2015 Kansas High School Football Week One Preview

Written by Charlie Beuttel 

Mill Valley @ St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas won 34-24 in the opener last season so Mill Valley will want revenge on Friday night. Both teams are capable of making it to state so the winner will start the year on a high note.

The Saints bring back the majority of their team including running backs James Cosentino and Jacob Leikam so watch for them to have a big game. Cosentino only played nine games last year due to a leg injury but still ran for 1,000 yards.

Mill Valley brings back 17 starters from a team that lost in the opening round of the playoffs. The Jaguars will be led by senior dual-threat quarterback Logan Koch who threw for over 1,000 yards and ran for over 1,000 yards. Koch had 22 total touchdowns in 2014 and has his eyes set on having a monster senior season starting Friday night.

Gardner-Edgerton @ Shawnee Mission East
Shawnee Mission East won the 6A state championship in 2014 and brings back 13 starters from last year’s team led by their running Wyatt Edmisten. Edmisten and the Lancers want to start off their title defense with an impressive win.

Gardner-Edgerton are in a rebuilding phase but bring back 16 starters from last year. The team is led by their senior laden defensive line but the rest of the team consists mostly of juniors and sophomores. The young Trail Blazers team will certainly gain early season momentum if they can knock off the 6A champs.

Wichita Northwest @ Bishop Carroll
Bishop Carroll won the Kansas 5A state championship in 2014 and look to repeat in 2015. Jake Allen is the new quarterback of the Golden Eagles but they return linebacker Will Honas who had 33 tackles for a loss last season. Bishop Carroll should start off their title defense with a win.

Wichita Northwest is coming off a 7-3 season and is led by senior quarterback Kevin Folsom. Folsom and junior running back Jahlyl Rounds look to have big games as the Grizzlies try to knock off the 5A champs.

Other Kansas High School Football Games
Blue Valley Northwest @ Bishop Miege
Ottawa @ Louisburg
Bonner Springs @ Eudora
Shawnee Mission Northwest @ Blue Valley
Blue Valley West @ Lawrence
Shawnee Mission West @ Free State
Washburn Rural @ Emporia
Topeka @ Schlagle
Heritage @ Olathe North
Olathe East @ Garden City
Olathe Northwest @ Hays
West Franklin @ Chase County

Photo credit: mvnews.org; Mill Valley takes the field.