The Emporia Gazette

February 14, 2012

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Both Olpe and Northern Heights have a great deal to find out about themselves tonight at Olpe as they once again kick off their respective seasons by playing each other.

Olpe, last year’s Class 2-1A State runner-up, is still stocked with a degree of talent that most small-school coaches would envy. But after losing the top two players off the 2008 team — running back/defensive back Cole Krueger and defensive end/tight end Josh Klumpe — along with both-ways lineman Clint Barnhart, defensive back/running back Wade Schmidt and running back/nose guard Josh Lambert, the Eagles will have to do some fairly extensive reloading if they hope to make another deep playoff run.

“There’s some things that we have questions on,” Olpe coach Chris Schmidt said. “We’ve got a pretty good group of kids back, but we’ve definitely got some holes to fill, and two or three of ’em are kind of still up for grabs, really. We’re kind of going into the game thinking we’re just gonna let some kids all have opportunities and see what happens from there.”

Quarterback Matt Redeker, receiver Bradley Argabright and offensive linemen Alex Dreier and Jase Hubert, all seniors, are the most prominent pieces Schmidt has back on his offensive unit. Redeker, Argabright and Hubert earned All-State honorable mentions last year.

Argabright, Hubert and Dreier are also key components of the Eagle defense — Argabright at safety, Hubert on the defensive line and Dreier at linebacker. Redeker, who threw for 1,541 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, is impressing Schmidt with how he’s developed as a leader.

“He’s come into this year knowing he’s a veteran, he’s been through it,” Schmidt said. “Especially at the end of the year, I thought he really came on for us, and I think he’s brought that experience, and he’s taking control in the huddle.”

The quarterback position is Heights’ most high-profile hole to fill. Earlier in the preseason, junior Gail Lee was expected to inherit the keys to the spread offense employed by co-head coaches Greg French and Tad Hatfield. The guy Lee would be replacing, Kenneth Bronson, didn’t do much other than throw for more than 2,000 yards in each of the last two years, including a 2,540-yard, 26-TD performance last season.

Junior receiver Nick Mendez, who caught 41 passes for 644 yards a year ago, will likely be Lee’s No. 1 target after Roman Murray graduated following a 1,019-yard season. Center Matt Railsback also graduated. Other than Mendez, projected returning offensive starters included senior receiver Ethan Grothier and senior lineman Joel Young.

Heights rebounded off a rocky start last season — they lost to Olpe 55-14 to open the year — to finish 5-4 overall with a 5-2 FHL record. But a 37-7 home loss to Rossville in district play ended their season short of the Class 3A playoffs.

In 2007, Heights defeated Olpe 41-26 in the season opener. The year before, Olpe won 51-13.

Other Gazette surrounding-area games tonight:

Marais des Cygnes Valley at Madison

Last year, Madison was entrenched at No. 1 in the Topeka Capital-Journal’s 8-Man I poll before their playoff loss to Baileyville B&B. This year, the Bulldogs are at No. 5 in the 8-Man preseason coaches poll beind Baileyville, Claflin, Clifton-Clyde and Pretty Prairie. Quarterback/defensive back Henry Ott is back to lead the Bulldog offense for his senior year, and other key returners include tight end/kicker Dylan Barnard, offensive guard Shane Ballard, receiver/safety Reece Childers, defensive end Zach Nowell and linebacker Kale Schankie.

Chase County

at Herington

Chase County hopes to build off a 3-6 campaign and a Class 2-1A playoff appearance with a solid collection of returning talent. The Bulldogs’ senior core includes quarterback/defensive back Shawn Talkington, running back/linebacker Johnny Lang, running back Jesse Cole and defensive end Trenton Heathman. Chase County defeated Herington 35-21 in last year’s opener at Chase County.

Burlingame at Lebo

A 3-6 season last year was a rare down year for Lebo — the Wolves made the State playoffs 10 times between 1997 and 2007. Coach Butch Jones returns 12 players who gained starting experience at various times on offense last year, and 10 who did so on defense. Key returners for the Wolves include senior Dylan Montgomery, an All-Lyon County League first team choice on both lines, and senior middle linebacker/fullback Calvin Perry, chosen last year for the All-LCL first team at linebacker.

Flinthills

at Hartford

Following last year’s 3-6 season, Hartford begins a new era with the debut of new coach Patrick Gardner. The Jaguars have speedy running back/defensive back Adam Ewy back for his senior year, and senior receiver/linebacker John Payton and junior quarterback Colton Barrett also return. Ewy scored 17 tochdowns last season.