Ad Astra Radio is previewing area football teams, based on county. Today, we preview Harvey County.
Previous previews:
Aug. 25: Pawnee County.
Aug. 26: Kingman County
Aug. 27: western Sedgwick County
Aug. 28: Stafford County
Aug. 29: Reno County
Aug. 30: Rush County
Aug. 31 Barton County
Sept. 1 Edwards County
Sept. 1: Marion County
Note: Burrton is not having a football team this season.
Halstead Dragons
Coach: Derek Racette, fourth season (10-18)
Classification: 2A
District: 6
2024: 4-6
Postseason: Beat Lakin 36-6; lost to Beloit 28-0
Best postseason finish: Semifinals, 1972, 1979, 1980, 2014, 2015
Key game: Sept. 26 vs. Hillsboro. This was a surprisingly comfortable win for Hillsboro last season, but these two teams, and Ellsworth, finished in a three-way tie for second in the district. This game could again have a lot to say on second place in the district behind reigning state champion Southeast of Saline.
Top returning players: Reece Carmichael, jr., FB/LB; Edric Zorn, so., RB/LB; Brock Odendahl, sr., RB/LB; Logan Overton, sr., RT/DL; Noah Diehl, sr., WR/FS; Carlos Martinez, jr., K; Greyson Swift, jr., LB
Outlook: Halstead took a step forward last season, winning its first playoff game under Derek Racette. The Dragons lost quite a bit to graduation but have some good pieces returning, including leading tackler Reece Carmichael. It’s going to be a young team, but a lot of these players had significant varsity minutes last season due to injury. Leadership is going to be a major factor. If the Dragons can shake off a tough early schedule – seriously, it seems the next step up in scheduling would be the Kansas City Chiefs – the Dragons will be in the hunt for a .500 season and home playoff game.
Hesston Swathers
Coach: Tyson Bauerle, ninth season (48-31. 58-40 overall)
Classification: 3A
District: 6
2024: 8-2
Postseason: Beat Goodland 43-34; lost to Scott City 9-7
Best postseason finish: State champions, 1992
Top returning players: Ethan Courtre, sr., OL/DL; Gunner Goalden, jr., OL/DL; Brody Martin, sr., OL; Levin Flamin, jr., OL; Jerick Humphreys, jr., QB; Daxon Deering, sr., WR; Drew Bartell, jr., TE; Josh Duerksen, jr., LB; Jamison Kohl, sr., DB; Gavin Larson, jr., DB; Eli Haug, jr., DB; Ethan Schrag, sr., K
Key game: Oct. 24 at Andale. Andale is back on top in 3A, and will likely be the top-ranked 3A team headed into the season. Hesston, however, could be a top-five team as well, which means there’s no reason to think this won’t be a top-five showdown.
Outlook: Hesston football had a revival last season, starting 7-0 for the first time since 2014, and the eight wins were the most since 2017. A big reason for that was the rapid development of quarterback Jerick Humphreys, who became the starter due to injury a week before the opener, and he threw for nearly 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns. The offensive line is experienced and deep, and tight end Drew Bartell is one of the biggest targets in 3A, at 6-feet, 8-inches. Running back is a question mark with not a lot of experience back. The defensive line has a great duo in Ethan Courtre and Gunner Goalden. The defensive backfield is deep and experienced, but the linebacking corps is unknown. Tyson Bauerle attributes last year’s success to having depth, and he thinks there will be some depth again. Hesston will be good again. The next logical step is to get past the second round, which has been the end of the Swathers’ season for three years in a row. 3A is always a tough and deep classification, but there’s no reason to think Hesston can’t make a deep run.
Newton Railroaders
Coach: Taylor Counts, second season, 0-9
Classification: 5A
District: West
2024: 0-9
Postseason results: Lost to Great Bend 49-7.
Top returning players: Major Giles, sr., WR/DB; Jonathan Hill, sr., WR/DB; Kolbie Espada, sr., QB; Kaleb Jacobs, sr., FB/LB; Kane Wise, jr., RB/DB; Clyde Thomas, jr., WR/DB; Christian Henderson, jr., TE/DE; Camden Hessman, jr., WR/DB; Kingston Henry, jr., RB/LB; Orlando Gonzalez, jr., OL/DE; Emerson Gering, jr., K/P.
Key game: Oct. 10 at Andover. The schedule is brutal. Goodness. Five of the eight opponents won at least six games, and two more won four. If Newton can get through a brutal September, there are some chances for wins in October.
Outlook: Last year was somewhat predictable. New coach, not a lot of experience. But now Newton has had a full year under Counts, and there is ample experience back. Counts has lauded his team’s progress in the offseason and summer. The skill positions return almost everyone, but the one glaring question mark will be the offensive line, with just two starters back. Kolbie Espada is a solid quarterback, and if he gets time, he will have some options. The defensive front will also be inexperienced, but Christian Henderson is a good cornerstone up front. The schedule does Newton no favors. It’s just loaded with tough opponents, including Class 4A champion Andover Central, Class 5A semifinalist Goddard Eisenhower, and 5A quarterfinalist Hutchinson. It’ll be a tough hill to climb, but the optimism, work ethic and experience are there.
Sedgwick Cardinals
Coach: Lee Weber, first season (95-111 overall)
Classification: 1A
District: 6
2024: 8-2
Postseason results: Beat Republic County 48-20; lost to Plainville 12-8
Best postseason finish: Semifinals, 2021
Top returning players: Maverick Stauth, sr., RB/LB; Owen Luper, sr., WR/DB; Noah Little, sr., WR; Cole McGinn, sr., OL; Michael Petersen, jr., OL; Layton Benjamin, sr., OL; Riley Queen, sr., DL
Key game: Sept. 26 vs. Marion. Last year, this district was pretty compact. This year, it could be even tighter, as Inman is expected to take a good step forward. Although a three-way tie for the district title wouldn’t be a shock, Sedgwick must get district play off to a good start.
Outlook: It’s a new era at Sedgwick, as Lee Weber takes over for long-time coach Jeff Werner. Weber says the players have been receptive to a new coach. The spread offense is expected to remain, and some solid weapons return in Maverick Stauth and Owen Luper, but it’s rare territory not to know much about the Sedgwick quarterback. Corey Crumrine graduated after a great career. The defense will be young and inexperienced, but the defense has generally but an underrated unit in Sedgwick, due to the offense. The Cardinals will get tested right away, opening with a Sterling team that returns almost everyone from a 6-4 team, and then a Trinity Catholic team that returns almost everyone from a defense that held Sedgwick to a regular-season low 15 points. Expectations haven’t changed in Sedgwick, but it is fair to wonder if there will be a learning curve. The good news, the district will be up for grabs among Sedgwick, Marion, Moundridge and Inman. Sedgwick can win this just as easily as the others could.
