The start of the Kansas high school football season is here as week one action kicks off tonight. To get prepared for all the action for Kanzaland area teams from the Big Seven League, Twin Valley League, Northeast Kansas League and a few other teams we have a Friday Night Fever preview of all the games. 

Week One Games to be Broadcasted:
103.9 KNZA & Sabetha Channel - Centralia at Sabetha (click here to listen & to watch)
92.1 KMZA - Onaga at Frankfort (click here to listen)
KAIR 93.7 FM - Maur Hill-Mount Academy at Jefferson County North (click here to listen)
Holton Channel - Holton at Atchison (click here to listen & watch) 
KAIR Sports Channel - Oskaloosa at McLouth (click here to listen)

Nemaha Central at ACCHS
The Thunder sounded against ACCHS last year as Nemaha Central cruised past the Tigers 54-6. This year Nemaha Central enters their third year as the Thunder and through the first two seasons they’ve posted a 17-4 record with a pair of playoff appearances. Last year the Thunder won the Big Seven League crown, snapped Holton’s long League win streak, won Districts and a playoff game finishing 10-1. This year they bring back quarterback Ryan Hasenkamp (1,545 yards passing 15 TDs and 567 yards rushing 12 TDs) to led the way but replace plenty of other positions with new starters but with 55 guys are out for football generating plenty of competition. Guys like Jacob Koelzer ,along with Trenton and Mitchell Henry look to fill offensive skill position holes, while Chase Kramer is back to lead a defense that gave up 9.4 points per game last year outside of the playoff loss to Rossville.

ACCHS Tigers battled adversity last year finishing 3-6 but come into this season in a prime spot to take strides forward with nine starters back on each side of the ball and 33 players out for football. But the Tigers will be young as 22 of their 33 players are freshman and sophomore, so returns like Lane Bowen (QB), Chance Liggett (RB), Hunter Ostertag (RB) and Ryder McAlexander will be looked upon to lead the team. Tigers will have to shore up the defense to take strides forward after giving up 43 points per game last year.

Riverside at Perry Lecompton

Both these teams finished with four total wins a year ago but the Kaws blistered the Cyclones 33-0 in week four.  Yet, the Cyclones made the playoffs and now Perry joins them in the Class 3A ranks.  Riverside returns starting quarterback Andrew Miller, who threw for more than 900 yards.  Gaige Olivero ran for nearly 700 and earned top league honors as the leading tackler at linebacker.  Coach Scot Koranda knows his team must cut down on turnovers and mistakes and perhaps lean more on an experienced line and run game after losing their top three receivers.  Several talented sophomores will be forced into starting roles for the Cyclones this season.

Perry Lecompton also has concerns with depth as Coach Mike Paramore begins his 16th season. Jordan Spreer takes over at QB while Cole Kellum returns after posting 800 yards rushing a year ago.  The Kaws also return their top three tacklers, including Nick Quinlan, who led the team with 113.  A trio of the 13 experienced seniors on the roster will lead the front lines in: Tristan Damme, TJ Turpin and Torin Van Nest.    

Hiawatha at Royal Valley

Three years ago, the Panthers went 0-9 and then hired Jake Lott as their new football coach.  Two years later, Royal Valley went 6-3 and barely missed the playoffs in 2015.  In fact, RV beat Hiawatha 61-6 in the second game of the season and kept momentum rolling into a six-game win streak last year.  The Panthers return 14 of 22 starting positions and have a very strong core of experienced lineman, led by all-league senior, Jacob Box.  This first game will showcase new starters at almost all skill positions with big shoes to fill toting the football for the Panthers, who drop to Class 3A. 

Hiawatha is turning to a new coach in 2016 with hopes of resurrecting their program after compiling a 1-17 record the past two years.  Ted Brown takes over in his first 11-man coach job and inherits a team that had only five seniors on the roster.  Despite only a couple juniors on the team this year, the Redhawks have 44 out for high school football and renewed optimism with a strong group of seniors and numerous underclassmen that are loaded with potential.  Joseph Kunkel returns as the quarterback leader and Tyrese Cook is a weapon at receiver.  Four senior starters are back on the offensive line as Hiawatha looks to made strides, especially on defense, to take the initial steps in turning the program around. 

Chapman at Jeff West

It’s a new NCKL opponent for the Jeff West Tigers to open the season as the Fighting Irish come to Meriden.  Jeff West was 5-4 a year ago and made the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.  This year, that post-season appearance could be more difficult with Hayden and Santa Fe Trail joining the 4A D2 District, along with Holton.  The Tigers have one of the best dual threat quarterbacks returning in Hunter Dean and fellow senior Austin Ramey is the lead back.  But, Jeff West has some huge questions upfront with five new starting lineman for 11th year Coach Steve Johnson. 

Chapman went 4-6 last season and also has several newcommers in the trenches this year.  The Irish also have new starters at runningback at receiver, but should be improved on defense with top two tacklers returning in seniors, Tanner Hettenbach and Dakota Davis.           

Holton at Atchison

Despite starting the season 2-3 and be dethroned as the Big 7 Champs, Holton responsed by winning seven straight games last season and advanced all the way to the 4A D2 Title game before falling to Holcomb.  Coach Brooks Barta enters his 21st season with 202 Wildcat wins and has nine players with starting experience.  Brandon Lenherr, Tel Wittmer and Aaron Bain remain a force on the line of scrimmage and there are a ton of talented runningbacks itching to carry the football.  Spencer Baum is the most experienced (755 yards), but several athletes will get a chance in the wishbone attack including Dylan Aeshliman and Parker Zeller, who returns as top linebackers after posting 175 total tackles last season.  Mason Strader takes over at quarterback for Holton, who went 9-4 a year ago.

Atchison also has a new quarterback after KCAL player of the year, Wykeen Gill, took his talents and 2,400 total yards to Kansas State.  The Redmen started the season 8-0 last year, but lost their final game of the regular season by more than 11 points, (to KC Piper) which cost them a playoff berth.  Coach Jim Smith is six wins shy of 200 in his 19th season and returns 22 lettermen, including nine starters and the KCAL defensive player of the year, Adam Smith, who now takes over at quarterback as well.  Dai Coye Haley is a Division One prospect on the defensive line and Bryce Enzbrenner earned top state honors at receiver.  The athletic Redmen must fill a few holes on up front in this first meeting between these teams since 2009.  (42-14 Holton ‘09)       

Valley Heights at Troy

Expectations have never been bigger for Troy football as the Trojans made it to their first-ever Sub-State game two years ago and last season took a 10-game win streak all the way to the 2A State Championship game where they fell 30-29 to Phillipsburg.  Derek Jasper is 27-8 in three years as Troy Coach and returns nearly every skill player from an offense that churned out more than 42 points per game.  The Trojans are the favorites to win their first TVL Title if they can fill some big holes across the line next to All-Stater, Wil Smith.  Quarterback, Reid Greaser and back, Cuttar Huss are dynamic play-makers with multiple other weapons surrounding them.  Troy had 36 takeaways and also has seven starters back on defense, but must improve, as a 27-0 victory against Valley Heights was their only shutout last season.

A 2-7 mark last year is disappointing on paper but not telling on how competitive the Valley Heights Mustangs were last year with three losses by five points or less and five losses to playoff teams. Same obstacles as last year face the Mustangs this year as they battle depth issues and lack size. What they lack in size they will look to make up in athleticism and speed and with the return of Logan Woodyard at quarterback and Hunter Stevenson at runningback the Mustangs have experience to build upon (combined for 1,300 yards rushing last year). On defense the Mustangs must replace their top two tacklers.

Washington County at Doniphan West

It was all Tigers last year when they squared off against the Mustangs of Doniphan West, as Washington County won 34-7 and went on to finish the year 10-1 winning their first ever Twin Valley League football title and made it to the 3A playoffs second round. While a multitude of experience is back for the Tigers replacing a dynamic player like Konnor Penning will be tough; Jerrod Hoover takes over at quarterback after going 5-1 as a starter last year when Penning was hurt. Hunter Keir is back in the backfield after rushing for 1,450 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Dawson Miller returns from an injury and one of the strongest points of the Tigers team last year the defense has seven starters back with two All-Leaguer backs (defense gave up 13.7 points per game last year).

Doniphan West turns to a new football coach for the second time in three years as Rob Randall takes over following a 4-5 season for the Mustangs.  D-West also lost nine talented seniors, which accounted for the majority of their starting spots last season. Levi Watts is a third-year starting junior at quarterback and has some weapons, like receiver Luke Blevins and runningback Carson Lackey (499 yards rushing). Yet the young team must find new starters to step in across the line of scrimmage, like Wetmore transfer, Newt Smith.  The Mustangs need big improvement on defense and will lean early on returning linebackers Landon Parsons and Clayton Rideout to venture through a tough schedule.   

Onaga at Frankfort

Rivalry renewed that’s what happens Friday night when Onaga and Frankfort square off on the football field for the first time since 2007 (Frankfort won 12-6). The Onaga Buffaloes move down to 8-man football this year had Travis Callaway takes over as Head Coach after a 1-8 season last year. Lack of numbers hurt the Buffaloes last year in 11-man action and they enter this year already hit by the injury bug with a few key returners already out with two gone for the year. Experience does return as nine guys with starting experience are back overall for Onaga; Logan Marten takes the reins at quarterback, while the Buffaloes will look to Ben Kufahl and Brendan Melvin to make an impact out of the backfield as the offense looks to pick up the pace this year after struggling to put together drives last year.

Frankfort for the second straight year tallied a 5-4 mark with all four losses to playoff teams, this season as Frankfort alum, Nick Anderson takes over the high school program after 10 years as the junior high head coach. Plenty of guys will have to step up and fill voids for the Wildcats this year but one position Coach Anderson doesn’t worry about is quarterback as Adam Kenworthy is back after a 1,000-plus yard passing season with 15 touchdowns and ran for 683 yards. Outside of Kenworthy not much offensive production is back as the Wildcats will look to replace a dynamic player of the caliber of Jase Suther. Wildcats have their eyes on playoffs for the first time since 2011 if they can put things together.

Clifton-Clyde  at Linn

Clifton-Clyde as dominated the series with Linn winning four of the past five games played and winning an average of 37.5 points, including a 56-0 win last year. While the matchup has been one-sided it will be a physical game as both team look to improve upon 2-7 marks last year. Linn has plenty of playmakers back including quarterback, Chase McGatlin who is looking to return to a 1,000 yard passing season like two years ago when he was a sophomore. McGatlin will have plenty of weapons with the likes of 6’5 target, Dillon Cooper at tight end and Kalen Richardson and Evan Bott are back in the backfield after 5.6 yard per carry average for Richardson last year and 1,000-plus yard season for Bott last year. Seven starters back on each side of the ball the Bulldogs will look to improve their defense that gave up 48.7 points per game last year.

After a playoff Semifinal appearance in 2013 the Eagles of Clifton-Clyde have only had three wins the last two years but this season bring back six starters on each side of the ball and look to continue their physical style of play. Quarterback, Caleb Charbonneau and runningback, Cordell Cyr accounted for most of the offense last year and both are back, while the line of scrimmage will be filled with experience, too. Just like Linn figuring out things on defense to stop teams will be a huge focus after giving up 36-plus points in all seven losses last year including 50-plus points in four of the seven losses.

St. Mary’s Academy at Axtell

Axtell opens the season at home but only will have three home games on the year and the Eagles want to start the season on the right foot when they host St. Mary’s Academy. The Eagles have established a winning atmosphere the last few years with a 10-2 mark last year and two straight trips to the Sub-State round of the playoffs. But this year Coach Eric Detweiler has to hit the reset button with the team as only one starter returns (Burke Deters), meaning many inexperienced and young players will be in prominent roles for Axtell. Numbers are slim for the Eagles and along with the size of the team and a few players are suspended for Week one, leaving the Eagles needing contributions from all the guys on the roster. The quarterback spot falls to freshman, Quinn Buessing in week one, while sophomore, Hunter Koch will work into the signal caller position also during the season. The Eagles opponents, St. Mary’s Academy went 4-4 last year averaging 34.3 points per game but gave up 34.4 points per game.

Hanover at Lebo

Back to back years of State runner-up finishes and 12-1 records have the Hanover Wildcats hungry get back to the State title game and finish it off this year. The Wildcats move down to 8-Man Division II this year and despite graduating several key players, plenty of experience and athleticism is back. It starts with quarterback, Will Bruna who returns after a recording setting junior season throwing for 3,452 yards and 56 touchdowns last year. Another key man back for the Wildcats is Adam Zarybnicky who caught 46 passes last year for 591 yards nine touchdowns, while leading the defense with 115 tackles. The Wildcats look set up to continue to be an action packed high flying offense and the defense which was strong last year looks to be even stronger. Hanover starts the season on the road with a showdown against Lebo who posted a 3-6 mark last year but returns six starters on each side of the ball this season including quarterback, Drew Ott. But if the Lebo wants to challenge Hanover they will have to focus o defense as they gave up 46-plus points in all six of their losses last year.

Blue Valley-Randolph at Colony-Crest

Improvement that is what the Rams over Blue Valley showed last year finishing with two more wins than the previous year. The Rams are battling numbers issues like many other area teams and have to replace All-League player Chase Carey this season. Sophomore, Cole Montgomery takes over the quarterback spot that Carey anchored last year and he will look to rely upon returning runninback, Trevor Schwerdt who led the team in rushing last year, touting a 4.8 yards per carry average. The Rams biggest problem over the past seasons has been finding ways to stop their opponents as they will look to improve upon a defense that gave up 44 points per game last year. Colony-Crest finished 6-4 last year making the playoffs but this year only return two starters.

Valley Falls at Wetmore

It’s plenty of new for both teams coming into the season opener as Wetmore is set for their first varsity football season since 1987 after going 2-5 as a JV team last year, while their opponent Valley Falls makes the move to 8-Man football this year and has a new Head Coach as Nick Cummings takes over for long time Dragon coach, Rod Bunde. The Dragons went just 1-8 last year and have to replace quarterback, Marty Gatzemeyer but bring back Chris Yates who has some experience at signal caller, while Coach Cummings also inherits a strong returning line as Cummings comes in from Highland Park and looks to build up Valley Falls as they start 8-Man competition.

The Wetmore Cardinals restarted their football program last year with a JV team, but picked up valuable game experience in seven games including four against varsity teams. Former Bern coach, Rick Schnacker leads the Cardinals and returns some guys from last year that will be looked to for impact plays as Garrett Evans, Alex Potter and Ethan Osterhaus all return and figure to work into the running game. Sophomore, Joel Hutfles takes over at quarterback and will look to learn and progress as the Cardinals battle depth issues and a lack of size with only two players over 200lbs.

Horton at Pleasant Ridge

Pleasant Ridge is coming off an 8-2 campaign and their first League and District Title since 2009. Entering his fifth year, Coach Pat McCollim lost 14 seniors and the Rams are down in numbers on the overall roster, while also having to replace four-year starting quarterback, Nick Holmes.  P-Ridge does have several talented sophomores that have secured starting roles and look strong across the line with Will Douthitt and Nick Stiver.  Fellow seniors Elliott Clay and Nic Bridges also return to the team after earning All-League honors last year.  The Rams have a favorable schedule and are the returning NEKL champions. 

Horton suffered through a 0-9 campaign last year, including a 48-7 setback against Pleasant Ridge.  Because only five seniors graduated, the Chargers return most of their team for Coach Nick Dowell.  Cameron Smith, is the senior signal caller back to lead the spread attack after throwing for nearly 1,100 yards.  Conner Dean ran for another 637 and the offensive line returns more than half their starters, despite losing some size and depth.  The leader is third-year starter, Micheal Gabbard.  With 8 of their top 11 tacklers back, Horton must tighten up on defense and if they limit mistakes, should have a chance to win several games in the second half of the season. 

Oskaloosa at McLouth

The Bears and Bulldogs enter Friday night’s season opener at McLouth with young teams. Despite taking last year’s meeting on October 2, 44-0, Oskaloosa enters the 2016 season having to replace nearly 60 percent of its total offense from a year ago, while McLouth does return 10 starters on each side of the ball, but still a lot of youth. Both teams return sophomore signal callers who gained valuable varsity experience from last year, with Jaxon Webb back to quarterback the Bears and Jeremy Carlton for the Bulldogs. Early on the key is going to be each defense standing tough, and whichever offense can find a way to gel should have the upper hand Friday night.

MH-MA at JCN

Maur Hill-Mount Academy and Jefferson County North head into Friday night’s 2016 season opener having to replace two of the top players from a year ago in the Northeast Kansas League. The Ravens must find production to replace all-state runningback Harry Trotter who delivered one the best seasons in school history, while the Chargers have to replace another all-state selection in Bryce Noll at the quarterback spot. This is a matchup of perhaps the two most experienced offensive and defensive lines in the NEKL which didn’t see each other a year ago, so it’s going to come down to which skill players can make the most plays  to determine who starts the season 1-0.

Jackson Heights at Immaculata

The Cobras are coming off their best year since 2003 with a nine-win season that included a District Title and playoff win.  Coach Caleb Wick is 25-14 entering year five at Jackson Heights and has six returning starters on each side of the ball.  That includes senior quarterback, Wyatt Olberding (1,000 total yards) and the top three runningbacks: Mason Thomas (675 yards), Mason Hamilton (970 yards) and Brady Holiday (701 yards).  However, Kaleb Keehn is the only starting lineman back.

Immaculata has formed a coop with Maranatha to be able to field a team in 2016.  Micah Webb is a speedy senior to help tote the pigskin, and a couple transfers could help in Gabe Wood (Paola) and Cavan McBratney (Basehor-Linwood). But several freshman , including quarterback, Nate Burdette, will be asked to start on varsity with still very low numbers overall in the program.      

This game will be played on turf at St. Mary's College. 

Rossville at Marysville

Huge strides were taken as a program for the Marysville Bulldogs last year as they snapped a 32-game losing streak finished the season 4-6 and made the 3A playoffs as Head Coach, Dustin Heuer has Marysville on the uptick. Marysville enters this year looking to build upon their success last year and bring back seven starters on offense and eight on defense with many three-four year starters. Jack Blumer takes over at quarterback, while he has a steady hand in the backfield in Hunter Warnick back and the line of scrimmage brings back plenty of experience.  A daunting task faces Marysville to start the season as they take on the defending 3A champs in Rossville who enters the game on a 28-game winning streak and are 40-1 under Head Coach, Derrick Hammes. The Rossville Bulldogs do have to replace All-American, Tucker Horak who amassed nearly 5,000 yards of total offense and 77 touchdowns and replace the entire defensive line and four on the offensive line. But Rossville does bring back Dawson Hammes who ran for over 1,000 yards last year.