Beloit has just a 32-player roster, a small number for a Class 3A school, but coach Greg Koenig said the team takes a “band of brothers” mentality. In Koenig’s eyes, the Trojans have to depend on each other, have grown closer throughout the season and don’t want to let each other down. Even in last week’s 36-13 road sub-state victory against Scott City, Koenig saw his team improve.
“That’s pretty amazing in Week 13 to keep on getting better,” Koenig said.
The small roster is full of experienced, talented players that have tallied a 13-0 record, a Kansas 11-man best 693 points and bumped the Trojans into the Class 3A state championship game for the first time since 1996. Beloit is 4-0 all-time in state titles with victories first coming in ’75-77. The Trojans had lost in the sub-state in 2010 and ’12.
“There was just a lot of excitement,” Koenig said. “People have asked me if it was a relief. I don’t think it was a relief at all. Each year is a different team and has brought different memories. I am just happy to see the young men be rewarded. They have just worked so hard, and been diligent. They have never lost faith.”
Beloit will face 12-1 Silver Lake, which is in its 11th state game in the last 12 years and fourth in a row. Start time is 1 p.m. from Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium.
“It’s hard enough to do it once, but to do it several times in a row is rewarding in itself,” coach C.J. Hamilton said. “Our kids feel the pressure of that.”
Hamilton, Kansas’ all-time winningest coach with a 369-85 record, is 87-24 in the postseason with seven state titles and 10 runner-ups. Silver Lake is the all-time leader in playoff appearances (31), victories, and runner-ups, according to preppowerindex.com.
“Each time is a rewarding time for the group that we are working with,” Hamilton said.
Silver Lake, with its 56-player roster, stands third in Class 3A with 562 points and second in scoring defense at 111 points. Beloit has allowed 225 points and has played in several shootouts.
“I don’t really have a preference,” Hamilton said of playing in a high-scoring game. “The only preference I have is that Silver Lake has one more point than Beloit in the end. We have been able to score points when we have needed to. Hopefully we can do that again, and our defense plays well enough – you are not going to stop a Beloit.”
Hamilton said the three keys for Saturday are eliminating the big play and defense on third and fourth down. The Trojans average 511 yards per game, 8.2 yards per play and have yet to punt this season. Last year, Beloit punted just three times.
“Third and fourth down defense has to be great, in order to get them off the field,” Hamilton said.
Entering the season, Silver Lake had plenty of inexperience along the offensive and defensive lines. Beloit brought back four defensive starters.
“It took us a long time to gel,” Koenig said.
Silver Lake senior quarterback Dailin Kruger has led the offense despite a torn ACL. Up front, senior Johnathan Dallman was the only returning starter on both sides of the ball and was a first team all-league offensive player in 2012.
Dallman started at defensive end last season, along with senior Colbe Austin, a first team all-league player.
Dallman, who battled through an injured knee last season, is a quiet leader. He leads the Eagles with 120 tackles, 27 for loss. Austin has 14 TFLs with five sacks.
Kruger has completed 136 of 245 passes for 2,151 yards with 26 scores against five interceptions.
Dallman and Kruger “are making a personal sacrifice for the good of the team and our players respect that,” Hamilton said.
Silver Lake lost to rival Rossville, 27-21, on Oct. 11, but then came back with a 27-13 victory in sub-state last week. Silver Lake picked off Rossville sophomore quarterback Tucker Horak four times and finished plus-3 in turnover margin. In the first meeting, Silver Lake gave Rossville good field position with four turnovers, including two interceptions, and finished minus-1 in turnover margin.
Hamilton is familiar with Beloit’s double-wing offense and sees it with Rock Creek, a league school and perennial playoff contender. However, Hamilton said Beloit has great team speed, and has athletes that run the scheme well.
“They are a good run team, and they play very physical football, and they do a good job of taking care of the ball,” Hamilton said.
Koenig spent 14 years coaching in southeastern Colorado at Las Animas, the last five as a head coach. Then, Koenig served as head coach at Colby for two years before he came to Beloit and has delivered a 74-19 record with the Trojans.
“The kids have just bought in, the parents have been outstanding as far as their support,” Koenig said. “It’s been a good place to build a program, and I think the tradition was already here. That has a lot to do with the winning as well. Expectations were pretty high.”
In addition to the big three of senior quarterback Payton Vetter (1,105 passing and 1,090 rushing yards) and running backs Bowe Behymer (2,033 rushing yards, 29 rushing scores) and Tanner Niemczyk (1,064 rushing), Beloit has enjoyed strong line play. Senior guard Bryce Black is 6-foot, 275 pounds and is an anchor at guard, while junior center Elliot Kimminau stands 6-2, 285.
“We look at it as an entire unit up there, and they do such a great job,” Koenig said.
Junior R.J. Jackson saw significant time as a freshman, including at fullback. He started all last season at tight end and then moved back to fullback after an injury to a teammate in midseason.
Jackson has 53 catches for 351 yards and four TDs, and has caught 12 passes for 234 yards and two scores. Jackson and the offense has scored at least 36 points in each contest and remains 3A’s lone undefeated team.
“We are so pleased for these young men,” Koenig said.
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