#VKFB18: Previewing Central Plains League football’s top contenders
Belle Plaine Dragons
Class 2A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 2-7 (Key win: Bluestem, 52-16; Key loss: Independent, 41-28)
2017 Finish: Ninth in CPL, missed playoffs
Coach: Jason Jinkens (6th year)
Projected Record: 4-4 (0-3, Eighth in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
Bo Gooch, 5-10, 150, QB/S, Sr.
Luke Baker, 5-11, 174, RB/LB, Jr.
Taylor Douglas, 6-2, 185, RB/LB, Sr.
Chaparral Roadrunners
Class 2A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 6-3 (Key win: Garden Plain, 18-14; Key loss: Conway Springs, 53-19)
2017 Finish: Fourth in CPL, missed playoffs
Coach: Justin Burke (9th year)
Projected Record: 5-3 (3-3, Fourth in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
Isaac Helms, 5-11, 245, OL/DL, Sr.
Jake Burke, 6-2, 195, QB/DB, Sr.
Miguel Gerber, 5-11, 220, OL/DL, Sr.
Cheney Cardinals
Class 3A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 9-3 (Key win: Marion, 56-0; Key loss: Marysville, 42-25)
2017 Finish: 2nd CPL, Lost in sectionals (Class 3A)
Coach: Shelby Wehrman (2nd year)
Projected Record: 6-2 (3-1, Second in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
Landon Gegen, 6-2, 213, OL/DL, Sr.
Kauy Kuhn, 5-11, 160, FS, Sr.
Trey Patterson, 6-4, 221, TE, Sr.
Conway Springs Cardinals
Class 2A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 10-1 (Key win: Chaparral, 53-19; Key loss: Hesston, 45-42)
2017 Finish: First in CPL, Lost in Regional
Coach: Matt Biehler (21st year)
Projected Record: 8-0 (6-0, First in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
Zach Mercer, 5-10, 165, RB/DB, Sr.
Aaron May, 5-7, 160, RB/DB, Sr.
Chase Ast, 6-0, 240, FB/DT, Sr.
Douglass Bulldogs
Class 2A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 3-7 (Key win: Bluestem, 32-14; Key loss: Cheney, 48-8)
2017 Finish: Sixth in CPL, Lost in Bi-District
Coach: Kelley Sayahnejad (4th year)
Projected Record: 4-4 (2-1, Fifth in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
Zachary Dressler, 6-0, 200, RB/LB, Sr.
Kaleb Hurd, 6-3, 180, TE/LB, Sr.
Kyle Hurt, 6-1, 205, LB/OL, Sr.
Garden Plain Owls
Class 2A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 7-2 (Key win: Cheney, 18-13; Key loss: Chaparral, 18-14)
2017 Finish: Third in CPL, missed playoffs
Coach: Ken Dusenbury
Projected Record: 6-2 (4-2, Third in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
Matt Pauly, 5-8, 170, QB, Jr.
Ethan McGregor, 5-11, 170, DB, Sr.
Locke Byers, 5-9, 220, DL, Sr.
Independent Panthers
Class 2A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 1-9 (Key win: Belle Plaine, 41-28; Key loss: Conway Springs, 55-6)
2017 Finish: Eighth in CPL, Lost in Bi-District
Coach: Eric Swenson (2nd year)
Projected Record: 2-6 (1-4, Seventh in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
Kobey Fields, 6-2, 175, QB/DB, Sr.
Waylon Chance, 5-10, 175, WR/DB, Sr.
Levi Newman, 6-1, 215, OL/DL, Sr.
Kingman Eagles
Class 3A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 5-5 (Key win: Pratt, 39-25; Key loss: Scott City, 21-14)
2017 Finish: Seventh in Central Kanasas League, Lost in Regional
Coach: Curtis Albin (8th year)
Projected Record: 2-6 (1-2, Sixth in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
John Moliter, 5-11, RB/S, Sr.
Gage Oiler, 5-8, 138, S/RB, Jr.
Riley Krehbiel, 6-0, QB/CB, Sr.
Trinity Academy Knights
Class 3A, Central Plains League
2017 Record: 4-5 (Key win: Chaparral, 29-28; Key loss: Garden Plain, 49-21)
2017 Finish: Fifth in CPL, missed playoffs
Coach: Wes Miller (1st year)
Projected Record: 2-6 (0-4, Ninth in CPL)
Top 3 Players:
Felix Johnson, 6-5, 340, OL/DL, Sr.
Nate Adler, 6-3, 215, QB/LB, Sr.
Tucker Trevett, 6-1, 205, OL/DL, Sr.
This story was originally published August 3, 2018 at 12:55 PM.