Ad Astra Radio will preview area high school football teams based on county. Today, we preview Rice County.
Previous previews are listed below.
Chase Kats
Coach: Carl Nolan, first season (7-37 overall)
Classification: Six player
District: 2
2025: 0-8
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: Runner-up 1986
Top players: Malik Carson, jr. FB/LB; Carlos Rincon, sr., Y/FS;
Key game: Sept. 18 at Palco. Palco is a first-year six-player program that broke away from a co-op with Logan. This will be a good measuring stick for both teams in a district opener.
Outlook: Chase has struggled with numbers and fielding a team the last few years, but a new coach in roundly respected Carl Nolan, and an improved weight program has generated some excitement. Malik Carson is one of the state’s best athletes and could become one of the most exciting players in six-player football. There are some tough games on the slate, but there will be chances for some wins. The squad is young with five freshmen, but this should be an exciting season for the Kats.
Little River Redskins
Coach: Kevin Ayers, eighth season (67-15)
Classification: Eight-player Division 2
District: 6
2025: 9-2
Postseason: Beat Clifton-Clyde 50-18; beat Lyndon 52-20; lost to Sylvan-Lucas 50-44
Best postseason finish: State champions, 1970, 1971, 1981, 1996, 1999, 2020
Top returning players: Jaren Garrison, sr., QB/RB/LB; Blayne Baldetti, sr., TE/DE; Jhet Ewertt, sr. RB/FS; Elijah Stagner, sr., OL; Logan Schubert, sr., WR/DB; Bryson VanEaton, jr., OL/DL; Jake White, so., LB
Key game: Sept. 25 vs. Victoria. Victoria has long been the western power in Eight-man Division 2 football, but Little River has now dropped to Division 2. This matchup should be a doozy. And it may not be the only time these two play this season.
Outlook: Little River games rarely lack for excitement, but it’s the close games that have been a problem for Little River. Four ot Little River’s five losses the last two seasons have been by one score. With eight players graduating from last season, Little River won’t exactly be in rebuild mode, but there are some question marks, particularly in the trenches. Jaren Garrison is one of the more exciting players in eight-man football and should be prime for a big season. Little River’s schedule is not forgiving, with a district that includes Victoria and Sylvan-Lucas, which eliminated Little River in the playoffs last season, to say nothing of a tasty opener at Ell-Saline. If the offensive line can rapidly develop, there’s no reason to think Little River can’t make another deep playoff run.
Lyons Lions
Coach: Wyatt Seidl
Classification: 3A
District: 7
2025: 1-8
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: Quarterfinals 1985, 1995, 1996
Top returning players: Landen Birzer, sr.; Detrell Stanley, sr.; Teagan Link, sr.; Jace Thompson, sr.; Quanick Hamilton, sr.; Ismael Chico, jr.; Logan Ferguson, jr.; Xander Young, jr.
Key game: Oct. 2 vs. Larned. While Hoisington and Pratt will battle for first in this district, the other two playoff spots are up for grabs. A great chance for Lyons to get district play off to a good start.
Outlook: Lyons starts fresh this year with new coach Wyatt Seidl, who has the task of trying to lift up a program that hasn’t experienced a lot of success lately. Lyons hasn’t had a winning season since the 2014 team went 5-4. There are eight seniors who will be leaned upon. The schedule is tough again, but the district also features Larned and Nickerson, programs with a recent run similar to Lyons. The playoffs should be the ambition this season, and it’s not farfetched.
Sterling Black Bears
Coach: Brent Schneider, eighth year (36-33)
Classification: 1A
District 8
2025: 13-0
Postseason: Beat Herington 63-6; beat Marion 53-14; beat Trinity Catholic 44-42; beat Smith Center 14-6; beat Rossville 35-34
Best postseason finish: State champion 1982, 2025
Top returning players: Jace Darnauer, sr., RB/DB; Jacob Lewis, jr., WR/LB; Maddox Link, sr., OL/DL; Zac Wohler, sr., QB/DB; David Myers, jr., RB/LB; Deryn Maxwell, sr., RB/DB; Landon Aguilera, sr., RB/DB; Derek Krone, sr., OL/DL; Cameron Morris, sr., OL/DL; Cody Schweizer, sr., OL/DL; Tucker Haas, sr., TE/DL; Nolan Wellman, jr., RB/LB; Cody Hook, sr., OL/DL.
Key game: Sept. 18 vs. Inman. It feels like Inman comes into this season much like Sterling did last season. Sterling can make a statement that it is still a state-championship caliber team in this one.
Outlook: What a season it was for Sterling. A program that not long ago struggled to have enough players for a JV is the reigning 1A champion and looks strong again. First things first – this year’s team won’t be last year’s. That team was senior-laden and had some of the very best athletes in the state. But the returning group is used to winning. Goodness, look at those last three playoff games – a two-point win over Trinity Catholic, an eight-point win over Smith Center, and a one-point thriller over Rossville for the title. Jace Darnauer is a talented player who showed plenty of ability last season, and Jacob Lewis caught the winning touchdown pass against Rossville. A lot of experience is back on the line as well. It will be a different team, for sure, but don’t think for one minute Sterling can’t contend for another title.
