Back to Kpreps this fall, our contributors will hand out helmet stickers to a team or individual that delivered the most important performance of the week in their opinion. Check back each week to see the most recent helmet stickers, and follow @Kpreps on Twitter and Facebook to watch as the Kpreps helmet fills up with stickers as the season goes on.
Helmet sticker: Chase County (Matt Gilmore – Kpreps)
Chase County’s 3-1 start to the 2019 season has already eclipsed the Bulldogs’ win total from the 2018 and 2017 seasons – combined. The Bulldogs won their second of a three-game road stretch by beating Burlingame, 38-12, last Friday. It marked just the second regular-season loss for Burlingame since the 2014 season.
After Burlingame returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, Chase County responded with a pair of touchdown runs by junior Trint Rogers. It was the beginning of a huge night for Rogers who used his quickness, patience, and balance to rush for 140 yards and score four total touchdowns.
A Cael Budke touchdown pass in the second quarter extended the Chase County lead to 20-6, then Rogers returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown to put the Bulldogs in firm control.
Rogers added another short touchdown run in the third quarter, and he later ended a pair of Burlingame scoring threats with an interception and a forced fumble from his defensive back position.
For Chase County, the victory put the Bulldogs in prime position to claim their first playoff berth since the 2009 season. When you consider how well Chase County has been playing, the Bulldogs could be looking at competing with the anticipated frontrunners for a District 3 championship.
It’s an incredible story for a program that has finished 1-8 the past two seasons and is in only its second season of eight-man football. We mentioned the nine-year playoff drought, but also consider that Chase County has only posted a record of 23-58 in those nine seasons. This season, Brody Vandegrift’s team looks primed to be a part of the postseason with the only loss to-date coming to top-ranked Canton-Galva, 46-0, back in Week 2.
Helmet sticker: Shawnee Mission Northwest (Matt Gilmore -- Kpreps)
At the season’s midpoint, the Shawnee Mission Northwest Cougars sit alone atop the Class 6A East standings. If the season ended today, the Cougars would be the No. 1 seed on the east side of the bracket. Not two-time state title game participant Blue Valley North, not traditional powers Olathe North or Blue Valley, and not last year’s top seed Gardner-Edgerton.
In his fifth season, Bo Black has steadily improved the program at Northwest. After struggling through 1-8 seasons in his first two years (2015 & 2016), Black has led the Cougars to a 13-10 record over the past two-plus seasons. Last year’s 5-5 mark was the Cougars’ best since 2010. Now, Shawnee Mission Northwest has opened a season with four consecutive wins for the first time since the 2008 season.
The Cougars are unbeaten thanks to an explosive offense that is averaging 47 points per game. Junior quarterback Ty Black, the coach’s son, is among the state’s leading passers with 1,210 yards in just four games. He has plenty of weapons that he can get involved in the offense. Most notably is wideout Ty Lindenman. Lindenman’s exceptional speed and agility can be used catching passes or carrying the ball on a jet sweep. Lindenman has 727 receiving yards through four games.
The SM Northwest defense has been sufficient through the first four weeks, but is surrendering more than 27 points per game as a unit. The Cougars will have to play their most consistent game this Friday as they host fellow unbeaten No. 3 Lawrence.
Helmet sticker: Eureka (Alex Hammeke -- Kpreps)
When an EF3 tornado barreled through Eureka on June 26, 2018, the Eureka Tornadoes football team lost their home venue. Eureka played their entire 2018 schedule on the road, and played their first three games of the 2019 football season also on the road.
Last Friday, Eureka hosted Fredonia for their “Homecoming” game. Not only was it the schools fall homecoming, it was the actual homecoming for Eureka Tornado Football. It was their first game in Eureka in two years. Eureka’s last home game prior to Friday night was on October 20th, 2017 also against Fredonia – a 30-26 Tornado victory.
On Friday, Eureka easily dispatched Fredonia, 42-7, in a weather-shortened contest. While it was a great win to christen their rebuilt stadium, it was also a return to football. A return to some normalcy.
Football is something that we sometimes take for granted. Yes, its seen by some as only a game, but it’s seen as so much more. From the players on the field, to the band playing, and the student section cheering, and the community supporting, it’s one of the ways a community can bond together. Most importantly, the Eureka community can celebrate that high school football is back. Eureka will have the Friday Night Lights every week for the rest of the regular season, in part as a result of their all-road season last year.
Helmet sticker: Wheatland-Grinnell (Conor Nicholl – Kpreps)
Last week, Wheatland-Grinnell improved to 3-1 with a 44-0 home victory against Sharon Springs-Wallace County in its Eight-Man, Division II, District 6 opener. Wheatland-Grinnell has since bumped to 4-1 since Tribune-Greeley County has forfeited this Friday’s contest.
Wheatland-Grinnell has outscored teams, 156-56, with a 52-6 victory at Fairfield, a 32-30 home loss to Logan-Palco, a 28-18 victory versus Northern Valley and last week’s win.
The Thunderhawks have already scored more points than last year when they delivered 104 and allowed 421.
The Fairfield victory snapped an eight-game losing streak. Additionally, Wheatland-Grinnell was 1-10 against Wallace County in the previous 11 matchups, including nine straight losses.
The last win for the Thunderhawks versus the Wildcats was a 58-38 victory on Sept. 9, 2005. In the last four games against the Wildcats, the Thunderhawks had a ’13 forfeit loss and then fell 54-6 in ’14, 46-0 in ’15 and 50-0 last season.
Wheatland-Grinnell has won just five combined games in the previous three seasons and has not posted a winning record since a 5-4 season in 2012. Wheatland-Grinnell has not made the postseason since Wheatland and Grinnell first formed a co-operative agreement for football in 2004.
Coach Jesse Vincent has led a team that has also surpassed many individual numbers from ’18. Sophomore Trey Vincent, named a team captain as a freshman, has completed 47 of 81 passes for 740 yards with 13 scores against three interceptions.
In addition to spot time from freshman Jett Vincent, Wheatland-Grinnell has completed 48 of 83 passes for 765 yards with a 14/3 TD/INT ratio. Last year, the Thunderhawks completed 87 of 169 passes for 995 yards with a 7/12 TD/INT ratio.
Jett Vincent has already picked off eight passes and is tied for the national eight-man lead, according to MaxPreps. Wheatland-Grinnell has forced 10 turnovers and blocked three punts. Last year, the Thunderhawks picked off just two passes, had 11 turnovers and blocked zero punts.
As well, the Thunderhawks have 110 carries for 501 yards with four touchdowns. Sophomore Isaac Mendez has 52 carries for 238 yards and two scores, and sophomore Tyrell Chapin has delivered 36 attempts and 212 yards and two touchdowns. All of the receptions are from non-seniors.
Sophomore Ryan Heier has 11 catches for 208 yards and five touchdowns, and Mendez has caught a team-high 14 passes.
Mendez and Chapin had a massive change from ’18 when they had 34 and 13 total offensive yards, respectively.
Junior Trevor Zarybnicky has led the defense with 45 tackles with four tackles for loss. Zarybnicky delivered 99 stops to lead the team in ’18. Jett Vincent has delivered 33 stops, while Chapin has six sacks. Junior Johnny Phillips – who didn’t play in ’18 - has a fumble recovery and a kick return for a touchdown.
ACA Sportsmanship Award (Week 3): Hunter Engle of Madison & Nate Burdette of Maranatha Christian Academy
Kpreps is excited to announce a new award for the 2019 season – the weekly Sportsmanship Award. We have teamed up with 'A Class Athlete' (ACA) to recognize those individuals or groups that demonstrate sportsmanship and high character during the heat of action. This award is open to students or student-athletes who goes above and beyond to demonstrate an act of kindness or sportsmanship.
We are pleased to announce that this week’s winners are Madison’s Hunter Engle and Maranatha Christian Academy’s Nate Burdette.
After an incredible back-and-forth battle between two of eight-man football’s top teams, Hunter and Nate met at midfield and shared a moment of prayer and mutual admiration. A photo capturing their embrace and moment of prayer has been well-circulated across various social media platforms since Friday’s game.
On the field both continue to be instrumental in their team’s success. Engle scored seven touchdowns in the game in the Bulldogs’ 68-58 win. Meanwhile, Burdette was also exceptional in passing for 434 yards and seven touchdowns.
Each week during the season, we will choose an individual or group as recipient of this award. Winners will receive the Sportsmanship Excellence Award Certificate, and the unique ACA helmet sticker as part of our Kpreps Helmet Stickers feature. At the end of the season, we will choose one overall winner, for the annual Kpreps-ACA Sportsmanship Award.
Please help us by emailing your nomination stories, pictures, or videos to matt@kpreps.com and ACA@kpreps.com. You can also send to Kpreps via social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc). Please include the name of the person(s) involved and a description of the act or event that you are nominating. Nominations for the award will be accepted through Tuesday of each week, with the winners announced thereafter. We will list the weekly winners here, at kpreps.com, and also on aclassathlete.com. The overall winner will be announced after the State Championship games.
ABOUT A Class Athlete:
A Class Athlete was started in 2016 to encourage young athletes in all sports, to play hard, play to win, but also to play with class and dignity. Originally targeting youth sports, ACA quickly expanded to include middle school and high school sports, and beyond (coaches, cheerleaders, fans – everyone!). In recent years, participation in youth sports has continued to decline, and the #1 reason according to the kids: 'It's not fun anymore.' ACA is determined to bring the fun and the kids back!
Participating in sports is very beneficial in many areas. It helps build confidence and self-esteem, teaches respect, teamwork, and leadership skills, and improves communication and cooperation – all qualities needed to be successful in life. It is said that participation in sports reveals a persons’ character. But ACA believes, when sportsmanship is emphasized, it is a very important aspect in building a young person's character and integrity.
For more information, please visit www.aclassathlete.com.
Helmet Stickers (2019 Season)
Week 1 – Great Bend, Hutchinson Central Christian, KC Harmon, Larned, Ottawa
Week 2 – Blue Valley Northwest, Cheney, Deerfield, La Crosse, Northeast-Arma, Shawnee Mission West
Week 3 – Belle Plaine, Clearwater, Lawrence, South Barber
Week 3 – Chase County, Eureka, Shawnee Mission Northwest, Wheatland-Grinnell
A Class Athlete Sportsmanship Award (2019 Season)
Week 1 – Landon O’Hare, Lincoln High School
Week 2 – Plainville High School & Student Council
Week 3 – Kayden Christiansen, Lakin High School
Week 4 – Hunter Engle of Madison and Nate Burdette of Maranatha Christian Academy
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