Ad Astra Radio is previewing area football teams, based on county. Today, we preview Reno County.
Previous previews:
Aug. 25: Pawnee County.
Aug. 26: Kingman County
Aug. 27: western Sedgwick County
Aug. 28: Stafford County
Buhler Crusaders
Coach: Steve Warner, 189h season (164-54; 37 years overall, 284-115)
Classification: 4A
District: West
2024: 9-3
Postseason: Beat Arkansas City 35-7; neat Mulvane 62-21; beat Wamego 28-14; lost to Andover Central 41-14
Best postseason finish. State champions, 2013
Top returning players: Logan Turner, sr., OL; Jacob Miller, sr., LB/TE; Ben Clouse, sr. RB; Nixon Standlee, jr., OL; John Aldrich, jr., OL; Jax Pratt, jr., TE/DE; Asher Zachary, jr., QB; Asher McConnaughy, jr., LB; Max Harmony, sr., FB/DL; Landon Martinez, soph., WR/DB
Key game: Sept. 5 at Mulvane. Buhler may not necessarily be rebuilding, but there are some question marks after graduation hit the Crusaders hard. Mulvane was a solid team last year with two of its three losses to Buhler. A good early gauge for both teams.
Outlook: Buhler was hit by graduation, but don’t think for a second this is a rebuilding year. The offense returns most of the offensive line, and a 1,000-yard rusher in Clouse. The Crusaders should be able to move the ball. The question lies with the defense, with just two starters back. Warner feels the talent will still be there, and it’s just a matter of fitting the pieces together. And, for better or for worse, the schedule will test them, as Great Bend, Wamego and McPherson are on the schedule, in addition to Mulvane and Winfield.
Central Christian Cougars
Coach: Matt Barnett, third season (15-6)
Classification: Eight-man Division 2
District: 5
2024: 9-2
Postseason: Beat Macksville 48-6; beat Logan-Palco 48-6; lost to Victoria 70-28
Top returning players: Piercen Huff, sr., WR/DB; Konnor Sullivan, sr., OL/DL; Cael Cooiman, jr., TE/LB; Luke Eigsti, jr., WR/DB; Cal Barnett, jr., WR/DB
Key game: Oct. 24 at Norwich. This could be a critical game for district placement, and the winner could end up with at least one postseason home game.
Outlook: Although graduation hit the Cougars pretty hard, there is still some talent back. Huff is a talented receiver and runner, while Sullivan is a high-caliber lineman. There are a lot of question marks elsewhere, but many expected starters saw varsity time last year. Overall, this will be a young team and a little inexperienced, but Central Christian is normally full of athletes. The schedule will also allow many chances for wins. Even with the youth and inexperience, the Cougars should be in the mix for a winning season and a couple of postseason games.
Fairfield Falcons
Coach: Kyle Finder, third season (5-13)
Classification: Eight-man Division 2
District: 5
2024: 4-5
Postseason: Lost to Victoria 52-0
Best postseason finish: Quarterfinals, 1995
Top returning players: Chase Combs, sr., OL/LB; Gavin Foster, jr., OL/DL; Brodie Snodgrass, sr., RB/DB; Gage Brown, sr., WR/DB; Lane Schwab, sr., TE/LB; Lukas Schwab, sr., TE/LB; William McIver, jr., RB/DB; Steven Nisly, sr., OL/DL/LB; Braeden Witt, jr., FB/LB/DL
Key game: Sept. 26 at Central Christian. Fairfield played Central Christian tough into the second half last season before the Cougars pulled away. Central Christian will be young, and with so much returning, this is a great chance for Fairfield to nab an early district win.
Outlook: Fairfield had their best season since 2014, when the Falcons went 5-4. The Falcons have optimism that they could do even better this season with nine players who have starting experience back. The lines are almost intact from last year. Snodgrass rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season. But the Falcons lost a great, great quarterback in Connor Fowler. It’s hard to replace that kind of athlete and leader. It is reasonable to think the Falcons could have a winning record if they can fill the hole left by Fowler. A .500 district record is a realistic ambition as well. And don’t underestimate how tough some of the Falcons are. Chase Combs lost his home in the Pleva tornado and still had near-perfect summer attendance in the weight room.
Hutchinson Salthawks
Coach: Mike Vernon, eighth season (39-30, 68-49 overall)
Classification: 5A
District: West
2024: 8-3
Postseason: Beat Salina South 42-7; beat Liberal 33-13; lost to Hays 28-0
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011.
Top returning players: Jackson Anderson, sr., LB; GaVaughn Embers, sr., DT; Tramel Walker, sr., DB; Camrynn Harris, sr., DB; Brodie McCuan, jr., DB; Robert Hunter, sr., QB/DB; Kylan Mendoza, sr., OL; Bailey Bishop, sr., OL; Taylor Reiman, jr., OL; Karson Ettiene, jr.,OL; Jeremyah, Gaitho-Karanu; sr., RB; Karmelo Green, sr., RB.
Key game: Sept. 19 vs. Maize. The Eagles really turned things around after a 0-4 start, winning five in a row and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. Hutch took care of Maize 21-0, but that young Eagles team rapidly improved after. It seems Hutchinson’s schedule is always littered with swing games. This could be a big one in what is expected to be another wide-open race in Class 5A West.
Outlook: Another year, another year where Hutchinson is capable of anything. Although graduation hit the Salthawks hard, especially on defense, a lot of younger players received ample Friday night snaps, both in high-pressure situations and in mop-up time. The offensive line, long a Hutchinson staple, returns four starters. The Salthawks also welcome back quarterback Robert Hunter, who spent last season at Wichita East, and Hunter could be primed for a huge season. Not only is he a threat running the ball and reads defenses well, but he can also chuck the ball well. A true dual-threat QB in the mold of Myles Thompson and Turner Wintz. Vernon’s biggest concern is the volume of players. Numbers aren’t as high as they normally are for Hutchinson. If the defensive front seven develops, and the skill positions can provide enough to take the pressure off Hunter, the Salthawks (again) are capable of playing for the state championship in a balanced and deep Class 5A West (again).
Nickerson Panthers
Coach: Parker Bruce, first season.
Classification: 3A
District: 6
2024: 1-8
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: Quarterfinals, 2001
Top returning players: Krisopher Monroe, sr., QB; Austin Peterson, sr., WR; Riley Brawner, sr., TE/LB; Lian Hedrick, sr., WR/DB; Gabe Taylor, sr., OL/LB; Atton Nelson, sr., OL/DL; Jayden Belote, sr., OL/DL; Rylan Morrell, jr., RB/LB; Zein Rector, jr., OL/DL
Key game: Oct. 17 at Smoky Valley. Nickerson competed well in its last four games last season, and this game will go a long way to deciding a playoff spot.
Outlook: It’s a new era in Nickerson. Wins have been hard to come by for the Panthers as they’ve had just four in the last five seasons, but they start this season not just with a new coach but some significant experience back. Monroe is a good athlete who has impressed at some summer camps. Four linemen return to block for Monroe and running back Rylan Morrell. Seven starters return on defense, including three linemen and three linebackers. This should be a vastly improved team, but the early schedule is brutal. Nickerson will host two reigning state champions (1A Conway Springs, 3A Andale), and also take on perennial winning programs like Haven, Hesston and Halstead. If Nickerson can keep its collective heads up, the opportunity for wins will be there after. The playoffs are a realistic ambition, especially if the Panthers can stay positive through the opening five games.
Pretty Prairie Bulldogs
Coach: Blake Lee, fourth season (6-21)
Classification: Eight-man Division 2
District: 5
2024: 0-9
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: State champions, 1993
Top returning players: Carter Stucky, sr., RB/DE; Rylan Reyes, jr., OL/DT; Emmett Harbaugh, jr., QB/WR/DB
Key game: Sept. 13 at Stafford. This was one of Pretty Prairie’s more competitive games last season. Getting an early win would do wonders for this team.
Outlook: Pretty Prairie had a tough one last season, but that was in part due to youth. It’s actually been a pretty young team the last couple of years, and now those players are upperclassmen. Carter Stucky is the cornerstone of this team and has been a steady, reliable presence on and off the field. Numbers have increased at Pretty Prairie, which will only help. Some players who have missed significant time with injury, including Ty McCullough, will add talent and depth. Pretty Prairie should be a better team this year and get into the win column some. A playoff appearance would be a step in the right direction.
Trinity Catholic Celtics
Coach: Jordan Bell, 12th season (62-45)
Classification: 1A
District: 7
2024: 4-6
Postseason: Beat Moundridge 20-14; lost to Medicine Lodge 22-20, OT
Best postseason finish: State champions, 1979
Top returning players: Bentyn Chastain, sr., TE/LB; Drew Dechant, sr., QB/DB; Roberto Guerrero, sr., WR/DB; Isaac Hammersmith, sr., OL/DL; Luke Kerns, sr., RB/LB; Kaid McElgunn, sr., WR/DB; Gage Schroeder, sr., OL/DL; Sam Vogel, sr., WR/DB; Eli Bigger, jr., OL/DL; Lucas Griffith, jr., OL/DL; Jake Kerns, jr., OL/LB; Porter Metternich, jr., RB/LB; Beau Towell, jr., WR/DB.
Key game: Oct. 17 vs. Medicine Lodge. Contrary to popular belief, Trinity will get to play Medicine Lodge in Hutchinson, after Medicine Lodge hosted the last four games (two regular-season games, two playoff games). The Celtics were close all four times but lost each. But more than that, it’s a big district game. Trinity could put itself in position to host a playoff game with a win in this one.
Outlook: The good news is that Trinity returns almost every player from a team that was an eyelash from the state quarterfinals. The bad news is that the few losses were big, and there isn’t a lot of depth. Only 26 players are expected to be on the roster. But this is a team that is tried and tested. They’ve played in several close games. Last season, seven of their 10 games were decided by 15 points or less, and the Celtics were 3-4 in those games. The defense should be rock solid with nine starters back from a unit that gave up 15 points or less in regulation six times. Dechant is a strong, reliable leader as the Celtics’ QB, and he will have some weapons to throw to. If the line continues to improve, and a running game can be established beyond Dechant, they should improve from last year. The schedule is brutal, and the district alone includes reigning state champ Conway Springs, quarterfinalist Medicine Lodge and a Sterling team that also returns almost everyone. If Trinity stays healthy, they will be a tough out in November. Tougher than they have been, and they’ve been Ford-pickup-truck tough.
