Ad Astra Radio is previewing area football teams, based on county. Today, we preview McPherson 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
Sept. 2: Harvey County
Sept. 3: Rice County
Canton-Galva Eagles
Coach: Ted Regehr, second season (3-6)
Classification: Eight-man Division 1
District: 3
2024: 3-6
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2019
Top returning players: Jaxon Chrislip, jr., QB/LB; Jaxon Nightingale, jr., OL/LB; Camden Kruse, sr., RB/DB; Ethan Brozek, jr., WR/DB; Wyatt Henry, sr., OL/DL; Magnessun Cathey, so., FB/DL; Dallas Jones, so., WR/DB
Key game: Oct. 17 at Solomon. This district is so tough. Brutally tough. It features the state runner-up in Central Plains, a quarterfinalist in Little River, and Ell-Saline, which won a playoff game. The loser of this game will have a tough time making the playoffs.
Outlook: Canton-Galva had a rebuilding year and played a lot of young players. Seven starters return, but it’s still a fairly young group with just two seniors. Chrislip had a solid junior year under center, and Nightingale is a top two-way player. Canton-Galva could be much improved this year but it may not show in terms of wins and losses. But with this group still being fairly young, this year could be an important bridge to 2026, especially if the Eagles get a new district assignment.
Inman Teutons
Coach: Lance Sawyer, 10th season (54-41, 88-90 overall)
Classification: 1A
District: 6
2024: 4-5
Postseason: Lost to Plainville 28-0
Best postseason finish: State runner-up 2021, 2022
Top returning players: Malachi Brunk, jr., QB/DB; Korbyn McClellan, jr., RB/LB; Cooper Wiens, sr., OL/DL;; Eli Gillespie, sr., OL/DL; Dylan Larson, sr., OL/LB; Braeden Stutzman, sr., OL/DL; Kash Schierling, jr., OL/DL; Gage Gisson, jr., DE/TE; Braxton Malloy, so., RB/LB; Kru Harris, so., WR/DB; Bo O’Neill, so., LB
Key game: Oct. 10 vs. Sedgwick. Once again, this is a loaded district, and maybe even more balanced than last year. The winner here will have an inside track to hosting a playoff game, maybe even winning the district.
Outlook: Inman was young but promising last season, making the playoffs in a loaded district and losing twice to Sterling and Moundridge by a combined six points. Much is back, especially from a skill perspective. The Teutons return 93% of their rushing attack, 95% of their receiving yards and 82% of their tackles. The backfield, led by rising QB Malachi Brunk, will be athletic, fast and deep. The concern is on the offensive line. With so much talent to block for, they don’t need to be the state’s best offensive line. Just good enough to carve open some paths. The Teutons are still a little young, and they won’t have a ton of depth. But if they stay healthy, there’s no reason not to expect a winning season and at least one home playoff game. A district title isn’t out of the question.
McPherson Bullpups
Coach: Jace Pavlovich, 11th season (77-23)
Classification: 4A
District: West
2024: 5-5
Postseason: Beat Abilene 41-20; lost to Wamego 20-13
Best postseason finish: Semifinals 1987, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
Top returning players:Jayren Stutzman, DE; Takoda Linn, DB; Nolan Pearcy, LB; Keaton Crane, CB; Carter Bengston, DB; Dane Becker, DB; Krayton Byrd, OL; Charlie Barrow, OL; Bo Barley, TE; Dane Becker, RB; Ashton Malm, WR; Izyck Puhalla, WR
Key game: Oct. 10 at Mulvane. Both teams are expected to be better than last year, and there will be a lot of jostling in 4A West come the last few weeks. Someone will get a big tiebreaker here.
Outlook: McPherson played well the last four weeks last season, getting two lopsided wins and two close losses to Buhler and Wamego. Defensively, McPherson will be athletic and will cause problems. The offense could be explosive as well, but a young and promising sophomore class will be asked to step up immediately. The schedule is packed with tough opponents, including the opener at Class 5A contender Great Bend, and a neat week three home matchup with Chanute. The Bullpups might be a year away still, but they should be better than last year, win more games, and perhaps even go deeper in the playoffs.
Moundridge Wildcats
Coach: Tyler O’Connor, third season (17-2)
Classification: 1A
District: 6
2024: 8-1
Postseason: Lost to Trinity Catholic 20-14
Best postseason finish: State champions, 1973, 1978
Top returning players: Logan Greenwalt, jr., RB/FS; Logan Wulf, jr., OL/DL; Layton Schmidt, sr., OL/LB; Brayden Elmore, sr., CB; Paul Grill, sr., RB/LB; Cyrus Blough, jr., K/P; Thomas Jenkins, sr., OL/DE; Fynn Burge, sr., WR/CB; Kaizer Kanitz, sr., WR/DB
Key game: Sept. 12 at Sterling. Moundridge won this showdown comfortably this year. With Sterling returning almost everyone, this will be a great test for Moundridge and an early-season gauge.
Outlook: Moundridge had an amazing year in its return to 11-man football. The Wildcats won a slew of tight, thrilling games, winning their last three regular-season game by a combined 10 points. But the season ended sourly with an upset loss to an underrated Trinity Catholic team in the first round of the playoffs. Moundridge graduated some incredible players, but there some good ones coming back too. Kaizer Kanitz is a special player on offense and special teams. Some returning players were beset by injury, such as Fynn Burge and Layton Schmidt. The senior class is large, but a concern is that those who graduated were leaders who took Moundridge football to heights not seen in some time. The Wildcats will get some early tests with Sterling and Medicine Lodge, and the district is loaded and balanced. Expect another slew of close and exciting games.
Smoky Valley Vikings
Coach: Tim Lambert, 10th season (47-48, 212-120 overall)
Classification: 3A
District: 6
2024: 2-7
Postseason: Lost to Rock Creek 51-8
Best postseason finish: State champions, 1988
Top returning players: Brock Gengler, sr., C/DE; Ty Heitschmidt, sr., QB; Toren Miller, sr., TE/LB; Conner Smith-Bolin, sr., OL; Marik Anderson, sr., TE; Kristian Ryan, jr., Slot/DB; Jack Opat, sr. slot back/DB; Andrew Lochard, jr., CB; Auley Baughfman, jr., LB; Crew Elliott, jr., LB; Hunter Koehn, jr., C
Key game: Sept. 26 at Wichita Trinity. These teams played one of the best games in the state last year, with Trinity winning 55-44. This is a district opener, and with Hesston and Andale looming for both, it’s imperative to get off to a good start in district play.
Outlook: Smoky Valley was much improved last season, doubling its win total from the previous year, and competing well in losses to Larned, Wichita Trinity and Hillsboro. There are quite a few players back who have played a lot of varsity downs the last two seasons. One problem, though, is Smoky Valley has won just three games the last two seasons. There are opportunities for wins, even a winning season. The opener with Larned is a big game, as is the district opener with Wichita Trinity.
