Kansas Pregame 8-Man Top 8: Grady Buessing and Sawyer Deters

Kansas Pregame polled 8-Man coaches earlier this month who voted for the top four seniors they coached against this season. Kansas Pregame staffers then used those votes to develop a Top 8 list of seniors for each division. Check out another Top 8 capsule below, and find the complete list of Top 8 selections, and the honorable mention list, here for 8-Man I and here for 8-Man II.

Axtell has cast a shadow over 8-Man II the last three seasons, winning 39 consecutive games, three state titles, and typically blowing out their opponent with just a couple exceptions. Through those seasons, a talented class of 2023 has been pivotal for the Eagles dominance. Leading the way for that group are offensive and defensive lineman Sawyer Deters and wide receiver and defensive back Grady Buessing.

As freshman, both started on varsity on a team that went 7-3 and lost in the second round of the playoffs in a rematch to that year’s state champs, and Twin Valley League rival, Hanover.

Buessing finished the season with 133 receiving yards and two TDs offensively, along with 40 tackles, a tackle-for-loss, an interception, two pass deflections, and three forced fumbles defensively.

Deters launched his high school career with an impact on both the offensive and defensive line playing varsity both ways, recording 34 tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss on the defense. 

The Eagles took off like a rocket ship that still hasn’t landed during the duo's sophomore season, with only one close game all year long in a Week 4 revenge win over defending state champs Hanover, 30-24. When they played again in the second round of the playoffs, Axtell won 52-26.

Axtell knocked off Wheatland-Grinnell 44-18 in the state title game, finishing the season 13-0 and giving the Eagles their second state championship in program history and first since 1993, but it wouldn’t be the last.

Buessing’s numbers took a big step forward as he caught 29 passes for 542 yards and 13 TDs offensively, while recording 60 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, three interceptions, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and three forced fumbles on defense.

Deters helped a talented offensive line clear the way for one of the most dynamic offenses in the state, while on defense he recorded 43 tackles, five tackles-for-loss, a sack, a pass deflection, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.

Both sophomores earned All-League honorable mention to go with their state title rings.

Entering their junior seasons most of Axtell’s talent was back and the team didn’t skip a beat, again going 13-0 with just one scare in a 36-32 state semifinal matchup with Canton-Galva that likely featured Division II’s two best squads and potentially the two best teams in all of 8-Man regardless of division. Besides that, they won their games by an average score of 60-12.

Buessing again had a strong offensive season, catching 31 passes for 543 yards and 11 TDs, while on defense he had 72 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, six pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. The junior earned first team All-State honors at defensive back. 

Deters was again a key component on one of the best offensive lines in the state, as well as being a force on the defensive line with 34 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, 3.5 sacks, a pass deflection, and two caused fumbles. The two-way lineman earned All-State honorable mention on defense.

With the graduation of some key seniors, particularly game changing QB Isaac Detweiler, those not paying attention could be forgiven for thinking the Axtell dominance had come to an end entering 2023. In fact, it only became more absolute.

Coach Detweiler emphasized to his team awareness of what win streaks can do to a team’s psyche.

“We talked about how every week we were going to get everyone’s best shot at beating us,” Detweiler said. “They simply have a desire to be great and wanted to keep our winning streak going. No senior ever wants to be the class that stops our winning streak. They looked at it as motivation to get better, not pressure.”

The group was also bolstered by the culture Detweiler had created since taking over his position in 2013. From that point Axtell has gone 102-24.

“Every recent senior class that we have had has really bought in to doing what it takes to win,” Detweiler said. “They are committed to weights, film study, conditioning, and leadership. This class never complained, simply wanted to keep our winning tradition going.”

By this time, the group hadn’t just grown in their experience, with Deters standing at 6-2, 270 pounds, and Buessing a fleet footed 6-2, 190, they were physically dominant as well.

“Both have been three to four year starters,” Detweiler said. “Needless to say they have gotten so much bigger, faster, and stronger. Sawyer always had some size, but nothing like he is now, and how has the strength to go with it. Grady is also a tremendous track and field and cross country athlete. When he started he was a taller, but skinnier kid. Now if you look at him you can really tell he has put in the work. Both guys have always had the smarts and drive to win, but now have the physical capabilities.”

Axtell again had their token close game of the season, this time during Week 1 against Division I upstart Cair Paravel in a 60-44 win. The most any team scored against the Eagles the rest of the year was eight, while the Eagle offense was held under 50 points just once all year. 

They went on to beat South Central in the state finals 50-0, while both Buessing and Deters were first team All-State on offense. 

Buessing finished with 27 receptions 535 yards and eight TDs offensively, along with 46 tackles, three sacks and an interception on defense.

“Grady is a guy that could basically play every position,” Detweiler said. “He has played defensive end, linebacker, and defensive back, and offensively he has played guard and tight end. He was a guy that we could move around to make our team better and he never complained.”

Deters, meanwhile, recorded 30 tackles and three sacks defensively to go with his elite work on the offensive line.

“Sawyer used his size and strength to his advantage,” Detweiler said. “He did a great job of blocking offensively on pass and runs, then defensively really helped shutdown the run game.”

Along with Deters and Buessing, Axtell was loaded with talent including fellow All-State selection Grant Buessing – who also received a votes in the Top 8 – and a talented cast of juniors with high hopes for next season.

This winter, Buessing and the basketball team are sitting at 6-1 on the season as the senior looks to make it the holy trinity of football, basketball, and track and field state titles. 

Last spring, Buessing and Deters were key pieces of a 1A state championship at Cessna. Buessing took first in both the mile and 800, while Deters took fifth in the discus. With nearly their whole team back, their favorites for a repeat in 2024.

After graduation, Deters is planning to continue his track and field career at Concordia University in Nebraska while majoring in exercise science. Buessing plans to attend Washburn where he will run mid-distance along with potentially cross country.

Both will leave a strong legacy at Axtell.

“Both guys are kids that any program would dream of having on their team,” head coach Eric Detweiler said. “Dedicated, strong, smart. They are kids that you can definitely build a program around.”