#VK17FB: A preview of the Central Kansas League
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HALSTEAD
Coach: Jason Grider, fourth season, 31-6
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 9-2, lost in 3A second round
Returning starters: 12
Offense: Veer Option
Defense: 4-3
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Smoky Valley; Sept. 8, at Hesston; Sept. 15, Kingman; Sept. 22, Larned; Sept. 29, at Hillsboro; Oct. 6, Pratt; Oct. 13, Haven; Oct. 20, Hutch Trinity; Oct. 26, at Sterling.
Projected record: 7-2
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Dalton Kraus | 6-0 | 170 | Sr. | QB-DB |
Kaden Kraus | 5-9 | 170 | So. | R-LB |
Noah Mendez | 5-10 | 155 | Sr. | TE-DB |
Drew Blaylock | 5-10 | 215 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Vinton Robuck | 6-0 | 215 | Sr. | OL |
David Schulte | 6-0 | 185 | Jr. | OL-DL |
Kameron Freeman | 5-8 | 150 | Sr. | DB |
Ryan Weber | 5-9 | 175 | Sr. | RB-LB |
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HAVEN
Coach: Michael Hill, second season, 1-8
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 1-8
Returning starters: 15
Offense: Single Wing
Defense: 4-4
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Nickerson; Sept. 8, Pratt; Sept. 15, at Smoky Valley; Sept. 22, at Kingman; Sept. 29, Lyons; Oct. 6, Hillsboro; Oct. 13, at Halstead; Oct. 20, at Sterling; Oct. 26, Hutch Trinity.
Projected record: 2-7
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Thane Unruh-Spinner | 5-10 | 170 | Sr. | QB-DB |
Kodi Dale | 5-11 | 185 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Hunt Davis | 6-0 | 185 | Sr. | TE-LB |
Dalton Dick | 6-3 | 210 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Stephen Montaldo | 5-10 | 210 | Sr. | RB-LB |
Corby Nisly | 6-3 | 265 | Jr. | OL-DL |
Ryan Williams | 6-1 | 220 | Jr. | OL-DL |
Wyatt Boese | 6-1 | 200 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Tristan Nisly | 5-7 | 185 | Sr. | OL-DL |
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HESSTON
Coach: Tyson Bauerle, first season
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 11-4, lost in 3A championship
Returning starters: 10
Offense: Pistol Spread
Defense: 4-3
Schedule: Sept. 1, Garden Plain; Sept. 8, Halstead; Sept. 15, at Larned; Sept. 22, Nickerson; Sept. 29, at Smoky Valley; Oct. 6, at Kingman; Oct. 13, at Hillsboro; Oct. 20, Southeast-Saline; Oct. 26, at Marion.
Projected record: 7-2
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Reese Nebel | 6-1 | 170 | Sr. | WR-DB |
Cameron Cox | 5-10 | 175 | Jr. | QB-DB |
Parker Roth | 5-11 | 200 | Jr. | RB-LB |
Blake Martin | 6-6 | 2220 | Jr. | DL |
Sean Duerksen | 6-1 | 235 | Jr. | OL-DL |
Jesus Ramirez | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Alex Koehn | 6-0 | 230 | Jr. | OL-DL |
Tyler Mason | 6-3 | 315 | Jr. | OL |
Matt Whitsitt | 5-7 | 170 | Sr. | LB |
Chase McDonald | 5-10 | 155 | Sr. | DB |
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HILLSBORO
Coach: Devin Metzinger, second season, 3-6
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 3-6
Returning starters: ?
Offense: ?
Defense: ?
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Lyons; Sept. 8, Kingman; Sept. 15, at Hoisington; Sept. 22, Smoky Valley; Sept. 29, Halstead; Oct. 6, at Haven; Oct. 13, Hesston; Oct. 20, Marion; Oct. 27, at Southeast-Saline.
Projected record: 1-8
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Elliot Ollenburger | 5-8 | 130 | Sr. | WR-DB |
Kaden Kleiner | 6-0 | 155 | Sr. | QB-DB |
Jacob Funk | 6-5 | 190 | Sr. | WR-DB |
Colin Settle | 5-10 | 220 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Wesley Shaw | 6-2 | 250 | Jr. | OL-DL |
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HOISINGTON
Coach: Zach Baird, third season, 32-4
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 12-1, lost in 3A semifinals
Returning starters: 9
Offense: Flexbone
Defense: 3-4
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Kingman; Sept. 8, at Collegiate; Sept. 15, Hillsboro; Sept. 22, at Washington County; Sept. 29, Pratt; Oct. 6, at Nickerson; Oct. 13, Ellsworth; Oct. 20, Larned; Oct. 26, at Lyons.
Projected record: 6-3
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Sean Urban | 5-8 | 190 | Sr. | RB-LB |
Jake Curtis | 5-8 | 160 | Sr. | RB-LB |
Jared Curtis | 5-11 | 190 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Eric Barrett | 5-11 | 175 | Sr. | OL-LB |
Rudy Gearhart | 5-10 | 155 | Sr. | RB-DB |
Wyatt Pedigo | 6-0 | 180 | So. | RB-LB |
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KINGMAN
Coach: Curtis Albin, seventh season, 26-31
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 3-6
Returning starters: 16
Offense: Triple Option
Defense: 4-2-5
Schedule: Sept. 1, Hoisington; Sept. 8, at Hillsboro; Sept. 15, at Halstead; Sept. 22, Haven; Sept. 29, at Independent; Oct. 6, Hesston; Oct. 13, Holcomb; Oct. 20, at Hugoton; Oct. 27, Pratt.
Projected record: 4-5
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Jack Govert | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Adam Meng | 6-1 | 195 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Gage Pickering | 5-8 | 150 | Sr. | RB-DB |
Carter Oeding | 6-3 | 160 | Sr. | WR-DB |
Logan Waldschmidt | 5-9 | 155 | Sr. | WR-DB |
Devin Williams | 6-1 | 230 | Sr. | OL-DL |
William Milford | 5-10 | 165 | Sr. | DB |
Chris Ontiveros | 5-10 | 165 | Sr. | DB |
Joe McGinnis | 6-2 | 170 | Sr. | OL-DL |
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LARNED
Coach: A.B. Stokes, sixth season, 21-27
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 3-8, lost in 3A second round
Returning starters: 15
Offense: Multiple I-Formation
Defense: 3-4
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Pratt; Sept. 8, Smoky Valley; Sept. 15, Hesston; Sept. 22, at Halstead; Sept. 29, at Nickerson; Oct. 6, Phillipsburg; Oct. 13, Lyons; Oct. 20, at Hoisington; Oct. 26, Ellsworth.
Projected record: 2-7
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Wes Davis | 6-2 | 200 | Sr. | RB-LB |
Kelton Barrett | 6-0 | 215 | Sr. | OL-DL |
Shevin Martin | 5-9 | 175 | Sr. | RB-LB |
Anthony McConnell | 5-7 | 190 | Sr. | RB-DB |
Damontay Phillips | 6-1 | 185 | Sr. | WR-LB |
Jeremiah Slattery | 6-0 | 230 | Sr. | OL-DL |
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LYONS
Coach: James Johnston, sixth season, 11-35
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 0-9
Returning starters: ?
Offense: ?
Defense: ?
Schedule: Sept. 1, Hillsboro; Sept. 8, at Nickerson; Sept. 15, Minneapolis; Sept. 22, at Pratt; Sept. 29, at Haven; Oct. 6, Smoky Valley; Oct. 13, at Larned; Oct. 20, at Ellsworth; Oct. 26, Hoisington.
Projected record: 0-9
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NICKERSON
Coach: Mike Vernon, third season, 10-10
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 6-4, lost in 4A II first round
Returning starters: 14
Offense: Flexbone
Defense: 4-2-5
Schedule: Sept. 1, Haven; Sept. 8, Lyons; Sept. 15, at Pratt; Sept. 22, at Hesston; Sept. 29, Larned; Oct. 6, Hoisington; Oct. 13, at Trinity Academy; Oct. 20, Collegiate; Oct. 27, at Clearwater.
Projected record: 7-2
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Trystan Isley | 5-11 | 170 | Sr. | RB |
Peyton Kuhns | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | RB |
Tanner Schrag | 6-4 | 190 | Jr. | QB |
Chance Gorges | 6-2 | 190 | Sr. | OL |
Camron Stewart | 6-2 | 210 | Sr. | OL |
Trevor Frederick | 6-0 | 190 | Sr. | TE-LB |
Hunter Jones | 6-2 | 170 | Jr. | LB |
Chandler Eaton | 6-0 | 175 | Jr. | LB |
Koalten Hornback | 6-5 | 295 | Sr. | OL |
T.J. Powell | 6-2 | 180 | Sr. | DB |
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PRATT
Coach: Jamie Cruce, fifth season, 23-18
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 12-1, won 4A II championship
Returning starters: 5
Offense: Flexbone
Defense: 3-4
Schedule: Sept. 1, Larned; Sept. 8, at Haven; Sept. 15, Nickerson; Sept. 22, Lyons; Sept. 29, at Hoisington; Oct. 6, at Halstead; Oct. 13, Hugoton; Oct. 20, at Holcomb; Oct. 27, at Kingman.
Projected record: 9-0
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Travis Theis | 5-9 | 175 | Jr. | RB-DB |
Landon Studer | 5-9 | 150 | Sr. | QB |
Justin Lamatsch | 6-0 | 200 | Sr. | OL-LB |
Raiden Kohman | 6-0 | 240 | Jr. | OL-DL |
Kadence Riner | 5-9 | 155 | Jr. | RB-LB |
Caden Blankenship | 5-11 | 165 | Jr. | RB-LB |
Andres Fernandez | 6-0 | 195 | Jr. | OL-DL |
Brett Winsor | 6-2 | 160 | Jr. | WR-DB |
Hunter Huber | 5-9 | 205 | So. | OL-LB |
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SMOKY VALLEY
Coach: Tim Lambert, third season, 10-10
League: Central Kansas League
Last season: 8-3, lost in 4A II quarterfinals
Returning starters: 14
Offense: I-Formation
Defense: 4-3
Schedule: Sept. 1, Halstead; Sept. 8, at Larned; Sept. 15, Haven; Sept. 22, at Hillsboro; Sept. 29, Hesston; Oct. 6, at Lyons; Oct. 13, Rock Creek; Oct. 22, Chapman; Oct. 27, at Clay Center.
Projected record: 7-2
Top returning players
Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr | Pos. |
Kyle Anderson | 6-1 | 175 | Sr. | RB-LB |
Kaj Sjogren | 6-1 | 175 | Sr. | RB-DB |
Riley O’Dell | 6-0 | 170 | Sr. | RB-LB |
Brett Heitschmidt | 6-1 | 200 | Sr. | QB |
Zach Able | 5-9 | 165 | Sr. | WR-DB |
jacob Adams | 6-4 | 185 | Sr. | TE-DL |
Blake Heble | 6-1 | 180 | Jr. | LB |
Ethan Wampler | 6-1 | 245 | Jr. | OL-DL |
This story was originally published August 24, 2017 at 12:04 PM with the headline "#VK17FB: A preview of the Central Kansas League."