WAC teams look to re-build, re-load from 2019 season
Dodge City won the outright 2019 WAC title, and the Demons will have many faces to replace for the 2020 season. Hays won a playoff game for the first time in 25 years and has a lot of experience returning. Garden City struggled a year ago, but has 15 starters back while Great Bend also lost a big senior class to graduation. Liberal continues to try and work its way up the WAC ladder. That’s a big picture view of the upcoming 2020 football season.
DODGE CITY RED DEMONS
Head Coach: David Foster (11th season at DC, 57-41)
2019 Season: Won 9, Lost 1 (WAC, 4-0, 1st)
The 2019 football season for the Dodge City Red Demons was much like Cinderella coming to the ball, enjoying the dance but forced to leave before the midnight hour struck.
Coach Dave Foster’s Demons swept through the WAC, going 4-0 to claim the league crown and giving Foster WAC Coach of the Year honors. The Demons dumped Haysville-Campus, 34-13, in the Week 9 contest before seeing their season ended by Junction City, 54-7, in the Class 6A regional title game.
In addition, the Demons swept the top two awards, with the now graduated Beau Foster earning Offensive Player of the Year honors and then junior linebacker Alden Knedler (6-2, 215) claiming the Defensive Player of the Year award. Knedler totaled 80 tackles a year ago, had a league-best 4 interceptions and forced 2 fumbles during his banner season.
“The cupboard appears to be emptied with only 5 returning starters but those 5 were key components of our offense a year ago,” Foster said. “The key will be up front on the offensive line in filling in the 4 vacant spots due to graduation.”
That offensive line tune-up or overhaul, if you wish, will be anchored by senior Carlos Teran (6-0, 250), who was a seconed team all-WAC performer in 2019. Foster said that junior Tucker Smith will compete for the starting quarterback spot after the graduation of Foster, a three-year starter. Knedler, who played both ways (running back on offense) might also see some duty at the QB position, Foster said. From his RB position, Knedler totaled 694 yards and scored a seconed-best 14 TDs.
“Receiver will be an area of strength with several returning lettermen returning to compete for open spots,” Foster said. Senior Matt Friess (5-10, 175), a first-team all-WAC selection, and junior D’Andre Vontress (6-1, 175) are the top receivers returning in an area Foster considers to be a strength.
Friess was the second leading receiver in yards in the WAC (592), ranked fourth in receptions with 26 and shared the top spot in TDs (5). Defensively, Foster welcomes back six starters, and in addition to Knedler, includes junior lineman Santonio Turner (6-0, 235), another all-WAC pick for the Demons in 2019 during his sophomore campaign.
“Key experience will return at each level however it is only 1 returning starter at each level,” Foster said. “This group has progressed this summer and we expect this group to be strong again. We will rely heavily on new faces to fill gaps.”
Goals for 2020 remain similar to the past decade for Foster – win the WAC, win the coveted Hatchet Game against rival Garden City and advance into the 6A playoffs.
“Last season’s WAC championship and going undefeated on the regular season set the table in terms of expectations,” Foster said. “Many conference teams lost critical pieces that they will all be looking to re-load.”
2020 Schedule: Sept. 4—WICHITA KAPAUN; Sept. 11—at Liberal; Sept. 18—GARDEN CITY; Sept. 25–Sept 25—at Bishop Carroll; Oct. 2—GREAT BEND; Oct. 9—at Hays; Oct. 16—OPEN; Oct. 23—at Ulysses; Oct. 30—Class 6A Playoffs (Week 9).
GARDEN CITY BUFFALOES
Head Coach: Brian Hill (11th season, 57-41)
2019 Season: Won 2, Lost 7 (WAC, 2-2, 3rd).
In the decade since he became the head football coach at Garden City High School, Brian Hill has guided the Buffaloes to the third-most wins in school history, only behind legendary coaches Dave Meadows and John Dickerson.
In the middle portion of the 2010 decade, Hill’s Buffs advanced to the Class 6A semifinals once (2013) and the quarterfinals another season (2017). The last two seasons have been an aberration in that success, posting back-to-back 2-7 records.
The 2020 season will be guided by a simple philosophy – cut down turnovers, be better on defense and not give up as many big plays as they have done the past two campaigns.
“We were minus-10 in turnovers last year, so we need to take care of the ball better on offense,” Hill said. “We’ve got have more consistency in our kicking game, too. Staying healthy will be a big key.”
For the Buffs to return to their winning ways, Hill will count on 15 starters returning from the 2019 season that saw them win two WAC games against Hays and Liberal.
Four starters return to anchor the offensive line, which will be the strong part of that side of the ball, Hill said. Two of those returners received honorable mention all-WAC honors in 2019 – senior tackle Trey Nuzum (6-4, 285) and junior Kelvin Rico (5-9, 260). The other two – Ronaldo Ramos (5-10, 265, Sr.) and Kaden Whitehurst (6-0, 235, Jr.) – started all nine games.
That will be the blocking group for senior running back Josh Janas, who rushed for 1,057 yards and scored 12 touchdowns to earn first-team, all-WAC consideration. Janas, a state-caliber wrestler, was the go-to runner on all short-yardage situations last season and will be counted on heavily for the ground game this season.
The quarterback job will likely be in the hands of junior Zane Burns (6-0, 180), who took over the signal-calling duties after then senior starter Carlos Acosta went down with a season-ending injury. Sophomore Caleb Wiese also got some reps under center when Burns, too, suffered an injury.
The strength of the Buffs will likely fall to the defense early on, with 9 starters back in the fold. That group is led by junior tackle Terrell Elliott (6-1, 275) who earned first-team, all-WAC laurels. Junior Ashton Huber was a second-team all-WAC defensive back and will anchor the secondary.
“We should be pretty solid in all areas, but I’d say our defensive line will be the strongest at the start and then our secondary where we have the most experience,” Hill said. “The key early in the season will be to produce positive results to give our kids confidence.”
After two seasons of playing state champion Derby, the Buffs will open on the road at Manhattan on Sept. 4. With the revised schedule, the Buffs will travel to Dodge City in Week 3 on Sept. 18 for the annual Hatchet Game with the Red Demons.
2020 Schedule: Sept. 4—at Manhattan; Sept. 11—HUTCHINSON: Sept. 18—at Dodge City; Sept. 25—HAYS; Oct. 2—at Liberal; Oct. 9—at Wichita Kapaun; Oct. 16—ULYSSES; Oct. 23—GREAT BEND; Oct. 30—Class 6A Playoffs (Week 9).
GREAT BEND PANTHERS
Head Coach: Erin Beck (5th season, 28-14)
2019 Season: Won 5, Lost 5 (3-1 in WAC, 2nd)
The Great Bend Panthers have enjoyed their share of success during the current reign of head coach Erin Beck. Two regional championships, and one sectional championship in Class 5A have highlighted the Panthers in that stretch. Beck’s teams have won two-thirds of their games, going 28-14.
The 2019 Panthers went 3-1 in the WAC to finish a game back of Dodge City, then won their 5A opener before falling to Class 5A runner-up Wichita Heights in the second round. The biggest news, however, is that the Panthers will drop to Class 4A for football playoffs despite playing a 5-6A schedule during the regular season.
Beck lost do-everything QB Dalton Miller (1,397 yds. Rushing, 17 tds; 1,303 passing yds., 9 tds) whose total was 2,700 yards and 26 td’s. The Panthers lost 98 percent of their offensive output to graduation, as 22 seniors including 18 starters graduated.
“It will be open season for several positions on both sides of the ball,” Beck said. “Our defensive line returns the most experience with three players returning.”
That group includes seniors Elias Moreno (5-10, 220), Matt Neiman (5-11, 190) and Greg Sommers (5-8, 230). Offensively, center Jason Scott is the lone returner on the line. Wide receiver Paco Hernandez is one of the few returning skill positions for Beck’s squad. Scott and Moreno were second-team all-WAC performers in 2019.
Beck said he anticipates junior Joseph Moeder to battle for the quarterback starting position with other players moving up to varsity after a successful junior varsity campaign.
The revised schedule calls for the Panthers to open at Maize South and play McPherson, Wichita-Kapaun and Goddard-Eisenhower in non-league contests.
2020 Schedule: Sept. 4—at Maize South; Sept. 11—HAYS; Sept. 18—at McPherson; Sept. 25—WICHITA KAPAUN; Oct. 2—at Dodge City; Oct. 9—LIBERAL; Oct. 16—GODDARD EISENHOWER; Oct. 23—at Garden City; Oct. 30-Class 5A Playoffs (Week 9).
HAYS INDIANS
Head Coach: Tony Crough (3rd season, 7-12)
2019 Season: Won 4, Lost 6 (1-3 WAC, 4th)
In just his second year at the helm of the Hays High Indians football program, Tony Crough accomplished something that had not been done in two and a half decades – win a postseason game.
Struggling through the WAC season by going just 1-3 and placing fourth, the Indians won two other non-league regular-season games heading into the Week 9 play-in game. That resulted in a convincing 31-6 victory over Goddard Eisenhower before seeing the season end in the regional championship against unbeaten Maize South, 41-10.
Still, that experience, Crough believes, will be the catalyst for what he sees as a breakout season in 2020.
“We should be a much improved team with many returning starters coming of age,” Crough said of his third-year squad. “A bunch of juniors have been on the field two years and a few seniors have been on the field for three seasons.”
Crough’s enthusiasm for 2020 rests with the fact he has 8 returning starters on defense and 7 on offense. And he believes the mix sets the Indians up for steady improvement this season.
“This team will lean on a strong experienced defense to make plays throughout the season,” Crough said. “An improved offense with talented playmakers is expected to emerge as the season progresses.”
The ringleaders of the HHS defense are senior Gaven Haselhorst and junior Gavin Meyers. Haselhorst, a 6-1, 230-pound end, tallied 104 tackles, 21 of those for losses, ranking second and first in the WAC in those categories.
Meyers, a 6-3, 220-pound linebacker, led the WAC in tackles with 106 and had 12 of those for losses. Haselhorst is a K-State commit and Meyers is already being courted by KSU, Nebraska and Colorado. Both were all-WAC first team and also made several all-state lists. Senior Trey Adams will be part of the big front defensive line (6-6, 250) after recording 80 tackles and had 4 blocked kicks in 2019.
Hays’ defense ranked second in the WAC behind champion Dodge City, so it figures that side of the ball will be the team’s strength early on. Tucker Veach (5-10, 165, Sr.) anchors the secondary after intercepting 6 passes in 2019.
Offensively, Crough said the team would look to second-year starter and junior Dylan Dreiling for its up-tempo attack. Dreiling, a 5-11, 185-pound junior, had his ups-and-downs in his sophomore season, passing for 987 yards and 9 touchdowns while rushing for 568 yards and 3 scores. However, he threw a league-high 12 interceptions and completed just 44 percent of his passes. Dreiling’s top receiver is back in Jaren Kanak (6-2, 195, jr.), who caught 30 passes for 504 yards and 5 scores a year ago.
“An improved offense with talented playmakers is expected to emerge as the season progresses” Crough said.
2020 Schedule: Sept. 3 (Thurs.)—at Goddard Eisenhower; Sept. 11—at Great Bend; Sept. 18—LIBERAL; Sept. 25—at Garden City; Oct. 2—ABILENE; Oct. 9—DODGE CITY; Oct. 16—at Maize South; Oct. 23—WICHITA KAPAUN-MT. CARMEL; Oct. 30—Class 5A Playoffs (Week 9).
LIBERAL REDSKINS
Head Coach: Jason Dunlap
2019 Season: Won 2, Lost 7 (0-4, WAC, 5th)
It’s been a bit of a daunting task to rebuild the Liberal Redskins into the annual powerhouse that existed in the 1990s and early 2000s under legendary coach Gary Cornelson. Four state championships and three other state runner-up finishes will do that to a community and school.
But Jason Dunlap is working hard to renew that competitive spirit and tradition with the Redskins, having fashioned an 11-15 record in his first three seasons.
Dunlap will have the benefit of 5 returning starters on both offense and defense, but did lose his quarterback and son, Syris, to graduation. The main cogs for Dunlap this season, on which he will build around, include four seniors and one junior, three of which will play both ways.
That group includes seniors Malcom Wiltshire (5-9, 170, WR/DB), Alex Esparza (6-1, 215, RB/LB), Jose Beltran (5-9, 175, RB/DB) and junior Aldo Avalos (5-10, 220, OL/DL). Also returning are Kwami Williams (5-9, 180, Sr., DB) and senior Tony Rivero (5-8, 200, DL).
Dunlap will continue to run his offense from the Power I formation while employing a 4-2-5 defensive scheme.
2020 Schedule: Sept. 4—at Goodland; Sept. 11—DODGE CITY; Sept. 18—at Hays; Sept. 25—OPEN; Oct. 2—GARDEN CITY; Oct. 9—at Great Bend; Oct. 16—at Wichita Kapaun; Oct. 23—OPEN; Oct. 30—Class 6A Playoffs (Week 9).
Coaches Preseason Poll: 1. Hays; 2. Dodge City; 3. Garden City; 4. Great Bend; 5. Liberal.
