For the ninth straight year, Kpreps presents its annual Potential Breakout Team list. Overall, 73 teams have been a part of this list from ’14-21. Of that group, 59 (81 percent) have improved, eight have stayed the same and six have a worse record.
Last year’s teams included six-man champion Natoma (3-2 to 9-0), semifinalists Thunder Ridge (5-4 to 11-1); Hill City (4-4 to 10-2); and Kingman (6-3 to 10-2) and three state runners-up: Frontenac, Beloit and Andover Central, all which improved by four wins.
Overall, the 20 teams went from 92-84 (52.3 percent) in 2020 to 151-62 (70.8 percent) last season. From ’19 to ’20, the difference was 44 percent to 66 percent.
Here’s this team’s list with 2021 record in parentheses:
Six-Man: Cheylin (3-5), Peabody-Burns (4-4)
This marks the first time six-man football is KSHSAA sanctioned. Both teams are expected to be among state contenders. Peabody-Burns was among those that dropped from Eight-Man, Division II. The Warriors finished No. 23 out of 51 Division II teams in scoring offense with 33.3 points a contest. In the last several years, coaching staffs have needed at least a year of adjusting to the six-man game.
However, Peabody-Burns head coach Kody Tegtmeier has six-man experience as a Cheylin assistant, which should make the transition easier. The schedule is also manageable with zero preseason top-5 teams on the regular season slate. The Warriors will primarily face new six-man teams, too. Peabody-Burns has good size with four returning starters at least 230 pounds. Senior Colton Gossen returns after 58 tackles.
Cheylin was the state runner-up in ’19 and undefeated state champion in ’20. Last season, the Cougars dropped to 3-5 against a highly challenging schedule. Cheylin still finished No. 4 out of 14 six-man teams in scoring defense with 28.9 points allowed a contest. The defense is even better when strength of schedule is factored. Cheylin’s opponents scored 45.1 points a game when not playing Cheylin.
The Cougars have zero seniors, one freshman and nine to 10 sophomores and juniors. The junior duo of quarterback Logan McCarty and WR/DB Pablo Bermudez shined on the state title team. Bermudez has 12 career INTs. McCarty accounted for 35 offensive TDs last year. In ’21, Cheylin played just three home games.
Three of Cheylin’s losses came by 10, four and eight points. The Cougars went 0-4 against the top-four six-man teams. Cheylin still plays No. 2 Ashland in Week 3 and No. 4 Northern Valley in Week 4, but the regular season should be more manageable for veteran coaches Chris Walden and Mike McCarty.
Eight-Man, Division II: Kinsley (5-4), Marmaton Valley (4-5), Norwich (5-3)
Coach Corey Dunlap has turned around a Kinsley program that had back-to-back winless seasons in ’16-17. The Coyotes have delivered two straight 5-4 years. Kinsley has not won more than five games in a season since the ‘90s. Kinsley drops down to Division II this year after it finished No. 13 in Division I in scoring defense with 27.4 points a game. The Coyotes have one senior, Dawson Sexton, known for his leadership.
Kinsley had a highly experienced junior class, including quarterback Peyton Schmidt, all-purpose player Dylan Haselhorst, linemen Kaden Arensman and Efrain Holguin and receivers Cason Lemuz and Conner Chamberlain. Haselhorst was a first team all-league defensive player. Dunlap noted to Kpreps that Holguin has significantly changed his body in the offseason. Dunlap is looking for better linebacker play in ’22. Schmidt is expected to improve after 46 of 109 passing for 802 yards with 19 scores against seven interceptions. This could be the best Kinsley team in decades.
Kinsley has dealt with adversity as Haselhorst elected to transfer late to Hays High and will not play football this year. Kinsley also has some injuries at key positions, and those players are expected to miss the marquee Week 1 road game at Victoria.
Marmaton Valley had several wild games last season in Division I, including a 106-98 win versus Oswego, the highest scoring eight-man game in state history. Coach Max Mickunas, an Atwood-Rawlins County graduate, has quickly raised a program that had to forfeit its last three games in 2020. The Wildcats also drop down to Division II this cycle. Sophomore Jaedon Granere placed at state track in the spring. He delivered 21 total scores off 67 offensive touches as a freshman. Brayden Lawson takes over at quarterback. The defense should take a big improvement behind Dylan Drake (37 tackles), Brayden Lawson (38) and Bryce Ensminger (three sacks). Iola transfer Dre Ellis, a running back/linebacker, won’t be eligible until Week 3, though should significantly contribute.
Norwich was on this list last season and enjoyed a one-win improvement under veteran coach Mike Wilmott. However, the season had two cancellations (both games where Norwich would likely been the favorite) because of COVID issues. Norwich went 1-2 in one-score games. The Eagles finished No. 13 in Division II with 22 points allowed a contest. Senior Jace Gosch is a dynamic multi-sport athlete at 6-foot-5 and should again significantly contribute in all three phases. Norwich has not won more than six games in a season since ’06.
Eight-Man, Division I: Leoti-Wichita County (6-3), Macksville (5-5)
Leoti-Wichita County was a state semifinalist and state runner-up in ’19 and ’20. Last year, the Indians took huge graduation losses and still finished 6-3. Brant Douglas has been head coach the last four years. In that span, Wichita County leads eight-man in scoring offense. The Indians paced Division I with 55.8 points a contest. Senior quarterback Ehrik Hermosillo returns after he passed for 1,771 yards with 24 scores against nine interceptions. He rushed for 1,450 yards and 25 TDs. Senior Cornell Brown paced the Indians with 76 stops. Douglas is high on sophomore Khris Hermosillo, who is expected to start on both sides. Khris finished with 15 TFLs as a freshman. Wichita County is preseason No. 2 and expected to have a sizable climb.
Macksville returns every player that completed and caught a pass and rushed for positive yards. Senior quarterback Ryan Kuckelman, a state track champion, leads the way after he accounted for 31 offensive scores. Kuckelman passed for 614 yards and rushed for 1,464 yards. The Mustangs finished as the No. 23 offense with 38.6 points a contest. Macksville opened 0-3, though went 5-2 down the stretch.
1A: St. Marys (5-4), St. Mary’s Colgan (4-5), Marion (5-4)
Class 1A has a bevy of new teams that dropped down from 2A. St. Marys, St. Mary’s Colgan and Marion were part of this group. St. Marys is preseason No. 1, and Colgan is preseason No. 5. St. Marys has dropped its scoring defense from 40.4 to 31.3 to 19.1 points a game the last three years under coach Kyle Schenk. The Bears feature quarterback Keller Hurla with collegiate football and basketball offers. Abe Huaracha is a returning first team all-league defensive player. Colgan returns nine of its top-12 tacklers from a season ago, including Cooper Simmons. Colgan allowed 22.7 points a game in 2A, still in the top half of the classification.
Marion struggled with high-octane 2A offenses in losses with Kingman, Hillsboro and Chaparral, teams that combined for 151 points versus the Warriors. None of those are on the schedule this year. Marion is highly experienced, including 12 rushing scores from Trevor Schafers, along with 586 passing yards and eight sacks from Jack Lanning. Marion should improve its passing efficiency from a unit that completed 45 percent passing and 6.8 yards per play.
2A: Council Grove (1-8), Sabetha (4-5), Russell (4-5), Norton (4-5)
Council Grove and Sabetha dropped down from 3A. Sabetha was the No. 9 scoring defense in 3A with 15.6 points allowed a contest. The Bluejays went 0-2 in one-score games and 0-3 in games decided by 14 points or fewer. That should improve this season under longtime coach Garrett Michael. That marked Sabetha’s first losing season since ’13. Sabetha is highly veteran-laden after it played significant sophomores and juniors last year. Senior Josh Herrmann rushed for 871 yards and 13 scores. Junior Josh Grimm is 6-4, 310 and part of a big line.
Council Grove has won seven games in four years and five games in the last three. Veteran coach Butch Hayes led Ellis to the best seasons in Railer history more than 10 years ago. He looks to turn around the Braves program.
On paper, the schedule is more manageable for Council Grove after tough losses against Concordia, Marysville, Riley County and Chapman. None of those squads are on the schedule this year. Council Grove returns basically everyone. Hayes said he’s never coached a freshman like quarterback Ace Monihen, known for his big arm and poise. Monihen should markedly improve from his 10/16 TD/INT ratio. Senior Ethan Burton is a speedster who has committed to FCS Central Arkansas. He will get the ball in a variety of ways after 24 catches for 580 yards and six scores. Senior Jaxon Buchman (6-3, 265) has earned team awards the last two years.
Christien Ozores coordinated Russell’s defense last season to 24.9 points a game, the Broncos’ best since 2010. Russell had allowed at 31.2 points a game in each of the last 10 years. Russell has not had a winning season since ’03, but the projection is the Broncos will end that run this fall. Ozores has taken over as head coach and is considered one of the up-and-coming Kansas coaches. Russell had 27 of his 35 catches from non-seniors. Four of the top-six tacklers are back, paced by 67 from senior Jacob Ney.
Norton has not had back-to-back losing seasons since 1952-53, per Kansas Football History. The remarkable consistency has continued under longtime coach Lucas Melvin, who holds a 110-55 record. Norton had a game cancelled last year, a contest where the Bluejays were probably favored in. The Bluejays allowed 24.6 points per game, No. 23 out of 48 2A teams. Norton has great size. The Bluejays return all its passing yards and rushing yards. Senior Silas Jones had seven offensive TDs on 75 touches. Senior Sean Anderson is a first team all-league player at 6-4, 230 and has 240 career tackles, including a team-high 135 tackles. Jones finished with 103 tackles. Senior Garrett Urban is third after 73 tackles.
3A: Scott City (4-5)
Scott City opened 2-0, including a quality 14-12 win against rival Holcomb. However, the Beavers struggled and took two losses by a combined 11 points. The Beavers lost three straight to end the season. It marked Scott City’s first losing season since 1986. Scott City returns many key starters, including running back Jace Thomas, quarterback Dylan Metzger, senior OL/LB JP Harris and specialist Freddy Castillo-Saenz.
4A: Tonganoxie (4-5), Eudora (6-5), Arkansas City (3-6)
Tonganoxie had a wild season, including two overtime losses and another defeat by three points. Longtime offensive coordinator Preston Troyer takes over as head coach for his dad, Al Troyer. The Chieftains return multiple key returners, including junior Trevor McGraw. He completed 47 percent for 913 yards with five scores against four interceptions. Junior Colton Brusven had 168 carries for 793 yards and seven TDs. Senior Wyatt Harris has 54 tackles. Junior Jackson McWilliams is among the state’s top kickers after no misses: 29 of 29 on extra points and 4 of 4 on field goals.
Eudora took losses by three on a Hail Mary, seven, one and one point before a competitive defeat to Bishop Miege in the playoffs. Eudora’s luck in close games should change in 2022 under first-year coach Drew Steffen, a former assistant. Eudora was sixth in defense with 17.4 points per game and sixth in offense at 33.7 points per game. The Cardinals have a bevy of skill talent, including 6-7, 235-pound senior tight end Jaden Hamm, an Arkansas commit. Plus, junior Adrion Seals had more than 700 offensive yards. Junior Matthew Magette (5-11, 170) has delivered impressive weight room numbers this season.
After a 2020 state runner-up berth, Arkansas City dropped back to 3-6 last season and concluded with a forfeit playoff loss to McPherson after a terrible tragedy when Rhett Lathers died in a car crash. Ark City returns quarterback Gabe Welch (more than 3,600 career passing yards) and offensive threat Cadon Clark. Welch was injured mid-way through the 2021 season.
5A: Goddard-Eisenhower (5-4), Great Bend (0-9)
Eisenhower finished No. 4 in 5A scoring defense with 15.3 points allowed a contest. However, Eisenhower was the only one of the top-eight scoring defenses in 5A to not play at least 10 games. The Tigers scored 22.3 points a contest. Eisenhower took two losses by six points or fewer, including a last-second playoff loss against Hays High. Multiple key players return, including QB Tyner Horn, a Wichita State baseball signee, who threw for 1,145 yards.
Great Bend enters this season on a 17-game losing streak. The Panthers have a more manageable schedule and were much more competitive in the final five games of last season with losses by 17, one, 31, seven and 21 points. Great Bend moves back up to 5A. Dual threat quarterback Cayden Scheurman had 12 TDs accounted for, and Matthew Moeder returns after 74 tackles.
6A: Wichita Heights (5-4)
Wichita Heights is on this list for a second straight year. The Falcons return a bevy of offensive skill players, led by senior running back John Randle, a top-10 Kansas recruit. Heights scored 37.4 points a contest, the No. 5 5A offense. The Falcons bump to 6A this cycle. Heights will play all its games in Wichita, except for a Week 1 game at Garden City. Veteran senior quarterback DJ Dingle returns after 1,442 yards for 16 scores against three INTs. Randle averaged 9.4 yards per carry, 1,095 rushing yards and 16 rushing scores. Heights returns more than 98 percent of its rushing yards.
Use your Facebook account to add a comment or start a discussion. Posts are subject to Facebook's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your Facebook name, photo & other personal information you make public on Facebook will appear with your comment.
