Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Mid-East League Preview

From the Capital-Journal:

 
Riley County Falcons
Coach: Steve Wagner (34th year).
Last year’s record: 5-5

Postseason: lost in 3A first round.
Returning starters: Offense (6), Defense (5).
Top returners: Tyler Halstead, RB/DB, 175, Sr.; Nathan Rignell, C, 185, Sr.; Ty Nelson, WR/DB, 180, Sr.; Trystin McCoy, OG/DT, 200, Jr.; Brett Halstead, OT, 210, Jr.; Westyn Claar, WR, 180, Jr.; Tregan Thomas, OLB, 175, Sr.; Mikey Waggoner, LB, 175, Jr.
Outlook: Wagner won 225th career game last year as Falcons went 5-5 for third time in last five years. … Graduation claimed bulk of skill players with no returning player having more than 139 yards rushing and or 131 yards receiving with Halstead leading both categories. … Three starters return on line, but graduation claimed two-way first-team all-leaguer Clay Reed. … Waggoner led team with 101 tackles and Halstead had 69.
Rock Creek Mustangs
Coach: Mike Beam (26th year).
Last year’s record: 2-7
Postseason: none.
Returning starters: Offense (8), Defense (7).
Top returners: Skyler White, RB/DB; Taybor Vetter, RB; Will Dulohery, OL; Josh Feldkamp, OL; Tucker Gehrt, LB/FB; Sam Ringering, DB; Trevor Henning, TE/LB; Alan Castaneda, DL; Joe Goodmiller, OL; Kadin Neimeyer, OL; Patrick Geyer, OL; Alan Bojorques, DL; Caden Churchman, DE; Logan Streit, DE.
Outlook: White ran for 624 yards and also led the Mustangs in receiving with 174 yards on 13 catches. … Gehrt was leading tackler, but will be coming off a knee injury suffered during baseball.
Rossville Bulldawgs
Coach: Derick Hammes (5th year).
Last year’s record: 13-1
Postseason: Won 3A state championship.
Returning starters: Offense (1), Defense (3).
Top returners: Perry Foster, RB/DB, 6-0, Sr.; Reed Miller, LB, 5-10, Sr.; Nathan Dohrman, OL/DL, 5-11, Sr.; Sheldon Hulbert, LB, 6-2, Sr.
Outlook: Bulldawgs captured third straight Class 3A state title, beating Hesston 48-42 in overtime in championship game. … Only loss came to Silver Lake, denying Rossville fourth straight Mid-East League title. … Graduation claimed bulk of starters, including All-State Top 11 quarterback Jacob Bradshaw (4,508 total yards, 56 touchdowns) as well as All-3A first-teamers Dawson Hammes (172 tackles) and Cole Schumacher (1,158 yards, 21 TDs). … Foster emerged in the backfield and ended up rushing for 724 yards and nine scores. … Hulbert racked up 129 tackles and could take over as quarterback.
Silver Lake Eagles
Coach: CJ Hamilton (42nd year).
Last year’s record: 10-1
Postseason: lost in 3A second round.
Returning starters: Offense (6), Defense (6).
Top returners: Josh Boyd, LB, 5-11, 210, Sr.; Keenan Baird, WR/S, 6-1, 190, Sr.; Mason Jones, RB/S, 5-9, 170, Sr.; Josh Dallman, OT, 6-1, 240, Sr.; Jordan Priddy, LB, 5-6, 140, Sr.; Will Boyd, LB, 5-11, 190, Sr.; Trent Byers, CB, 5-11, 175, Sr.; Tyler Griffin, OG, 5-10, 215, Sr.; Wyatt Heiman, WR, 6-2, 160, Jr.; Dillon Byrne, WR, 6-2, 170, Jr.
Outlook: Hamilton became 20th high school coach in nation to win 400 games, hitting the milestone in a playoff win over Mission Valley. … Only loss was 21-14 to 3A semifinalist Nemaha Central and Eagles handed arch rival and state champion Rossville its only loss. … Giffin will take over at quarterback for the departed Dalton Dultmeier (2,714 yards of total offense, 30 TDs) and threw for 364 yards and nine touchdowns in backup role last year. … Baird (42 catches, 554 yards, 6 TDs) and Heiman (31 catches, 605 yards, 9 TDs) return as top targets. … Josh Boyd had 127 tackles and led Eagles in tackles for second straight year. … Baird and Byers each had five interceptions.
St. Marys Bears
Coach: Myron Flax (3rd year).
Last year’s record: 4-5
Postseason: none.
Returning starters: Offense (7), Defense (6).
Top returners: David Hutley, OL/LB, 5-9, 183, Sr.; Peter Trausch, OG/DE, 6-1, 183, Sr.; Jonathan Brase, TE/LB, 5-11, 182, Sr.; Mitchel Flanagan, QB, 5-11, 176, Sr.; Taegan Schoenfeld, RB/FS, 5-9, 175, Sr.; Trevor Acker, WR/SS, 5-9, 167, Sr.; Austin Rieschick, WR/K, 5-9, 176, Sr.; Matthew Cruickshank, NG, 6-0, 197, Sr.
Outlook: Bears made three-win improvement last year in Flax’s second season as coach. … Bears were 4-1 in non-league play and 0-4 in league. … Schoenfeld rushed for 1,041 of the team’s 1,435 yards and scored 11 of its 15 touchdowns on the ground. … Flanagan missed two games and threw for 429 yards and 4 TDs. … Five of top-seven tacklers return, led by Acker, who had 91 tackles. … Schoenfeld (60), Jonathan Brase (48), Matthew Cruickshank (38) and David Hutley (33) all had at least 30 tackles with Schoenfeld also picking off three passes.
Wabaunsee Chargers
Coach: Brian Henry (10th year).
Last year’s record: 4-5
Postseason: none.
Returning starters: Offense (4), Defense (4).
Top returners: Kolby Droegemeier, RB/LB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Chase Nelson, TE/S, 6-1, 160, Sr.; Noah Mills, C/DE, 6-3, 185, Jr.; Josh Wurtz, TE/CB, Sr.
Outlook: Chargers posted most wins since 2013, but missed out on making playoffs for second straight year. … Four of five starters on offensive line graduated with Mills the lone returner to a unit which helped clear the way for more than 2,000 rushing yards. … Droegemeier, a four-year starter, ran for 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. … No other back who had more than two carries returns and the Chargers must also replace quarterback Kameron Wurtz, who threw for 565 yards. … Leading tackler and two-time All-Class 2-1A pick Mitchell Wertzberger graduated after having a team-high 118 tackles last year. … Droegemeier is tops among the returners with 69 tackles.
Brent Maycock
MID-EAST LEAGUE
2016 Standings
League Overall
*Silver Lake … 5-0 … 10-1
Rossville … 4-1 … 13-1
Riley County … 3-2 … 5-5
Wabaunsee … 1-3 … 4-5
Rock Creek … 1-4 … 2-7
St. Marys … 0-4 … 4-5
*—Champion
Returning all-leaguers
Offense
Running back — Kolby Droegemeier, Wabaunsee (1st); Perry Foster, Rossville (1st); Taegan Schoenfeld, St. Marys (1st); Skyler White, Rock Creek (1st).
Line — Josh Dallman, Silver Lake (1st); Will Dulohery, Rock Creek (1st).
Specialist — Trent Byers, Silver Lake (1st).
Defense
Linebacker — Trevor Acker, St. Marys (1st); Josh Boyd, Silver Lake (1st); Tucker Gehrt, Rock Creek (1st); Mikey Waggoner, Riley County (1st).
Secondary — Keenan Baird, Silver Lake (1st); Tyler Halstead, Riley County (1st).
Punter — Ty Nelson, Riley County (1st).

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