Four weeks into the season, the contenders for the 2-1A state title appear to be coming into focus.
There are teams which everyone knew would be there in Meade and St. Mary’s Colgan, and several others that were expected to challenge in Stanton County, LaCrosse, Olpe, and Lyndon.
But perhaps one team has surprised a majority of the state in entering the picture.
Enter the Plainville Cardinals.
The Cardinals missed the playoffs in 2010 after finishing 3-6, but returned a strong nucleus from that team which got stronger as the season went on.
That nucleus has transitioned into an impressive 4-0 start with wins over traditionally strong programs in Phillipsburg, Ellis, Norton, and Smith Center.
It’s the first time the Cardinals have won as many as four games in a season since finishing 4-6 in 2007. And they show no signs of slowing down.
Joe Simon’s group is led by a loaded backfield that includes Trevor Axelson (537 yards), Harrison Gilliland (350 yards), Dalton Werner (273 yards), and quarterback Kyle Becker (216 yards).
The Plainville defense is also stout, featuring linebacker Andrew Casey who leads the team with 49 tackles through four games.
In district play, the Cardinals will be challenged by unbeaten LaCrosse and their talented quarterback Tayler Stull. Stull has already accounted for nearly 900 yards of total offense and 15 combined touchdowns.
On the eastern half of the bracket, the only unbeaten besides Colgan and Lyndon is surprising Doniphan West.
Despite having less than 20 players out and a freshman quarterback, the Mustangs have rolled to a 4-0 start. Their measuring stick will come this week as they open district play with traditional power Centralia.
EAST
District 1
· Lyndon (4-0) – The Tigers are loaded with enough talent to make a deep playoff run. Running back/linebacker Nick Walsh returns for his senior season and already has 690 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns. Quarterback Jordan Tillman has another year of experience, and the lines are solid led by 6-3, 245-pound junior Dakota Jiskra who already has 32 tackles and three sacks.
· St. Mary’s Colgan (4-0) – Colgan will be a factor again this season as Zach and Christian Smith return with a compliment of talented skill players. The question for Colgan will be how physical and consistent the lines will be. That may have been answered last week as the Panthers rushed for more than 350 yards against a really good Galena defense. Zach Smith ran for 226 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries in that game.
· Olpe (2-2) – After suffering heavy losses to graduation in May, Olpe has struggled to a 2-2 start. But those losses have been to 3A contenders in Caney Valley and Wellsville. Still the Eagles have yet to find a consistent running game since Mitchell Argabright went down with an injury. Despite those questions, the Eagles will be significant hurdle for everyone in this district.
· Oswego (2-2) – Oswego is another team that was hit hard by graduation. The Indians did not return a full-time starter from last season’s underrated 6-3 team. They have been inconsistent as expected with a young team. Wins over Quapaw (Okla.) and winless Northeast-Arma have been offset by losses to Fairland (Okla.) and Uniontown. The Indians on average are outscoring opponents 27.5 to 25.
· Humboldt (1-3) – Humboldt was such a young team in 2010, and those players continue to gain confidence with experience. The Cubs broke into the win column last week with a 21-14 victory over Fredonia. More wins will be hard to come by in this district, but the Cubs should remain competitive.
· Jayhawk-Linn (0-4) – The Jayhawks last season in the Pioneer League has not been a rememberalbe one thus far. Jayhawk-Linn is winless, and has been outscored 168 to 18. They’ve been shut out the last two weeks in losses to Anderson County and Prairie View. Last season’s lone win came in a 34-14 victory over Humboldt in Week 9.
Key Games: (Wk 5) Olpe at Lyndon; (Wk 8) Colgan at Lyndon; (Wk 9) Olpe at Colgan
Winner: St. Mary’s Colgan
Runner-up: Lyndon
District 2
· Riverside (3-1) –Riverside is in its first year after the consolidation of Wathena and Elwood. The Cyclones are off to a good start outscoring opponents by an average score of 33.5 to 15.5. Senior running back Timmy Miller leads Riverside with 596 yards and ten touchdowns. Derek Nold is also a dual-threat at quarterback for Scott Koranda’s team.
· Jeff Co. North (1-3) – The Chargers have lost three games by a combined 21 points. The defense has done its job, but the offense has only averaged 14 points per game thus far. The Chargers hope last week is a step in the right direction as they doubled-up Troy, 28-14.
· Valley Falls (0-4) –Valley Falls has struggled on offense having scored just 18 points this season. The competition has been good. The Dragons’ four losses have come to teams who are a combined 13-3. But for the Dragons to repeat as district champs, the defense will have to improve upon surrendering 39 points per game.
· Oskaloosa (0-4) – The Bears lost a large senior class from last season’s playoff team. Through four games this season, Oskie has scored just 18 points and has been shut out twice. The Oskaloosa defense has given up an average of 39 points per game, and must improve if the Bears are going to return to the playoffs.
· Immaculata (0-4) – The Raiders will try and take the first step towards ending a three year playoff drought as they take on district favorite Riverside in Week 5. Immaculata has been more competitive this season, but is winless against four opponents who are a combined 11-5. Their closest game came in a Week 2, 41-28 loss to Onaga.
Key Games: (Wk 6) Jeff Co. North at Riverside; (Wk 6) Immaculata at Valley Falls; (Wk 7) Valley Falls at Jeff Co. North; (Wk 9) Jeff Co. North at Immaculata
Winner: Riverside
Runner-up: Jefferson Co. North
District 3
· Mission Valley (2-2) – Coach Lee Weber’s Vikings averaged 34 points per game over their first three contests, but were held to just 14 in a 21-point loss to Council Grove last week. Jordan Lewis has transitioned well to running back with 375 yards rushing and five scores. Mission Valley is seeking their first playoff appearance since 2008, and the school’s first ever playoff win.
· Onaga (1-3) –Jerry Bainum’s Buffaloes are 1-3, but feel like they could easily be 3-1. Onaga lost a heartbreaking 22-14 overtime game against Bainum’s old team Centralia in Week 3. Then last week, the Buffaloes outgained Washington County by nearly 300 total yards but allowed a punt return for a touchdown and fell 14-12.
· Jackson Heights (0-4) – The Cobras are searching for consistency having lost 15 straight games dating back to a 28-0 district win over Immaculata on October 16, 2009. Jackson Heights has been competitive in close losses to Maur Hill and Troy, but the offense has only scored in double digits one time thus far this season.
· St. Marys (0-4) – We’ve seen this drill before. The Bears struggle against the elite teams of the Mid-East League, then turn it on come district time against 2-1A competition. Their four losses have come against opponents who are a combined 15-1 this season. The Bears did lose speedy back Dorian Sills-Berry to graduation, but return a young, but big line that received valuable experience last fall.
· Wabaunsee (0-4) – The Chargers continue to become more competitive in a tough Mid-East League. Look no further than the 7-0 loss to Rossville in Week 2 for evidence of that. With skill players like Jed Swicegood, Ryker Williams, Wade Capoun, and Ridge Davis, Wabaunsee appears primed to have more than a one-win season for the first time since 2005.
Key Games: (Wk 5) Wabaunsee at St. Marys; (Wk 5) Onaga at Mission Valley; (Wk 6) Mission Valley at Wabuansee; (Wk 7) St. Marys at Mission Valley; (Wk 8) Onaga at Wabaunsee; (Wk 9) St. Marys at Onaga
Winner: St. Marys
Runner-up: Wabaunsee
District 4
· Doniphan West (4-0) – One of the stories of the year in 2-1A is Doniphan West, which is undefeated despite beginning the season with under 20 players. The Mustangs have gotten great quarterback play from freshman Tristan Speer who has thrown for more than 500 yards already this season. Marc Ellis has provided a big-play threat for Speer. Ellis had nine receptions for 247 yards and four touchdowns in a Week 3 win over Atchison County. The Mustangs are led up front by senior Austin Veach (6-2, 225), Derek Gibson (6-4, 270), and Koby Scholz (5-10, 205). Doniphan West is seeking their first playoff appearance since 2005.
· Troy (2-2) – The Trojans found themselves in an unfamiliar place at the end of the 2010 season – at home. Troy missed the playoffs last season after making the postseason the prior seven years. For the Trojans to return to the playoffs, they’ll have to find some offensive firepower as Ron Shelton’s team has not scored more than 14 points in any game this season. Senior defensive-end Dillon Simpson was a Kpreps 2-1A All-State selection in 2010 as he recorded 17 sacks.
· Valley Heights (2-2) – Since beginning the season with two wins, the Mustangs have dropped consecutive games to Minneapolis (24-22) and Olpe (13-0). Tony Trimble’s group continues to try and gain experience after losing 10 seniors off of last year’s team that started out 3-0 before losing five of their last six games. Last season marked the first playoff absence for Valley Heights since the 2005 season.
· Washington County (2-2) – After a comfortable win against Republic County and a blowout loss to Minneapolis, the Tigers lost to Chase County by a point and defeated Onaga 14-12. In the Onaga game, the Tigers didn’t muster much offense, but a Cody Allen punt return proved to be the winning score for Washington County.
· Centralia (1-3) –It’s probably safe to say that Centralia is the most dangerous 1-3 team in Class 2-1A. Larry Glatczak’s teams always play a tough schedule, but this year’s Panthers have struggled after taking a big hit to graduation. Centralia’s three losses have come against teams with a combined 11-1 record. Quarterback Michael Glatczak is explosive and follows a huge offensive line including Hayden Cross (6-6, 300), Alex Steinlage (6-4, 265), and Kyson Talkington (6-1,290), but the Panther offense has only scored 38 points in four games.
Key Games: (Wk 5) Doniphan West at Centralia; (Wk 6) Valley Heights at Doniphan West; (Wk 7) Centralia at Valley Heights; (Wk 7) Doniphan West at Washington County; (Wk 9) Valley Heights at Washington County
Winner: Centralia
Runner-up: Doniphan West
WEST
District 5
· Herington (4-0) –The Herington Railers have already overcome more adversity than any other team in the state. Railers’ coach Bud Peterson passed away on September 9th. The Railers learned of his death at halftime of their game with West Franklin. Trailing 10-0, the Railers rallied in the second half for a 21-10 win. Herington remains unbeaten behind a wide-open offense led by quarterback Dylan Geissert. No matter how the season ends for Herington, it has been a success. Herington broke a 15-game losing streak with their Week 1 win, and had won just seven games over the past seven years entering the 2011 season.
· Chase County (3-1) – The Bulldogs have already surpassed their 2-win season in 2010, and now have their sights set on the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Chase County is led by senior Aaron Johnson who has rushed for 453 yards and five scores.
· Sacred Heart (2-2) –Last season’s District 5 champions, Sacred Heart has to be considered a strong contender again this year. The Knights are just 2-2 after four games, but their losses have come to 3A state-ranked Beloit and unbeaten Southeast of Saline. In that Week 2 loss to the Trojans, Sacred Heart lost running back Brandon Rapp to injury. Rapp missed several games in 2010 before returning the second half of the season to rush for 1,400 yards.
· Moundridge (1-3) –The Wildcats have lost three straight games since a season opening 40-12 win over rival Inman. Those three losses have come against opponents who are a combined 11-1. Last week, Moundridge lost a heartbreaker 21-20 to Marion in which running back Trey Unrau was stopped short on a two-point conversion that would have given the Wildcats the lead with just over a minute remaining.
· Bennington (0-4) –The Bulldogs have struggled this year having been outscored 180-18 through their first four games. Bennington is still a young team, and will likely continue to struggle in 2-1A’s most improved district.
Key Games: (Wk 5) Moundridge at Chase County; (Wk 6) Herington at Moundridge; (Wk 7) Chase County at Herington; (Wk 7) Moundridge at Sacred Heart; (Wk 8) Sacred Heart at Chase County; (WK 9) Herington at Sacred Heart
Winner: Sacred Heart
Runner-up: Moundridge
District 6
· Plainville (4-0) – The Cardinals are 4-0 after rallying to score 24 points in the fourth quarter in a 30-23 win at Smith Center 30-23 in Week 4. Plainville rushed for 315 yards in the win over the Redmen; including 133 yards from Dalton Werner and 106 yards from Harrison Gilliland. That ability to win against a physical team like Smith Center will make the Cardinals a tough out on the west side of 2-1A.
· LaCrosse (4-0) – The Leopards look to improve on a 10-1 season a year ago that ended with a quarterfinal loss to eventual champion Meade. Quarterback Tayler Stull leads the LaCrosse offense having rushed for 489 yards and nine touchdowns, and thrown for 395 yards and six scores. Kip Keeley and Levi Morss round out a Leopard backfield that follows the likes of Kyle Sramek (6-0, 245), Matt Wagner (6-1, 240), and Trey Renz (6-2, 205) up front.
· Ellinwood (1-3) –The Eagles lone win came in Week 2 via a 44-20 victory over winless Larned. Ellinwood has struggled in recent years. The Eagles have not won more than three games in a season since 2004 when they finished 7-4. That 2004 squad was also the last trip to the playoffs for the Eagles.
· Ell-Saline (1-3) – With the graduation of Tate Omli, the Cardinals have been inconsistent on offense. After exploding for 54 points against Bennington in Week 1, Ell-Saline has score just 21 total points since in their three consecutive losses. The Cards have been competitive in those losses, and the competition has been strong with a combined 11-1 record. The issue has been getting enough touches for talented wide receiver Kaleb Whitehair who has caught 11 balls for 153 yards and a touchdown.
· Inman (0-4) – The Teutons defense has bent and broken in giving up an average of 42 points per game this season. The graduation of Luke Ropp has left Inman searching for that reliable replacement. Tate Gordon has filled in thus far by rushing for 205 yards on 65 carries.
Key Games: (Wk 9) Plainville at LaCrosse
Winner: Plainville
Runner-up: LaCrosse
District 7
· Leoti-Wichita Co. (3-1) – The Indians are off to a 3-1 start thanks to an experienced group of returners. Leoti welcomed back 16 total starters from last season’s 2-7 campaign; including Colton Northrup who has led the ground attack with 357 yards and five touchdowns. The Indians last had a winning season in 2008 when they finished 5-4, but Leoti has not made the playoffs in the last seven years.
· Oakley (3-1) – After scoring 72 and 58 points in their first two games this season, Oakley has been limited to 28 and 22 points, respectively in their past two. The good news for Randall Rath’s group is they sneaked out a 22-20 win over Hugoton in Week 4. The Plainsmen return a solid backfield in Levi Hefner who hopes to get Oakley back in the playoffs after a one-year absence.
· Atwood-Rawlins Co. (2-2) – The Buffaloes suffered blowout losses to Smith Center (50-6) and Stanton County (56-6), but they should be a playoff contender in this district. Backs Blake Bergling and Kyle Zeigler are off to strong starts with 476 and 313 yards rushing, respectively.
· Oberlin-Decatur Co. (1-3) – The Red Devils one win has come at the hands of winless Syracuse. Oberlin finished 3-6 a year ago, and is looking to get back to the playoffs for the first time since back-to-back appearances in 2008 and 2009. Zach May has led the Oberlin offense with 378 yards and four touchdowns this season.
· St. Francis (1-3) – The St. Francis offense has really been struggling through four weeks. In the Indians three losses, Sainty has scored a combined 10 points. Thomas Douthit and Dylan Wolaver have been the work horses for the St. Francis offense as they each have rushed for more than 300 yards.
· Ellis (0-4) – If defending district champion Ellis is to continue its playoff streak, the Railers are going to have to find some offensive explosiveness. Ellis has scored just 33 points all season, while giving up an average of 43.5 points per game. Quarterback Riley Hunsicker is the catalyst for Ellis with more than 900 yards of total offense in their four games.
Key Games: (Wk 5) Leoti-Wichita Co. at Oakley; (Wk 5) Atwood-Rawlins Co. at Ellis; (Wk 7) Atwood-Rawlins Co. at Leoti-Wichita Co.; (Wk 8) Atwood-Rawlins Co. at Oakley; (Wk 9) Oakley at Ellis
Winner: Oakley
Runner-up: Atwood-Rawlins Co.
District 8
· Meade (4-0) – The Buffaloes had to replace 1,000-yard rushers Kellan Hernandez and Jaden Friesen off of 2010’s state championship team. Junior Trevin Wiens has filled in nicely with 651 yards and seven touchdowns through four games. Having a big, experienced offensive line helps, but so does a team, school, and community buying into Coach Moshier’s system. The Buffaloes are again the team to beat
· Stanton County (4-0) – Stanton County hopes to build off last season’s state semifinal finish, but to go a step farther they’ll likely have to beat district foe Meade. The Trojans have plenty of weapons in Marques Logan (590 yards & 14 touchdowns), Fabian Sierra, and quarterback Quinn Kendrick.
· Sublette (2-2) – The Larks returned plenty of experience in 2011 with 13 starters and sit at 2-2 after narrow wins over Cimarron and Southwestern Heights. Quarterback Cole Sjeklocha is the key to a Sublette offense that has averaged only 15 points per game. The Lark defense has been porous in their two losses giving up 58 and 59 points.
· Elkhart (1-3) – Sophomore Alex Gomez has stepped in at quarterback for the graduated Marcus Irsik to lead the Wildcat offense. Elkhart has lost close games to Southwestern Heights (15-14) and Leoti-Wichita Co. (14-12). Junior Moreno is back to lead a defense that has only allowed more than two touchdowns one game this season.
· Satanta (0-4) – The Indians began to get the offense rolling the last two weeks; however, that came in 8-man losses to Ingalls (76-36) and Moscow (84-38). In 11-man games, Santanta is 0-2 and only scored seven points. Either way, the defense must improve having given up 62 points per game this season.
· Syracuse (0-4) – The Bulldogs have been outscored 254-14 so far this season. That computes to 63.5 points per game for Syracuse opponents, and doesn’t equal a lot of wins on the horizon for the Bulldogs.
Key Games: (Wk 5) Stanton County at Meade, (Wk 5) Satanta at Syracuse is the best chance for the Indians and Bulldogs to pick up a win.
Winner: Meade
Runner-up: Stanton County
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