Area high school football fans were spoiled this year.
There’s really no way to tell, but its possible that the area has never had a more successful collective season on the gridiron than the one that just ended.
A lot of it had to do with the resurgence of the Emporia High football team.
After two straight 1-8 seasons, the Spartans gave fans a lot to cheer about this year thanks to a 6-3 record, the best ledger for the school since 1999. Emporia’s season was highlighted by a five-game winning streak that included the program’s first home win in two years, the first Homecoming win since 2003 and a hard-fought 17-15 road victory at Shawnee Heights.
Though the Spartans barely missed out on making the playoffs in coach Bill Lowe’s second season, they still ended their year on a high note, defeating Junction City in the final game of the season. Five Spartans were named to the The Gazette’s All-Area team — linebacker Dillon Cox, defensive back Robert Keisler, running back Edd Noonan and offensive linemen Eric Dorsey and Jared Johnson — as well as Lowe being named the All-Area Coach of the Year.
The area’s most exciting, most electric and most dominant team resided in Waverly.
The Waverly Bulldogs were unstoppable all season long on their way to their second straight State title, which they earned with a 58-20 rout over Jetmore last Saturday in Newton.
With The Emporia Gazette’s All-Area Player of the Year in running back Matt Coursen, plus four other All-Area selections in tight end Heath Redding, quarterback Dentin Chapman, defensive lineman Jesse Britton and linebacker Joe Kaufman, the Bulldogs went a perfect 13-0 in 2006, winning by an average score of 53-18.
Coursen finished his season with a remarkable 1,523 rushing yards and 27 rushing touchdowns, 553 receiving yards and 12 TD receptions, and for good measure, was 2-for-4 passing for 114 yards and two more touchdowns. Coursen was clearly the runaway choice for his second straight Area Player of the Year selection.
Although Waverly was the class of 8-Man football not only in the area, but in the state, there were several other 8-Man squads that turned in outstanding seasons as well.
Madison ended its season with a loss to Waverly in the semifinals of the State playoffs, one of only two losses on the season for the team (the other loss also came to Waverly during the regular season).
Defensive lineman Donovan Hamilton and defensive back Jordan Stout were named to the All-Area team for their roles in helping the Madison defense hold its opponents to an average of just 18 points per game. Stout, while excellent as Madison’s quarterback, was more of a factor on defense, as many teams simply refused to pass against Madison because of Stout’s ability to cover nearly the entire field from his safety spot.
Two area 8-Man teams that barely missed out on the playoffs were Lebo and Hartford, which finished with records of 7-2 and 6-3, respectively. Each school placed two players on the All-Area team, as Lebo’s Chris Bray at linebacker and Blake Jones at defensive back got the nods, and for Hartford, wide receiver Mickey Matthews and punter Andrew Weiderholt were selected.
Other than Waverly, the area team that advanced the farthest in the State playoffs was Olpe, which made it all the way to the 2-1A semifinals before falling last Friday to St. Marys, 22-20.
While he excelled as a wide receiver for the Eagles, Seth Pargman earned All-Area honors thanks to his play at defensive end, helping Olpe record five shutouts on the season on its way to a 12-1 record. All-Area offensive lineman Jacob Miller was a force in the trenches blocking for quarterback Tanner Coble and running backs Colton Stueve and Drew Pettijohn, while Dallas Burenheide was easily the top choice as the area’s best kicker, as he consistently boomed kicks through the uprights this season and even had a 45-yard field goal to his credit.
One of the feel-good stories of the year was Council Grove, which ran off seven straight victories to start the season before dropping its final two games to just miss out on the playoffs. Offensive lineman Caleb Chaney was a unanimous first-team selection to the All-Flint Hills League squad and also an All-Area selection for his role in the Braves’ breakthrough season.
Though his team finished 1-8 on the season, Marais des Cygnes Valley offensive lineman David Becker was a unanimous first-team All-Lyon County League pick, and Osage City defensive lineman G.T. Ngole earned first-team honors in the Flint Hills League, making both easy choices for The Gazette’s All-Area squad.
Burlingame wide receiver Hank Zerbe and Northern Heights defensive back Jake Weakley rounded out the All-Area selections on offense and defense, respectively, as each player shined on teams that didn’t have quite the level of success as the rest of the area’s powerhouse squads.
In creating this year’s All-Area team, the format was changed to combine both the 11-Man and 8-Man talent and create one 11-Man squad on offense and defense. This made selecting the teams much more competitive, which in turn makes those players selected to the squad all the more outstanding when considering the talented field of players they were up against.
All told, the 2006 football season was a sight to behold, and the teams will have a lot to prove if next year is to surpass this fall in terms of quality and talent on the field.
If next year is better than this year, watch out, because the ride will be a wild one.
F For more sports commentary from Michael and Gazette sports reporter Jesse Newell, listen to the Emporia Sports Buzz online at www.emporiagazette.com.
packers4life (anonymous) says...
Lets see...first of all you can't compare 8-man football to 11-man football. I'll admit there are some good athletes that play 8-man but I would like to see Matt Moursen come to Emporia and rush for 1,000 yards like Edd Noonan. He couldn't. If Noonan were to play 8-man football he'd have over 2,000 yards rushing as Matt Coursen running for Emporia would be lucky to break 500 yards. He's over rated u just can't compare 8-man to 11-man. If there was on 8-man all area team then yeah maybe but I can quarntee you Edd Noonan is a far better running back even though he's a year younger he's stronger, faster, and more explosive.
November 23, 2006 at 3:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FootballMom (anonymous) says...
Obviously "packers4life" you have never seen Matthew Coursen play football. This young man could compete in 11-man football without any problems. He is an exceptional athlete. He has phenomenal speed and has somehow been able to get out of many tackle attempts that have been made on him (I'd say because of quickness, agility, brains, etc.). He has all the characteristics that a championship team football player should possess. I'm sure that Edd Noonan is also a great athlete, but don't slam somebody if you've never seen them play.
November 28, 2006 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
packers4life (anonymous) says...
That's the thing I have seen him play and theres just no way he could compete on an 11-man 6A football team. Not as the starting running back anyway. He might get a carry or two for 3 or 4 yards. Those tackles that he breaks out of are against 8-man athletes nothing like a powerhouse 6A team would bring to the field. Matt would be lucky to average 1 yard per carry. Noonan on the other hand can break these tackles and runs powerfully over far better defensive athetels than what Matt faces each game. Congradulations to an 8-man player that would be a no name in 6A football.
November 29, 2006 at 7:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )