8-Man I looks deep

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.

This classification could be deep. Wichita County is going to be very good again but the senior leadership at quarterback could give Hoxie the edge this season. Last year's 8-Man II runner-up South Central joins the classification this fall and with many of their top players returning. Lincoln has some of the most exciting sophomores in the state and if healthy should win the program's first ever playoff game.

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

8-Man I

1. Hoxie
2. Wichita County
3. Little River
4. Ell-Saline
5. West Elk

Others: Central Plains, Chase County, Clifton-Clyde, Hill City, Lincoln, Lyndon, Meade, Oswego, Rawlins County, South Central, Sublette, Sylvan-Lucas, Trego

For the first time in school history, Lyndon captured a state championship in football. The Tigers defeated Wichita County 34-6 on a snowy November day in Newton to claim the 8-Man Division I title last fall. Not only was it the first title for the school in the sport, but it was also its first-ever championship game appearance. And it happened in Lyndon’s second year of playing 8-Man football.

Head coach Michael Massey, now in his second year as head football coach after passing the reins of the basketball program to Ryan Haskins, hopes this is just the start of a championship LYNDON program. Yet, the Tigers will be challenged to duplicate that perfect 13-0 season from a year ago after the loss of several key seniors from that squad. Four of those graduates are now playing at the college level — Tanner Heckel (Illinois), Kaedin Massey (Kansas State), Jalen Massey (Washburn) and Casten Wirth (Butler CC). Add into the mix a group of players that also earned postseason honors in Caleb Anschutz, Ethen Ramey and Dexter Miller, and the Tigers definitely have some holes to fill in 2024. Seven of the top nine tacklers, 1,092 yards passing and 3,686 yards rushing are lost to graduation.

Four players do return with starting experience, led by senior Eli Feltner (5-10, 165). After making the move to center a year ago to get more playing time, Feltner will play at quarterback this season. He will be joined on offense by junior running back James Marcotte (5-11, 175), senior slotback Landon Walker (5-10, 155) and junior wide receiver Lucas Griffin (5-11, 160). On the defensive side, those same players will be key figures, with Marcotte returning at linebacker as one of the leading tacklers on the team with 99 stops a year ago. Feltner, who racked up 33 tackles, will join Walker and Griffin in the secondary.

Last season was the pinnacle for a program that finished a number of 11-Man seasons over the last two decades as the third our fourth best team in the final small class 11-Man rankings after closes losses to eventual state finalists. Lyndon's success is sure to continue this season against a manageable schedule, but games with Frankfort, Chase County and Madison in Weeks 2, 4 and 6 should provide a gauge of where the Tigers stand in the overall 8-Man picture in 2024.

WICHITA COUNTY advanced to the state championship for a second straight year, falling to Lyndon in last year’s final. That came on the heels of an 8-Man Division I title one year earlier. Over the past two seasons the Indians have won 25 of their last 26 games. Under the direction of seventh-year head coach Brant Douglas (59-10), WCHS looks to make another deep playoff run this fall.

Wichita County was dominant throughout much of the season, posting defensive shutouts in seven of its first nine games. Defense could be key once again with the return of senior Max Whitham (6-2, 200) at linebacker. Whitham is the top returning tackler from a year ago with 77 stops, including 5.5 sacks. Three-year starter Jaun Tapia (6-2, 260), a senior nose guard, returns along with junior Dylan Luna (5-8, 165) in the secondary. Other defensive players back include senior Khris Hermosillo (5-10, 200) at defensive end and junior Cashton Young (5-8, 175) at linebacker.

Offensively, Wichita County must fill in holes left by the graduation of Wyatt Gardner at QB and Christopher Michel on the line. The Indians do have some experience back on that side, though, with the return of 1,200-yard rusher Hermosillo in the backfield and Young at wide receiver. Young accounted for more than 1,000 yards of offense last season (730 rushing, 336 receiving). Rounding out the returning offensive starters are Whitham on the line and junior Pabolo Reyes (5-8, 180) at wide receiver.

Seeking its first state championship since 2017, HOXIE may have the pieces to make a serious run this season. The Indians welcome back several players from last year’s squad that went 9-2 overall and advanced to the sectional round of the playoffs where they suffered a heart-breaking two-point shootout loss to Ell-Saline. Lance Baar returns for his 16th year as head coach, compiling a 103-47 record to date.

Senior QB Duncan Bell (5-11, 175) is back to lead the offense after completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,545 yards and 22 TDs, while also rushing for 487 yards. Senior Braydon Scheetz (5-7, 175) returns at running back after recording 726 rushing yards and 320 receiving with 21 total scores. Meanwhile, senior tight end Sam Watkins (6-1, 195) finished with 26 receptions for 432 yards and four TDs. On the defensive side, Hoxie will be led by senior Easton Nickelson (6-0, 175) on the line. A year ago, Nickelson had 92 tackles, including eight for loss. Watkins had 67 tackles from the end position. Also contributing on defense will be Bell at D-back, Scheetz at linebacker, senior Trent Fenner (5-9, 170) at defensive end and senior Braxton Munk (5-7, 140) in the secondary.

A young LITTLE RIVER squad took an early exit from the postseason a year ago, losing in the regional round to West Elk. Just four years removed from its last state title in 2020, the Indians have hope for better success this season after a 7-3 campaign last fall. Kevin Ayers, who enters his 25th year as a head coach, including his sixth at Little River (50-10), welcomes back some key players. The Indians must fill holes in the lineup from the graduation of their top two rushers – QB Andrew Smith and running back Carter Stansbury – but look for bigger offensive production from senior Kyler Bergkamp (5-9, 160) in the backfield after he rushed for 231 yards on 47 carries a year ago. Little River does return its top three receivers in sophomore Jaren Garrison (5-10, 180), junior Ty Janette (6-0, 180) and Bergkamp. Defensively, LRHS returns seven of its top nine tacklers, including Bergkamp in the secondary.

After capturing a second straight District 1 championship, WEST ELK looks for continued success under head coach Chris Haag, now in his 24th year with the program (122-98). The Patriots have reached the postseason 13 times, including five straight seasons. Last year was especially memorable as WEHS won a pair of playoff games over Burlingame and Little River to reach the sectional round of the postseason for the first time ever. Although the season ended with a loss to eventual champion Lyndon, West Elk still capped off an impressive 9-2 campaign. The Patriots return a potent offensive backfield that includes seniors Creyo Koop (5-10, 190) and Maddex Moreno (5-11, 205) at running back, and Trent Haag (6-1, 180) at QB. Koop is closing in on 4,000 career rushing yards – 3,964 heading into the season – while scoring 85 TDs. Joining those players in the lineup will be junior Garett Usry (5-7, 155) at wide receiver. All four of those players will also play key roles on defense, led by Koop’s 225 career tackles. Clearly staying healthy is the biggest key for the Patriots.

J.D. Johnson enters his first year as head coach at CENTRAL PLAINS. The Oilers, who play in the Central Prairie League, are coming off a 7-3 season a year ago. Central Plains has plenty of experience back, led by sophomore QB Brodie Crites (6-0,170), who passed for nearly 1,000 yards and 19 TDs as a freshman. Two key players return at the skill positions in senior receiver Paxton Dody (6-1, 175) and senior running back Eli Hurley (5-9, 180). Dody had 14 receptions for 313 yards and nine TDs last season, while Hurley carried the ball 101 times for 706 yards and 13 scores. Up front, the Oilers will get protection from seniors Devin Davidson (5-10, 290) and Logan Stroede (6-6, 250), as well as junior Landon Daniels (5-11, 230). Many of those same players return on defense, including Hurley and senior Aiden Hekele (6-2, 190) at linebacker, Daniels, Dody and Stroede at defensive end, Davidson on the line and Crites and senior Joel Schreiber (6-2, 180) in the secondary.

Beginning the second season of his second stint as head coach, Derick Budke looks to build off a 7-4 campaign at CHASE COUNTY. The Bulldogs are coming off a second straight trip to the sectional round of the playoffs. Four players are back this season, led by senior running back/defensive back Luke Budke (5-9, 155). Last season, Budke was a strong two-way starter, rushing for 266 yards and receiving 352, while also posting 65 tackles on defense. Junior Wyatt Griffin (6-3, 180) returns at QB after accounting for more than 1,700 offensive yards – 1,351 passing and 393 rushing – with 24 total TDs. He also recorded 39 tackles as a D-back. Also returning are senior Colton Kewley (5-10, 190) at tight end/defensive end, and junior Guthrie Danford (5-9, 180) at running back/linebacker. Kewley recorded 33 tackles, including five for loss with two sacks, while Danford had 120 total tackles.

The return of five players with All-TVL recognition gives CLIFTON-CLYDE some valuable experience from a 7-3 squad. Longtime head coach Russ Steinbrock, who begins his 24th year on the sideline (152-75), must fill some holes in the lineup after the graduation of players such as Trenton Long, Drayden Reed and Payton Fahey. Looking to lead the way this season for the Eagles will be All-League honorees in seniors Oliver Nobert (5-9, 175), Brodin Koch (5-9, 170), Trextin Koch (5-9, 170) and Jack Skocny (6-3, 175) and junior Locklund Feight (5-10, 185). Skoncy will likely have to pick up the offensive slack after recording 183 rushing yards, 160 passing and 351 receiving last year. On the defensive side, Nobert and Koch are the top returners after both posting more than 65 tackles. Feight also had 42 tackles and three sacks.

Seven players with starting experience are back this season for HILL CITY, which went 5-4 last fall. Travis Desbien begins his eighth year with the Ringnecks, posting a 45-24 record to date in the program. Leading the way will be a pair of three-year starters in seniors Dayton Stephen (6-0, 185) and Sylar Rohr (5-8, 155). Stephen will play a much bigger role this season after leading the team with 27 receptions for 465 yards and seven TDs. Rohr will be an instrumental part up front for a line that also consists of juniors Koby Keiswetter (6-0, 230) and Aiden Hall (5-8, 210), as well as sophomore Mitchell Presley (5-11, 210). Junior Tate Balthazor (5-1, 155) could take the reins at QB after completing 35-of-68 passes for 507 yards and five TDs last season. Balthazor proved to be a dual threat by also rushing for 297 yards and three more scores. Defensively, Rohr will lead the way after recording 90 tackles, including eight for loss. Overall, seven of the top 10 tacklers are back this season. Stephen will play a key role in the secondary.

Could this be the year LINCOLN picks up its first playoff victory in program history? Well second-year head coach Colby Hamel likes his team’s chances with several returning starters from last year’s 5-4 squad. The Leopards did lose seniors Logan Meier (quarterback/linebacker) and Branden Sinclair (linebacker) to graduation but still have eight players back with starting experience. Sophomore QB Jeremiah Miller (6-2, 185) is a dual-threat playmaker after passing and rushing for a combined 1,100 yards last season. Sophomores Xavier Miller (6-2, 185) and Ben Bell (6-0, 190) return at receiver as they had 800 and 300 yards receiving, respectively. Up front, Lincoln will rely on juniors Brody Shearer (6-0, 270) and Easton Good (6-2, 220), as well as Austin Ahring (6-1, 195) at tight end. Defensively, senior Deagan Walters (5-8, 165) returns on the line after posting 10 sacks. Bell had four INTs in the secondary and has the potential to emerge as one of the top defensive players in the classification.

With the loss of five starters on both sides of the ball, MEADE will need to have some of its younger players step up to build off last year’s 8-2 campaign. The task to find those replacements will be up to third-year head coach Clint Kuhns, who has posted an impressive 17-4 mark in his first two seasons in the program. The Buffaloes will have to mix things up in a hurry after the loss of the team’s top passer, four of the top five rushers and their top three receivers. Meade may rely on its defense, which has three of its top five tacklers from a year ago back. Returning on the defensive side will be junior Samuel Lynn (6-0, 165), who had 73 tackles a year ago at linebacker, senior Alek Holguin (6-2, 275), who had six sacks as a sophomore but was lost to injury a year ago after the second game, senior Jace Jones (6-0, 205) at nose guard and junior Jace Shrewsbury (5-10, 220) on the line. After playing just two games at QB a year ago due to injury, Lynn returns to that spot. Last season, he completed 31-of-51 passes for 537 yards and six TDs.

With 10 players returning with starting experience from a year ago, OSWEGO could be in the running for a District 1 championship this season. Matt Fowler returns for his 16th season as a head coach, including his seventh at Oswego (33-22). The Indians are coming off a 4-5 campaign last season. OHS has plenty of experience back on the offensive side, led by junior running back Josh Hutchinson (5-10, 170), who had 1,343 rushing yards and 18 TDs last season. Complementing Hutchinson in the backfield will be senior Hunter Kelly (5-10, 155), who rushed for 518 yards and 10 scores. Meanwhile, junior Owen Jackson (6-1, 170) brings a balanced attack to the package after passing for 281 yards and rushing for 403 last fall. Oswego also has key players back on defense, with eight players returning with at least 20 tackles. Leading the way is Hutchinson with 85 tackles in the secondary along with senior Alex Long (6-0, 180) at linebacker, Jackson at D-back and Kelly at linebacker.

Back-to-back appearances in the sectional round of the playoffs has RAWLINS COUNTY looking for even more during the 2024 season. Head coach Aaron Sramek (17-5) returns for his third year. A season ago, the Buffaloes went 9-2 and saw their run end with a loss to eventual runner-up Wichita County in the state quarterfinals. Three players return on offense, led by the team’s top rushers – seniors Ryan Sramek (5-10, 160) and Dorian Culwell (5-7, 150). Also back on the line is junior Daylan Fairchild (6-0, 210). On the defensive side, Sramek will join senior Asa Popp (5-10, 160) and junior Tucker Prideaux (5-10, 150) in the secondary. The line will include Culwell and junior Austin Chumley (5-10, 175). Rounding things out is junior Tru Dewey (6-0, 165) at linebacker. Four players return after posting at least 62 tackles last season.

Despite finishing with a 4-5 record, SEDAN advanced to the postseason for a sixth consecutive season a year ago. Mick Holt begins his 14th season in charge of the program, compiling an 83-46 overall mark at SHS. Sedan graduated three key players on offense but still has six returning lettermen back this season. Leading the way is senior Jackson Dowell. At running back, Dowell had 97 carries for 755 yards and 12 TDs while also posting 14 receptions for 236 yards and five more scores. He was also a force on the defensive side with 87 tackles, four sacks and two INTs. Senior Brycen Dickens will likely take over at QB. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils will benefit from the return of seniors Lucky Cherico on the line and Curtis Smilko at tight end, as well as junior Jacob Darbro on the line and sophomore Ethan Zimmerman at D-back.

After starting the season 2-3 the SOUTH CENTRAL Timberwolves would erupt for a 44-14 win over a previously unbeaten Kinsley team to send notice of a young squad picking up momentum. That momentum wouldn’t end until they ran into the 8-Man II juggernaut Axtell in the state title game. Now South Central makes the move up to Division I of the 8-Man classification and four experienced seniors and seven total starters are back to help third-year coach Brett Westrup continue his program’s success. Senior JT Prusa is back to orchestrate the offense after rushing for 1,776 yards and 34 TDs and passing for 561 yards and 11 more scores. He also picked off four passes as a defensive back for the T-Wolves. Senior defensive lineman Jase Rutherford returns to anchor the defensive front after he tallied 13 sacks, 81 tackls, 15 total tackles-for-loss and three defensive touchdowns last season. Senior Jamie Sarminento will lead the secondary after recording nine interceptions and 60 tackles. Junior linebacker Jack Herd returns after tallying 103 tackles, nine TFLs and two interceptions. Sophomore Coda Lindsey rushed for nearly 300 yards and three scores last fall and posted three defensive TDs as well.

After posting its first winning season since 2011, SUBLETTE will look to an experienced squad to build off last year’s 5-4 mark. Lyle Befort begins his second season as coach of the Larks. Leading the way will be junior Johnny Froese (5-10, 185) at running back and wide receiver. A year ago, Froese was the team’s top rusher with more than 1,000 yards. He also stepped up on the defensive side to lead the team in tackles with 80, including two sacks. Junior Drake Webber (5-10, 160) will once again be at QB after tossing passes for 600 yards. Other players returning on offense include junior wide receivers Ashton Koehn (6-3, 180), Caleb Friesen (6-3, 190), Joel Loya (5-8, 165) and Kade Morales (5-8, 160), senior center Miguel Monjaras (5-9, 180) and senior running back/lineman Trenton Davis. On defense, Caleb Friesen and senior Noah Friesen (6-2, 195) return as D-ends after combining for 166 tackles and 18 sacks. With a solid group of returning players, Sublette could be in position to capture a District 6 title by season’s end.

Making the move up to 8-Man I is SYLVAN-LUCAS, which is coming off a 7-2 record a year ago. Head coach Ben Labertew, now in his 13th year leading his alma mater (65-47), has some holes to fill in the skill positions after the graduation of QB Lane Homewood and running back Brody Batchman. Homewood and Batchman combined for more than 1,500 rushing yards last year. Fortunately, the Mustangs return a solid group up front to protect the newcomers in those roles, including seniors Bryson Pasek (5-11, 190) and Alec Huck (5-10, 210), and junior Layne Buttenhoff (5-11, 240). Returning at ends are seniors Connor Charvat (5-8, 155) and Cade Brokes (6-3, 225). Defensively, Homewood and Batchman leave holes in that unit as well after combining for 160 tackles a year ago. Charvat returns in the secondary after recording 45 tackles and three INTs. Brokes and Buttenhoff also come back on the line, with Brokes finishing with 51 tackles and two fumble recoveries last season.

Despite stating the season 0-2, TREGO COMMUNITY ran off seven straight wins a year ago and had plenty of momentum at the end of the season. Now head coach Pat Haxton – 47-55 overall as he enters his 12th year in the program – hopes the Golden Eagles carry that into the 2024 season following a 7-3 campaign that included a trip to the regional round of the playoffs. Trego definitely has the experience to make some noise this season, especially with the return of junior QB Ashton Wynn (5-10, 145). A year ago, Wynn led the way with a combined 1,800 yards rushing and passing while scoring 33 TDs. Expect bigger production from senior Jaryn Windholz (6-0, 180), and juniors Aaron Samson (6-0, 165) and Cass Smith as receivers. That crew racked up nearly 800 yards of offense last season. Meanwhile, the team’s offensive success will also rely on a line that includes seniors Greaden Deines (6-3, 190), Sammy Espinoza (6-3, 250) and Hunter Yingling (5-10, 260), as well as junior Traxton Maley (5-10, 220). Smith and Samson return at linebacker to lead the defense with a combined 179 tackles last season.

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

2023 Preseason Rankings

1. Wichita County
2. Lyndon
3. Meade
4. Quinter
5. West Elk

Look for the final two classifications later today.