KMAJ-AM 1440 and FM 93.5 are the places for High School Sports Coverage from all of your favorite local teams.

High School Football Broadcast Schedule 2021:

9/3 Washburn Rural @ Topeka West

9/10 Seaman @ Hayden

9/17 Hayden @ Topeka West

9/24 Baldwin @ Hayden

10/1 Emporia @ Washburn Rural

10/8 Topeka West @ Highland Park

10/15 Topeka High @ Seaman

10/22 Seaman @ Washburn Rural

10/29 Rock Creek @ Hayden

11/5 Hiawatha @ Hayden

The Azura Credit Union Student Athlete of the Game for 10/15 is Camden Barta.

Stay tuned for more information and updates. 

The Cumulus Sports Network is broadcasting to local high school football games in the 2021 season on KMAJ 1440 and FM 93.5!

High School Football Broadcast Schedule 2021:

9/3 Washburn Rural @ Topeka West

9/10 Seaman @ Hayden

9/17 Hayden @ Topeka West

9/24 Baldwin @ Hayden

10/1 Emporia @ Washburn Rural

10/8 Topeka West @ Highland Park

10/15 Topeka High @ Seaman

10/22 Seaman @ Washburn Rural

10/29 Playoff Bracket

11/5 Regionals

11/12 Sectionals

11/19 Substate

11/27 State

Stay tuned for more information and updates. 

The players, coaches and supporters of Topeka High know where they came from, and where they stand now.

When head coach Walt Alexander took over the program in 2006, the Trojans had never won the Centennial League. Since 2012, the men of Troy have won or shared four league crowns.

Last year, the team won its playoff game since 2012. The team has battled the elite programs of 6A in those playoff loses. In the 2012 quarterfinals, the Trojans lost to Hutchinson by nine, and the Salt Hawks made it to the state championship. The same scenario played out in 2014. In 2015, 8-1 Topeka High traveled to 8-1 Derby, who would later win the 6A state championship.

“A lot of people want to knock on us for not advancing farther into the playoffs, but they fail to realize just who we were meeting,” the 12-year head coach said.

Those unfortunate breaks have made it difficult for Alexander’s crew to have a long November schedule. However, optimism is growing at 800 SW 10^th St. as this year’s experienced Trojan team believes that this year they will make a great playoff run in 6A.

“I don’t like to guess,” Alexander said when asked where his team stacks up against the other 6A teams. “We just take it one week at a time and one game at a time. …Put it this way, it’s going to take a good football team to beat us because I feel like we are a good football team.”

With All-City and All-Centennial League MVP running back Ky Thomas, All-City and second-team All-City running back Jacquez Barksdale and All-City offensive newcomer of the year Da’Vonshai Harden, the Trojans had one of the most explosive backfields in all of Kansas a year ago.

All three of them return this season ready to leave their mark on the program.

Topeka High knows how to score. Last year, Topeka High averaged 47.8 points per game in their ten games. They averaged 476.7 yards per game in way to an 8-2 record and a share of the Centennial League championship.

Leading the way for the black and gold is Thomas. Thomas, a 3-star running back according to Rivals and 247Sports, led the league in total yards with 2018 yards rushing, receiving and passing. He accounted for 26 touchdowns in his sophomore campaign.  Alexander said the 6’0” running back has put on more weight in the off-season and now weighs 190 pounds.

Alexander had nothing but praise for his standout running back.

“He does everything that he’s supposed to do that it takes to be successful,” Alexander said. “He’s been thrust into this since he was a freshman. As a sophomore he was very good physically. I think he’s become a leader this year. He’s become mentally tougher.”

According to 247Sports, Thomas has offers from Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa and Louisiana Tech. Alexander said Thomas has handled the spotlight, both from opposing coaches scheming against him and the media, well.

“I can’t be more proud,” Alexander said. “A lot of kids wouldn’t have handled it as well as he has. I think he’s going to do better with it now that he’s a junior.”

The Trojans would be set if they just had Thomas in the backfield, but when Alexander adds Barksdale the team has another talented running back ready to shoulder the load. Alexander said Barksdale “might be the best back we have and we don’t even know it yet.”

As a junior, Barksdale averaged 10.1 yards per carry on his way to rushing for 902 yards and 12 touchdowns. Barksdale can also catch the ball out of the backfield, as he hauled in 11 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

Barksdale will miss the first two games of the season to ineligibility questions in regard to his transfer from Highland Park. The Kansas State High School Activities Association originally striped Topeka High of their eight wins, but reinstated them February. However, KSHSAA did uphold Barksdale’s suspension. He will make his return against his former school on September 14.

Harden will add another year of experience under center this season. As a sophomore, Harden threw for 1256 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in ten games. The All-City newcomer of the year also rushed for 542 yards and six touchdowns. Alexander said Harden has come a long way in becoming a more complete quarterback.

“I think he’s throwing the ball a lot better than he did last year,” Alexander said. “We all know he can run with the football and he’s a very talented young man, but his ability to go through his progressions and read defenses and go where he is suppose to go with the ball has gotten tremendously better.”

Harden will at senior tight end Jalen Blackwell to stretch the field vertically. The 6’2”, 235 pound tight end caught seven passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns last season. Alexander also highlighted freshman Mekhi Miller, a 6’1” 170 pound receiver. Alexander said “he’s one of the most talented kids in our program.”

The big question offense comes from the offensive line, as the Trojans lost key contributors Matt Garza, Tucker Richey and Tanner Matthias. According to Alexander, all three of them are playing sports in Kansas colleges this year.

“We still have some unproven kids up front, on the offensive line, that’s the only place where graduation hit us pretty hard. We lost some real experienced kids up there.”

In 2018 Sunseer Bland, Evan Hayes, Michael Reffner, E’Monte Neal, and Carson Pendleton will anchor the trenches. The combined weight of those five lineman stands at 1495 pounds.

“This group of kids here, they’ve really come on lately. I would say our size, this is probably our biggest offensive line we’ve ever had and if they continue to develop they’re going to be pretty decent.”

Defensively, the Trojans gave up 17.7 points per game, the second-best mark in the city. Alexander returns Logan Gage at defensive back and Carson Klingerman at linebacker.  Alexander said freshman JP Deeter could see significant playing time at middle linebacker. Alexander said this unit will play with quickness and “team speed.”

Topeka High starts the season with a non-conference game against former Centennial League member Shawnee Heights. Heights split the league title with High last season, along with Manhattan.  That game will air tonight on 1440 KMAJ.

Speaking of Manhattan, Topeka High will have to travel to Manhattan for a pivotal week two showdown that could determine the Centennial League race and seeding for 6A playoffs. Topeka High will also travel to Junction City September 21.

This team ran into the elite programs in the playoffs and fell short in years past. With a strong returning core and veteran leadership, Topeka High hopes to make a deep playoff run and take the next step in joining the conversation as one of Kansas’s elite programs.

“It’s a difficult thing to do,” Alexander said when asked about building this program. “It takes time and persistence and a bunch of great coaches, which we’ve been fortunate that we’ve had very little turnover in our coaching staff.”

“We always want to go farther, but we’ll just take it one game at a time.”

All stats counted from game recaps from the Topeka Capital Journal. Schedule from KPreps. Heights and weights from Coach Alexander and MaxPreps

Seaman Football Preview – 2018 Topeka 7 Football Preview

Hayden Football Preview – 2018 Topeka 7 Football Previews

Highland Park Football Preview – 2018 Topeka 7 Football Preview

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/27/shawnee-heights-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/25/topeka-west-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/24/washburn-rural-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

Seaman isn’t unfamiliar with athletic success.

This year the Seaman baseball team won their eighth state championship. In the winter, the boys’ basketball team made it to the 5A state tournament.

However, the football program hasn’t been as strong. The Vikings have never captured the state crown in football, nor have they played in a state title game. The team hasn’t won a Centennial League championship since 2006.

Seaman coach Glenn O’Neil knows how to build a winning program. At Scott City, O’Neil led the Beavers to a state championship in 2012 and a state runner-up finish in 2014. In his nine years at the helm, O’Neil led Scott City to a 97-14 record.

His record is better on the hardwood. In basketball, O’Neil guided the team to five state championships and a pair of runner-up finishes.

O’Neil points to the tradition of Scott City and uses it as a model for his Vikings.

“If I didn’t have kids come to play at Scott [City] I didn’t have to yell at them, the parents yelled at them,” O’Neil said.

“It’s a situation where we’re trying to build confidence and building that motivation to come in and prepare to win, and it is a process.”

Given the success in their other programs, Seaman football is seen as a sleeping giant in the Centennial League. With both returning quarterbacks, a stout offensive, a strong seven and veteran leadership, perhaps this is the year the giant awakes.

Last season, the Vikings started off strong with convincing wins against Topeka West and Highland Park. However, the team finished 4-5, getting bounced in the first round by Mill Valley in playoffs, which capped a three-game losing streak.

Turnovers derailed the Vikings from reaching greater heights. In a 27-9 loss to Manhattan, Seaman had seven turnovers. When O’Neil’s team lost to Washburn Rural last season, his team committed six turnovers.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking loss came on September 22 against Shawnee Heights. Despite winning the turnover battle, Seaman had a costly turnover late as Seaman quarterback Kobe Jones threw an interception, giving Heights the ball at the Seaman 29. The next play, Shawnee Heights scored the final touchdown of the game with 2:38 remaining. Seaman lost 21-14.

“Very frustrating,” O’Neil said of last season. “If you look at a couple of the games we lost, a couple of them we were right there, but turnovers played a major factor into ball possession. And in the fourth quarter, you think back to that Shawnee Heights and Washburn Rural game, in particular, both of those games were decided by turnovers in that fourth.”

Jones is back for his senior season and has worked with O’Neil to fix his mistakes.

“I’ve always been a guy where if my first target is not open I run the ball, and this year I’ve settled down a little bit and gone through my progressions,” Jones said.

Last season, Jones threw for 546 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions. He completed 42 percent of his throws. After Jones suffered a concussion against Junction City, Brayden Vawter finished the season for the Vikings. Between his lone start against Mill Valley and playing sparingly throughout the year, Vawter threw for 178 yards and four interceptions.

As a junior, Vawter is competing with Jones for the starting quarterback spot. Both are likely to see snaps throughout the season, according to O’Neil. The head coach commended both for their efforts in practice as they’ve handled the quarterback battle.

“I don’t think it’s really too hard,” O’Neil said. They’ve done a job of sharing [time] and kind of adjusting to the situation. They also realize that the hot guy that night is going to play a little bit more. So, number one, it makes it a little bit more competitive in practice. Number two, they realize they have to bring it every day or they’re going to be in that number two position.”

O’Neil said Jones is the team’s “most explosive athlete” with his combination of speed and size. Jones has also taken reps at wide receiver, according to O’Neil.

Sam Payne returns as the featured running back. This senior averaged 5.9 yards per carry last year and scored four touchdowns on the ground. He has to replace Dalton Temmen, who had 657 yards and eight touchdowns for the Vikings a year ago.

Payne also plays linebacker for the Vikings and made the 2017 All-Centennial League defensive team. At 5’9” and 195 pounds, Payne might be the strongest man in the conference, pound-for-pound. O’Neil said his squat max has improved to 565 pounds, breaking the school record.

“His weight numbers are incredible,” O’Neil said. “He’s paid the price to have a good year.”

Despite his short stature, Payne will be a workhorse back for the Vikings, while continuing to wreck carnage on defense.

“[The height’s] probably what scares the recruiters away, but a lot of heart right there that you can’t measure,” O’Neil said.

Payne believes this team can surprise some people and contend for the conference crown: “I think us group of seniors are pretty hungry. We know what we can do, our abilities. I think we’re going to be able to compete for league, essentially.”

O’Neil has been impressed with his offensive line, featuring seniors Mason Frederick, Jared Kerr and Brent Hart, along with junior TJ Michael.

“They’re probably our strongest group right now,” O’Neil said.

Defensively, O’Neil said his team has a strong front seven that can play fast and physical. Hart will play on the defensive line, along with junior Drayton Foster. Payne will anchor the defense at middle linebacker for his third straight year.

O’Neil mentioned that the secondary is still developing in the preseason. He’s pleased with the efforts, but they still have work to do. Sam Juarez will move from outside linebacker to corner to bring a “spark of quickness out there on the edge,” according to O’Neil. Jones will see time at defensive back as well, along with Jake Spence, Keelan Palmer and Blake McCann.

The 2018 season begins with a trip to Hummer Sports Park as Seaman plays Highland Park. They play Hayden in a rivalry game the next week. Seaman finishes the year with back-to-back 6A opponents in Junction City and Washburn Rural. Both games are significant for potentially building momentum going into playoffs and determining if Seaman will host a first round playoff game.

In his third season at Seaman, O’Neil is ready to take this program to the next level, and this year’s team could potentially make the playoff run needed to make that jump.

“We went 4-5 last year,” Payne said. “I’m looking to go way above .500 this year. You look back at [former Seaman quarterback] Dalton Cowan’s year, coach O’Neil’s first year, 8-3. That’s where I want to be this year.”

“We kind of talk about it every day,” O’Neil said. “‘What type of legacy do you want to leave? Is your legacy going to be average? Is your legacy going to you kind of surprised some people and made a push into the playoffs?’”

All stats from the Topeka Capital-Journal

Hayden Football Preview – 2018 Topeka 7 Football Previews

Highland Park Football Preview – 2018 Topeka 7 Football Preview

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/27/shawnee-heights-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/25/topeka-west-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/24/washburn-rural-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

No matter who dons the golden helmets for the Hayden Wildcats, every player knows the expectation: win a state championship.

It doesn’t matter what classification the Kansas State High School Activities Association assigns Hayden, if they do not play football on Thanksgiving weekend, then head coach Bill Arnold isn’t satisfied.

“This is my 12^th season here and I think I’ve walked away one time happy in the offseason,” Arnold said.

Last season, Hayden fell short of their goals, losing to Frontenac in the 4A-II state semifinals.  Despite gaining 365 yards of total offense, the Wildcats turned the ball over five times.

“We ran [up] against a good Frontenac team a year ago and didn’t play our game best game that night. So, it kind of left a bit of a sour taste, but it’s a new group of kids, so we’re ready to start the new year off.

This season, the golden domers move to the newly restructured 3A, becoming the biggest school in the classification.  KSHSAA has stacked the class with stalwarts like Sabetha, Holton, Holcomb, Wichita Collegiate, Frontenac, Pratt and Scott City.

The 2018 Hayden Wildcats look to make another run to a state championship, no matter what the obstacles.

To achieve this, Arnold and the coaching staff has to fill big holes left by graduating seniors. The Wildcats lose the city’s leading passer, their three leading rushers and the city’s leading receiver.

Sampson Huston had a career season at quarterback for Hayden, throwing for 23 touchdowns and 2185 yards while completing 57 percent of his passes. Brady Bohannon will take snaps under center this season. Arnold said Bohannon has stepped up since late May and “taken the bull by the horns.”

Hayden is traditionally a very run-based heavy offense. However, with Huston and star wide receiver DeShawn Hanika, the wildcats started going vertical in the passing game. Hanika hauled in 71 catches for 1284 and 14 touchdowns. It was the most productive season by a wide receiver at Hayden this decade in terms of total yards and touchdowns. The duo of Huston and Hanika led Hayden in its most prolific passing offense since 2014, where Jacob Head threw for 2203 yards.

Hayden’s success throwing the ball provided balance to the offense. The wildcats scored 27 touchdowns and average 5.65 yards per carry on the ground.

However, throwing the ball more was a shift in their offensive identity. Hayden ran for 2458 yards last year, their lowest total since 2012. Huston had more pass attempts than any Hayden signal caller this decade.

Arnold said he expects to get back to becoming a ground-and-pound running team based on this year’s personnel.

“I think we are always going to have a Wing-T personality to us, and then you just kind of tweak things based on what your personality gives you. I would expect us to be a strong running team this year.”

This team will have a new stable of running backs this season, as Brent Peavler, Matt Moore and Brandon VanBecelaere, the three leading rushers from last season. Stepping up this year is sophomore running back Desmond Purnell. In his freshman year, Purnell ran for 277 yards on 50 carries, scoring four touchdowns. Purnell also had 143 yards retrieving kickoffs.

Arnold can’t wait to see what Purnell does to follow up such a promising start to his career.

“I think he should definitely be a force to be reckoned with. He’s got another year’s experience, [spent] the entire year in the weight room. We’re excited about him.”

Purnell should have plenty of holes to choose from thanks to the Hayden offensive lineman, the strength of the team, according to Arnold. Rhett Jay, Philip Voegeli, Brandon Appelhanz and Tegan Abbey will anchor the line.

Defensively, Arnold said his team lacks experience but is eager to get on the field.

“Well if we can get them potty trained we’ll be alright,” Arnold said. “We’ve got some good talented kids; we’re just lacking some experience. How do you remedy that? You get out and start playing games, and we are about to the point where we need to start playing some games.”

By joining 3A, Hayden cannot compete for a Centennial League title this season or in 2019 because they will only play three league games. In 3A, Hayden will play five games against district opponents, cutting their Centennial League season short.

“I don’t want to take anything about [the] league or whatever, but it’s kind of a joke to have a league champion if not everyone gets to play each other in the first place, Arnold said. “Being 4A, we’ve never been able to play everybody in the Centennial League in the same year.”

Hayden joins Bishop Ward, Jefferson West, Perry-LeCompton, Santa-Fe Trail and Wellsville in District 3 in 3A. The top four teams in the district will advance to the playoffs. Playing in districts early means Hayden will have to play its best football earlier in order to avoid early district upsets.

“You’re going to have to speed things up a little bit,” Arnold said. “We’re use to getting six regular season games and then you start districts, so you had to be at your prime in week 7, and now we start districts in week 4. [It’s a] little bit different approach to the way you attack things throughout the season, I think.”

To start the season, Hayden will play Topeka West on August 31. They finish non-district play with a trip to Seaman, then a game against Washburn Rural at home.

Hayden has not won a state title since 2008, but has played in three other state championships since that time, all in different classifications. In 2009 and 2014, Hayden lost to perennial power Bishop Miege in the 4A and 4A-I state championships. In 2016, Pratt edged Hayden in the 4A-II state title bout.

No matter the class, no matter the roster turn over, Arnold expects to win. Hayden players understand those expectations and embrace them.

For Arnold and the Hayden Wildcats, the goal remains the same: play for a state championship, no matter who is on the schedule.

“To be honest with you, I don’t pay any attention to it,” the 12-year head coach said. “All the postseason stuff will play its way out. …Outside of just a realignment as far as who you’re playing in your districts, I don’t see much difference in anything.”

Stats from the official website for the Hayden Wildcats, https://haydenwildcatfootball.wildapricot.org/

Highland Park Football Preview – 2018 Topeka 7 Football Preview

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/27/shawnee-heights-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/25/topeka-west-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/24/washburn-rural-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

Credit: Kevin Haskin, who worked for the Topeka Capital-Journal for 33 years, wrote an article last November regarding the state of the Highland Park football program. The link to that in is at bottom as well.

Nobody likes to lose. Nobody especially likes to lose 34-straight games.

The current members of this year’s Highland Park Scots were not born the last time the school had a winning record in 1995. The seniors on this team have not won a game donning the Scots green uniforms.

Highland Park – both the school and the community – hungers for winning football. The people in that community want to see the kids succeed on the gridiron. The school wants to take pride in their football accomplishments.

Enter Mike Foristiere, the man hired to turn the Highland Park program around.

“When I came here, I looked at Highland Park as the red-headed stepchild,” Foristiere said. “I want to change that perception.”

Foristiere, who grew up in Fresno, California, loves to rebuild, to invest, and to grow football programs. He believes this is his calling.

“God kind of brought me here,” Foristiere said. “My whole life is about making changes with young people. I’ve invested my whole life into it. Even though I’m at a certain age that people say is old and you’re ready to retire, I’m not ready to do that and I’m ready to keep changing lives. That’s what God put me on this Earth for and that’s why I’m here.”

Although Highland Park hasn’t won recently in football, Foristiere embraces the challenge of building a culture of success, and it starts with the 2018 Scots.

“It doesn’t happen overnight, you just slowly take care of business,” Foristiere said.

For Highland Park, rebuilding the program starts by getting kids to take interest in football. Last year, 44 players came out for football, a low number in Kansas 5A football. That number dwindled quickly. By the end of the season, the Scots had 20 players on the roster. According to coach Foristiere, 40 students have come out for the team this year.

The first-year Scots coach has been preaching commitment and responsibility as he tries to change the culture of the football team.

“It’s the hardest thing to change the culture that has seen one thing over and over and is acceptable and has been condoned,” Foristiere said. “The rebuild starts between the ears. It’s all about the mind.”

The staff is establishing a more physical offense, one based on power running and sound blocking. Foristiere, a former offensive guard for the Oregon Ducks, wants his team to win the battle of the trenches.

“You can’t be soft in your offensive schemes, your defensive schemes and expect to play in a tough conference, or in a tough game,” the former Oregon Duck said.

Stephen Rodriguez, Chance Gragg, Morgan Dean, and Trenton Long have stood out so far in the offensive line, according to coach. Their development will be the key for the Scots offense. Foristiere said they have bought in to what he wants from them.

“I call my lineman skill positions,” Foristiere said.

Coach Foristiere has also emphasized the importance of pass protection. After watching tape, Foristiere was not pleased with how many sacks junior quarterback JaShawn Spicer took in his first year as the Scots quarterback.

“Last year he was just [wearing] a bullseye on his back, just getting drilled,” he said.

Spicer started in four games last year, completing 44 percent of his passes and throwing one touchdown and seven interceptions. Foristiere said he has worked with Spicer on getting rid of the ball quicker to avoid the hits and making smarter decisions with the football.

Spicer will take over for All-City selection Will White, who stepped in at quarterback midway through the season. White accounted for 1064 total yards passing, rushing and receiving. He also scored 10 touchdowns.

Despite losing White, Foristiere remains confident the team can come together as a unit and produce.

“You can’t always replace great athletes,” Foristiere said. “But…skilled players will beat talented players any day of the week. So, you go back to fundamentals, blocking and tackling, make sure you function as a team, do your job and only do that.”

The Scots must replace Angelo Plakio in the backfield as well. Plakio received All-Centennial League honors as a linebacker. Malaki Stepp, a 5’11″ senior, looks to get the bulk of the carries for the team this season. Keegan Miller-Paige will also receive touches in the backfield.

At receiver, Michael Langley and Tre Prosper look to step up for the Scots. Spicer, Stepp, Prosper, Langley, Miller-Paige, and the offensive line look to improve an offense that averaged 8.2 points per game and got shut out three times last season.

Defensively, the Scots gave up 52.7 points per game in 2017, including four games where the opposing team scored 55 points or more. According to Foristiere, the same message on offense applies on defense: become tougher, win the battle up front, and play fundamental football.

“We’ve got to change that being the free space on the bingo card,” he said.

This season, Highland Park will play its home games at Hummer Sports Park, splitting time with the other USD 501 schools: Topeka High and Topeka West. The Scots will face Seaman at home on August 31 to kickoff the season.

The Scots will play KC Sumner Academy for a non-conference game September 7. That game will be played at KC Wyandotte’s home field.

Highland Park will finish the season with back-to-back 6A foes going into week nine, the first being Washburn Rural on a Thursday night at Hummer, and the next one being at Manhattan.

This is a tough project, Foristiere knows it. The west coast kid said when he moved to Topeka over the summer people would laugh at him when he told them his job. Everyone is expecting a loser from Highland Park, but Foristiere and the kids expect more from themselves. They are ready to lay the foundation for the future of the Highland Park Scots program. It starts by changing the culture, then trying to snap that 34-game losing streak.

“They want to win, they just don’t know how to get there. That’s the whole process. They don’t know how to get through the steps, the process, the work ethic, what it takes. So, you have to go back, break it all down one step at a time.”

All stats from the Topeka Capital-Journal

Click here for the article from Kevin Haskin

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/27/shawnee-heights-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/25/topeka-west-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

https://www.kmaj1440.com/2018/08/24/washburn-rural-football-preview-2018-topeka-7-football-previews/

The Wildcats were tamed on Friday night by the Frontenac Raiders, as Hayden committed five turnovers and scored zero points in the second half in a 37-21 defeat.

Momentum swung in the second half after Hayden quarterback Sampson Huston threw an interception to junior Riley McDaniel. McDaniel took the ball to the end zone, giving Frontenac a 28-21 lead and momentum.

The Raiders weren’t done converting defense into offense as junior Brendan Ishimura forced Huston’s second pick six of the night, this time from 97 yards. Frontenac scored 27 points off five Hayden turnovers.

Huston finished the game 9 of 25 for 208 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. Despite gaining 365 yards of offense and earning 19 first downs, Hayden failed to turn drives into scores due to a bend-but-don’t-break defense from Frontenac.

Jake WIlbert provided the offense for Frontenac. The senior running back had 20 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Wilbert has 21 touchdowns this season. The Raiders gained 242 rushing yards to go along with 73 passing.

Frontenac starting quarterback Peyton Brown got the scoring going with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Hayden then responded with 14 straight points on passing touchdowns to Matt Moore and DeShawn Hanika.

Hayden finishes the season with a 7-5 record. Frontenac will face Holcomb in the 4A-II State Championship game in Salina after Holcomb beat Scott City 34-13.

Stats from the Topeka Capital-Journal

Talk to any of the players, coaches, students, and parents of the Hayden Wildcats, you’ll see that they have one thing on their mind: unfinished business.

These people want another crack at the state title after last year’s 48-14 loss in the championship game to Pratt.

Hayden took their first step to a return trip to Salina with a dominate 48-6 over Prairie View. Hayden held Prairie View to 115 yards of offense, as the Buffaloes made their first playoff appearance since 2005.

Hayden took control early in the game in the second possession with a 35-yard touchdown run by Brent Peavler. After that possession the Wildcats never looked back, amassing 373 yards of offense.

Special teams contributed to Hayden’s success in the first half. Senior wide receiver DeShawn Hanika had a 61-yard punt return that nearly scored. The next play Noah Williams scored a two-yard touchdown. Freshman running back Desmond Purnell scored on a 50-yard punt return as well.

Due to those special team and big explosive plays, Hayden only had five first downs in the first half, yet lead Burlington 42-0.

Huston finished the game 8-17 for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns. Hanika added to his incredible season with 131 receiving yards and a touchdown. He eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in receiving.

Hayden will play the Burlington Wildcats next Friday, as Burlington beat Columbus 22-21. We will host the game on 1440 KMAJ and kmaj1440.com.

The 2017 high school football season starts this Friday. To get ready, we sent Ethan Koch around the city to interview coaches and catch practice. For day 4, we travel north of Highway 24 to see how the Seaman Vikings will build off last year’s playoff run.

After three straight losing seasons and five in the last six years, the Seaman Vikings made sweeping changes.

In January of 2016, the school hired former Scott City football and basketball coach Glenn O’Neil to get the team back on track. After winning six championships for the Beavers, he quickly restored the Viking program, going 8-3, 6-2 in conference play, and making the state quarterfinals last season.

“Early on our first step was to get to .500 and then once we guaranteed that the next thing was taking care of the frosting on the cake with as many wins as we can and adding on to that with a couple playoff victories,” said O’Neil, who won his 100^th game as a football coach against rival Hayden last September.

Now, in year two, O’Neil and the Vikings will look to the next step forward, not only in the Centennial League, but in the difficult 5A landscape.

O’Neil said this team knows his system and can hit the ground running quicker than last year. However, they lose many key contributors from a year ago.

“The biggest thing for us is that we are probably way ahead scheme wise but as far as experience wise and depth wise we are probably just a little bit below where we were last year at the same time,” O’Neil said. “But that’s kind of the shape of everyone that…has a good group of seniors. You just throw in that next bunch and see how they develop.”

Last season, Seaman was second in the Centennial League in total offense and points per game. Dalton Cowan led the city in all-purpose yards on his way to All-City and All-Centennial League honors. Nick Steiner and Kevin Moranz led the team in receiving with 1300 yards combined. Those players, along with kick returner Traice Hartter and wide receiver Simeon Sykes, have graduated.

“The biggest thing that changes is the number of skill kids that are coming back,” O’Neil said. “Had a lot of seniors last year that played for Coach Pierce for their first three years and when I stepped in they were fully mature and had a lot of varsity experience under their belt.”

O’Neil said he will look to play more juniors earlier in the season. One of those juniors is Kobe Jones, who will take over at quarterback. According to O’Neil, the former running back has made strides this off season and has the ability to make big plays for the offense.

“His biggest deal is not his talent,” O’Neil said about his new quarterback. “His biggest deal is lack of experience because at this time last year he was a running back. He has a nice strong arm. He’s pretty quick as far as his athletic ability, so he brings a lot to the table. What he does not bring to the table his that varsity experience, but the equalizer for him is, scheme wise, he’s ahead of where Dalton was at this point last year. So hopefully we can play catch up real quick.”

Jones possesses a big arm and the ability to make plays with his feet. Now his coach believes all he needs is to develop the consistency it takes to win games on Friday nights.

“He can throw 65 yards, make a Division I throw on one play and then come back and his guess might not be as good with his next throws. That’s gonna come with a little time and a little patience.”

Despite losing some key targets, Jones will have good receivers to throw to this season. Senior Janson Garman had 5 catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns last season, along with 19 carries for 140 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

“[Janson’s a] big target, one our most athletic guys,” O’Neil said.

Dalton Temmen returns as the team’s most experience running back. He had 160 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries last year.

Defensively, Seaman loses much of their core, including Steiner, Jalen Steelman, Mike Latendresse, and Matt Schlossman. However, they do return linebacker Sam Payne. As a sophomore, Payne had 83 tackles last year, second on the team. Coach O’Neil believes he is a perfect fit for this defense.

“Part of it is instinct and the other part is he is grasping what the scheme is asking him to do. Playing on the inside linebacker as soon as he checks his primary gap he’s free to make plays over the rest of the field. [He’s a] pretty good athlete as far as the quickness. He’s not going to get out there and win very many 40 yard dashes but as far as football speed he played really well last year.”

Payne leads a defense that gave up 20.9 points per game last year, 17.7 in the first nine games of the season. He will be joined by Temmen at inside linebacker, junior defensive back Jake Spence, and senior defensive end Mitchell Miller.

Seaman starts the season against Topeka West and Highland Park before playing Hayden in an intense in-conference rivalry game. The schedule gets difficult for the Vikings towards the end, as they have to play three 6A schools in their last four games.

After last season’s playoff run, expectations have risen for this program. For this team, however, they don’t like to focus on outside noise.

“The biggest expectation is that we don’t talk about it,” O’Neil said. “What we talk about is practice by practice, getting on the field and becoming a little more knowledgeable, and with that knowledge playing a little bit faster, and after you start playing faster playing physical. That process starts in the weight room last December after we got knocked out [of playoffs].”

Stats from the Topeka Capital-Journal and MaxPreps.com.

Image by Ethan Koch

The 2017 high school football season starts this Friday. To get ready, we sent Ethan Koch around the city to interview coaches and catch practice. For day 3, we take a look at the Topeka West Chargers and new head football coach Ryan Kelly.

Topeka West alum Ryan Kelly always had head coach aspirations

When he realized he could coach the school where his football career began, the 29-year-old relished the opportunity, although it took time for him to believe he earned the job.

“My original reaction was ‘are you sure?’…In all honesty, I was incredibly excited for the opportunity and just honored that they would consider me the guy for the job.”

He now turns his focus on rebuilding a Chargers program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2005, his senior season.

Kelly played quarterback at Benedictine College in Atchison where he set the career passing yards and total offense records for the school. He then became a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State University before returning to Benedictine in 2013 where he served as the running backs coach for four years. Kelly believes the college coaching experience will pay dividends for him at T-West.

“In college, when it’s your full-time job to recruit athletes, practice plan, and evaluate, that’s really all your doing year-round…I think it’s prepared me from an organizational standpoint.”

The first-year coach wants to “turn the boat” and get Topeka West facing the right direction. That starts by changing the culture and making his players believe they can win.

“The first thing we need to change is the attitude of the players; get them to believe that they can compete,” the Topeka West alum said. “It’s hard to say where to start because there’s a lot of things to fix, but if you don’t believe you can, then you probably can’t.”

Senior Chris Ellis knows Kelly has brought a swagger to the team, and it has impacted the players.

“A lot of things have changed, different coaches, a different mood in the locker room,” the wide receiver said. “Everybody’s walking up high headed. Nobody’s got their head down, nobody’s doubting the season or anything. Everybody’s really ready for the season to come and to show everybody our worth and what we’re able to do.”

In his final season at Topeka West, Ellis wants to set the foundation for the program for the underclassmen.

“I’ve just been trying to become as coachable as possible because I know that in order for coach Kelly to have more successful years it has to start with the senior class,” Ellis said. “If we start listening now, then all of the underclassmen begin to follow through…. creating a tradition-like pattern to where everyone wants be able to play at West.”

Ellis led the Centennial League with 47 completions and seven receiving touchdowns, earning All-Centennial League honorable mention. Elliot Mehrens will complement Ellis on the opposite side of the field at receiver. Mehrens hauled in 38 catches for 469 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Last year, Topeka West relied heavily on the passing game, led by senior quarterback Zach Shima. Shima had 293 pass attempts last year, 120 more than the next highest mark for a quarterback in Topeka. This year, Kelly wants to become a run-first team and create more balance on offense. Seniors Jadon Hagans and Kentrell Warnow will split time in the backfield.

According to Kelly, Hunter McDaniel and D.J. Washington are currently competing for the quarterback spot. McDaniel is a 6’4” junior who played wide receiver last season, according to MaxPreps.

“When the kid gets out of his own head, he can let it rip,” Kelly said.

Washington is a 5’8” junior who played quarterback on the JV team last season, according to Kelly.

Kaleb Ayers – the 5’11″, 300-pound 5A state bench press champion – will anchor the offensive line. He is joined by senior Dayshaun Nino, junior Jeff Mudoga and sophomore T.J Michael.

The shift in offense scheme intend to not only help the Charger offense (12.1 points per game last year), but help the defense as well. Last year, Topeka West gave up 48.3 points per game and 428.5 yards per game last year, both ranked last in the Centennial League. By running the ball more, T-West can shorten then game and give the defense more rest between series.

The Chargers start the year on the road against Seaman, followed by Shawnee Heights on the road. The first home game will be September 15 against Junction City. Topeka West hasn’t beaten a Centennial League opponent, except for Highland Park, since 2005.

In hiring Kelly, Topeka West invests in one of their own, hoping he can reinvigorate the program and instill confidence to the players and fans.

“If there is one thing I want people to take away when they watch Topeka West …I want them to be able to say ‘that team is better, that team is tougher, that team is more improved. They’re playing faster. They’re playing harder.’”

Stats from the Topeka Capital-Journal