TOPEKA (KSNT) — The Junior Blues are hungry and ready for the 2026 Kansas high school football season, and looking to make a deep playoff run.
Washburn Rural was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in 2025, suffering a 52-28 loss to Northwest (Wichita).
A second-round exit is a finish the Junior Blues felt was less than the standard that has been set by teams before them.
“A lot of our guys… were part of some teams during their four years here at the school that ran deep into playoffs,” head coach Steve Buhler told 27 Sports. “Last year’s finish really didn’t settle very well with them. They want to be the one’s who make it just as far as our group did when they made it to Sub-State a couple of years ago.”
“My freshman year, we had a very deep run in the playoffs, and almost had the state championship,” senior quarterback Gavin Vantuyl added. “Coming back from last year, we have a chip on our shoulder and a lot to prove to go deeper in the playoffs.”
Vantuyl has made the switch this season from wide receiver to starting quarterback. The senior was the Junior Blues leading receiver last season, but has adjusted nicely to his new role.
“He’s done a really nice job of taking over the leadership reigns from John from last year,” Buhler told 27 Sports.
While Vantuyl is focused on making sure the team meets all of its goals this season, he has a few personal ones for himself.
“I would like to implement everyone as the quarterback, to throw everyone the ball, to get everyone to play and make sure that everyone can get the work that they want,” Vantuyl said.
As the end of training camp draws near Washburn Rural, the players know their biggest takeaway from this year’s camp can be summed up in one word—unity.
“The emphasis goes back to that unity. We don’t break off on family because we’re unified, and that just goes to our team bonding again,” senior middle linebacker Amir Jones told 27 Sports.
His coach echoed his statement.
“The ultimate goal was to just play with unity and we figure if we do some other things, play with unity, compete at every level in practice against each other all the time, but really care about our teammates and want everyone on the team to do well,” Buhler added. “If we do those little things, the success will come later on.”
The Junior Blues will kickoff the 2026 season on the road at Kapaun Mt. Carmel. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.
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