Ad Astra Radio is previewing our area high school football teams based on county. Today, we will preview area Sedgwick County schools.
Andale Indians
Coach: Dylan Schmidt, eighth season (84-4, 87-10 overall)
Classification: 3A
District: 6
2023: 10-2
Postseason: Beat Hugoton 46-0; beat Scott City 44-8; beat Wichita Collegiate 50-25; lost to Cheney 28-24.
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Top returning players: Landon Harp, sr., RB/DB; Cooper Marx, sr., RB/LB; Emery Craft, jr., OL/DL; Bo Kaiser, sr., TE/DB; Isaiah Wilson, sr., OL; Sam Harp, jr., QB/DB
Key game: Sept. 27 vs. Wichita Collegiate. This game often generates a lot of deserved hype. Andale often crushes the hype. Last year, these teams played twice and Andale won both by a combined 46 points. Still, this is a big one and will generate hype again.
Outlook: It’ll be interesting how the Indians perceive themselves as no longer the hunted. Sure, everyone still wants to beat Andale, but Cheney wears the crown in 3A. Andale’s usual strength – offensive line – is a question mark. That doesn’t mean Andale won’t have a good line. It’s just we don’t know much about it. Injuries took a toll on Andale last year, and the Indians also lost a great senior class. Still, don’t think for a second that expectations have dropped. Eight defensive starters are back and there are some beasts back, including bullying running back Cooper Marx, strong running back Landon Harp and rising quarterback Sam Harp. Andale will have a few tests, including matchups with Wellington, Collegiate and a tasty regular-season finale with Hesston. The schedule works favorably in that Andale should be able to use it to build toward November.
Cheney Cardinals
Coach: Shelby Wehrmann, eighth season (60-18)
Classification: 3A
District 7
2023: 13-0
Postseason: beat Colby 50-0; beat Holcomb 37-8; beat Clay Center 23-21; beat Andale 28-24; beat Topeka Hayden 34-7
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2023.
Top returning players: Josh Burdick, sr., QB; Kolton Rohloff, sr., OL/DL; AJ Quick, sr., OL/DL; Garren Campbell, sr., OL/LB; Hunter McKinley, sr., LB; Grady Ditgen, sr., LB; Levi Self, sr., FB/LB; Grady Kuehn, sr., PK; Wyatt Starns, jr., OL.Parker McClellan, sr., WR/DB.
Key game: Oct. 11 at Wichita Collegiate. Although Andale-Collegiate usually steals the headlines, that game is non-district this year. Cheney gets Collegiate in district play this time, and it won’t be easy. Collegiate always has a tough team. The loser of this game likely finishes district runner-up, which means a probably second-round road game at Clay Center. Survive that, and it would be likely Andale after.
Outlook: Cheney left no doubt as to who was the best team in 3A last year. First, the Cardinals ended Andale’s winning streak. Then, they ended Andale’s dynasty. Finally, they won the state title. The cupboard isn’t bare either. Burdick was one of the state’s top quarterbacks. Three offensive linemen are back, including all-state AJ Quick. Grady Ditgen was an underrated and overlooked linebacker. There is concern in terms of depth on the line, and replacing last year’s seniors. The schedule isn’t exactly easy. The first three games are against Holcomb, Kingman and Garden Plain, who went a combined 22-8 last year. There’s also 2A state runner-up Hoisington and Wichita Collegiate. But this is a new era for Cheney. The Cardinals are at the summit, and there’s no doubt Shelby Wehrman will have the Cardinals relishing being the team everyone wants to knock off. Going undefeated may be a tall order with that schedule, but there’s no reason to think Cheney can’t win another title.
Garden Plain Owls
Coach: Todd Rice, third season (105-70 overall)
Classification: 2A
District: 5
2023: 8-2
Postseason: Beat Halstead 21-7; lost to Ellsworth 34-31
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2007
Top returning players: Brady Brack, sr., QB/LB; Seth Dugan, sr., RB/DB/PK; Kaeden Kasselman, sr., OL/DL; Devin Rau, sr., OL/LB; Blake Butterfield, sr., WR/LB; Kaden Kerschen, sr., OL/DL; Hank Lilly, sr., OL/DL; Max McGregor, sr., RB/DB; Cooper Scheer, sr., RB/DB; Riley Simons, sr., RB/DB; Cooper Baker, jr., WR/DB; Eli Eck, jr., QB/DB; Hunter Hayden, jr., WR/DB; Ermick Hays, jr., RB/LB; Kyle Koester, jr., OL/LB; Pete McGregor, jr., RB/DB; Gabe Stuhlsatz, jr., OL/DL; Tucker Tomson, jr., OL/DL; Carter Tasset, so., OL/DL.
Key game: Sept. 20 at Cheney. One week after hosting 1A champion Conway Springs, Garden Plain makes the short trip to the 3A champion. Garden Plain has made rapid improvement under Todd Rice. These two games, in particular this one, will tell us a lot about how far this Garden Plain team could go this season. The Owls don’t need to win both games, but if they at least compete, they could use that as a springboard the next four weeks in district play.
Outlook: One year after a rare losing record, the Owls went 8-2. They lose a top running back in Gage Lee, but they have much back to run Rice’s flexbone. Depth is a concern with half the roster expected to be freshmen, so the Owls need to stay healthy. Dugan is as good of an all-around player in the state, Brack is a beast at quarterback, and the line is experienced. It’s a cliche, but if the Owls stay healthy, they should win plenty of games, and have the chance for a long November.
