We take a look at some of the most impressive things to happen in week one of the high school football season. If you think you have something that should make our list each week, be sure to tweet @sportsinkansas or email sportsinkansas@gmail.com as stats/suggestions/tips are always welcome.
6A
Wichita Northwest
Wichita Northwest cruised to a 58-7 victory on Friday over rival Bishop Carroll. While its not a shocker that they won it was in how they won. Cencere Thompson, Jayce Glasper, Aaron Bohannon and Michael Lopez will be a major problem for many teams this season. Nice way to start the season for HC Steve Martin but even more impressive with the defense led by Marc Marinelli to only allow seven points against a loaded Carroll Squad.
Best defensive player in the state?
Michael Boganowski very well could be as he had 21 tackles in the loss to Hays. The Division I recruit also had 107 yards receving (2 TD) in the season opener.
Gardner Edgerton rushing attack
GE had over 330 yards rushing to open up the season as they blasted SM East 42-7 in week one of the season. Dawson Kindler, also an all-state javelin thrower, is back after an all-state season at running back last year in which he led the Trailblazers to a state runner-up finish. QB Bravin Powell is a rising star and had over 100 yards rushing with 2 TD in the opener. Are they the favorite on the 6A West?
Wesley Edison of Free State
Edison had 367 passing yards and 171 rushing yards as the Firebirds knocked off a very solid Olathe West team in week one of the season.
Trevor Garlington of BV Northwest
Garlington had a big night in the win over SJA as he had a 97 yard kickoff return for TD, along with a 53 yard TD reception. He also had 8 receptions for 139 yards. Only a junior. QB Nate Livingston also had a nuge hight with over 300 yards of offense.
Manhattan
The Indians, last years 6A champion, knocked off Derby for the third game in a row dating back to last season. Carter Aslin was huge in week one with 12 of 19 passing for 156 yards (1 TD) along with 190 yards on the ground (1 TD). Charles Morgan also added two touchdowns and nearly 100 yards rushing for Manhattan.
5A
Sam Parks of Maize South
Kickers don’t often get the spotlight but this is very much deserved for Parks. He was 6-of-6 on XPs against Andover but how about the two made field goals of 49 and 51 yards. Great start for the Wichita area kicker.
Drew Kemp of Maize
How do you replace Avery Johnson? Well you really don’t but Kemp did a heck of a job shining in game one as a sophomore. He passed for nearly 200 yards (3 TD) in the opener. Huge matchup this week against Andover Central (1-0).
Blue Valley Southwest
Southwest beat Blue Valley for the first time in varsity football in school history with 13 prior losses. Dylan Dunn, who passed for over 2700 yards last season, opened up with 300 plus yards passing (4 TD). Huge matchup this week against state power Miege (4A).
Malik Bah of Hays
Bah rushed for 218 yards on 40 carries on Friday night just to show how durable of a RB that he is. The non-senior all-state pick from SIK helped Hays to a victory over Junction City on Friday as Coach Tony Crough continues to reload, not rebuild after losing two loaded senior classes the last two seasons.
Great Bend
The Panthers, led by Erin Beck, knocked of traditional 4A power McPherson 29-16 in week one of the season. They lost this same game 44-27 last season. GB will take on Hays in a WAC showdown this week in Hays. Last season they lost this game 33-7. Great turnaround for Great Bend as they were 0-9 in 2021, 0-7 in 2022.
Omari Elias of Kapaun
Elias, last seasons non-senior POY from SIK on offense, rushed for 22 yards and four touchdowns in the 72-14 win over Wichita South Thursday. Dylan Hamilton also had four TD passes.
4A
Kendall Holtzman of Labette County
Holtzman, who passed for over 2,000 yards on a 2-7 team as a junior last year, was outstanding in week one for LCHS and HC Sean Price. The Grizzlies lost this game against Circle last year 50-0 and would win 40-28 in the upset on Friday night at home, setting up a huge rivalry matchup this week against Parsons (1-0, 3A). Holtzman was 17 of 23 for 332 yards (5 passing TD, 1 rushing TD).
Declan Battle of Louisburg
Battle had five rushing TDs and 135 yards rushing, 100 passing in the big win over Rogers Heritage (AR). We expect him to be one of the top players in 4A this season.
Trey Carter and Jeter Purdy of Atchison
Purdy had five receptions for 155 yards (3 TD) along with a 103 yard return for TD and an interception in the win over Ottawa. Trey Carter passed for 374 yards (5 TD) and rushded for 62 more yards (1 TD), he also picked off a pass on defense. Nice 1-0 start to the season for HC Jim Smith.
Quinton Harding of Chanute
Harding was outstanding in the win over Augusta on Friday as he racked up 351 yards rushing along with three rushing touchdowns. People asked how to replace Ty Leedy? Here is a good start for the Blue Comets. Huge matchup versus Pittsburg High in Pitt this week.
3A
Collin McDaniel of Scott City
McDaniel had a big night in the win over Cimarron as he rushed for 216 yards (2 TD). He also added three catches for 37 yards and two more touchdowns. Also a shout out to Dayanara Castillo for becoming the first female to score in a varsity game for Scott City as she kicked an XP in the contest.
Max Younie of Pratt
Younie had 11 carries for 200 yards (4 TD) along with 155 yards passing (2 TD) in the win over Larned on Friday night.
Donald Collier, Wichita Trinity Academy
Collier had a huge night in week one as expected with eight receptions for 212 yards, 2 TD, 13 tackles and a forced fumble. Don’t be surprised if he blows up with more recruiting interest. We were at Trinity practice last week and we feel he is a major sleeper in 2024. Collier and QB Harvey Zimmerman should be one of the better combos in the state this season as QB/WR, we will see how the rest of the team can step up this year for a major improvement? Keep in mind they had about 15 plaeyrs not too long ago and are now are 30. Nice start to the season in win over Sacred Heart.
Clay Center
Clay Center knocked off rival Wamego in a 3A vs 4A showdown on Friday, 19-7. The Clay Center defense was the difference maker with four turnovers on the Wamego offense in the game. Clay Center will be a major factor in 3A.
Baxter Springs
Payton Gaines and Jacob Grant are looking to be a good duo in Southeast Kansas this season as the program looks to be much improved. Gaines passed for 245 yards and 5 TD in the blowout win over SE-Cherokee.
Young players for Girard
While it’s not a surprise the Trojans won on Friday night over Columbus, 32-8. What’s surprising is the immediate impact of young players. Freshman Kam Smith, one of the top freshman baseball prospects in Kansas, shined at QB in his debut as the starter replacing all-state player Luke Niggemann. Junior Scott Moore (6’4” 230) was huge for the Trojans and we feel could be one of the better TEs in 3A this season as he had three touchdowns, three two point conversions, starting on both sides of the ball. Freshman Korvin Bowin picked off a pass in the game to seal the win and returned it for 40 yards. Sophomore Junior Love had nearly 100 yards rushing in the game, while sophomore Aiden Ashbacher added a touchdown. Senior All-state hopeful Drake Kotzman (6’6” 335) had a safety in the game and will look to be one of the best 3A lineman in Kansas this season. Showdown versus Colgan this Thursday.
Landon Weide of Iola
Weide shined in the blowout victory over Osawatomie in just a quarter and a half of play. He had 161 yards passing for four touchdowns on 11 of 12 passing.
Bill Arnold of Topeka Hayden
Arnold picked up win #200 as he knocked off Olpe 41-7 on Friday night. Arnold has been the coach at Hayden for 17 years and was at Scott City for seven years prior. One of the most consistent coaches in the state.
Willie Dorsey of Wellsville
Dorsey is one of the best signal callers in Kansas and likes to spread it all over the place including completing passes to six different receivers on Friday for 245 yards (3 TD) on 19 of 24 passing.
Cheney
Josh Burdick had 217 yards passing (4 TD) along with 140 total yards for Jack Voth in the win over 2A power Kingman.
2A
Griffin Schmacher and TMP
TMP cruised to a 42-0 victory in the debut of head coach Grant Stephenson who came from running a very successful Plainville program. Griffin Schumacher had 250 yards rushing (4 TD) and a 75 yard punt return for TD in the contest.
Nemaha Central
The Thunder cruised to a 31-6 victory over traditional power Holton in a 2A vs 3A Big 7 showdown on Friday. How do you replace 2,000-yard back Cooper Hajek? You put in his sophomore brother Carter who had over 140 yards (2 TD) on Friday.
Max Evans of Russell
Evans had four receptions for 171 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos defeated Elis 47-28 on Friday night. Russell opened the eyes of many last year under head coach Christien Ozores and looks to do again this year. They face Plainville in week two.
Norton
Eli Jones had a big night with 20 of 33 passing for 319 yards as Tyce Melvin had 11 of those receptions for 203 yards. Roman Hauser had two sacks and two hurries.
Hoisington
Hoisington won 39-7 on Friday against Hesston notching their second win over them in program history.
Riverton
Riverton had a nice 35-8 win over rival Galena on Friday night. They lost this same game last year 32-7. Lake Crowder had five carries for 179 yards rushing in the win. Nice win for head coach Danny Weaver.
Ace Monihen and Holden Ziegler of Council Grove
A big part of the turnaround last season and both are back again for a couple more seasons. Moniehen had 122 yards passing (3 TD) along with 99 rushing ( TD) as well as 10 tackles, four TFLs. Ziegler who is one of the best 2A lineman had five pancakes, five tackles (3 TFL)
Garden Plain
GP knocked off rival Conway Springs, 20-14, on Thursday night as they start the season 1-0 and will now have a rival showdown with 3A contender Cheney on Friday on the road. While GP did win this last year 6-0 against CS, many considered this a major upset to start the season as 1A Conway Springs is a major contender in the class. Can 2A Garden Plain make some noise this year under head coach Todd Rice? It looks like they are off to a good start.
Osage City
With the loss of All-Everything Landon Boss it was a major question mark to see how Osage City would be at the QB position. Kasen Parsons has answered that nicely so far with 314 yards passing (3 Td) and 62 yards rushing (1 TD). Dylan Theel was also big with 165 total yards (101 rushing, 64 receiving) and a TD. Quenten Stark and Jess Reece also went over 100 yards receiving with a TD a piece.
Camden Horak of Rossville
A last name you cant not think of when you think of Rossville football. Camden was big on Friday in the win over 1A state champion St. Marys (30-22) with nearly 300 yards passing (2 TD)
Sabetha
We feel they are one of the best in the class and started out with a great 30-0 victory over Perry Lecompton. Marcus Bauman had two touchdown receptions in the game and Sabetha also dominated on the ground with nearly 200 yards rushing.
1A
St. Mary’s Colgan
Tucker Harrell had 215 yards rushing along with 135 yards passing as Colgan knocked off 3A Frontenac 27-20 at home on Friday night. Teammate Cooper Simmons had three rushing TDs (170 total rushing yards) in week one. Two of the best players in 1A football for 2023. Simmons was also the SIK 2-1A baseball player of the year last season. Harrell is one of the most explosive players in the state with a 335 power clean at 175 pounds.
Marion
Marion knocked off last years 1A state runner up Inman, 46-22, on Friday. Trevor Schaffers and Jack Lanning combined for nearly 400 yards rushing in the contest. Can the Warriors be a major contender on the 1A west? Surprises in week one with losses to both Inman and Conway Springs, leave this side of the state with many more contenders than one may have thought.
Corey Crumrine of Sedgwick
Crumrine had 345 yards passing (4 TD) in the season opening 42-7 win over Hutch Trinity. Sedgwick will be a major factor on the 1A west. Jackson Scarlett was his go to as he had 7 receptions for 171 yards and 3 TD.
8M-I
Trent Long of Clifton Clyde
Long had a big night with 165 yards passing (2 TD) and 218 rushing yards (3 TD) along with 16 tackles on defense.
Lyndon
Lyndon blanked Lebo 54-0 (halftime) in the debut of QB Tanner Heckel who had four total scores in the game. We are leaning towards Lyndon being the favorite in this class as they are absolutely loaded with talent including Division I signee Kaeden Massey (KSU) who is 6’8” 275 pounds.
Wes Anderson of Frankfort
Frankfort sophomore Wes Anderson is a name to remember this season as he passed for over 300 yards and five touchdowns on Friday night.
Hector Gomez of Macksville
Gomez had 321 yards rushing, 51 yards receiving, for five total touchdowns on Friday night (3 rushing 2 receiving)
Creyo Koop, West Elk
Koop had 171 yards rushing on five carries, all five going for touchdowns. Koop is a two-time all-state wrestler and has two wrestling seasons left. One of the top multi-sport small school athletes in Kansas.
Jace Wunderlich, Central Burden
Wunderlich had 370 total yards on Friday night with 7 total touchdowns. 145 passing, 59 rushing, 165 punt return yards along with four interceptions on defense. Incredible numbers to start the season, all in 2.5 quarters of play.
8M-II
Marmaton Valley
MV blanked Oswego 50-0 in three quarters of play. They look to be a team to watch in the 8-man ranks of Southeast Kansas. Brayden Lawson ahd 299 yards passing (4 TD) and a rushing TD, while teammate Jaedon Granere had 13 catches for 163 yards (3 TD).
Brandon Schmelzle of Axtell
Likely the top 8M-II player in the state had a big junior debut in week one. Two interceptions on defense, took the opening kickoff to the house for a TD. One passing Td, two rushing TD along with 92 yards rushing. Eli Broxterman was also big with 95 yards (3 TD) and 9.5 tackles. Axtell has won 27 games in a row as the two-time 8M-II state champions.
Kinsley
Kinsley knocked off ranked Victoria 20-14 in the season opener. How much have they improved this season under head coach Corey Dunlap? They lost this game 49-0 last year.
6-Man
Ashland
Ashland knocked off defending champion Cunningham in a thrilling 32-22 game on Friday. Ashland led just 8-6 at the half. This was a rematch of last years state championship game.
Logan McCarty of Cheylin
Cheylin senior Logan McCarty had nearly 300 yards of offense in the game with five total touchdowns as he looks to be one of, if not the best, player in the class this season. Pablo Bermudez is also expected to have a big year and had three TD receptions in the 50-0 win over Cheyenne Wells (CO) on Friday.
Blake Carter of Chetopa
Carter had six rushing TDs in the 78-33 win over Altoona-Midway. First win for Chetopa since 2021.
Ben Meehan of Waverly
The senior standout quarterback had six total touchdowns in the 54-6 win over Southern Coffey County.
