Axtell has stranglehold on 8-Man II

Okay, it's time for the annual guessing game that is preseason rankings. At Kansas Pregame, we do football rankings with the goal of trying to guess who will be in the Top 5 come the end of the season.

Last year we picked eventual state champions Gardner-Edgerton, Mill Valley and Axtell as preseason number one in their respective classifications and eventual champions Aquinas, Cheney, Lyndon and Cheylin were preseason number two. But that's not to say that a few of our predictions weren't noticeable misses. Our 5A preseason number two pick, Bishop Carroll, suffered an incredibly rare losing season, while eventual 1A champ Conway Springs didn't even make our preseason Top 5, though they were in our list of others.

What are our top considerations when doing preseason rankings?

• How much experience and statistical production does a team have returning? If good, experienced players are back, then chances are usually better that the school will field a good team.
• Did a potential top team lose or gain any key transfers in the offseason? This is a relatively new phenomenon, and one that a lot of people don't care for, including a substantial number of coaches, even those who are often the beneficiary of these transfers, but changes at the college level are trickling down to the high school level and it's easier to switch teams than ever.
• What are trusted sources saying about the state's best teams? Peers in the media and coaches or parents who have served as reliable sources over the years help to let us know how a team looks in the offseason.
• Coaching and tradition play an important role in preseason rankings as well. It's hard to bet against Derby, Mill Valley, Axtell and other teams that consistently finish with deep playoff runs.
• Is the league historically strong? When you start talking about breaking ties in rankings, a team's league is a consideration. Teams from the Eastern Kansas and Twin Valley leagues, for example, tend to do very well in postseason competition where some other leagues find it harder to produce playoff winners.

We plan to provide rankings weekly throughout the season and can't wait to get the season started. Rather than trying to provide a snapshot of the Top 5 teams in any given week, our goal is to produce more of a power ranking. In other words, who are the strongest teams regardless of record, because those teams that come from the above mentioned strongest leagues will produce teams that would beat many of the other teams in the state.

It's hard to imagine a scenario where a healthy Axtell squad doesn't find its way into a fourth consecutive title game, though one does wonder if Hanover or Frankfort can close the gap this fall.

So, without further delay, here's our best guess at the top teams in 8-Man II heading into the 2024 season.

8-Man II

1. Axtell
2. Frankfort
3. Victoria
4. Burlingame
5. Osborne

Others: Attica/Argonia, Bucklin, Dighton, Hanover, Hodgeman County, Hutch-Central Christian, Lebo, Minneola, Marmaton Valley, Rural Vista, Thunder Ridge, Waverly

The highly decorated AXTELL senior duo of Brandon Schmelzle and Eli Broxterman hasn’t dropped a football game in junior high or high school. The group was the first to post perfect seasons in seventh and eighth grade in the 10-plus years Eric Detweiler has led Axtell.

This fall, Axtell’s seniors could accomplish a feat that no one in 8-Man football has reached. Axtell has won 39 straight games and three straight 8-Man Division II undefeated state titles. The Eagles are closing in on the 8-Man state record of 43 set by rival Hanover. The Eagles ended Hanover’s winning streak on Oct. 16, 2019. Hanover first bested Northern Valley’s mark that had stood since the 1980s.

Schmelzle and Broxterman have earned All-State honors at some level each high school season and will lead a unit that graduated just three seniors. Schmelzle has committed to the University of Kansas and earned Sports in Kansas 8-Man II Defensive Player of the Year honors due in large part to his incredible nose for the ball after he tallied nine interceptions last fall. Schmelzle rushed 104 times for 790 yards and 21 scores last season. He also completed 90 of 109 passes for 1,571 yards with 29 scores against zero interceptions. In his career he has 1,716 passing, 2,044 rushing and 1,434 receiving yards, as reported in his DPOY capsule by Sports in Kansas. Broxterman rushed 36 times for 608 yards and 13 TDs and caught 33 passes for 520 yards and 10 TDs and earned SIK 8-Man II Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Additionally, Axtell has won back-to-back 1A state track titles. Junior Landon Schmitz, the 110-meter hurdle state champion, returns after grabbing 20 catches for 337 yards and eight scores last fall. Senior Rilyn Buessing and sophomore Wyatt Detweiler (45 tackles, 5 INTs) are also top returners. Axtell had an average score of 57-7, finished third in the class in scoring offense and easily first in defense.

Axtell will headline District 3 along with longtime contenders and Twin Valley League foes Hanover (6-5) and Frankfort (9-3).

If not for Axtell the FRANKFORT Wildcats very well might have hoisted the 8-Man II state trophy last fall, but coach Nick Anderson doesn’t deal in hypotheticals and is focused on a 2024 team that brings back key players across the board. The conversation starts with senior Lane Loiseau. Entering his fourth season as a starter, the rangy athlete is one of the best players in 8-Man. As a junior he rushed for 508 yards with 12 TDs, caught 49 passes for 686 yards and 11 scores and made 85 tackles and four interceptions on defense. Junior QB Wes Anderson returns for his third season as a starter to distribute the ball to playmakers after leading 8-Man in passing yards. In two seasons he’s thrown for 3,551 yards and 55 TDs. Senior Carter Olson is a key target after a 40 catch, 768 yard, 16 TD season and classmate Trent Hardin returns after a 30 catch, 375 yard, four TD season. A pair of O-linemen return and five starters are back on D. D-ends Hardin and Fred Rosquist could be among the best in 8-Man by season’s end.

Frankfort could very well finish in the top five of the classification again this season, but their record may not show it thanks to potential stumbling blocks in Axtell, Hanover, Lyndon and Clifton-Clyde.

Speaking of HANOVER, an experienced Wildcat group will try to return Matt Heuer’s team to their usual spot near the top of 8-Man II. An inexperienced Hanover squad finished 5-5 in 2022, winning less than six games for the first time since 2011. The Wildcats improved to 6-5 last fall with a pair of playoff wins. Early season tests against Ell-Saline and Clifton-Clyde will prepare Hanover for key district bouts with TVL rivals Frankfort and Axtell. The roster is again populated with names like Bruna, Jueneman and Stallbaumer, which gives the Wildcats hope for a return to dominance.

Last year's runner-up Coldwater-South Central bumped up to Division I this season, paving the way for a new representative from the west side of the bracket. 

VICTORIA is among the leading contenders with longtime coach Doug Oberle and its excellent line paced by junior center Kyle Huser, junior tight end Ethan VonLintel and senior Cale Braun (OL/LB). Senior Wyatt Griffin is expected to take over at quarterback. Huser (6-3, 250) has earned first team All-League both seasons, including unanimous last fall. He was a consensus first team All-State selection. Victoria finished 9-2 and second in the classification with 12.7 points allowed per game, per the Sunflower Sports Solutions database. Victoria and Hodgeman County will likely pace District 6.

District 2 is expected to be competitive with improved Rural Vista, Burlingame and Lebo.

BURLINGAME drops down to Division II after 10 straight winning seasons with coach Jeff Slater, including a 5-4 mark last fall. The Bearcats feature its senior 1-2 combination of quarterback JD Tyson and athlete Dane Winters, the reigning Lyon County League Offensive MVP. Tyson passed for 1,099 yards with 19 scores versus four interceptions. Winters combined for 20 total touchdowns, including five non-offensive. Burlingame returns its top-three tacklers. Tyson and senior Timmy Roberts led with 55, and Winters delivered 40. The Bearcats were 8-Man I semifinalists from 2015 through 2017 and in 2022. Coach Jeff Slater has not fielded a team that finished the season below .500 in his 10 seasons as head coach of the Bearcats with 5-4 records last fall and in 2019, his team's two worst marks in his tenure.

RURAL VISTA posted a solid 5-5 mark and returns essentially its entire team. Junior quarterback Koden Sanford threw for 951 yards with 15 scores against eight interceptions. Three backs return who had between 556 and 819 rushing yards including junior Kole Riedy, senior Logan Tate, and senior Gavin Carson. They combined for 28 rushing touchdowns. More than 97 percent of tackles came from non-seniors in 2023.

LEBO will look to five seniors for leadership to improve on a 6-4 mark last fall. Quarterback Drew Konrade returns, but coach Brian Hadley will have to replace significant production from graduated standout Corey Reese.

Rural Vista defeated Marmaton Valley, 66-50, in the playoffs last fall. Like RV, MARMATON VALLEY returns nearly its entire roster from a 6-3 team. MV and Waverly, which moves up a classification after a 6-Man playoff run, should headline District 1. Senior Brayden Lawson completed 80 of 128 passes for 1,474 yards with 30 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Lawson had 74 carries for 645 yards and eight scores. Senior Jaedon Granere is another all-purpose threat with 18 total touchdowns. MV finished fifth in the classification in scoring offense at 50 points per game.

District 4 features Osborne (9-2) and Thunder Ridge (5-4), while District 5 appears to be balanced with Argonia/Attica and Hutchinson-Central Christian (6-4) the top contenders. 

ARGONIA/ATTICA drops down after 11 straight non-losing seasons in Division I. The Titans have never had a sub-.500 season since the two schools formed a cooperative football agreement before 2013. Four returning starters that earned some level of postseason recognition last fall will lead the way in 2024. Junior Carson Vineyard is likely to carry a heavier load offensively after leading the team in tackles last fall at linebacker. Seniors Andrew Bennett (NG), Carter Swingle (DE), Mac Harnden (DB) and Chance Schwein (LB) will join forces with Vineyard to help an experienced defense carry the team early. Seniors Joshua Gregg and Lincoln Warner return along the offensive line and Harnden is the top returning receiver. Bennett earned honorable mention All-District on the offensive line and Swingle was honorable mention tight end. Senior Brody Bernsten is among the best kickers back in 8-Man.

OSBORNE senior quarterback Dalton Garman threw for 447 yards and eight scores and rushed for 797 yards and 17 TDs. Bulldog senior Dawson Lantz delivered 827 rushing yards and 14 TDs. The top four rushers all return in seniors Lantz, Garman and Hunter Howell, and junior Kaiden Schultze. Lantz and Howell are likely to carry a heavier load in the passing game after combining for 198 receiving yards and a pair of scores last fall. The top tacklers did graduate but the next six tackling leaders return. Schultze returns after tallying five sacks a season ago and Howell is back in the secondary after recording three interceptions.

THUNDER RIDGE has six straight winning seasons with coach Joel Struckhoff, but has to replace Mason Baker. The good news is the return of an experienced line that includes a pair of big seniors. Senior back Jimmy Escobar and junior quarterback Evan Slavik will be looked to for more production this fall while sophomore Tristan Taylor could fit in different spots on the offense. Defensive lineman Brayden Burge returns after making 55 tackles a season ago and Slavik is back to lead the secondary after making four interceptions.

Senior quarterback Nate Reed returns for HUTCH-CENTRAL CHRISTIAN after throwing for 923 yards on 70 of 131 passing with 12 TDs, and those numbers were in just seven games after Reed missed the final three contests to injury. He has three offensive linemen back to work behind in junior Konnor Sullivan and seniors Caleb Glover and Keaton Miller, and junior receiver Piercen Huff returns as a target for Reed after he caught 42 passes for 692 yards last fall. Senior Ry Kooiman provides a weapon out of the backfield after he rushed for 523 yards and 11 TDs on 85 carries in 2023. Sophomore Luke Eigsti provides an able backup after throwing for 362 yards and four TDs on 26 of 46 passing in relief of Reed late last season. Huff is the top defensive player returning after he tallied 95 tackles and seven interceptions a season ago and Kooiman followed with 81 stops and one INT. Reed added 60 tackles and a sack in three less games. Keaton Miller will hold down one defensive line spot after carding 42 tackles last fall and linebacker Jayden Linscheid returns after posting 29 tackles and three sacks.

In District 7, ASHLAND moves up from 6-Man after its final four, state runner-up and final four finishes the last three years with coach Ben Fox. Ashland graduated a large group, though senior Lathan McPhail is back after 19 catches for 384 yards and three TDs. 

BUCKLIN is a possible breakout team in District 7. The Red Aces finished 3-6 with four losses by four points or fewer. Senior quarterback Lucas Kirk threw for 926 yards and 10 scores, along with 956 rushing yards and 16 TDs. Three of the top-six tacklers return. Known for speed, Bucklin finished fifth at state track, one spot behind Frankfort.

District 8 has DIGHTON and possible up-and-comer LOGAN-PALCO. Dighton went through key injuries in 2023, though still posted a 6-5 mark. Hornet senior Daniel Cramer passed for 1,025 yards and rushed for 915 with 30 TDs accounted for. L-P (2-7) returns everyone who delivered an offensive yard in 2023. Senior quarterback Rhett Kats finished with 1,081 passing yards and 16 scores.

*Conor Nicholl contributed significantly to this preview by compiling much of it using the preview capsules from the 2024 Football Preview.

2023 Preseason Rankings

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

Look for 6-Man later this evening.