Welcome to the 2010 football season and our first edition of The Pick List. Each Thursday throughout the regular season, we will feature six of the best match-ups across the state, and make our predictions on a handful of other games. A new addition to our coverage this season is our Picks to Click where we feature six players from across the state that we feel will have breakout performances on Friday night. Thank you for your continued support of Kpreps.com, Kansas Pregame Magazine, and Kansas high school football!
Feature Games of the Week:
5A #3 Bishop Carroll at 6A #2 Wichita Heights
Wichita City League favorites hook up to open the season as Bishop Carroll visits Wichita Heights. Both schools enjoyed strong seasons in 2009 as Bishop Carroll finished 11-1 and advanced to the 5A semifinals, while Heights lost to Olathe North in the 6A state title game. The two teams have split their last four meetings with last year’s 28-0 Carroll victory being the only game in that period decided by more than a touchdown.
Bishop Carroll senior Tyler Nance had a solid junior campaign as Blake Bell’s primary receiving target racking up more than 600 yards receiving and catching ten touchdowns. With Bell now gone to Oklahoma, Nance will try and fill his shoes under center. The Eagles will look for ground production from another former WR, Ryan Weber, who will start in the backfield.
The Heights defense will not be an easy unit for anyone to feel out a new position against. The Falcons return a solid defense led by Kpreps All-6A selection Zerrance Brickhouse and safety Evan Wessel.
Defense will be the strength of the Carroll Eagles early on, and in this match-up, it will have to be. Carroll returns five defensive players that received some form of Wichita City League accolades last fall. Included in that bunch are first-team all-league safety Max Martinez and a defensive line anchored by Beau Bell, Nick Bui, and Tucker Chadd.
All they will be asked to do in week one is to stop Falcon RB and KU-commit Dreamius Smith. Rick Wheeler’s Falcons also return two quarterbacks with experience in Jon Moreland and Matt Reed.
Our Pick: Carroll 21 Heights 17
4A #1 Topeka Hayden at 6A #3 Manhattan
Two of the Centennial League’s best will meet Friday night in Manhattan as Topeka Hayden visits the #3 ranked Indians. Hayden finished 9-5 last season after falling to Bishop Miege in the 4A championship game. Manhattan fell 14-10 in the 6A quarterfinals to eventual runner-up Wichita Heights. These two have met twice in recent years in 2006 and 2007. Both games resulted in narrow Hayden wins; 23-14 in ’06 and 28-21 in ’07.
Manhattan returns fourteen total starters from a year ago when the Indians went undefeated in Centennial League play. Joe Schartz’s unit will find it hard to replace an athlete like Derek Campbell in the backfield, but junior Ty Suggs has shown signs of stardom. Cardiac quarterback Ryan Wilkinson returns for his senior season after throwing two game-winning, last-play touchdowns in 2009.
Defense may be the Indians strength in 2010. Shrine Bowl selection Tate Snyder is gone to Kansas State, but the Indians return nine starters from a defense that allowed just 12 points per game last season.
The Hayden Wildcats found themselves in somewhat unfamiliar territory after sitting at just 3-3 through their first six games in 2009. Coach Bill Arnold was able to rally the Wildcats to a playoff run that ended in a state title game appearance. This season, the Wildcats key to success may be up front on the line where only Jacob Konrade returns. The backfield is talented with the likes of junior QB Grant Arnold, and running backs Alec Steuber and Jon Banister. If the line can develop and open holes, the Wildcats will be a 4A title contender again.
Our Pick: Manhattan 24 Hayden 17
4A #2 Holton at Topeka High
A 4A versus 6A match-up pits a traditional Kansas power against a developing program as Holton travels to Topeka to open the season Friday night.
A 4A versus 6A match-up pits a traditional Kansas power against a developing program as Holton travels to Topeka to open the season Friday night.
Brooks Barta has developed one of the most successful programs in all of Kansas High School football winning 140 games against only 25 losses in only 14 years at Holton. He has eight players with starting experience back and 26 returning lettermen that will face a stern season opening contest when they travel to play a Topeka High Trojan team that's experienced a resurgence under Walt Alexander.
Holton's offense will be led by returning 1,500 yard rusher Gunnar McKenna who will have the luxury of running behind four returning offensive linemen including 6-7, 285 pound Forrestal Hickman. Brice Barnett, a 6-4, 175 senior quarterback will lead Barta's wishbone offense.
The Topeka Trojans had a breakout season in 2009 going 6-4 and qualifying for the playoffs. Gone is quarterback Sam Johnson - who passed for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns a year ago - but four starters return on the offensive line to help protect the new signal caller. Only eight seniors graduated from last year's team.
A Holton win sends a warning to class 4A; the Wildcats are again among the best, while a Trojan win will signal a continuation of the Alexander rebuilding project and deliver a confident Topeka High team to an always tough Centennial League schedule.
Our Pick: Holton 22, Topeka 12
Eudora at 4A #5 Louisburg
Friday’s game between Eudora and Louisburg will go a long way in deciding the Frontier League championship. These two programs, along with Paola, have been among the best in the league the last several years, and each have become major obstacles on the east side of 4A come playoff time. Both teams have expectations of deep playoff runs in 2010 after they each reached the state quarterfinals last fall.
Gregg Webb returns for his 24th year on the sidelines, and for what will already be his ninth year at Eudora. His Cardinals return 12 starters from last season’s 9-3 performance. Leading the way is Northern Illinois commit Boomer Mays, a bruising 6-2, 225-pound fullback/linebacker. Along with Mays, the Cardinals return three starters across the offensive line which should help the rushing attack. Eudora must replace QB Evan Cleveland who rushed for more than 1,100 yards and passed for another 750 yards in 2009.
Louisburg returns a solid nucleus from last season’s 10-2 team. The backfield duo of Garret Griffin (6-4; 200) and Alex Genges (6-0; 225) will be a challenge for defenses to bring down. They will hide behind an offensive line featuring Tyler Ewy (6-3; 285) and Ross Dvorak (6-3; 255). Kody Cook (6-3; 200) returns at quarterback for the Wildcats after missing last season with an injury.
Louisburg has doubled-up Eudora in the previous two meetings 42-21 in 2008 and 28-14 last season.
Our Pick: Louisburg 21 Eudora 14
3A #4 Scott City at Garden City
The Scott City Beavers will travel 35 miles south to Garden City to open the season in a match-up of 3A versus 6A teams. Scott City is a traditional football power that regularly compiles deep playoff runs while Garden City has fought to regain the form of its 1999 state championship team.
After seven seasons Garden City coach Mike Smith resigned at the end of last year following a three game collapse in district play that left the Buffaloes out of the playoffs and 4-5 overall. This year, the Buffaloes welcome former Garden City Community College offensive coordinator Brian Hill as head coach. Hill says he plans to spread the ball around and he welcomes back a two-year starter at quarterback in senior Cody Bernbeck. Bernbeck led the team in rushing and passing a year ago.
For Scott City, the Beavers must restock a defense that helped hold opponents to only 74 total points all season, but a number of weapons return on offense including senior quarterback Ron Baker who threw for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns last season out of Glenn O'Neil's run first Wing T offense. Look for juniors Luke Hayes and Colborn Couchman to be playmakers at the defensive end spots for the Beavers.
Our Pick: Scott City 18, Garden City 14
Victoria at Macksville
Victoria will travel to Macksville Friday for a contest between the 8-Man II stalwart Knights and 8-Man I power Mustangs.
Victoria will travel to Macksville Friday for a contest between the 8-Man II stalwart Knights and 8-Man I power Mustangs.
Victoria is one of the most consistent performers in all of 8-Man football regularly making deep playoff runs and posting a 43-6 mark over the past four seasons. The Knights, who have won two state titles since 2004, have picked up a championship, a runner-up finish and a trip to the sub-state championship game last season under head coach Doug Oberle. This year Oberle has his most inexperienced squad.
Macksville welcomes a new coach as veteran assistant Jeff Kuckelman takes over for the highly successful Daniel Grizzell. Kuckelman inherits 18 returning lettermen from a team that went 7-4 a year ago including fullback linebacker Dakota Allison, a bruising 6-2, 215-pound senior.
While this season opening match-up has no district implications for the two teams which play in different divisions of 8-Man football, it will provide bragging rights as two of the state's best tee it up on opening night.
Our Pick: Macksville 44, Victoria 24
The Pick List:
Andale at Wellington -- Andale
The Pick List:
Andale at Wellington -- Andale
Andover at McPherson -- McPherson
Beloit at Concordia -- Concordia
BV West at Gardner-Edgerton – Gardner-Edgerton
Rose Hill at Buhler – Rose Hill
Cherryvale at Olpe -- Olpe
Quivira Heights at Claflin – Quivira Heights
Pittsburg at Coffeyville -- Coffeyville
Colby at St. Francis -- Colby
Norton at Ellis -- Norton
Aquinas at Great Bend -- Aquinas
Hill City at Thunder Ridge – Hill City
Hoisington at Sedgwick -- Hoisington
Rockhurst at Hutchinson -- Rockhurst
Olathe South at Free State – Olathe South
Meade at Canadian, TX – Canadian
SM West at Olathe North – Olathe North
Jetmore at Pawnee Heights -- Jetmore
Rossville at St. Marys -- Rossville
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