Will Andale return to the top of 3A?

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.

The key question in this classification is will Andale return to their rightful place atop the throne or can Cheney replace a few notable graduation losses and start a streak of their own?

So, without further delay, here's our best guess at the top teams in Class 3A heading into the 2024 season.

Class 3A

1. Andale
2. Cheney
3. Wichita Collegiate
4. Topeka Hayden
5. Rock Creek

Others: Clay Center, Frontenac, Girard, Hesston, Holton, Prairie View, Scott City

The nation’s longest active winning streak finally came to an end for ANDALE at 57 games in an epic Week 7 contest with eventual state champ Cheney. The Indians dropped a second thriller to the Cardinals in the 3A semifinals. Dylan Schmidt’s program had won four consecutive state titles from 2019 to 2022 but there is no reason to expect their stretch of seven straight seasons with double-digit victories will end this fall after a 10-2 mark in 2023 The Indians enter this season after graduating multiple All-State selections, including Sports in Kansas 3A Defensive Player of the Year Karson Butts (Garden City CC), but with eight defensive and six offensive starters back the pieces are in place for a return to the top of the classification. Seniors Cooper Marx, Ian Schrandt and junior Jack Horsch give Andale plenty of experience at linebacker in their 3-4 defensive scheme, while All-League senior defensive backs Landon Harp and Bo Kaiser provide top-notch play in the secondary. 

Offensively, Harp (31-53, 568 yds., 13 TD, 1 INT, 11 rush TD) and Kaiser (9 rec., 289 yds., 4 TD) make for a dangerous QB-tight end combo, along with Marx as an All-League selection at running back. Question marks include who will replace the production of Butts at linebacker, and Gage Prosser and Owen Eck (OU wrestling) in the backfield, and who will fill the remaining O-line spots next to seniors Isaiah Wilson and Jak Krehbiel, and junior Emery Craft.

CHENEY captured their first football state title in program history with a 13-0 finish after a dominant 34-7 win over Hayden and two epic victories over Andale. The first a 36-30 overtime stunner to end the Indians’ then nation’s best win streak at 57. The second to advance to the 3A state title in an equally exhilarating 28-24 final. Besides their brushes with Andale and a 23-21 victory over Clay Center in the quarterfinals, their road to the 3A crown was dominant, with their next closest margin of victory at 27 and the next highest point total allowed 14. The Cardinals now face the challenge of replacing a talent packed class of 2024 that included Jackson Voth (K-State), Colter McDaniel (KU), Kason Messenger (Missouri Southern), and Drew Tolar (FHSU track). However, plenty of talent still roams the CHS locker room for head coach Shelby Wehrman with 18 lettermen and nine starters back. Wehrman has steered the program to a 60-18 record in his eight years at the helm.

All-State senior quarterback Josh Burdick returns to lead the way after passing and rushing for a combined 2,859 yards and 43 TDs a season ago. Seniors Kolton Rohloff, AJ Quick, Garren Campbell, and junior Wyatt Starns provide a talented group to fill out the O-line, while seniors Parker McLellan and Brayden Dibble, junior Nolan Durr, and a stable of receivers who have seen the field on Friday night’s gives Burdick reliable targets to work with. 

Defensively, a group that forced five shutouts last fall returns five of it’s top players, including Quick and Rohloff as multi-year starters on the line, and seniors Hunter McKinley (86 tkls.), Gary Ditgen (68 tkls.) and Levi Self at linebacker. Wehrman noted his team’s work ethic and depth at skill positions as team strengths, but added depth on both lines and the emergence of new leadership as keys to continued success. Cheney's early season schedule provides a good mix of tests with Holcomb, Kingman, Garden Plain, and Hoisington – all among the top teams in their respective classifications over the last couple of seasons – as four of their first five games. A Week 7 district matchup with Wichita Collegiate is sure to be one of the marquee games of the season.

On one side of the coin WICHITA COLLEGIATE has reason to expect major success with eight offensive and defensive starters back from a team that finished 9-2 after a trip to the state quarterfinals, but on the other they have to replace last season’s offensive motor in quarterback Hudson Ferralez while navigating a tough schedule that includes Cheney and Andale – the former in Week 4 and the latter a key Week 7 district game.

Speedy receiver Harrison Simon, last year’s backup QB, provides coach Troy Black some continuity at the position. Experience up front in senior Tristan Sprole (OL/DL), Nico Enegren (OL), Cooper Arneson (TE/LB), and Cooper Brown (OL/DL) should help ease the transition, while Julian Johnson, Jaden Parker, Sebastian Hines-Turner and Markus Gorges provide explosive offensive weapons. Julian Johnson rushed for 892 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore. In just four games last season Parker rushed for 294 yards and eight touchdowns while Hines-Turner caught 29 passes for 386 yards with six TDs in 10 games. Gorges, a senior, caught 15 passes for 234 yards and two scores. Having a JV team that has gone 32-4 over the last five years is a bonus for Black’s squad as well. Prior to the 3A state title game against Cheney,

HAYDEN appeared unstoppable, with their closest margin of victory in Week 3 against Rossville, 49-23, but the Wildcats fell 34-7 to the Cardinals to finish 12-1 and 3A runner-up. From that team, veteran Hayden coach Bill Arnold returns eight offensive and nine defensive starters, including All-State senior offensive lineman Carter Charvat, senior All-State honorable mention QB-receiver combo of Jett Wahlmeier and Jensen Schrickel. Seniors Treyton Tetuan (TE/DL) and Brady Heinen (DB) also earned postseason honors for the Wildcats and together with emerging junior quarterback Connor Hanika are players to watch for a team that should again be among 3A’s best. Arnold's Hayden team appears headed for another epic battle with Holton in a likely district championship game.

ROCK CREEK finished 6-4 last fall and returns seven offensive and nine defensive starters, including talented signal caller Mack Lee, who threw for over 1,300 yards last season as a junior. Coach Shane Sieben welcomes four starting offensive linemen back and returns proven production in the running game from Drew Becker (459 yds., 10 TD) and receiving game from Eli Bell (423 yds., 5 TD). Defensively, junior linebacker Ezra Spiller (79 tkls.) is the team’s top returning tackler. A switch from the Mid-East League to the North Central Kansas League gives the Mustangs a new schedule. Rock Creek is the favorite in a district that includes Chapman, Concordia, Marysville and a Clay Center team hit hard by graduation.

CLAY CENTER is looking for a follow-up to a season highlighted by nine wins that made the Tigers a clear contender for the 2023 3A title with two losses that further enforced that reality. In Week 5, a 22-17 loss to consistent power Southeast of Saline, and in the 3A quarterfinal heartbreaker to eventual 3A champs Cheney (23-21) it was confirmed the Tigers deserved to be mentioned among the state’s elites, but the graduation of Brody Hayes (Washburn) and a talented senior class is likely to challenge the Tigers this fall. Senior Cole Pladson (1,207 yds. passing, 20 TD, 468 rush yds., 11 TD, Oklahoma State baseball commit, QB/LB) is a force on both sides of the ball. He is the team’s leading tackler (80 tkls.), while seniors Weston Hammond (55 tkls.), Owen Craig (46 tkls.), and junior Eisaac Girton (68 tkls.) provide further production defensively. Senior track standout and likely receiver Jace Weller also made the decision to go out this fall for the first time since his freshman year, and has been clocked at a 4.48 40 with a 34-inch vertical. He broke the school record in the 400 meter dash this spring and could be a key difference maker for a team looking to reload. The Tigers enter 2024 coming off two of the best seasons in program history facing a schedule with a mix of challenges. The Week 1 matchup with Abilene features a pair of teams hit hard by graduation while games with Southeast of Saline and Louisburg in the next two weeks should provide a good gauge of where the Tigers stand in the statewide rankings.

FRONTENAC finished 9-2 with a trip to the 3A quarterfinals in head coach Mark Smith’s final year with the program after 12 seasons that often saw Frontenac among the best in the state. Though, there is still some familiarity to be found on the Raider sideline with former head coach Leon Miller returning to the program after leading the team from 1989 to 2005 and taking them to multiple title games with a 2-1A championship win over Stockton in 1994. He starts stint two with 10 starters back total, including unanimous All-League senior offensive lineman Alonzo Burke and fellow first team selections Jayden Houghton on the D-line and Wyatt Frazier in the secondary.

Despite finishing just 3-6 last fall, GIRARD is optimistic after staying competitive in five of their six losses. This fall they return a roster far more experienced with 11 total starters back, including top players in the league in tight end Scott Moore (45 rec., 628 yds.), running back Junior Love (150 car., 800 yds.). Linemen Aaron Doubrava and Zack Benso also return after with All-CNC honors.

HESSTON returns seven starters from a team that ended 2023 5-5 on the heels of a second round playoff loss to Clay Center. But like Girard, the Swathers had a caveat to their less than instantly appealing record, a brutal schedule featuring losses to teams that combined for a 41-13 overall record last fall. The talent is certainly their for head coach Tyson Bauerle with senior quarterback Reed Friesen (1,507 yds.,12 TD, 4 INT, 567 rush yds., 4 TD) and senior fullback Karter Gonzalez (562 yds., 9 TD) as major threats offensively behind a deep and experienced offensive line. Gonzalez is also an impact player at linebacker, leading the team with 116 tackles and earning first team All-League as a junior, following second team honors the year prior. The Swathers field an excellent team this fall and are likely to be favorites in the majority of the games on their schedule this fall, but the Week 8 game with Andale will signal just how far Bauerle's team can go in the postseason.

HOLTON followed-up their 2022 state runner-up season with yet another impressive campaign, going 11-2 and making a trip to the semifinals. Since taking over 27 years ago, Brooks Barta has turned the Wildcats into a beacon of consistency with 26 consecutive playoff appearances. This year’s roster was gutted by graduation, including seven of their eight All-Big Seven selections, with senior defensive back Kyler Jackson the lone returner from that All-League group. The Wildcats also return three of five starting O-linemen, providing leadership for what will otherwise be an inexperienced, but high potential offense based on Barta’s optimism in their backfield depth. Betting on the Wildcats to be sitting at home in late November typically doesn't pay out.

PRAIRIE VIEW finished 5-5 last season with blowout losses against Parsons to begin and end their season, while the other three were decided in hard fought contests. All-State junior running back Parker Schwarz (1,480 yds., 27 TD) and All-League junior defensive lineman Josh Goodwin return for the Buffaloes who look to continue the notable success enjoyed under eighth-year coach Kyle Littrell. The Buffs got some bad news last week learning that their Week 1 game with Osawatomie was cancelled due to the Trojans cancelling their varsity football season.

After an 8-2 2023 campaign, SCOTT CITY has back 11 starters including senior QB Camden Vulgamore after he threw for over 1,400 yards last fall. He returns two of his top targets in tight end Jackson Rumford (23 rec., 322 yds., 4 TD) and receiver Alex Tarango (20 rec., 394 yds., 2 TD) and will have the benefit of an experienced O-line.  

HOLCOMB wasn’t able to overcome Cheney in an unfortunate playoff draw for the Longhorns, but a 7-3 season in coach Trey Teeter’s first year after taking over for dad Kent gives the team plenty to build on this fall. Back from that group are brothers Keegan (1,100+ pass yds., Sr.) and Korbin (500+ rec. yds., Jr.) Johnson, along with seniors Drayton Knoll and Emmanuel Anguiano as dominant two-way linemen. The Longhorns get a chance to avenge that playoff loss to Cheney with a Week 1 matchup at the defending 3A champion Cheney.

After going 9-1 a season ago, WELLSVILLE has some major holes to fill following the graduation of QB Willie Dorsey and receivers Dezmond Winton and Brody Lee. The return of All-League O-linemen Wyatt Brungardt (Jr.) and Carter Wilmarth (Sr.) does provide the offense with some key experience. The defense is likely to carry coach Mike Berg’s squad early with seven of the top eight tacklers back.

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

2023 Preseason Rankings

1. Andale
2. Cheney
3. Topeka Hayden
4. Wichita Collegiate
5. Clay Center

Look for more preseason rankings breakdowns later this weekend.