Ad Astra Radio will preview area high school football teams, based on county. Today, we preview the teams from western Sedgwick County.
Previous previews are listed below. Click on the county to see those previews.
Western Sedgwick County high school football preview
Andale Indians
Coach: Dylan Schmidt, 10th season (110-4, 113-10 overall)
Classification: 3A
District: 6
2025: 13-0
Postseason: Beat Chapman 69-0; beat Clay Center 51-6; beat Pratt 57-7; beat Rock Creek 41-7; beat Topeka Hayden 38-6
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, 2025.
Top returning players: Afton Allaire, sr. QB/LB; Jrayton Dansel, sr., RB/LB; Brody Winter, sr., OL/DL; Parker Lies, jr., TE/LB; Cruz Kaiser, jr., RB/DB; Noah Stanley, jr., RB/DL.
Key game: Oct. 3 at Cheney. Class 3A District 6 is the toughest district in Kansas, and Cheney returns quite a bit of experience. Plus, you have to figure there’s a real chance this won’t be the only time these two will play this season.
Outlook: Andale is in the midst of one of the greatest dynasties the state has ever seen, and is on the brink of being discussed as the greatest football dynasty Kansas has ever had. But going into this season, there are genuine question marks surrounding the Indians. They have just three starters back on both sides of the ball, and only one starter returns on the offensive line – the anchor of this run of six titles in seven years. But to think Andale will be “down” this year is foolish. Last year’s reserves were practicing daily against one of the state’s top teams, and just because they were reserves doesn’t mean they don’t have talent. What Schmidt has built isn’t just a team. It’s a program. The junior varsity and freshman teams win at a similar pace as the varsity. Yes, you may not recognize the names going into the season, unlike many years before, and this year’s team may not be up 50 points at halftime as much, but write the Indians off at your own peril.
Cheney Cardinals
Coach: Shelby Wehrmann, 10th season (76-24)
Classification: 3A
District 6
2025: 7-4
Postseason: beat Concordia 36-10; beat Holcomb 23-20, OT; lost to Rock Creek 14-7
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2023.
Top returning players: Ayden Koeh, sr., OL/DE; Maddox Ayres, sr., WR/LB; Casen Fowler, sr., QB/DB; Landon Meng, sr., WR/DB; Gus Morehead, sr., WR/DB; Colton Young, sr., RB/LB; Carstyn Flores, sr., K; Rylan Leis, jr., OL/DL; Calan Murray, jr., OL/DL; Issac Dietz, jr., OL/Dl; Sam Johnson, jr., WR/DB
Key game: Oct. 2 vs. Andale. These two programs often have one eye on each other throughout the season, and with so much experience back, the Cardinals should feel like they have a good shot here.
Outlook: Cheney slowly improved against a rugged schedule last season, and just missed out on a semifinal berth. Much returns from last year, including four on the offensive line. The skill players are almost all back, and most of them were more known on defense. Ayden Koehn, who is getting FCS and MIAA looks for college, is a beast on both sides of the ball and should be a menace to opponents this season. Colton Young is a talented running back and is the kind of player who feels like he can score every time he touches the ball. One of the more underrated returners is Carstyn Flores, who boomed a 41-yard field goal last season. There are some concerns, including depth and leadership, but this should be another strong year for Cheney. How strong? Well, let’s say it wouldn’t be surprising to see a November matchup with Andale again.
Garden Plain Owls
Coach: Todd Rice, fourth season (113-73 overall)
Classification: 2A
District: 5
2024: 8-3
Postseason: Beat Douglass 48-0; beat Phillipsburg 28-0; lost to Beloit 19-0
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2007
Top returning players: Emrick Hays, sr., RB/LB; Pete McGregor, sr., RB/DB; Cooper Baker, sr., WR/LB; Sebastian Beying, sr., RB/DB; Eli Eck, sr., QB/DB; Kyle Koester, sr., OL/DL; Gabe Stuhlsatz, sr., OL/DL; Tucker Tomson, sr. OL/DL; Jack Helten, jr., RB/LB; Todd Hillman, jr., OL/DL; Hunter Kampling, jr., WR/LB; Matthew Mans, jr., RB/DB; Carter Tasset, jr., OL/DL; Carter Baker, so., WR/DL; Braylen Dold, so. RB/DB; Jared Flax, so., WR/DL; Easton Pauly, so., OL/DL; Brock Randolph, so., OL/DL; Wyatt Stuhlsatz, so., RB/LB
Key game: Sept. 12 at Conway Springs. Credit to Garden Plain. These non-district games are brutal, and the Owls’ trip to take on the reigning 1A champion will be a great early test.
Outlook: Garden Plain has made rapid strides under Rice, and last year the Owls reached the state quarterfinals. With 20 lettermen back, Garden Plain has high expectations again. The flexbone system is set, and the seniors have run it all throughout high school. Garden Plain did graduate a good senior class, and there is a lot of youth that is expected to play significant downs, but the Owls have a top running back in Emrick Hays and a top linebacker in Pete McGregor. As already mentioned, the non-district schedule is brutal, but that should give Garden Plain a leg up come district play. The Owls will be as tested as anyone in the district.
