Sedgwick coach Jeff Werner has long seen Ell-Saline coach Terry King consistently switch his offenses and defenses. Sedgwick is 9-5 in the last 14 meetings versus its Heart of America rivals, including winning seven of the past eight.
However, Ell-Saline consistently plays Sedgwick close and pulled a big upset in 2014. Sedgwick defeated Ell-Saline, 44-12, in the regular season. In the first round of the 2-1A playoffs, Ell-Saline won, 28-20, and enjoyed a surprising run to the state championship game.
“I don’t know if we have seen the same base offense or base defense more than once or twice each time we play them,” Werner said. “It’s interesting how he always seems to kind of change up and try to do what fits his kids the best. And a lot of times, it’s not what he did last year or even sometimes what he did the week before. He is really good at making those changes.”
King has served Ell-Saline’s coach since the late ‘90s and a coach at various levels since 1975. In the late 2000s and earlier this decade, Ell-Saline went under center with the veer option and standout quarterback Tate Omli, who played at Northern Iowa. In ’14, signal caller Louie Arceo piloted a spread offense.
“When you coach in a small school like we do, you have to find the things that your kids can do the best,” King said.
In the ’14 postseason, Ell-Saline ran a lot of jet sweeps, plays King put in throughout the year.
“He kind of hit us with that, and we weren’t overly prepared,” Werner said.
Defensively, Ell-Saline has shown various looks versus high-octane Sedgwick, which has tallied more than 34 points a game in each of the last nine falls. Ell-Saline has held Sedgwick to 31 points or fewer in 10 of the past 13 meetings dating back to ’05.
“The way I like to coach defense is we are going to stuff, and we are going to build a flat wall up front and then we are going to run to the ball,” King said. “It might be different this year, because we don’t have those kids that can really - with enough strength and enough ability – to really build that flat wall. So, we are going to change. We are going to be a different team totally this year. But it fits our personnel.”
Last year, Sedgwick defeated Ell-Saline, 21-18, in the season opener in a game that featured eight turnovers. The Cardinals finished 7-3, and Ell-Saline was 3-6 for the second straight season. Werner coached Sedgwick from ’06-15 before he took last year off. He returned to coaching this year.
“Even if they don’t always have a great record, when you finish playing them, you know that you have played Ell-Saline, and that’s a testament to Coach King and how tough his kids are,” Werner said.
Sedgwick opens fifth in the 2-1A poll. Ell-Saline, just outside the top-5, is considered a 2-1A team that could make a big jump similar to its ’14 squad that came off a 5-4 record the year prior.
Ell-Saline returns its entire offensive line, led by its three interior seniors: center Mason Farrell, and guards Avery Bradley and Brandon Headlough. Bradley and Farrell are entering their third years as starters. Bradley, a team captain, made the weight room 40 times this summer.
“I do think our line will have some success on Sedgwick,” King said.
Sedgwick has little size with just two linemen listed around 200 pounds. Senior Walker Burkholder is the lone returner on the offensive line. He played guard last year and will move to right tackle. Senior defensive lineman Johnny Longbine will anchor the defensive front. Werner has coached the offensive line for the first time in his Sedgwick tenure.
“That’s truly going to be the difference in the game is if we can run the ball enough against his veteran guys to at least make them respect our run game,” Werner said. “If they can empty the box and still control us, and cover our receivers with multiple guys, we will have a hard time moving the football.”
Ell-Saline fought injuries in ’16 and again has injury problems. Senior wide receiver Zaide Korb played well as a sophomore and then missed all of last season with injury. He suffered a concussion in the preseason scrimmage and decided to end his playing career.
Both teams have returning starters out.
For Ell-Saline, junior offensive tackle Clayton White (knee) will miss the first few weeks. Sophomore wide receiver/linebacker Kaleb Hammonds suffered a low ankle sprain while moving furniture during the weekend.
Sedgwick senior lineman Drew Mullen (ankle) won’t play Friday but should be back in Week 2.
Junior Nick Davenport is back in his second fall as Ell-Saline’s quarterback. Regarding last year, King said Ell-Saline “wasn’t ready” to spread the field and throw the ball, but they had a big fullback.
“I do think we are going to be much better,” King said. “I do think Nick Davenport is going to be settled in a lot better and is going to make a lot better decisions, and I think our receivers are learning what we need to teach them, and we are getting them in the right areas.”
King has been very impressed with Davenport’s demeanor, “yes sir, no sir” mannerisms and willingness to improve. Davenport’s dad and uncle both played college football. King contemplated retirement after last year, but said “one of the reasons” he is still coaching is because of Davenport.
“The support from home is a big difference,” King said. “Nick wants to be a quarterback, and he wants to be a good quarterback, so he is going to listen, and he is going to do the things that are right for him to be a good quarterback, and he loves the game of football.”
Sedgwick has run spread for many years, but Werner watched Wichita Northwest’s Steve Martin this summer on ways to increase pace. Werner wants quicker tempo to compensate for the size.
“(Northwest’s) quarterback is handing the ball off and immediately he is looking to the sideline – the runner could still be running – and they are calling the next formation and getting the next play called, so we have been spending a lot of time practicing that fast,” Werner said.
Sedgwick will have 20 starters and just two players starting both ways with Burkholder and senior Brayden Francis. Francis, known for his big plays off screens, had an all-state season at receiver with 808 yards and 15 scores, and will start at defensive back.
Junior quarterback Hooper Schroeder played often as a freshman before he suffered a broken shoulder versus Ell-Saline. Schroeder started as a sophomore and threw for 1,779 yards with a 20/13 TD/INT ratio. Schroeder’s health has improved, and he is bigger and faster than previous years.
His brother, sophomore Kale, will start at slot. Kale, a big-play threat in the younger ranks, had 58 offensive touches with 645 yards and five scores.
Junior Colton Smith had 795 rushing yards and seven scores, while senior Neal Bever picked off 10 passes on defense a year ago.
“(Hooper) is not putting the pressure on himself, he is kind of letting it come to him,” Werner said.
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