SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS WEEK 1 PICK SIX
BISHOP CARROLL AT WICHITA NORTHWEST
The two dominant powers in the Greater Wichita Athletic League, Northwest and Carroll have squared off in the season opener every year since 2014 with the exception of the COVID-altered 2020 season. And since Steve Martin took over at Northwest in 2012, the rivalry has been pretty evenly split with Carroll owning a 6-4 edge during the regular season though Northwest is 3-0 against Carroll in the playoffs. Carroll has two straight wins in the series with the Golden Eagles storming back from almost-certain defeat a year ago to take a 53-41 win. Carroll trailed 31-9 early in the third quarter, but got two scores in two minutes to spark a rousing comeback. Carroll scored 44 second-half points, marking the second straight year the Golden Eagles rode a big second half for the comeback win, though it was the defense forcing four second-half turnovers that keyed Carroll’s 37-27 win in 2021. Both teams open the 2023 season ranked No. 2 in their respective class – Northwest in 6A; Carroll in 5A – and both have playmakers at quarterback. Northwest’s Jayce Glasper threw for 1,646 yards and 18 touchdowns last year and also ran for 668 yards and 9 TDs, while Carroll’s Jackson King threw for 1,280 yards and 7 TDs and ran for 948 yards and 15 TDs.
CHENEY AT KINGMAN
A 28-14 win over Cheney in last year’s season opener set the tone for the best season in Kingman’s history as the Eagles rode the momentum to a 12-1 season and a runner-up finish in Class 2A. The state championship-game appearance was the first for Kingman in 50 years with the Eagles finishing runner-up in 3A in 1972 to Kapaun Mt. Carmel. The 14 points Kingman allowed in the contest were the most it gave up until a double-overtime win over Southeast of Saline in the state semifinals as the Eagle defense wreaked havoc on opposing offense and allowed the fewest points in 2A last year (115). Despite losing All-3A linebacker and leading tackler Ty Birkenbaugh, that unit should be stout again for the Eagles, who return seven starters. The secondary will be tested right out of the gate by a Cheney team that won eight of its next nine after last year’s loss to Kingman, the lone defeat at the hands of 3A state champion Andale. The Cardinals went 8-3 overall, falling in the state quarterfinals to Clay Center but return one of 3A’s top pass-catch combos in junior quarterback Josh Burdick and senior receiver Jackson Voth. Voth was a first-team All-3A pick at receiver after having 83 catches for 1,044 yards and 12 touchdowns. Burdick stepped in as a sophomore starter at QB and threw for 2,226 yards and 23 TDs. Cheney is ranked No. 3 in the KSHSAA Covered preseason 3A rankings and Kingman is No. 3 in the 2A poll.
CONWAY SPRINGS AT GARDEN PLAIN
Of all the rivalries in the Central Plains League, Conway-Garden Plain tops the rest when it comes to not only being competitive, but competitive at the highest level. Since 2008, they’ve met 18 times with with Conway holding a slim 10-8 advantage. On three occasions during that span, they met not only in the regular season but in the playoffs as well and twice – 2011 and 2008 – Conway Springs avenged a regular-season loss to the Owls to win in the postseason on the way to capturing a state championship. Garden Plain has won the last four meetings with three of the four decided by a touchdown or less. Last year, the Owls won 6-0, handing Conway Springs the first of three straight losses to start the season. The Cardinals rebounded from that rough start, however, and won seven straight to reach the Class 1A semifinals before losing to Inman. Conway returns arguably the top two-way player in 1A in senior running back-linebacker Brayden Kunz, who ran for 2,154 yards and 26 TDs last year and also was the Cardinals’ leading tackler. He’s one of seven starters back on offense and one of nine on defense as the Cardinals hold title hopes again this season. Garden Plain never found a real groove after beating Conway in the opener last year, alternating wins and losses the rest of the way before finishing 4-5 – a rare losing season for the program. The Owls struggled at times on offense last year, scoring 13 points or less in six of nine games. The Owls return seven starters on offense and nine on defense, including leading tackler Aden Stuhlsatz and two-way linemen Kaeden Kasselman, Jaxen Bolinger and Hank Lilly.
INMAN AT MARION
Inman has played in two straight Class 1A state championship games, finishing runner-up to Olpe in 2021 and to St. Marys last year, seeing the Bears put together a 99-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes for a 44-41 victory. Even though seven starters return on defense and five are back on offense, the holes the Teutons need to fill are glaring. Graduation claimed leading receivers Harrison and Eli Brunk, both of whom were first-team All-Class 1A picks – Harrison at receiver and Eli at linebacker where he had 118 tackles – as well as All-1A lineman Dominic Nuese-Rasmussen and defensive back Josiah Buller, who also filled in at quarterback for the bulk of last season. If that wasn’t enough, two-time All-1A pick Tanner Heckel – Inman’s leading passer and rusher – transferred to Lyndon over the summer. The Teutons do return their top-two tacklers from a year ago in Zachary Martisko and Kellen Schrag, with Schrag also the leading returning rusher. A healthy season from lineman Dawson McConnell also will be big as he missed all but the postseason a year ago. Inman handled Marion 46-12 last year, but the Warriors are one of several Heart of America rivals ready to challenge Inman for the league title and more. Marion returns seven starters each way from a 6-4 team, led by the backfield duo of quarterback Jack Lanning and tailback Trevor Schafers. The duo combined for nearly 2,000 rushing yards last year and also form a formidable duo at linebacker. The opener will tell plenty about both teams’ position in 1A this season.
SEDGWICK AT HUTCHINSON TRINITY
The depth of the Heart of America League might be the best it’s ever been with at least five teams capable of capturing a league title that Inman has had a recent stranglehold on on its way to two straight 1A championship games. Prior to Inman’s run, it was Sedgwick that had the league locked down and the Cardinals would love to return to the pinnacle. They were just 5-5 a year ago, starting the season with three straight defeats, including a 24-18 loss to Hutchinson Trinity in last year’s opener. Sedgwick was breaking in sophomore Corey Crumrine at quarterback in that game and as the season went on, Crumrine found his groove, eventually throwing for 2,316 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s one of eight returning starters on offense and Sedgwick’s defense is led by senior and leading returning tackler Koen Werner at linebacker. Trinity used the win over Sedgwick to start the season 4-0 before a loss to Inman in Week 5. The Celtics finished 6-3 overall, upset by Plainville in overtime in the playoff opener. Seven starters return each way for Trinity, including senior quarterback Eric Armour, who threw for 1,082 yards and 11 touchdowns and ran for 605 yards and 4 TDs. A victory in this year’s opener could serve as a huge momentum boost for the winner as it tries to dethrone Inman in both the league and western half of 1A.
ASHLAND AT CUNNINGHAM
Ashland and Cunningham not only opened the 2022 season against each other, but also finished it that way as well, squaring off in the inaugural Six-Player State Championship game sanctioned by KSHSAA. The first meeting was a dandy with Cunningham pulling out a 38-30 victory, the Wildcats’ closest game on their way to a 12-0 season and first state title in program history. The game was as even as it could get with Cunningham barely out-gaining Ashland 380-352. Luke McGuire threw for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns and also ran for 87 yards, offsetting a balanced Ashland attack. In their rematch in the title game, Cunningham broke free from a 14-8 halftime lead to overwhelm Ashland in the second half on its way to a 38-16 victory. Will Wegerer caught two TD passes and Jack Ruckle ran for two scores to key the victory. Both are back for Cunningham, as is McGuire and second-leading receiver Luke Albers as the Wildcats look to back up their title despite losing All-Six-Player picks Trey DeWeese and Lane Halderson. Ashland, meanwhile, returns all but one player, lineman Nathan Lynn, from last year’s title team. The backfield trio of Landen McPhail, Kale Harris and Britt Grigsby combined for nearly 1,500 yards passing, nearly 2,500 yards rushing and more than 1,000 yards receiving with all three earning first-team All-Six-Player honors. The two teams very well could be on a collision course to play for the title this year, starting the year ranked 1-2 in the KSHSAA Covered Six-Player poll.