Ad Astra Radio will preview area high school football teams, based on county. Today, we preview the teams from Harvey County.
Previous previews are listed below. Click on the county to see those previews.
Halstead Dragons
Coach: Derek Racette, fifth season (12-24)
Classification: 2A
District: 7
2025: 2-7
Postseason: Lost to Hoisington 74-24
Best postseason finish: Semifinals, 1972, 1979, 1980, 2014, 2015
Key game: Oct. 9 vs. Douglass. The vibes are good coming out of Douglass. In a rugged district that includes Garden Plain and Haven, this showdown is vital to both teams in their hopes to make the playoffs.
Top returning players: Reece Carmichael, sr., FB/LB; Edirc Zorn, jr., RB/LB; Damien Willock, jr., QB; Cruise Davison, jr., OL/DL; Hudson Harrington, sr., OL/DL; Noah Brantley, sr., TE/OL/DL; Cooper Hobbs, jr., OL; Greyson Swift, sr., OL/LB; Jacob Bennett, jr., DB/LB; Wyatt Hobbs, jr., DB.
Outlook: While last season’s record wasn’t great, the Dragons played everyone other than the Seattle Seahawks. It was a brutal schedule for a young team. Many of those players are back, including Whillock, who threw for more than 1,100 yards. Edric Zorn is a threat out of the backfield or in a vertical passing game, while Reece Carmichael is poised for a big season. The offensive line is experienced, as is the defensive line. Halstead doesn’t have much size but the Dragons should be able to counter that with athleticism. The schedule is still tough, but not quite so. The district is balanced, and just making the playoffs will bode well because one good team will be left out. Halstead will be better this year, and there will be several swing games. If Halstead can win some of those, they could turn some heads.
Hesston Swathers
Coach: Tyson Bauerle, 10th season (54-35, 64-44 overall)
Classification: 3A
District: 5
2025: 6-4
Postseason: Beat Wichita Trinity 35-0; lost to Rock Creek 14-7
Best postseason finish: State champions, 1992
Top returning players: Gunner Goalden, sr., OL/DL; Levi Flaming, sr., OL/DL; River Bartel, sr., OL; Jerick Humphreys, sr., QB; Kason Landes, sr., FB; Drew Barlell; sr., TE/DL; Gavin Larson, sr., WR/DB; Josh Duerksen, sr., FB/LB; Eli Haug, sr., WR/DB; Max Phillips, sr., WR/DB/LR; Tim Rhodes, sr., RB/LB/P
Key game: Sept. 18 at Pratt. Hesston has a pretty impressive non-conference schedule, including home games with Hoisington and Wamego. But this one is right before district play, and should be a great indication or how far Hesston could go this season.
Outlook: Hesston did well against a brutal schedule and was on the brink of a quarterfinal appearance. The Swathers return a good chunk of that team, including 15 seniors, all of whom saw significant action in all three phases. Gunner Goalden is a four-year starter and a great anchor on the line. Jerick Humphreys enters his third year at QB, and the Swathers are averaging more than 34 points a game in games he starts. Humphreys has some good targets too, including Gavin Larson and Eli Haug, who combined for 25 catches last season. Drew Bartell improved rapidly at tight end last season. Defensively, the Swathers have a deep and talented backfieldm, including Larson, Haug and Max Phillips. If Hesston can cut down penalties and get off the field after third down, improvement should be rapid. The district is favorable, but Clay Center will be formidable. If Hesston can win the district, the Swathers could be set for a strong postseason.
Sedgwick Cardinals
Coach: Doug Mabry, second season (7-3 in 2016)
Classification: 1A
District: 7
2025: 2-7
Postseason results: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: Semifinals, 2021
Top returning players: Michael Peterson, sr., OL/DL; Landon Barrientos, jr., OL/DL; Skyler Weber, jr., WR; Henry Morse, sr., WR/LB; Max Lynch, jr., WR/DB; Julien Grundy, jr., DL.
Key game: Oct. 9 at Bluestem. This district has just four teams, so all teams will make playoffs, but this is the district opener. The winner here will have the inroad to a top-two finish, which will guarantee a first-round game.
Outlook: Doug Mabry knows Sedgwick well and has been in charge before, so this isn’t new territory for him. Graduation and some transfers have hit the roster, as the overall numbers will be lower than usual this year, but the foundation is set with a good number of returners on both sides of the line, including Michael Petertson, Landon Barrientos and Julien Grundy. Other top returning lettermen who didn’t start also have a lot of line experience. Of the four teams in the district, Sedgwick should be the most prepared based on the non-district schedule, which includes reigning 1A champion Sterling, an Inman team that returns almost everyone, and a good Moundridge team, plus a rising program in Remington, and 3A Nickerson. If Sedgwick can get to district play in one piece, the Cardinals will have a good chance at competing for the championship.
Newton Railroaders
Coach: Taylor Counts, third season, 0-9 (0-18)
Classification: 5A
District: West
2025: 0-9
Postseason results: Lost to Great Bend 49-14.
Top returning players: Kane Wise, sr., RB/DB; Clyde Thomas, sr., WR/DB; Christian Henderson, sr., TE/DE; Cason Horton, sr., DE; Kingston Henry, sr., RB; Orlando Gonzalez, sr., OL/DE; Emerson Gering, sr., K/DB; Adam Oswald, sr., K/P; Jaxson Hiebert, jr., LB; Caden Unruh, jr., DB; Henry Sample, jr., OL; Maverick Lies, jr., DL; Landyn Rains, jr., WR/DB
Key game: Sept. 4 vs. Valley Center. Newton was much improved last year, despite going winless again. With so much back, excitement will be high for the season opener. If Newton can open the season with a win, it could open the door for a breakthrough season.
Outlook: The numbers don’t lie. Yes, Newton was 0-9 last season, but the Railers were far better last year. For example, in 2024, Newton scored 13 points or more twice. Last season, Newton scored at least 13 points seven times. With 14 starters back, Newton is primed to surprise some people. Christian Henderson, Clyde Thomas and Landyn Rains combined for 841 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, while Henderson, Cason Horton and Jaxson Hiebert combined for 111 tackles. There are some good players here with a lot of varsity experience. The schedule isn’t easy, as Newton will have to play 2024 4A champion Andover Central and 2025 5A champion Salina Central, plus 6A power Maize, but the time is now for the Railers to show that improvement with wins.
