacker is “extremely deep” with Sedlacek, Cohorst, Bruna, Ryder Sedlacek and Schlabach. In the secondary, Kickhaefer, Stallbaumer and Bruna return significant experience.

The staff believes “the sky is the limit” if this group maintains the hunger, discipline and detail that put Hanover back among the elites, with a schedule that again runs through traditional powers before the postseason.

equally senior-heavy. Wallace and Miller lead the defensive line, combining for tackles, tackles for loss and sacks, while Sullivan and Kooiman are highly productive at linebacker, with Sullivan posting 59 stops and 10 TFLs and Kooiman adding 74 tackles, 5 TFLs, 2 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. In the secondary, Eigsti and Barnett form a dangerous ball-hawking duo: Eigsti had 48 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and an outstanding 11 interceptions with two defensive touchdowns, and Barnett added 68 tackles, 6 interceptions and a pick-six of his own. With that much senior experience, especially at quarterback, receiver, tight end, and all three levels of the defense, Central Christian should again be in the mix to win its league and push deep into the postseason if the supporting cast around this core develops as expected.

lineman Bryson VanEaton and sophomore linebacker Jake White. That core gives the Redskins proven production at quarterback, skill spots and in the trenches as new faces step in around them. Defensively, Little River bases out of a 3-2 look, fitting their goal of playing a physical, disciplined style. Garrison, Baldetti, Schubert and White headline a group that will be asked to keep games tight while the retooled offense finds its rhythm.

The coaches note that “chemistry and leadership will dictate how good we will be,” and the aim is to put a better, more cohesive team on the field each week. If the new starters grow quickly and the returning core can raise its level in big moments, Little River has a realistic shot to stay in the 8-Man I contender conversation despite heavy graduation losses.

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HANOVER WILDCATS

Last season: 13-0, 8-Man Division II state champion

Hanover enters 2026 squarely in reload-not-rebuild mode after an undefeated title run in which the Wildcats averaged 47 points per game and allowed just 8.4. The staff credits experience, a relentless work ethic and strong focus for last year’s dominance and fully expects to “continue the winning tradition” with another championship-caliber group.

Head coach Matt Heuer (22nd year) returns five offensive starters, five defensive starters and 21 letterwinners, losing only six from the 2025 roster. The senior core features end/ DB Hunter Kickhaefer, RB/ LBs Kadrick Cohorst and Brody Sedlacek, lineman Max Dragastin and end/DB Lanxden Stallbaumer, with juniors Cooper Bruna (RB/LB) and Jack Bruna (WR/DB) adding proven punch. Offensively, Hanover again leans on balance and versatility. Cohorst is back at quarterback with dual-threat ability, leadership and poise in big

HUTCHINSON CENTRAL CHRISTIAN COUGARS Last season: 10-1

Central Christian heads into 2026 with a strong senior-laden core after a 10-1 campaign under fourth-year head coach Matthew Barnett. The Cougars return experience and production across the lineup, especially in the trenches and the offensive skill spots, giving them the pieces to contend again.

Up front, seniors Brayden Wallace, Trey Miller and Karson Sullivan anchor the offensive line, while senior tight end Cael Kooiman adds a proven receiving threat with 14 catches for 182 yards and 4 touchdowns. Quarterback Luke Eigsti returns after an efficient dual-threat season (76-of-114 passing for 952 yards and 12 TDs; 68 rushes for 373 yards and 9 scores), and senior receiver Cal Barnett provides big-play ability with 26 receptions for 405 yards and 6 scores plus a rushing touchdown. Defensively, Central Christian is

LITTLE RIVER REDSKINS

NORWICH EAGLES

Last season: 9-2

Little River heads into 2026 coming off another strong year but with a significant graduation hit, losing eight seniors from a 9-2 team whose only setbacks were one-score games. The staff emphasizes that replacing those departed leaders, building chemistry and making plays in defining moments will largely determine how high this group’s ceiling is.

Head coach Kevin Ayers begins his eighth year at Little River with a 67-15 mark at the school and 227-54 in his career, joined by assistants Chad Lafferty, Tyson Konen and Shane Cordell. The Redskins will again compete in the Wheat State League as an 8-Man Division I program. Offensively, Little River remains option-based, leaning on decision-making and physicality. Multiple seniors bring starting experience: versatile QB/ RB/LB Jaren Garrison, tight end/defensive end Blayne Baldetti, running back/free safety Jhet Ewertt, lineman Elijah Stagner and receiver/ defensive back Logan Schubert, along with junior lineman/d-

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Last season: 1-8

Norwich heads into 2026 looking for a significant step forward after a 1-8 debut season under head coach Adam Leroux, who now enters his second year with the program. The staff believes the foundation is in place, with most key skill players and three offensive line starters back, and is counting on a big jump from underclassmen who were thrown into major roles last fall. Offensively, the Eagles will again build around junior running back Easton Schroeder, who posted 1,051 total yards and 11 touchdowns, and is the focal point of a physical, run-first philosophy behind returning linemen Rylan Poe, Lucas Fisher and Liam Vavra. Junior quarterback Kyedon Schroeder (394 passing yards, 4 TDs; 105 rushing yards) is expected to become a bigger threat on the ground and tighten up the passing game, while fellow junior back Marshall Eslinger (125 rushing yards, 3 TDs) and teammates Hunter Poe and Nolan Reese are being asked to “take a jump” and share more of

2026 8-MAN DIVISION II TEAMS TO WATCH the load.

Defensively, Norwich brings back all but two starters in a 3-2-3 base that demands strong gap control from the first five and physical play from the back three. Easton shifts back to safety, where he can roam and impact more plays after a season with 84 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and a sack, while Kyedon and Hunter Poe round out a potentially formidable trio in coverage. Up front, 4–5 linemen will rotate to keep the front fresh and stout against the run, with two linebackers needed to step up and provide the attitude the staff wants.

Easton is the clear MVP nominee and described as Norwich football’s current starting point: a two-way workhorse, team captain as a sophomore, multi-sport standout and the program’s expected senior leader and one of 8-man’s top players by 2027. Character Counts honoree Lucas Fisher, a returning captain and FFA officer who leads team prayers and has battled back from multiple injuries, embodies the toughness and integrity Norwich is trying to build around. If the line improves, the young core matures and the Schroeder-led skill group continues to raise its level, Norwich has a chance to move from rebuilding to genuinely competitive in 2026.

multiple-look defense. This year’s schedule features Elyria twice (including a district meeting), road trips to Tescott, MDVC and Chetopa, and district games against SCC, AltoonaMidway and Centre, giving Peabody-Burns a familiar mix of league and district opponents.

The biggest reason for optimism is the sheer number of returning starters. Seniors Ashton Talkington (OL/LB/RB), Dalton Philpott (RB/LB/QB), Colin Groff (RB/LB), Jameson Miles (TE/DL/LB), Aiden Hurst (QB/ LB) and Gage Wilson (OL/DL) all bring significant experience, giving Peabody-Burns continuity at quarterback, the backfield, tight end and both lines. Juniors and underclassmen such as Cale Gossen (QB/TE/LB), Kash Willson and Devlin Kealy (RB/ LB), Leroy (TE/DL), Maddox Wilson (OL/DL) and Brodix Renolds (QB/LB) add depth and competition across the offense and defense.

— and sees real upside if the group embraces week-to-week consistency and growth.

Offensively, the Panthers bring back eight starters, giving them continuity across the formation. Senior athlete Dayton Reeves returns as a versatile playmaker who can line up at multiple spots, senior quarterback Owen Russell is back to steady the offense, and senior lineman Ezra Benne anchors the front. Juniors Bridger Gile and Peter Newman provide length and receiving threats at tight end, helping balance the attack and give Russell multiple options. On defense, six starters return, including Gile and Reeves at safety and Russell, Trenten Robison and sophomore Hutch Hammer at linebacker, with Benne up front. That mix offers experience at all three levels: coverage, second-level run fits and the defensive line, which should help Pike Valley stay competitive against a schedule that includes Stockton (twice), Lincoln, Rock Hills, Osborne, Lakeside, St. John’s/Tipton and Thunder Ridge.

genuine optimism thanks to a solid core of returning starters and a revamped offensive identity. The Bulldogs have not reached the playoffs since 2020, yet the staff believes this group can compete with a very tough district and make a push back into the bracket.

Offensively, Pretty Prairie has fully shifted schemes to a West Coast-style attack built around junior quarterback Gunner Young’s arm and pre-snap decision-making. Young returns with the confidence of the staff behind him “to read a defense and make great pre-snap reads,” distributing the ball to playmakers tight end Braden Woods and receiver Malachi Goering behind a three-man front of center Wyatt Grilliot and guards Rylan Reyes and Westin Lanning. That veteran interior line is expected to give Young the time needed for the quickgame throws that define the new system.

8-MAN

PEABODY-BURNS WARRIORS (6-Man)

Last season: 7-3

Peabody-Burns enters 2026 as a proven playoff regular with momentum, coming off a 7-3 season and a 2025 sectional finish in 6-man under fourthyear head coach Eric Dutton (19-9 at the school, 19-9 overall). The program has made the postseason six straight years, and last year marked another winning season after the last losing campaign in 2019, reinforcing that this is now a consistently successful outfit. The Warriors compete in 6-man District 1 and the Wheat State League, running a balanced run/pass offense and a flexible,

With that many veterans at key spots and multiple players capable of playing quarterback, running back and linebacker, Peabody-Burns looks built to keep its balanced identity and aggressive defensive approach intact. If the Warriors stay healthy and the younger players continue to develop behind this large senior class, they should be positioned to extend their playoff streak and make another serious run into the November bracket in 2026.

PIKE VALLEY PANTHERS Last season: 2-7

Pike Valley enters 2026 looking like a classic “jump” candidate: only two seniors graduated, and a large group of returning athletes saw significant snaps as underclassmen last fall. Head coach Brent Melby, now in his fifth year at the school and second as head coach, expects a solid senior core that has already been leading the program for a couple of seasons to set the tone. The staff believes leadership, experience and competitiveness are this team’s biggest strengths — traits that can keep them in games even when execution isn’t perfect 54

Reeves is the clear MVP nominee, described as an allaround athlete who can play any offensive and defensive position and handle return duties, with speed and shiftiness that make him a constant big-play threat. Hammer is tabbed as the underclassman to watch after contributing on both sides as a freshman and showing strong blocking, ball skills and downhill linebacker play. Character Counts honoree Logan Dahl, a senior who has battled injuries but remained a consistent presence and leader, gives the program a culture anchor. If the younger players continue to develop and the team stays healthy, Pike Valley has a real chance to turn last year’s groundwork into a notably stronger season.

PRETTY PRAIRIE BULLDOGS Last season: 1-8

Pretty Prairie goes into 2026 trying to turn a corner under fifth-year head coach Blake Lee after a 1-8 campaign, but there’s

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Defensively, the Bulldogs will lean heavily on their middle four in a 3-5 structure. Reyes slides to nose guard with Grilliot and Lanning at defensive tackle, and Colin Shippy at middle linebacker, forming a rugged core that coaches expect to make running the ball difficult for opponents. In the secondary, Young, Woods and Goering provide “ball sense” and range at defensive back, with confidence that they can limit shots over the top. Pretty Prairie is realistic about its rugged district—Central Christian (who pushed Victoria as much as anyone last year), upstart 8-man newcomer Cunningham, and a young but solid A&A squad—but firmly believes it can “compete with all of them.” If the smaller Bulldogs get the payoff from their weight-room work, the new passing attack clicks and the defensive front plays to its physical potential, they fully expect to be in every game and are targeting their first playoff trip since 2020.

THE BANK OF TESCOTT’S ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Lincoln’s Benjamin Bell After coming within one game of a state championship a season ago, Lincoln senior Benjamin Bell enters his final high school football season with unfinished business.

For Bell, the motivation goes beyond wins and statistics. As he prepares to wear the Lincoln Leopard uniform one last time, he wants to leave a lasting impact on everyone connected to the program. “I am most excited to put on the Lincoln Leopard uniform for one last year and represent God, my family, my coaches, my friends, my school and my community and bring excitement and joy for those watching me play football,” Bell said. “I’m also looking forward to taking a bigger leadership role and teaching the next generation of Lincoln Leopards some of the stuff I know.”

That leadership has been evident throughout the offseason. Bell has been a fixture in Lincoln’s team workouts and weightlifting sessions while also making weekly trips to Moundridge to train with Kegan Schumann at Revive Performance. He supplemented those workouts by attending multiple college camps, using every opportunity to sharpen his game.

for 503 yards and six touchdowns on just 48 carries, averaging 10.5 yards per attempt. As a receiver, he hauled in 43 receptions for 783 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 18.2 yards per catch.

Defensively, Bell was equally dominant, recording 117 tackles and seven interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. His performance earned him first-team All-State honors at defensive back in Eight-Man Division I. Still, Bell’s focus isn’t on individual accolades.

The sting of finishing as state runner-up continues to fuel both him and his teammates. “My goal for the team is to win a state championship,” Bell said. “We were so close last year, and it’s a gut-wrenching feeling having to live with the feeling of second place.”

Although team success remains the priority, Bell has set high personal expectations as well.

“Personally, some of my goals are to be a huge part in my team’s success, as well as earn all-state recognition,” he said.

Banking on Our Hometown Teams

“I have been practicing and lifting with the team, as well as going down to Moundridge every week to work out with Kegan Schumann and Revive Performance,” Bell said. “Additionally, I attended and performed at many college-level camps and have taken what I learned and shared it with my team.” While Bell has already established himself as one of the top two-way players in Kansas eight-man football, he focused on refining the mental side of the game this offseason.

“I wanted to improve on my football IQ, learn how to read opposing offenses, as well as work on my technique at both wide receiver and safety,” Bell said. “To work on those, I have talked with respected high school and college coaches in my area, picking their brains and learning techniques and IQ.”

The results from last season illustrate why Bell is one of the state’s premier playmakers.

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Despite playing only 35 quarters because of numerous mercy-rule victories, Bell rushed

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COMMERCIAL TIRE CALL OF THE WILD ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

Little River’s Jaren Garrison Jaren Garrison isn’t focused on personal accolades entering his final high school football season. Instead, the Little River senior is embracing one last opportunity to compete with his teammates while helping the Redskins take the next step.

“I’m very grateful and excited for one more opportunity to play this game,” Garrison said. “It’s a once in a lifetime experience that can never be replaced.” That appreciation has fueled a busy offseason. Like many of his teammates, Garrison has spent the summer building strength and speed while sharpening his individual skills in preparation for the fall.

“During the offseason we have our weights program, speed and agility training, team camps, and just working individual things by yourself,” Garrison said.

Little River is aiming to build on recent success by becoming a more disciplined football team. Garrison believes the difference will come from attention to detail and a shared commitment throughout the roster. “This year we’re looking to be a more disciplined football team that doesn’t leave anything in the tank,” Garrison said. “Some things we do to improve on that is work that much harder at every little thing we do, and all around get everyone the same attitude towards how we’re gonna approach the year.” That mindset reflects a team eager to rewrite its postseason story.

“The goals are pretty straightforward for our team this year,” Garrison said. “We’re not satisfied with how we’ve finished the past few years and are looking to change that.”

While the team’s goals come first, Garrison has already proven he can make an impact in every phase of the game. Last season, he accounted for 403 passing yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 722 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also added 79 receiving yards and two scores, showcasing his versatility on offense. Defensively, Garrison was equally productive, recording 74 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, one interception and four pass breakups. Despite those numbers, Garrison’s individual priorities remain simple.

“Individual all I care is to do what our team needs to be able to win,” he said. VYPE KANSAS FOOTBALL PREVIEW 2026 | KSVYPE.COM

TEAM OF THE MONTH Lincoln Leopards Football After coming within one win of a state championship last fall, the Lincoln Leopards enter the 2026 season with one goal in mind: getting back to the title game and finishing the job. Lincoln posted an 11-2 record in 2025, went undefeated in Northern Plains League play at 6-0 and advanced to the Eight-Man Division I state championship game before finishing as the state runner-up. Now, head coach Colby Hamel believes the Leopards have the experience and leadership to make another deep postseason run. “This upcoming senior class will end up being the winningest graduating class in Lincoln history with a 22-9 record,” Hamel said. “Five losses in two years have been by one touchdown or less.” The Leopards return four offensive starters and five defensive starters from last year’s state finalist squad, including one of the state’s most dynamic playmakers in senior quarterback Jeremiah Miller. Miller accounted for more than 3,300 total yards and over 50 touchdowns last season, earning all-state honors while returning as the centerpiece of Lincoln’s spread offense. He also anchors the defense at linebacker. Lincoln’s passing attack will once again feature one of the top receiving duos in Eight-Man football. Senior

Xavier Miller returns after eclipsing 2,700 career receiving yards and earning all-state recognition, while senior Ben Bell has accumulated more than 2,200 career receiving yards and is also an all-state selection. The Leopards also welcome back senior Logan Dail, a returning starter on both the offensive and defensive lines, along with senior Dylan Rosebrook at offensive line and defensive end. Sophomore Jahdiel Miller is expected to make an impact at tight end and defensive end after earning a starting role, while seniors Kadin Schneider, Ayden McBride and Noah Krueger add valuable experience on both sides of the ball. Although Lincoln graduated standout contributors Easton Good, Brody Shearer, Austin Ahring and Kolton

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Meyer, Hamel believes the returning core has played enough football to keep the program among the state’s elite. “Veteran team that has played a lot of football from the time they have got into high school,” Hamel said. “The whole team and staff feels really good about where we are right now when you can compete with the best in the state.” The confidence stems from more than just last season’s success. Lincoln has compiled a 22-9 record during the current senior class’s career and has established itself as one of the premier programs in Eight-Man Division I. Still, the Leopards know last year’s runner-up finish won’t mean much if they don’t build on it. “Our goal is to be playing football Thanksgiving week in Greensburg,” Hamel said.

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NCKS SPORTS’ ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Pike Valley’s Hutch Hammer Pike Valley’s Hutch Hammer is focused on becoming a more dominant player as he prepares for the upcoming football season.

After gaining valuable varsity experience as a freshman, Hammer said his biggest goal is continuing to develop physically while helping the Panthers take a step forward as a team. “In this upcoming season I am most looking forward to my own improvement, specifically becoming a more physical force,” Hammer said. “I would also love to see my friends succeed just as much as I do.” Hammer saw action in all nine games last season, showcasing his versatility by playing defensive end, outside linebacker, middle linebacker, right and left guard, and tight end. That experience has helped shape his offseason priorities. Hammer said much of his offseason has centered on strength training.

“During this offseason I have been mainly lifting pretty hard and pushing myself,” he said. “I also love playing basketball and it is the main way I get my conditioning.”

One area Hammer has targeted is improving his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. To accomplish that, he began preparing well before the team’s summer workouts.

“I would love to improve on my explosive ability coming off the line of scrimmage,” Hammer said. “To prepare for that I started lifting at the end of basketball season getting my form down on squat and cleans. Because of this I was ready for summer weights and perform much better in the weight room.” While Pike Valley’s 2025 season fell short of expectations, Hammer hopes the Panthers can make a deeper postseason run this fall. “Last season didn’t go so well so just being able to win a playoff game would be great,” he said. “Personally I would love to finish the season with maybe like five touchdowns and 15 TFLs.”

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Away from football, Hammer is considering a future in aviation. He said he is interested in attending Kansas State University Salina to study aeronautical engineering.

“My future plans at this point are mostly undecided,” Hammer said. “At this point in my life I think I might try to go to K-State Salina and major in aeronautical engineering. And with that find a job repairing and manufacturing planes and jets, for either the military or a commercial company.”

RUSS HERMAN’S STATE FARM ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Concordia’s Ayden Krier Concordia High School’s Ayden Krier is easy to spot on Friday nights, lining up in the slot or dropping back at safety, but the work that defines him often happens far from the stadium lights. A rising junior, Krier said his biggest inspiration comes from home. “Who inspires me is my dad because he works hard every day to provide for the family and takes no days off and has taught me the value of hard work.” That value shows up in the classroom and weight room. Krier said his favorite subject is social studies, and his favorite teacher is Coach Peroo, who teaches leadership and weights. “Athletics has taught me the value of being a great not only teammate but also person,” he said. On the field, he embraces the demanding role of a two-way player. “I am a slot wide receiver and safety and I’d say the most difficult thing about being a slot is the responsibility of blocking and creating holes for running backs or qb.”

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Krier said the thing he enjoys most about being on the team is “getting to learn under some great coaches that know how to treat a player.” He’s seen the intensity of the game firsthand. “Craziest thing I’ve seen on the football field is a coach throwing another kids helmet after he made a mistake,” he said. His favorite memory so far is a clutch moment: “My favorite memory from a game would have to be the Beloit game when I caught the go ahead touchdown to ultimately lead to us winning the game.” Pre-game, Krier keeps things simple with “some light stretching and listening to music and just talking with friends.” He said he loves most how “everyone is acquainted and supportive how we’re all friends and able to mesh together.” One teammate in particular

still drives him. “The teammate who has left the biggest impression on me without a doubt would be Brody Knox, although he is no longer with us he was someone who didn’t complain much and had a joy about the game. He had ultra confidence in me and was just very supportive overall.”

Off the field, Krier stays busy with golf, friends and a mowing business. “Other ways I’m active in the community is I have my own little mowing business where I mow for many people in town and I’ve helped with people moving and other things like that,” he said. His favorite place in town is Hood Park, where, he said, childhood memories with friends will “forever have a place in my heart even when I’m on to bigger things.” 58

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VISIT SALINA’S ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT

Sylvan-Lucas’s Zayne Maupin After putting together one of the state’s most productive seasons a year ago, Sylvan-Lucas standout Zayne Maupin isn’t satisfied with simply repeating that success. The senior is focused on taking another step individually while helping the Mustangs chase a trip to the state playoffs. “I’m most excited about winning games with my teammates and being back on the field,” Maupin said. “It’s great to get back out there and compete.”

Maupin established himself as one of Kansas’ top allaround performers last season. He rushed 205 times for 1,922 yards and 33 touchdowns while adding 211 receiving yards and three receiving scores. He also completed 4 of 6 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Maupin was just as impactful, recording 120 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Rather than relying on last season’s production, Maupin has spent the offseason preparing to elevate his game. He attended training camps, participated in morning workouts and focused on improving his overall conditioning.

“I’ve been going to training camps, completing morning workouts and getting into shape,” Maupin said. One area of emphasis has been becoming a more elusive runner. Maupin identified making sharper cuts as a priority and dedicated time throughout the offseason to improving that aspect of his game.

“I want to improve on my cuts, and I have been working on that through cone drills,” he said. Maupin has set lofty goals for his final season at Sylvan-Lucas. Individually, he hopes to eclipse the 2,500-yard rushing mark after falling just short of 2,000 yards a season ago. More importantly, he wants to help lead the Mustangs on a deep postseason run. “My individual goal is to rush for 2,500 yards, and the team goal is to make it to state,” Maupin said.

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Andre Williams

For Andre Williams, choosing the right college wasn’t just about finding a place to play football. It was about finding an environment that would help him grow on and off the field. That search led Williams to Hutchinson Community College, where he found a program built on accountability, high expectations and a commitment to developing student-athletes into wellrounded individuals. “I chose Hutchinson CC because I saw a program where I could develop not only as a studentathlete, but also as a young man,” Williams said. “I was also really drawn to the high standards they hold for their players.” Those standards have helped create a culture that Williams says extends far beyond football. As a Blue Dragon, he has found himself surrounded by teammates and coaches who challenge one another every day while providing support along the way. Some of his favorite aspects of being a student-athlete at Hutchinson are the close-knit community and the relationships built throughout the program. “Some of my favorite things about Hutch are the supportive community and the high level of accountability the coaches maintain with the players,” Williams said. Williams describes the atmosphere within the football program as one built on trust, shared goals and mutual respect. “To me, the culture is like a brotherhood,” he said. “Everyone is focused on achieving their goals, and we constantly push each other, both teammates and coaches alike.” That combination of accountability and camaraderie has helped reinforce why Hutchinson has become one of the premier junior college football programs in the country. Players are expected to give their best every day while knowing they have teammates and coaches invested in their success. For prospective student-athletes considering Hutchinson Community College, Williams understands there can be uncertainty about taking the next step. His advice is simple. “If a student-athlete is interested in Hutch but has some hesitation, I would recommend that they trust their gut feeling,” Williams said.

FA R M B U R E AU A N D C J P L U M B I N G & H A R DWA R E ’ S AT H L E T E S P OT L I G H T

Rock Hills’ Waysen Colson Rock Hills enters the 2026 football season with renewed optimism, and Waysen Colson believes the program is positioned to take a significant step forward after enduring the challenges of a short-handed roster a year ago. After earning a starting role on both offense and defense as a freshman, Colson returns with valuable varsity experience and a leadership mindset. He’s eager to see what a larger, more talented squad can accomplish this fall. “For the upcoming season I am most excited to see what we can accomplish as a young team,” Colson said. “We nearly have double the number of players compared to last year and talent to make it a successful season.” The increased depth is a welcome change for Rock Hills after a season in which simply fielding a healthy lineup was a weekly challenge. That experience has fueled Colson’s desire to help build a stronger team culture while chasing victories. “Honestly, my biggest goal for the team would be to get some wins,” he said. “Last year we had just enough players to play the game and it was hard to keep everyone healthy and uninjured.” Colson spent the offseason preparing for a bigger role. He attended a football camp hosted by Nebraska coach Matt Rhule, where he focused on improving his running back skills and agility. When he wasn’t at camp, he balanced summer weights with long days working in the hay field and loading bales. He also made running a regular part of his routine to improve his conditioning. The hard work wasn’t just about becoming a better ball carrier. Colson has also emphasized improving his play on the defensive side of the ball. “One area I would like to improve on is my defensive form and ability to read plays without any hesitation,” Colson said. “Camp started a new mindset for me, and I hope to share my new knowledge with my teammates.

Hopefully it can lead us to some wins on and off the field this season.” Individually, Colson’s focus extends beyond statistics. He wants to be a player his teammates can count on while embracing the physical style of football he enjoys most. “My goal is to keep my team united and motivated to play,” he said. “I want to play football and leave it all on the field. Running the ball and leaving it all out on the field. Nothing’s better than that.” Looking back, Colson considers earning a starting spot on both sides of the ball as a freshman one of his proudest accomplishments. He credits the upperclassmen for making the transition to varsity a positive experience. “One of the things I’m most proud of is being a starter my freshman year on offense and defense,” Colson said. “The upperclassmen treated me great, and I always felt valued and appreciated their guidance.” His favorite memory from last season still brings a smile. “My favorite memory of the season was at the Downs game,” Colson said. “I got tackled at my ankles, did a complete straight-bodied 360 flip and never let go of the ball. The photos are great, but the slow-motion replay in my head is better.”

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Nickerson senior Rylan Morrell isn’tCatiam focused on rem position skills and conditioning so I can play fast sessulius; no. Apervitiam tra? sessulius; no. Sci Sci se se movit movit re re Apervitiam tra? Catiam individual accolades as he enters his final high rem and physical all game long.” scerfectuium egitam is, st nimula resimo egeres et fecon school football season. Instead, the Panthers’ scerfectuium egitam is, That st worknimula resimo egeres et fecon has centered on becoming a more standout is embracing one last opportunity to virmihilica ina, si sena, consita obserfir intem nuntem explosivevitam athlete, something believes can teres? virmihilica si he’s sena, vitam obserfirMorrell intem nuntem teres? compete alongside theina, teammates grownconsita up elevate every aspect of his game. with esciame while chasing a memorable postseason run. Go nequem essullatim tabemus huc ignones ium Go nequem essullatim interurnis interurnis esciame tabemus huc ignones ium “One thing I really wanted to improve was my “I’m iu really for nit; my senior season because actum noniu inpre nemquodi, derra dum in actum noniu inpre nemquodi, iu in inexcited derra nit; norbem, norbem, dum is is speed in and explosiveness,” he said. “I’ve been it’s my last ride with my guys,” Morrell said. “We’ve doing a lot of sprint work, lifting heavynos and doing te, conditus es tem termihineque cus con vivivirma, fortervivem beente, grinding together es for years, I just want conditus temand termihineque cus con vivivirma, nos fortervivem agility drills to help me move better and play to goandent? out there andUlturbis leave everything on the field. facent que aperei senteri faster. I just want to be moreatium explosivenostilin and make patque facent que atium nostilin patque andent? senteri I’ve been putting inUlturbis a lot of workaperei in the weight more plays this year.”ia plicatque tem conovena, crudet; verbis bonem caecon diem roomverbis and getting bonem my body right, caecon so I’m ready todiem crudet; ia plicatque tem conovena, see it all come together and help my team win While Morrell has personal aspirations of posting tasdam pro haberniae aut vehebat uusque tasdam alest alest prit, prit, ut ut visulic visulic haberniae games.” the best pro season of his careeraut and vehebat earning an uusque opportunity to continue playing football after publiciam sendiem nox finare obsentinte condi praverc publiciam sendiem nox sedet sedet finare obsentinte condi praverc Morrell returns after a productive junior campaign high school, his biggest goals revolve around the in which he carried the ball 156 times for 830 eremus consulicae terfect ustrae iam sentis. Lus tifenit dum eremus consulicae terfect ustrae sentis. Lus tifenit dum imis imis success ofiam the Panthers. yards and seven touchdowns while averaging adempost Catiqua sedet, ellare omne atamque ere 5.3 yards per carry. HeCatiqua also made an impact onellare “Individually, I just want to have myina, best season adempost sedet, omne atamque ina, ere tabem tabem the defensive side of the ball with 38 tackles and yet and keep getting better everyvestrum week,” Morrell perorit, pre partemus? virmihiliemo pre for egilicaequam egilicaequam partemus? vestrum four tackles loss, showcasing the versatility that said. “I’m virmihiliemo also hoping to get noticed and have a perorit, Licasti, que mentum quemus Nickerson will once again rely on thispublis. fall. chance tone play estam at the next int level. As a team, we abutem Licasti, que mentum publis. ne estam int quemus abutem want to compete for a deep playoff run. Most Determined to take another step as a senior, prestercere notam popubli prestercere notam popubli importantly, we just want to play hard for each Morrell has attacked the offseason with a purpose. other every game.” Habi sertem senatius haelumus? ceperfesim dii Habi sertem senatius haelumus? ceperfesim dii temorum temorum publium publium “This offseason I’ve just been locked in,” he said. To go along with being a standout football player, factam omne publinteri fortabem nessolum mus interec “I’ve quitatrum been in the weight room getting stronger, factam omne publinteri fortabem quitatrum nessolum mus interec Morrell also is an avid outdoorsmen. When he’s doing speed andliamdium agility work, and going topoteriste team telingu Patum eo tus not carrying ballin telingu liamdium Patum poteriste eothe tus infor the Wildcats, Morrell can workouts every day. I’ve also been working on my be found in a field hunting or on a boat fishing. con dem ignatur quam me in

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