Since 2014, Kpreps has named a breakout team for nearly each class, a squad that is set to experience a jump in victories and likely influence the playoff picture.
Of the 13 Kpreps breakout picks in the last two seasons, ten teams improved their record, two were worse and one stayed the same. On average, the teams have improved by two wins.
Last season, Kpreps picked Andover Central (6-5 in ’14) to improve; the Jags played for the Class 4A-I state championship game. As well, Kpreps selected Smith Center as the 2-1A breakout. The Redmen bumped from 5-4 to 10-2.
Here is the 2016 list:
Eight-Man, Division II: Almena-Northern Valley
The Huskies haven’t made the playoffs since 2005, but should earn a trip this season. Northern Valley, under 40th-year head coach Chuck Fessenden, finished just 3-6 last fall. The Huskies returned just one starter, offensive lineman Colten Bach, and took its first losing season in five years. This year, Northern Valley returns six offensive and five defensive starters. Northern Valley has generally had a strong offense with 41.9 points per game from ’11-14. Last year, the offense slipped to 25.1 points per contest with the young group.
Still, even the Huskies’running game produced 228 rushing yards and 5.0 yards per carry. All but 163 of the team’s 2,056 rushing yards return.
Junior quarterback Caden Kinderknecht collected 177 carries for 943 yards and 14 scores, while senior Jarell Seals – a Kpreps 2015 breakout player – delivered 126 rushes for 752 yards and eight scores. That included a season-high 139 yards versus Victoria, which delivered exceptional rush defense en route to its second straight Eight-Man, Division II state title.
Yet the Husky defense has permitted 36.2 points per game in the last three seasons, a point of improvement for Fessenden. Still, the schedule becomes more manageable.
Northern Valley is no longer in the same district as Victoria, Otis-Bison and Beloit St. John’s-Tipton and won’t have to play Atwood-Rawlins Co. in non-district; the quartet gave the Huskies big losses last season. Northern Valley will play in District 5 and should earn one of the top two playoff berths. Only Wilson had a winning 2015 record among current District 5 squads.
Eight-Man, Division I: Osborne
In 2012, Osborne went 6-3 and didn’t reach the playoffs. That team scored 424 points and allowed 350. The next season, with virtually the entire team back, the Bulldogs went 13-0 and won the Eight-Man, Division I state title with an eight-man record 760 points. The defense permitted 276 points (21 a game).
Last year, the Bulldogs finished 4-5 with another high-octane offense. Osborne both scored and allowed 338 points. This season, Osborne brings back virtually its entire team, including eight offensive starters. Osborne has the capabilities for big point totals, and with defensive improvement, has the chance to replicate 2013.
Osborne has a challenging district with Victoria, Solomon, Bennington and Logan-Palco, but doesn’t have to play St. Francis, Wakefield and Hanover, teams that scored 68, 86 and 72 points versus the Bulldogs. Senior Cullen Grabast tallied 1,123 rushing yards and 1,760 all-purpose, while junior Denton Schurr finished with 1,066 all-purpose yards. Senior Justin Burch is back after he passed for 12 scores against two interceptions.
On the ’13 team, Maverick Lerock become a force on the defensive line. Senior Derek Naegele could be that player in 2016 after a 73-tackle season.
Class 2-1A: Sacred Heart
The Knights finished 5-5 despite massive quarterback problems. Sacred Heart had a bevy of injuries under center and often played freshman David Anderson. The Knights’ signal callers completed 48 of 136 passes for 778 yards with a 6/14 TD/INT ratio. If Sacred Heart can stabilize at QB, the rest of the Knights can lead Sacred Heart into the playoff picture in Class 2-1A.
Junior Jacob Faerber set a school record with 1,537 yards and senior fullback/nose guard Abel Alvarez controls the middle (54 tackles) and rushed for 493 yards. Sacred Heart, which went 0-2 in games decided by nine points or fewer, returns eight starters on both sides.
The Knights forced 24 turnovers but also suffered 22 fumbles with 20 lost. Sacred Heart should greatly improve off the minus-10 turnover margin; in ’14, they went 4-5 and minus-7 in turnover margin with similar passing numbers.
Class 3A: Lakin
Chris Bamberger suffered his first losing season as a head coach in his first year with the Broncs following a hugely successful stint at Ness City. The Broncs finished 0-4 at home and 2-7 overall and greatly struggled in close games and scoring points. Lakin lost two games by one point and then suffered three straight shutouts to close the year.
The Broncs finished with just 131 points but return six starters on both sides, including senior quarterback Colby Gugelmeyer. Last season marked Lakin’s worst record since 2010. The Broncs do have to play Meade, Hugoton and Holcomb, but the schedule is manageable for the Broncs to push for a winning record and playoff berth.
Class 4A-II: Smoky Valley
Coach Tim Lambert, in his second year with the Vikings, has previously engineered turnarounds at St. Francis and Concordia. The Vikings went 2-7 in 2015 and had a solid defense with just 224 points allowed but scored just 95 points. In the first month, Smoky Valley was shutout three times. They also lost two games by a combined 10 points and another one by 20. Plus, Smoky Valley went 0-4 at home.
Lambert, a former Smith Center quarterback known for his wishbone offense, normally sees run game improvement as he builds the program.
Smoky Valley averaged just 141 rushing yards a game and 3.2 yards per carry. All the rushing and receiving yards came from non-seniors in 2015, and junior quarterback Brett Heitschmidt returns. The Vikings didn’t have a passing TD or a defensive/special teams score in 2015. Plus, the Vikings were minus-2 in turnover margin.
The Vikings’ roster went from 42 to 56 players this season, and SV has 13 seniors, 10 more than last season. At Concordia, Lambert went 2-8 in ’09, his first year with the Panthers. Then, Concordia went 9-2, 8-2, 8-3, 2-7 and 8-3 the next five years.
Class 4A-I: Mulvane
The Wildcats finished 5-5 in 2015 behind an offense that tallied 29 points per contest. The defense was solid at 21.8 points allowed per game, but Mulvane has virtually everyone back, especially offensively.
Mulvane went 0-3 in games within a score with a 20-14 regular season loss to Buhler, a 34-31 defeat versus Ulysses, and a 35-28 playoff loss to Buhler. Junior Jayden Price returns after he threw for 1,560 yards with a 17/6 TD/INT ratio. He also rushed 171 times for 846 yards and 11 TDs, all team-highs.
Mulvane, in a district with at Ulysses and home games versus Wellington and Winfield, has a great opportunity for its first season with more than six victories since an 11-2 showing in 2012.
Class 5A: St. James Academy
Yes, the Thunder went 9-2 last season and enjoyed the best year in school history with its first playoff win. This year, though, St. James has a great opportunity to win a Class 5A state title.
The Thunder outscored opponents 347-169 with a 45-14 loss to Mill Valley in district play and a 42-7 defeat to Aquinas in the playoffs. St. James returns outstanding senior running back Dylan Streeter, who rushed for 706 yards and nine scores, and leading receiver Mason Dunsmore (587 yards, four TDs). Streeter also returned two kicks and one punt for TDs.
Senior Sammy Wheeler, a former receiver who has committed to Kansas State as a quarterback, will take over full-time under center. He passed for 328 yards with a 57 percent rate. As well, the Thunder has a talented offensive line anchored by senior left tackle Nick Kalny.
St. James struggled with 18 turnovers and just plus-six in turnover margin (low for a nine-win team), numbers that should improve this season. Plus, the passing game with Wheeler should see a sizable jump. The Thunder averaged 8.6, 7.7 and 7.6 yards per pass attempt the last three years.
Mill Valley, the defending 5A champion and St. James’ Week 1 opponent, averaged 10.9 yards per pass attempt in 2015. Run-heavy Aquinas averaged 10.4.
The Thunder already have a top-5 defense and return senior Clay Lautt, a North Carolina wrestling commit who delivered 79 tackles and five interceptions and is one of Kansas’ premier defensive players. Goddard and Valley Center are two other 5A squads capable of jumps, but look for St. James to earn double-digit victories for the first time in school history and possibly play for a state crown.
Class 6A: Manhattan
The Indians finished 5-4 in 2015 for its worst season since a 4-5 mark in 2007. The tradition-laden Indians went 7-2 in ’14 after had a five-year stretch of three straight 10-1 years, 6-4 and 8-3.
Still, the Indians won game by an average of 14 points despite struggling with injuries. Manhattan had trouble in close games with a 21-14 loss at Topeka Hayden and a 17-14 defeat versus Junction City. (In 2014, Manhattan was 3-0 in games decided by nine points or fewer).
Plus, Manhattan was tied 14 all with Free State – an eventual final four team – on the road in the second half before the Firebirds pulled away for a 31-14 district victory. The Indians had just 19 fewer yards than Free State but finished minus-3 in the turnover margin.
Senior dual-threat quarterback Ian Trapp returns after he rushed for 1,270 yards and 15 TDs and passed for 825 yards and eight scores. Additionally, the defense permitted just 16.2 points a contest, the best scoring defense for the program since ’09, and returns senior linebacker Chance Andrade.
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.
