Ad Astra Radio will preview area high school football teams, based on county. Today, we preview the teams from Pawnee County.
Previous previews are listed below. Click on the county to see those previews.
Larned Indians
Coach: Jason Duvall, first season (9-9 overall)
Classification: 3A
District 7
2025: 0-9
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: Semifinals 1971
Top returning players: Zev Cox, WR/FS; Kolby Lang, WR/SS; Kylier Greent, OL/DL; Javon Topps, OL; Calvin Keith, LB; Zane Larkin, DE; Matheu Wilder, DE
Key game: Oct. 2 at Lyons. Although Pratt and Hoisington are the heavy favorites to win this district, the battle for the other two playoff spots will be just as competitive.
Outlook: This will be a transition season with a new coach and system, but Larned has a good group of seniors with plenty of experience. However, there will be a lot of youth asked to play significant downs this season. There’s no doubt there are some tough games on the schedule, which is always the case in the Central Kansas League, but there will be chances for wins also. Making the playoffs should be the goal for this group.
Pawnee Heights
Coach: Ty Josefiak, first season
Classification: Six man
District: 2
2025: 6-5
Postseason: Beat Triplains/Brewster 83-6; beat Cheylin 51-6; lost to South Barber 45-0.
Best postseason finish: Semifinals 2007
Top returning players: Roberto Cordero, sr., OL/DL; Thomas Boese, jr., OL/DL; Kale Amspacker, jr., RB/DB; Cooper Josefiak, so., WR/DB.
Key game: Oct. 2 at Logan. A new opponent on the schedule with the breakup of Logan-Palco’s co-op, should give the Tigers a good idea of where they stand in this district.
Outlook: Hearts are clearly heavy and will be for a long time in Rozel, as Tiger Rylan Reece died before the season. The Tigers forfeited their first game, and there’s no indication of when or even if they’ll play this season, which is understandable. Should the Tigers play, they’ll have good pieces in place from a team that reached the quarterfinals last season. The line is experienced and deep, and there will be several skill players with promise back or who are new. Should the Tigers play, they’ll have a good chance at a first-round bye and a potential postseason run. But the time will need to be right for the entire team, coaching staff and community.
