8-Man DII preseason football rankings breakdown

Preseason rankings are a guessing game, perhaps now more than ever given the increased frequency of student-athlete transfers in the offseason, but it's fun to try and predict who is going to finish the season on top.

As a former coach, I'm a little conflicted about producing preseason rankings. I can tell you definitively that players can be impacted by what's written and reported about them. Different teams have differing abilities to meet or exceed expectations.

Coaching history, returning experience, standout players at key positions, and schedule are a few key considerations that go into the rankings, but this year feels like the most wide-open for all classifications in recent memory. Heading into last season I was confident that Mill Valley would win 5A, one of the Big 3 private school powers (Aquinas, Miege, St. James) would win 4A, Andale would win 3A, St. Marys would be at least a semifinalist, Little River would at least make the 8-Man I final, Axtell would win 8-Man II with their toughest game against Canton-Galva at some point, and Cunningham would win 6-Man. Of course I also didn't think Manhattan, Gardner-Edgerton, or Wichita County would finish in the Top 5 – guess they showed me, huh?

Most of the most experienced teams are likely just a couple players away from being at the top or the bottom of the rankings, and there are many factors which are uncontrollable including injuries, weather, depth, officiating (not a criticism of officials but it's a fact that a couple of missed calls here or there can impact a season), and the most significant factor in the overall success or failure of an athletic program, socioeconomic status of the region around the school system, a seldom referenced, but ultra-important factor, and a topic for another time.

Regardless of where your team lands in the predictions that follow, the former coach in me wants to implore each player to be coachable, do their absolute best on and off the field, and embrace their role on the team and let the chips fall where they may.

NOW, let's take a look at the Kansas Pregame preseason rankings and see if we can guess who will end up on top.

This year, the classifications from top-to-bottom just feel deeper than in the past. While 4A still appears as though it will be dominated by the private schools, graduation losses at Mill Valley, Andale, and Axtell don't leave them as the sure-bet repeat champions of the past, though we think they're still the favorites.

8-Man, Division II

1. Axtell
2. Victoria
3. Osborne
4. Sharon Springs-Wallace County
5. Dighton

The father and son combo of Eric and Isaac Detweiler wrapped up four years of football dominance together last season, the team-up helped AXTELL to a 44-5 record with back-to-back state titles in 2021 and 2022 - winning those championships by a combined 120-46. Despite the graduation of Detweiler, the all-time career leader in touchdowns in 8-Man history and two-time 8-Man II Sports in Kansas Offensive Player of the Year, along with two other talented seniors in Owen Strathman and Evan Buessing, Axtell is in surprisingly good shape to continue their 26-game win streak indefinitely. All-State junior Brandon Schmelzle is slated to take over as signal caller after notching 1,295 yards and 30 TDs receiving and rushing, as well as going 4-6 for 61 yards and two TDs in the air. Defensively, All-State junior Eli Broxterman was one of the team’s top playmakers with 89 tackles and six interceptions, while sophomore Landon Schmitz recorded four sacks. All-State juniors Grady Buessing, Sawyer Deters, and All-State senior Grant Buessing also return after starting a season ago. TVL foes Frankfort and Hanover may close the gap on the Eagles in district play this season, but Axtell enters the season as favorites to win league and district titles.

THUNDER RIDGE ran roughshod through the western half of 8-Man II before hitting the buzzsaw that was Axtell in the title game with AHS ending the Longhorns season for the second straight year after a loss in the semifinals in 2021. The class of 2023 was one of Thunder Ridge’s best, posting a 22-3 mark the last two falls. Coach Joel Struckhoff enters his sixth season leading his alma mater with just three returning starters, but that trio is solid and will give Struckhoff consistency as he breaks in a large group of new faces on both sides of the ball. Mason Baker will make the move to quarterback for his senior season after accounting for over 1,300 all-purpose yards a year ago. Josh Ferguson will take on an expanded role carrying the ball this fall after serving as primarily an offensive linemen in the past, but he’ll continue to maintain his role as the defensive leader after racking up 174 tackles in 2022.

Another team to look out for in 2023 is OSBORNE, who brings back eight guys with starting experience after going 9-2 and advancing to the state quarterfinals before they were knocked out by Axtell. All-State senior Doak Guttery is among the best signal callers in 8-Man, last year posting over 1,400 yards rushing and passing with 30 TDs. Fellow All-State senior Nathan Goheen also returns as the teams leader in tackles (80), sacks (8.5) and receiving yards with 16 receptions for 237 yards and six TDs last season. All-State junior Hunter Howell also made a big impact offensively with 56 carries for 503 yards and 13 TDs. Other returning starters include juniors Dawson Lantz, Dalton Garman, Gage Seifried, and senior linemen Sam Kendig and Qwinton Morris.

VICTORIA advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs with a 10-0 record before finally facing defeat at the hands of state runner-up Thunder Ridge in a 62-46 barnburner. The Knights have five starters back in All-State senior Seth Schwien, fellow seniors William Scherrer, Chase Schumacher, Landon Schmidtberger, and All-State sophomore O-lineman Kyle Huser. Schwien is the team’s top returning receiver after catching 23 passes for 402 yards and 5 TDs, and also led the team with 81 tackles and nine sacks. Replacing All-State senior Carsen Werth’s production is likely to be the biggest challenge for the Knights.

CANTON-GALVA gave Axtell their only scare of the season in 2022, losing 36-32 in the semifinals and cementing them as the second best team in Division II last fall. Up to that point, head coach Shelby Hoppes squad had seemed unstoppable, shutting out seven of their opponents, and holding all but Axtell and Little River - who they beat 66-36 in their season opener - to 12 points or less. While the Eagles were dominant last season, much of that had to do with a loaded senior class that included four All-Staters, a Defensive Player of the Year, and the core pieces of one of the best offensive attacks in the state. They do have some nice pieces back, though, including All-State senior Lane McMannis, fellow seniors Wyatt Collins, Isom Marston, Jaden Ediger, and junior Noah Collins.

SHARON SPRINGS-WALLACE CO. is coming off a 6-4 season that saw them advance to the state quarterfinals where they were knocked out by a loaded Dighton squad. From that team, second year head coach Kyle Gfeller gets back nine guys with starting experience in seniors Tyler Korbe, Ace Edwards, Braden McKain, Jaren Rains, Brenton Welsh, Tharyan Appelhans, Cade Funk, Kean Dinkel, and junior linebacker Travis Korbe. Tyler Korbe carried the ball 102 times for 609 yards and seven TDs and is likely to see an increase in touches with the graduation of All-State QB Cade Johnson.

BUCKLIN put together a strong 6-4 season and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before getting knocked out by Sharon Springs. All four losses came against quality opponents, and head coach Trever Powell has a Red Ace in the hole with eight starters back, including All-State seniors Andrew Bowman, Waylon Dolezal, and Drew Ellis, All-State juniors Lucas Kirk, Colson Cook, and Kaden Tilley, as well as seniors Isaiah Pearce and Dairius McKinsey. Kirk threw for 1,341 yards last season, while Tilley reeled in 558 receiving yards and Bowman ran for 731 on the ground. A well-rounded offensive attack and experienced defense makes Bucklin a team likely to continue its trend toward title contention. 

For teams facing DIGHTON over the past two seasons it likely felt similar to unsuspectingly stumbling on a Hornets’ nest. Head coach Ken Simon’s team has gone 20-3 in those two years, and in 2022 the Hornets made their way to the state semifinals before finally experiencing their lone defeat of the season against Thunder Ridge. Simon and company will have some big shoes to replace in 2023, however, with All-State selections Max Neeley, Eli Wilkison, and Hector Wilkinson graduating this spring. They still have senior dual-threat QB Carson Shimer after he gained over 1,400 yards with 26 TDs combined in the air and on the ground. Others back include juniors Daniel Cramer, George Von Leonrod, Ryland Price, and Jack Jenkinson.

ST. JOHN’S-TIPTON finished 6-3 after an unexpected upset in the first round playoffs against Frankfort, but the Blujays have some key pieces back for a renewed shot at a postseason run in 2023. Junior Tyson Gates is a dangerous dual-threat QB who threw for 1,048 and 10 TDs, with another 764 yards and nine scores on the ground – though may make the move to running back this season. Others back include senior leading tackler Chance Jermark (115 tkls.), fellow senior Jacob Winkler, and junior Ryder Allen.

COLDWATER-SOUTH CENTRAL finished just 4-5 last season, but has back an abundance of proven talent. Senior Gavin Uhl, Creed Leeper, Isaiah Jellison, Curtis Barnard, juniors JT Prusa, Hunter Loesch, Jamie Sarmiento, and sophomore Jack Herd all return with starting experience under their belts. Prusa at QB, and Uhl at linebacker, both earned All-State honors. The Timberwolves could have their hands full in district play where KINSLEY, SOUTH BARBER and STAFFORD should all be a factor.

FRANKFORT went 4-6 and caught St. John’s-Tipton on their heels in the first round of the state playoffs, upsetting them 48-28 before losing to Lebo in the next round. All-State sophomore QB Wes Anderson is coming off a 1,367 yard, 21 TD season as a freshman signal-caller, and he’s joined by seniors Brock Armstrong, and Wyatt Keller, juniors Lane Loiseau, Trent Hardin, Jett Keller, and Carter Olsen, as well as sophomore Ty Smith. Loiseau also received All-State honors for his work at running back.

After going 5-5 and advancing to the regional round of the playoffs, HANOVER is looking to bounce back from their first non-winning record since 2011. Seniors Patrick Cook, Levi Griffith, and Brigham Bruna, along with juniors Braden Schwartz, Camron Jueneman, and Rieken Stallbaumer are all back with hopes of a deeper run in 2023.

HODGEMAN COUNTY took a second round playoff exit and finished the season 6-4 after losing to eventual state runner-up Thunder Ridge. The return of senior QB/LB Owen Reece, after missing nearly all of last season with an injury, is a major benefit for the Longhorns. 

LEBO has back four starters from their 9-2 state quarterfinalist squad from a season ago. All-State senior Corey Reese and All-State sophomore Azch Oswald, along with senior Dominic Risner and junior Drew Konrade, give the Wolves a strong core as new starters step in for what was a talented class of 2023.

MINNEOLA gave Victoria a fight in the second round before eventually losing 53-28 and ending their season 8-2. All-State senior QB Eli Lang returns alongside a strong group that includes seniors James Littlewood, Sergio Granados, and Caden Miller, juniors Cole Norton, Jesse Smith, and Tyson Klotz, and sophomore Levi Lang.

Ninth year coach Ben Labertew and his SYLVAN-LUCAS squad have high hopes for 2023 with seven starters back from a team that finished 7-3. Seniors Brody Batchman, Drayse Walter, Lane Homewood, Matthew Lawson, Blane Lamb, Hagen Starkey, and sophomore Layne Buttenhoff are all back and the addition of as many as a dozen players from the Wilson High School closure has the Mustangs in good position to shake up the 8-Man II playoff picture.

For more reading, check out our 2023 Kansas Pregame Fall Edition at this link: Kansas Pregame Football Preview 2023