Class 1A 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.

Class 1A

1. St. Mary's Colgan
2. Inman
3. Smith Center
4. Olpe
5. Jefferson County North

ST. MARYS heads into the 2023 football season as the defending Class 1A champion. After a 1-2 start in 2022, the Bears rolled off 10 consecutive victories, capped off with a thrilling 44-41 comeback win over Inman in an epic championship game. Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Kyle Schenk, St. Marys is coming off an 11-2 campaign. Schenk must replace one of the all-time great dual-threat quarterbacks in 1A in graduated Keller Hurla, but a few experienced players return to face yet another brutal schedule. As we post this it feels like it might be an error to leave St. Marys out of the top five, but replacing Hurla will be incredibly difficult. It’s possible the Bears look different on offense without Hurla this year and given the size they feature along the offensive line the running game may carry Schenk’s offense early. Three incredibly challenging games against MEL foes to open the season could tell us very little about where the defending champs stand in the 1A pecking order, for that Bears’ fans will have to wait until a Week 6 matchup with our preseason number five, Jeff County North.

Finishing as last year’s state runner-up to St. Marys – their second consecutive 1A title game berth – INMAN is hoping to make a push to the top this season. The Teutons did take a hit this offseason when All-State selection Tanner Heckel moved to Lyndon and the graduation of cousins Eli and Harrison Brunk leaves a void in the speed department. As a result, the defense may carry the team early as new offensive skill players are broken in and seniors Zachary Martisko (136 tkls.) and Kellen Schrag (eight sacks) provide a couple of proven stoppers on that D. Schrag could be ready for a breakout season offensively after he rushed for nearly 700 yards and nine scores last fall. The Teutons are directed by Lance Sawyer, who enters his eighth season in the program. After going 3-12 in his first two seasons, Sawyer has led IHS to five consecutive winning seasons, including back-to-back 11-win campaigns ending in state runner-up finishes. Sawyer’s squad will be tested by the majority of the regular season schedule, including this week’s opener against a Marion team that is looking for their own deep playoff run behind a talented group of seniors.

Two years ago, PITTSBURG-ST. MARY’S COLGAN posted its first losing record since 1997. Shawn Seematter’s squad saw big improvements last season, finishing with a 9-2 record. The Panthers advanced to the sectional round of the playoffs, falling to eventual state champion St. Marys. Seematter welcomes back a solid group of returning players, including seniors Cooper Simmons, who had 1,127 yards rushing with 20 touchdowns, and standout all-around athlete Tucker Harrell at quarterback and defensive back. The Panthers return plenty of experience on the offensive and defensive lines, which will be key to the team’s success. Defensively, the team will be led by senior defensive back Connor VanBecelaere, who had five interceptions. Seematter begins his seventh season at Colgan, compiling a 46-20 record to date. Much like St. Marys, Colgan will be tested by CNC foes that reside in 2A and 3A, while the 1A regular season opponents may not give a true measure of just how good the Panthers are in 1A.

After 10 years continuing the tradition of SMITH CENTER football established under Roger Barta, Darren Sasse is stepping away from coaching to spend more time with family. Long-time assistant coach, and fellow Smith Center native, Mike Rogers takes the helm and little is likely to change. Rogers will utilize the same Belly Series offense out of the Wishbone formation and the same 4-3 defense, his coaching staff will feature primarily former Smith Center players, and the Redmen are likely to again be a tough opponent on a weekly basis. While Rogers will miss graduated running back/defensive back Bentley Montgomery and Shrine Bowl offensive lineman Cauy Haresnape, eight returning starters will provide continuity. Identical twins Eli and Luke Franklin, now seniors, provide one of the most formidable linebacker duos in 1A, while Benjy Carr should provide much needed speed at different spots on the field. A strong group of sophomores is expected to make an impact as well.

A heartbreaking overtime loss to Plainville in the opening round of the playoffs closed out a 6-3 season for HUTCHINSON-TRINITY CATHOLIC. The Celtics won six of their first seven games but faced a tough schedule, with all three losses coming to playoff teams (Inman, Conway Springs, Plainville). Jordan Bell (54-33) — now in his 10th season — has 14 starting spots filled with returning players, led by senior quarterback Eric Armour. A year ago, Armour completed 48-of-83 passes for 858 yards and nine touchdowns, while also carrying the ball 69 times for 459 yards. Armour is one of three players returning that earned All-Heart of America League honors last season, joining Samuel Suter-Tan (OL/DL) and Isaiah Suter-Tan (TE/LB). Defensive player Gavin Wilson also comes back for his senior year at linebacker and is the top returning tackler with 57 stops year ago. Like Inman, Trinity has a tough schedule and a top two finish in the district is coveted as Oakley and Plainville are the heavy-favorites out of the adjoining district and a pair of proven western Kansas powers.

OAKLEY gained a valuable year of experience and returns several players from last year’s 6-4 campaign. The Plainsmen graduated a solid corp of players in Will Schmidt, Landyn Plummer, Brayden Cunningham, Josiah Annis and Craig Kuhlman, but have some younger players that will step into those roles. Jeff Hennick begins his seventh season as head coach, compiling a 27-32 record to date. The Plainsmen have a total of 19 players back with experience, including senior Ace Plummer at wide receiver and defensive back. Plummer is the top returning rusher with 90 carries for 333 yards and four touchdowns and receiver with 14 catches for 139 yards and two more scores. He also had 50 tackles last season. Oakley has reached the postseason four straight years, including a trip to regional round a year ago that resulted in a loss to eventual state runner-up Inman.

Following back-to-back unbeaten seasons, OLPE had its two-year run as 1A champion come to an end last fall with a narrow 8-7 loss to Centralia in the sectional round of the playoffs. Entering his 17th season, Chris Schmidt continues to turn out winners with the Eagle program with a 151-36 record. Senior Ethan Redeker returns at running back and free safety and is the leading returner in several statistical categories — rushing (270 yds.), receiving (26, rec., 379 yds.), tackles (57) and interceptions (6). Although Olpe lost some key players to graduation, it does return a total of five seniors, four of which earned All-Class 1A Honorable Mention. Joining Redeker are Rowdy O’Rear, Isaac Miller and junior Dexton Hoelting. The Eagles will face a tough early-season schedule that includes matchups against Class 3A Hayden and Bishop Ward, and Class 2A playoff qualifier Caney Valley.

CENTRALIA was just one win away from an appearance in the 1A title game, falling to eventual state champion St. Marys 46-16 in the sub-state round of the playoffs. It proved to be a successful first season for head coach Roger Holthaus after a lengthy tenure as an assistant in the program. The Panthers reached the postseason for a sixth consecutive season and finished with an 11-1 mark, which included three wins by a touchdown or less (Troy 20-19), Riverside (26-20) and Olpe (8-7). Centralia will rely on the return of four two-way starters in seniors Maveryk Becker (DB/RB), Brody Grossnickle (LB/FB), Will Steinlage (DL/OL) and Colton Slater (LB/TE). Also back are senior Reese Tanking at defensive back and junior Jacob Flentie at linebacker. Becker is the top returning player in rushing (60 car., 497 yds.), receiving (21 rec., 514 yds.) and interceptions (10).

It was an uncharacteristic start to the 2022 season for CONWAY SPRINGS as it started 0-3 with losses to Garden Plain, 2A runner-up Kingman and Chaparral. Yet, the Cardinals were able to quickly turn things around with seven straight wins. They eventually closed things out at 8-4 following a 23-6 loss to eventual state runner-up Inman in the sub-state round. Matt Biehler (129-28) begins his 15th season as head coach as Conway Springs seeks its first state championship since winning Class 3A in 2011. Conway Springs has a total of nine players back in the starting lineup, led by senior Brayden Kunz at running back and linebacker. Kunz carried the ball for 2,266 yards and 27 touchdowns a year ago and also led the team in tackles (85) and sacks (5).

During Jeff Schneider’s eight-year run as head coach of JEFFERSON COUNTY NORTH, the Chargers have finished with just one losing record back in 2018. Coming off a 6-4 campaign a year ago that ended with a regional playoff loss to Centralia (34-8), JCN will be looking for another solid season under Schneider in 2023. The Chargers welcome back senior quarterback Grady Noll, who rushed for 1,277 yards and 18 touchdowns while also passing for 500 yards and eight scores. Senior Ethan Noll will be the team’s top returning receiver with 230 yards and five scores and also finished with 56 tackles from the linebacker spot. Also on defense is senior Connor Keirns, who had six interceptions, including a 96-yard return for a touchdown. Overall, JCN has 13 players back this season with starting experience, which should be a boost for a squad that has won at least six games in six of the past eight years. Schneider has done an outstanding job leading the Charger program and it appears like he could have the team to make a deep playoff run this fall.

SEDGWICK will again attack opponents vertically and horizontally with their wide-open spread attack made even more effective thanks to the return of 2,000-yard passer Corey Crumrine and a fleet of wide receivers led by Jeff Nold. The addition of Norwich standout Tray Schroeder in the offseason should bolster an already potent offense and strengthen a defense that will need to slow down opponents if the Cardinals are to advance past the regional round of the playoffs this fall. Sedgwick has a tough schedule and a top two district finish is key to avoid likely District 5 favorites Smith Center and Wabaunsee, though Valley Heights is a team to watch thanks to an experienced senior group and their addition of Carson Spoonts in the offseason.

MARION is coming off a 6-4 campaign a year ago and is once again under the direction of head coach Shaun Craft, who begins his sixth year leading the Warriors. A member of the Heart of America League, Marion had a solid season that included a trip to the regional round of the playoffs, falling to Wabaunsee (22-14). Posting back-to-back winning seasons under Craft, the Warriors look to take that next step this season with the return of seven players with varsity experience. That group is led by senior quarterback Jack Lanning, who completed 31-of-86 passes for 759 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago. Marion will also rely heavily on senior running back Trevor Schafers after he rushed for 1,062 yards and 16 touchdowns. Schafers will also be a key figure on the defensive side as the top returning tackler with 80 a year ago, including two sacks.

Former Madison coach Alex McMillian takes over as head coach of PLAINVILLE this season and hopes to continue the tradition of success for the Cardinals, which suffered through a brutal early season schedule and finished winning four of their last five games to advance to the regional round of the playoffs, falling there to Conway Springs (35-31) in heartbreaking fashion. Despite the loss of four-year starter Kyle Werner, who was one of the top running backs and linebackers in the Mid-Continent League, Plainville welcomes back seven players with varsity experience, including seniors Braylon Bittel (TE/LB), Mason Hogan (OL/DL), Jesse Wilkerson (RB/LB), AJ Brown (QB/DB) and Braxton Smyth (OL/DL). Also back in the lineup are junior Roy Bright (WR/DB) and sophomore Ryddik Bethel (OL/DL).

After accounting for more than 2,000 yards of offense a year ago, Wyatt Wurtz returns at quarterback to lead the way for WABAUNSEE. The Chargers are coming off a 9-2 campaign. They advanced to the sectional round of the playoffs, falling to Conway Springs 39-14. Jess Rutledge enters his sixth season in charge of the program, compiling a 22-27 record to date. Wabaunsee has seven players back in the starting lineup. Wurtz leads the way after completing 108 of 184 passes for 1,458 yards and 19 touchdowns at QB. He also had 594 yards rushing on 96 carries with 96 attempts. Other returning starters include Zach Frank (RB/LB), Miguel Hernandez (WR/DB), Tate Deever (OL/LB), Jude Meseke (OL/DL), Brody Droegemeier (OL) and Alex Beggs (DL). Deever is the top returning tackler with 81, while Meseke had 9.5 sacks.

Brian Thomas contributed significantly to this preview by compiling much of it using the preview capsules from the 2023 Football Preview.

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