New to Kpreps this fall is our most important performance of the week powered by Athletic Strength Institute (ASI). Each Sunday our experts will hand out helmet stickers to a team or individual that delivered the most important performance of the week in their opinion.
Check out Athletic Strength Institute (ASI) – building better athletes in Lawrence (Kan.) and the surrounding area. If you mention Kpreps, you will receive a free initial screening and 15% off your initial training package. Check them out online at AthleticSI.com and follow ASI on Twitter @AthleticSI or Facebook
Helmet sticker: St. Marys Bears (John Baetz – Kansas Pregame)
St. Marys, which finished just 1-8 last year, is now 2-0 after the Bears' second straight win over a traditional 2A power. The Bears opened the season with a 20-14 win over Olpe, the 2014 2A champion, and a semi-finalist last fall. Friday night the Bears dispatched Centralia, a long-time 2A power, and a 3A playoff qualifier last season, 28-18. Junior Taegen Schoenfeld has been a catalyst for the Bears hot start with nearly 350 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns through the first two games, while also grabbing an interception in each win. Second year coach Myron Flax and the Bears will face their stiffest test of the season so far when the head east on Highway 24 to square-off with Mid-East League rival Silver Lake Friday night.
Helmet sticker: Jared Casey & the Plainville Cardinals (Conor Nicholl – Kpreps)
Plainville has been arguably the biggest story in Kansas high school football through the first two weeks with its huge home wins versus Mid-Continent League rivals Smith Center (20-16) and Norton (20-14). Friday’s victory means the Cardinals have posted wins over Smith Center and Norton in the same season for the first time since 2011; a year in which Plainville reached the state semifinals. Senior quarterback Hayden Friend is an outstanding playmaker who has performed well.
Norton is known for its experienced offensive line, while Smith Center had a veteran front, too. Casey recorded nine tackles and a forced fumble versus Smith Center. Against Norton, he bottled up the running game with teammates Hayden Gillum (2.5 TFLs) and junior Nolan Jones. The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Casey had 1.5 TFLs, including a sack.
Plainville permitted 36 points a game last season but has allowed just 30 in the first two weeks. Casey is the younger brother of veteran Plainville assistant Justin Casey. Justin also coached their brother, Andrew, a standout on that 2011 Cardinal squad that reached the 2-1A sub-state semifinals.
Helmet sticker: Junction City QB Ryan Henington (Chet Kuplen -- Sports in Kansas)
Junction City moved to 2-0 on Friday night with a 26-21 win over fellow Centennial League contender Topeka High. Senior quarterback Ryan Henington began a huge night by throwing a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes to Jovon Baldwin as the Blue Jays grabbed a 14-0 lead. After Topeka pulled within a touchdown at halftime, Henington broke a 70-yard touchdown run to give Junction City a 20-7 lead. Henington finished with more than 230 rushing yards and 135 passing yards with three total touchdowns in the win.
Helmet sticker: Hunter Hanzlick & the Hoisington Cardinals (Matt Gilmore -- Kpreps)
The Hoisington Cardinals made a strong statement on Friday night by scoring 23 unanswered points in the second half to beat Class 4A-II No. 3 Wichita Collegiate, 31-22. The Cardinals won with the strength of their running game which put up more than 380 yards on the ground led by senior back Hunter Hanzlick. Hanzlick (5-10, 195) carried 35 times for 251 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown that extended a one-point Cardinal lead to nine.
Hanzlick rushed for 142 yards and four touchdowns in the Cardinals’ 44-3 win over Kingman in the season opener. The Cardinals rushed for 419 yards in that victory. Halzlick earned Class 3A All-State honors last season as a junior when he rushed for 1,949 yards and 28 touchdowns. That followed up his sophomore season that saw him rush for 1,381 yards and 21 more scores. For his career, Hanzlick has nearly 3,800 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns.
While the Cardinals extended their regular-season winning streak to 19 games and picked up their 15th consecutive win at home, this victory solidifies Hoisington as a state title contender in Class 3A. Hoisington finished 11-1 last season, only losing 44-8 to Halstead in a turnover-plagued performance in the 3A state quarterfinals. Collegiate went on to defeat Halstead 21-0 in the semifinals the following week.
Athletic Strength Institute (ASI) – DID YOU KNOW?
Staying Strong & Muscular In-Season -
To stay strong and muscular in-season workouts should be regular, short, and intense. It’s important to remember each athlete's optimal training volume changes often due to games, practice, travel, sleep, and nutrition.
In-season strength-training should:
- Maintain / increase muscle mass. A loss in muscle size precipitates a loss in strength.
- Maintain / increase strength & power. It is common for players to get stronger and more powerful when following an appropriate in-season training program.
- Maintain / decrease body fat. You can’t flex fat and excessive amounts of it can hinder performance.
- Cut back on total sets & reps, not intensity. Athletes should perform at least one set of their main exercise(s) at or above 90% of their max as frequently as possible.
Helmet Stickers (2016 Season)
Week 1 – Atchison, St. Francis, Holcomb, Mill Valley
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