QUINTER – On Friday night, the Quinter Bulldogs moved to 6-1 overall, 4-0 in Eight-Man, Division I, District 7, with a 34-18 home victory against Northwest Kansas League rival Hoxie. Quinter won the contest in a much different way than many eight-man teams in the western half of the state: with defense.
The Bulldogs, who have ranked in the top-10 in scoring defense in Eight-Man, Division I the last four years, collected 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Senior Brian Ochs, one of Kansas’ top linemen, collected 3 1/2 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception. Ochs has 10 1/2 sacks this season and 28 ½ sacks in the last three years. The Bulldogs put continuous pressure on Hoxie senior quarterback Colton Spresser and held the Indians to 202 yards.
“That’s what my coach always taught me – get to the quarterback, get to the quarterback, get to the quarterback,” Ochs said.
This season, the western half is known much more for its speedy playmakers – Thunder Ridge senior running back Joel Struckhoff, Smith Center senior running back Truitt Kuhlmann, Moscow’s and Otis-Bison’s talent at the skill positions, Hill City’s Dylan Anderson, Osborne’s Damon Schurr, and many others – but the west also has multiple all-state caliber defensive players and units.
Scott City Beavers (7-0)
Entering this season, Scott City had permitted 10.2 points per game since fifth-year coach Glenn O’Neil took as coach. They have ranked 11th, 10th, 4th, 1st and 1st in Class 3A scoring defense in the last five years, according to preppowerindex.com. O'Neil lists coaching continuity, discipline in the assignments and athletic playmakers as the main reason for the Beavers' defensive success in the 4-4 front. Before O'Neil took over as head coach, he was the Beavers' defensive coordinator for 10 years. When O'Neil became head coach, Jim Turner, a defensive assistant, took over as defensive coordinator, a position he still holds.
This year, Scott City outscored its first six opponents 239-39 to rank sixth in 3A in scoring defense. On Friday, the Beavers won their first district game 46-0 over Southwestern Heights. Colborn Couchman has six sacks to lead Scott City, while Brayden Robinson and Brett O’Neil, the coach’s son, have each picked off four passes.
Cheylin LB Noah Jones
Cheylin has been one of the state’s surprises for the second straight year. The Cougars enjoyed a seven-win improvement and finished a school record 10-1 last fall. Then, Cheylin graduated a large senior class. Many expected a drop back into the pack. Instead, the Cougars are 6-1 and are in position to win Eight-Man, Division II, District 8.
Jones, who had 53 tackles and five sacks last year, is the lone linebacker in the 5-1 defense. He has a team-high 98 tackles and has helped Cheylin pick up several goal line stands, including one in the final two minutes that preserved a critical 26-18 victory over Sharon Springs in Week 4. Cheylin has outscored its opponents 258-94 and delivered back-to-back shutouts in the last two weeks.
“He does a good job,” Cheylin coach Max Keltz said. “He is quick. He plays pretty low. He plays with his pads in front of him. He is a smart enough kid that we give him certain looks and certain reads and he does a good job with that. The kids that we have got in front of him in our 5-1, it’s kind of designed to funnel the ball to him and he is a good tackler. The kids in front of him are doing a good job and allowing our defense to work.”
Ashland’s Giles Fox
Last year, Ashland reached the Eight-Man, Division II sub-state championship game and lost to Otis-Bison. This fall, the Bluejays have continued to be one of the west’s favorites. They moved to 7-0 with a 52-6 victory over Moscow on Friday. Moscow was averaging 74 points per game entering the contest and was on pace to break the eight-man state records for points per game, total points and total offense.
Fox collected 159 tackles, six sacks and four fumble recoveries last year. This season, he has helped Ashland outscore its opponents 374-64. Fox has 82 tackles, four interceptions and four fumble recoveries for a team that has forced 18 turnovers. Dighton is the only team to score more than 14 points on Ashland.
Thunder Ridge
No question, the Longhorns are known more their offense, especially Struckhoff, who could become Kansas’ all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns by years’ end. But the Longhorns’ defense is outstanding, too.
Thunder Ridge defensive coordinator Brent Overmiller has helped the Longhorns’ defense improve in each of his three years. Struckhoff and senior Austin Herman are playmakers in the secondary. Struckhoff is a four-year starter, while Herman had 128 tackles for Northern Valley last year and transferred to Thunder Ridge this fall. Seniors Dakota Foreman and Dillon Coomes each weigh more than 220 pounds and are forces up front. Cade Dennis has played well at nose guard and sophomore Garrett Krueger has been solid at outside linebacker as the Longhorns’ lone first year starters. The Longhorns have permitted 30 points in seven games, including three straight shutouts.
Palco
The Roosters have fallen back after a 4-0 start and lost its chance at the postseason with a 46-0 loss to Victoria on Friday. But the 4-3 Roosters have two outstanding defensive players in senior defensive back Kody Hamel and senior linebacker Anthony Keller.
Palco runs a 3-1 defense, which allows Keller to roam freely and use his instincts behind a small defensive line where the biggest player is 187 pounds. Hamel, known for his speed and playmaking abilities, can chase down nearly any rusher. Keller had 105 tackles last year and already has 116 tackles this season, including five games with at least 19 tackles. Hamel has collected 109 stops, including 28 stops against Northern Valley and 24 versus Logan.
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.
