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Andover Central third-year head coach Derek Tuttle has spent more than 20 years with the program. The Jaguars have an experienced staff, several who were part of state runner-up showings in ’15 and ’19, both to Bishop Miege.
Andover Central returned an experienced squad from a 7-2 season that yielded a pair of close losses. The Jaguars entered the year ranked third in Class 4A, their highest preseason ranking in recent history.
For the first time in Tuttle’s tenure, Andover Central has listed areas for improvement on the front page of its weekly scouting report.
As well, the seniors have dedicated their season to Dean Taylor, the defensive backs coach since 2007. Taylor is not actively coaching this fall because of chemo treatments from colon cancer. This week, coach Taylor is also listed on the first page of the scouting.
Andover Central has an experienced, senior-laden group that has looked to continually improve. The team has already set multiple school records and is very close to several others. The Jaguars have been ranked No. 1 in 4A multiple weeks.
On Saturday, Andover Central (11-1) will play defending champion St. James Academy (8-4) in the 4A state championship game at Topeka’s Hummer Sports Park. Kickoff is set for 1:00.
“Kind of a relentless mentality that a lot of our kids have taken to approaching each week this season and especially as we get into the postseason,” Tuttle said. “They really raised their expectations of what I think they can do, and what they can do on the field and how they can perform, and they have brought a great deal of energy and high level of execution and improved a lot the last several weeks. That’s been our big key, and that’s something we have really stressed this year as coaches as well for them.”
St. James Academy is trying to become the first team in state history to open the season 0-4 and win a state title, per Kansas historian Brett Marshall. However, the Thunder’s losses came in the 5A/6A Eastern Kansas League, the state’s toughest conference. The Thunder have played a significantly harder schedule than Andover Central – and a large portion of 4A, according to Prep Power Index. Last season, St. James went 8-4, the lowest winning percentage by a state title team in Kansas annals.
“What has gotten this team to the state championship game is our balance and depth,” coach Tom Radke said. “We don’t have anyone going both ways and when we go best on best in practice it is like watching a game on Friday night. These boys compete, hard, all the time. When you play in the EKL you need to bring it every single play. Because of the way we practice, when we get to Friday night we are ready to take on anyone.”
Senior Tyler Claiborne is the team leader with 78 catches for 987 yards and 13 scores. Junior John Niesen has 60 catches for 1,222 yards and eight scores.
“He is the glue to this offense,” Radke said. “He has pushed everyone on this team to be better versions of themselves and especially football players. Junior John Niesen has had a tremendous season with great numbers and is a great athlete, but Ty is the one who has shaped his work ethic and raised his standard for excellence.”
Junior quarterback Jackson House has emerged as a standout in his first season as a starter with 2,607 passing, 737 rushing and 23 passing scores. House’s dad, Matt, the Kansas City Chiefs’ linebacker coach. Senior offensive lineman Josh Bichelmeyer (6-foot-3, 263) is a first team all-conference performer and three-year starter at tackle. Running back Tiave Watts has been the team’s biggest surprise.
“Every day Jackson brings energy to the offense and is extremely accurate,” Radke said. “He is a tenacious worker and is always striving for perfection. The offensive line has been huge for us all year.”
A team captain, Bichelmeyer has 11 pancake blocks, leads the offensive line and serves as a team captain. Junior center Will Golomski (6-3, 241) and sophomore Spencer Schuetz (6-2, 272) have played well. Junior Wade Spencer has 21 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks, both school marks. Senior inside linebacker Aidan Janatello switched from strong safety to inside linebacker and transformed the defense with 103 tackles. Senior free safety Holden Artzer has 54 tackles, 12 passes defended and six interceptions and earned first team all-league.
After last season, one of Tuttle’s reflections after talking to the coaching staff and looking back on a year that featured two losses by a combined seven points, came in the scouting report change.
“In the past, we have always kind of led the scouting report with our defensive side, which would be scouting the opponents’ offense,” Tuttle said. “We try to put a high priority on our defense, and always wanted the kids to see that first.”
For Andover Central, sometimes the improvements have stayed the same and remained on the front page of the scouting report the next week. Andover Central usually adds a few new improvement notes each week.
The Jaguars opened the season with a four-point win versus Newton and a 21-19 victory against Buhler. In the last two weeks, Andover Central blitzed Wamego, 48-0, and beat Buhler, 42-21, in the rematch. Wamego had its top scoring offense in at least 36 years.
“Some of it is getting in the right position, alignment and assignment is always key defensively,” Tuttle said. “And we have gotten better at that. Sometimes early in the season we weren’t always making the right fits or making the right adjustments or taking the right angles to the ball.”
Eighty-five percent of its rushing yards come from seniors, including 1,143 from Ashton Barkdull, a state pole vault champion and program record holder for single season yards per carry.
Senior quarterback Kai Kunz, a first-year transfer from Kapaun Mt. Carmel, has completed 66 percent of his passes for 1,865 yards with 18 scores against four interceptions. The 6-foot-3 Kunz has a 116 quarterback rating; he could break the school mark for passing efficiency. Andover Central has committed just eight total turnovers this fall. The Jaguars have 5.9 yards per carry, their best in more than 11 seasons, and 6.96 yards per play, tops in six seasons.
Junior Cooper Tabor has 55 catches for 821 yards and eight scores. Fifty-five percent of the team’s receptions come from seniors. Andover Central is well-known for its line play and defense. The Jags have already set a program mark with three shutouts. They have allowed 11.1 points a game, which is just above the team record for scoring defense and ranks second in 4A.
The group features seniors Nate Peak, Isaac Sheeran and Drew Daniels, who holds MIAA offers. The trio has combined for 143 tackles, 23 for loss. Andover Central has forced 28 turnovers, including 16 interceptions (1.33 per game). Senior Dillon Savage has posted a huge year with 93 stops, 13 for loss and four INTs.
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