Ad Astra Radio will preview area high school football teams based on county. Today, we preview Barton County.
Central Plains Oilers
Coach: JD Johnson, third season (15-7)
Classification: Eight-player Division 1
District: 7Hois
2025: 5-4
Postseason: Lost to Sylvan-Lucas 34-22
Best postseason finish: State champions 2014, 2018
Top returning players: Brodie Crites, sr., QB/DB; Payton Kempke, jr., OL/DL; Broc Klima, jr., RB/LB; Keeton Robison, jr., RB/DB; Teagan Schepmann, jr., TE/DE; Cameron Zink, sr., OL/DL.
Key game: Oct. 9 at South Central. Although Central Plains’ district isn’t quite as rugged this season, playing the reigning state champion will be a lot of fun. Keep an eye on this one.
Outlook: After a great 5-1 start to last season, Central Plains finished with three losses, albeit to formidable competition. But those three losses did not sit well with the returning Oilers, according to coach JD Johnson, especially because those final losses – to Little River, Ell-Saline and Sylvan-Lucas – were to more physical teams. Central Plains returns six starters, including talented senior quarterback Brodie Crites, who threw for nearly 1,400 yards. While three linemen return, the skill positions will have some inexperience outside Crites. Keeton Robison is a rising junior who had 53 tackles, while junior Teagan Schepmann had five quarterback sacks. These Oilers will be a little on the young side, but they also won’t use youth as an excuse. The non-district schedule is brutal, with Victoria and Ell-Saline, and that aforementioned matchup with South Central looking like a heck of a matchup. When 5-4 isn’t good enough, you know you have a program with high expectations. Central Plains will be a team to watch for come November.
Ellinwood Eagles
Coach: Dave Kempke, first season (20-11 overall)
Classification: 1A
District: 8
2025: 5-4
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: Semifinals 1970, 1973
Top returning players: Luke Heinz, sr., QB/DB; Kellen Behnke, jr., WR/DB; Cade Coleman, jr., QB/DB; Cohen Gunn, sr., WR/DB; Nick Miller, sr., OL/DL; Will Miller, jr., OL/DL; Trace Tudor, sr., OL/DL
Key game: Oct. 16 vs. Medicine Lodge. The schedule is tougher this year in non-district, but the district slate is smaller and not quite as daunting, other than reigning state champion Sterling. This game should decide second place in the district and a home playoff game.
Outlook: Ellinwood starts with a new coach, and while the Eagles have a good number of players back, including seven starters, they graduated a 10-player class who helped raise expectations at Ellinwood. The line has a good number of players back, giving Dave Kempe a good cornerstone to build on. Ellinwood was pretty unlucky with its district the last two years, which included Conway Springs (2024 1A champion), Sterling (2025 1A champion), and Trinity Catholic (2025 quarterfinalist). While Sterling remains in the district, there’s no reason to think Ellinwood can’t finish second. A winning record while also playing a November home game are realistic ambitions.
Great Bend Panthers
Coach: Erin Beck, 11th season (50-38)
Classification: 4A
District: West
2025: 11-1
Postseason: Beat Newton 49-14; beat Bishop Carroll 49-7; beat Hays 29-22; lost to Salina Central 30-28
Best postseason finish: State runner-up 2006
Top returning players: Cooper Ohnmacht, sr., WR/FS; Kale Kern, sr., TE/LB; Jaxon Wondra, sr., LB; Cole Fanshier, sr., DE; Jose Bustamante, sr., OL; Colby Spore, so., OL; Alec Premer, jr., WR; Grant Watkins, jr., LB; Cal Schartz, jr., CB
Key game: Oct. 25 at Buhler. With Great Bend dropping to 4A, this game takes on an added significance. Like Buhler, Great Bend plays a pretty tough schedule, so this game is massive for tiebreaker purposes.
Outlook: Great Bend was winless five seasons ago, and then the Panthers had a tremendous four-year run, ending last season with a semifinal loss to eventual champion Salina Central. Great Bend even swept a loaded Hays team. Now, there will be some rebuilding, but Beck has done this in Great Bend already. The defense has much back, including six starters. The lines have much back as well. With Great Bend dropping to 4A, and reigning 4A champ Kapaun Mount Carmel moving up to 5A, 4A West is wide, wide open. Great Bend is one of many teams who could end up playing for the state championship. The schedule will be tough, with non-conference games against Scott City, McPherson, Buhler and Junction City. The WAC is usually tough, with Liberal and Hays combining for 15 wins last season. If the skill positions can develop and Great Bend can go at least 3-1 in September, they could be in line for another good season.
Hoisington Cardinals
Coach: Zach Baird, 13th season (115-25)
Classification: 3A
District: 7
2025: 10-1
Postseason: Beat Halstead 74-24; beat Hillsboro 46-6; beat Garden Plain 36-7; lost to Southeast of Saline 22-12
Top returning players: Preston Merlau, sr., RB/DL; Brody Corbett, sr., OL/LB; Kaidenn Chambers, sr., RB/LB; Brody Pfannenstiel, sr., RB/DE; Kolter Hahn, sr., QB/DB; Karson Kinman, sr., OL/DL; Drew Hekele, sr., TE/DL; Gavin Jackson, sr., OL/DL; Thomas Higgins, sr., RB/DB; Logan Cossel, sr., QB/DB; Corbyn Holinde, sr., TE/LB; Leyton Mooney, sr., OL/DL; Knoxly Nettelingham, sr., OL/DL
Key game: Oct. 2 at Pratt. This will likely be for the district championship, and it’s two programs that always seem to be playing well into November. The winner could also get the added reward of being on the opposite side of the bracket as Andale and/or Cheney.
Outlook: Hoisington experienced another deep November run, falling in the 2A semifinals to Southeast of Saline. Now, Hoisington makes the jump to 3A for the first time since 2017. The non-district schedule will be challenging, as Hoisington plays Central Kansas League opponents, Hillsboro and Hesston, as well as Cheney and Garden Plain. Hoisington has the makeup of a team that will be in contention, with 13 seniors. The Cardinals will have to replace much from the skill positions, but the lines return a lot. Zach Baird hopes his team improves its athleticism, but the size is there. Expectations are always high in Hoisington, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be high again, even with the move to 3A, where fellow western teams Cheney and Andale have won every title since 2019 and will both be strong again.
