The Hutchinson High School football team enters the 2025 season under eighth-year head coach Mike Vernon, following an 8-3 campaign in 2024.
The Salthawks’ Football Media Day took place Wednesday at the HHS North Gymnasium.
The Salthawks return 12 starters (seven on offense and five on defense). Hutchinson also has 16 letterwinners providing experience despite losing several key seniors.
Key returnees include Jackson Anderson (senior middle linebacker), GaVaughn Embers (senior defensive tackle), Tramel Walker (senior defensive back), Brodie McCuan (junior defensive back), Robert Hunter (senior quarterback/defensive back), Kylan Mendoza (senior offensive lineman) and Bailey Bishop (senior offensive lineman).
“Our younger guys received a ton of playing time last year on Friday nights,” Vernon said. I believe this is extremely valuable and will help calm the nerves at the beginning of the season. Many of our guys have already played under the Friday night lights.
“We return 4 of 5 starters on the offensive line. This group got thrown into the fire last year and had to perform. I’m very excited about the potential of this group.”
Anderson is poised to have a breakout senior season at middle linebacker.
“Jackson Anderson will have a first team All-State season at middle linebacker,” Vernon said. “He is a skilled football player that continues to get bigger and faster. With our scheme he will make a name for himself.”
Hunter, who returned to Hutchinson after one season at Wichita East, has committed to South Dakota State to play cornerback and is primed for another big season.
“Robert Hunter has returned to our program. He is an athletic kid who we will utilize on offense as well as defense. We will lean on him heavily for offensive production. I believe he will have a big year.
Vernon said he has some concerns about the Salthawks.
“We lost a lot of high quality football players to graduation. Our young guys got a lot of playing time last year but you never know how kids will react when bullets are flying. Our numbers aren’t as high as years past. Football is a numbers game and you need bodies. I worry about attrition and keeping our guys healthy.
“We lost some great football players from last year’s class. You can’t deny that fact or look past the truth. However, I look at the playing time our younger guys got in mop-up time and how they handled themselves. I know they can play and I know my staff can coach.
“I believe we have a low floor, but I also believe we have an extremely high ceiling. We have the capability of being a very tough out for any team on our schedule. We want to play in the (Class 5A state) semifinal game. It is very attainable for this group.”
Vernon said the favorites in Class 5A will be defending state champion St. Thomas Aquinas, coached by former Hutchinson High School coach Randy Dreiling, who has won 10 state titles (seven at Hutchinson and three at at Aquinas.
The Saints are followed by Mill Valley, Hays (which defeated Hutchinson and Great Bend in the playoffs before losing to Aquinas in the title game), Great Bend (which looks loaded) and DeSoto.
Vernon said Derby again will be the favorite to win the 2025 Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League title, followed by Hutchinson, Maize, Maize South, Valley Center, Salina South and Haysville-Campus
The Salthawks open the 2025 schedule with road games at Andover Central Sept. 5 and Valley Center on Sept. 12. Other road games are at Derby on Oct. 3 and Newton on Oct. 17.
Hutchinson’s first home game are against Maize on Sept. 12 and Salina South on Sept. 26. Other home games are Campus on Oct. 10 and Maize South on Oct. 24.
Hutchinson returns 12 starters:
GaVaughn Embers 6-0 243 Senior MLB
Tramel Walker 5-10 168 Senior DT
Camrynn Harris 5-10 171 Senior DB
Brodie McCuan 5-11 178 Junior DB
Robert Hunter 6-0 194 Senior QB/DB
Kylan Mendoza 6-2 273 Senior OL
Bailey Bishop 5-9 238 Senior OL
Taylor Reiman 5-10 238 Junior OL
Karson Ettiene 5-11 181 Junior OL
Jeremyah Gaitho-Karanu 5-11 178 Senior RB
Karmelo Green 5-11 183 Senior RB
16 returning letterwinners (not listed as starters):
Danny Boone 6-0 168 Senior WR/DB
Cooper Harris 6-0 164 Junior DB
Jake Wolfe 5-11 193 Senior LB
D’Angelo Gray 6-3 166 Junior WR/DB
Max Harris 5-11 181 Junior TE/DE/OLB
Sam Martin 5-10 161 Senior RB/DB
Ayden Roubidoux 5-10 169 Senior RB/LB
Tayton Tuchardt 5-11 192 Senior LB
Gabe Valadez 5-10 201 Senior DE/TE
Jaidence Embers 6-1 193 Junior OL/DE
Kingston Werner 5-11 176 Junior OLB
Eduardo Martinez 5-8 268 Junior OL/DL
Cruz Ibarra 6-3 183 Junior OL/DL
Peyten Jensen 6-0 313 Junior OL
Jayden Tuchardt 6-0 188 Junior OL/DL
Lucas Bohlen 6-0 196 Junior OL/DL
2025 Hutchinson Salthawks Varsity Football Schedule
Sept. 5 at Andover Central, 7 p.m.
Sept. 12 at Valley Center, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 Maize, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26 Salina South, 7 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Derby, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 Campus, 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 at Newton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 24 Maize South, 7 p.m.
Oct. 31 5A state playoffs first round
Nov. 7 5A state playoffs second round
Nov. 14 5A state quarterfinals
Nov. 21 5A state semifinals
Nov. 29 5A state championship
2025 Hutchinson High School Football
Classification: 5A
Mascot: Salthawks
League: Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division I
2024 Record: 8-3
2024 Finish: Lost to Hays High School 28-0 Divisional Round Class 5A Playoffs
2023 Record: 7-3
2022 Record: 8-3
2021 Record: 4-5
2020 Record: 8-2
HHS Notables: State Champions (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011)
State Runner-Up (2003,2012,2014)
Head Coach: Mike Vernon (8th Season)
Record at HHS: 39-30
Overall Record: 68-49 (Inman 12-6, Nickerson 17-13, Hutchinson 39-30)
Assistant Coaches
Zach Burkhart, Special Teams Coordinator
Jeremy Garcia, Safeties
Sean Harper, Offensive Line
Todd Smith, Assistant Defensive Line
Dalton Luce, Linebackers
Marcus Moeder, Running Backs
Sean Bueford, Director of Football Operations
Brayden Wells, Corners
Dylan Graves, Assistant Offensive Line
Justin Spencer, Quarterbacks
Conner Reilly, Freshman Defensive Coordinator
Scott Yantes, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line
Hutchinson High Blue and Gold Scrimmage slated for Aug. 29
The Hutchinson High School football team’s Blue and Gold scrimmage is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at Gowans Stadium.
Food trucks from Mobb Foods, Los Mariachis and Hutch Shaved Ice will be available in the west parking lot between Gowans Stadium and the Kansas Cosmosphere at 5:30 p.m.
Fall sports teams at Hutchinson High School and Hutchinson Middle School will be introduced.
There also will be youth football and HMS football scrimmages.
