High School Football Preview - Week 1

Friday Night Lights Preview!

The 2024 football season is finally here, and coaches and athletes all over Wyandotte County are ready to cut loose on the gridiron.

After last night’s shower, you couldn’t ask for much better weather than low 70s at kickoff, drifting into the upper 60s as the games go on.

If you’ve got a prediction for one or all of Friday night’s games, drop it in the comments section below, and if you’re not already signed up, subscribe for free to get stories and photos from football and other fall sports.

Around Town

Sumner (4-5) at Washington (5-4)

Washington and Sumner open the season against each other for the fourth consecutive year in 2024. Washington won last year's contest 39-20 on the way to a 4-2 Meadowlark League record, good for a second-place tie with Highland Park in the standings.

Washington will look to repeat a winning record in its sixth year under head coach Camron Smith, but Smith will have a big job to replace all-state sack specialists Hassan Daniels and Mike Lee. On the offense, Savion Stone will be back as a dual offensive threat and Shon Williams and Nick Carter return on the defensive side.

Steve Williams Jr. will take over on the sidelines for the Sabres, replacing 9-year coach, now-AD Andrew Wright. Sumner has been reclassified as a 4A school for the 2024-25 cycle, which may give the team a playoff boost, especially if the Sabres can maintain a .500 or better regular season record as they have the past three seasons.

The Sabres will be run-first but opportunistic quick-strike passers. In last week's jamboree scrimmages against Lansing and Harmon, the Sabres got receivers Johnathan Bandy and Sommyr Moore free over the top for touchdown receptions.

Seaman (6-5) at Piper (4-5)

2023 was a down year for the Pirates, posting a 4-5 record after two years of successive 7-4 results and multiple playoff wins. Piper has a great opportunity to rebound under first-year head coach Cole Orrick, who brings back 16 starters from last year's young squad.

A wickedly fast wide receiver corps with state medalist track stars Shinji Pollard and Skyler Little can stretch the field but the quarterback spot is a question mark. First-team UKC linebacker Tannar McDaniel, with 131 tackles last season, will lead on the defensive side.

Piper will have to navigate a tough UKC schedule to position for a playoff run, starting with Seaman, which lost 28-21 to the Pirates a year ago, but capped the year with two playoff wins and a trip to the state quarterfinals.

Spring Hill (7-3) at Bonner Springs (1-8)

The Braves opened last season with a 14-57 loss to Spring Hill, which went on to a 7-3 overall record and a playoff win.

Bonner Springs' lone 2023 victory was a dominating 36-6 home win over Schlagle. Head coach Byron Mays will look to continue his rebuild of the Bonner squad with an emphasis on fundamentals and continuous improvement.

Junior running backs Kayne Smith and Leonard Fungasha will continue to be a big part of Bonner's run-heavy offense.

On the Road

Schlagle 4A (3-6) at Center (2-8)

Schlagle's loaded 2023 sophomore class takes a step up this year, and the Stallions are looking to step up the Meadowlark League standings. The team has improved each year under head coach Mac Macon.

They'll have a chance to start off on the right foot against KCMO's Center High School, which won its first two games last season, but finished on an eight-game losing streak.

Look for Cincere Lewis to continue burning defenses around the edges with his speed and Savion Stone to command the line of scrimmage.

Bishop Ward (3-6) at Rock Creek (6-4)

Head coach Brandon Duff takes over from long-time Cyclones stalwart Greg Duggins for 2024.

Duff inherits just five starters from last year's squad, but will have the chance to build around gun-slinging senior quarterback Aiden Milliren, who racked up 19 passing touchdowns in 2023. Blazing junior defensive back Davontae Davis will look to lock down the secondary for Ward.

Rock Creek is a tough way to start the year, ranked the fifth-best team in 3A this year by Kansas Pregame magazine.

Harmon (1-8) at Maranatha (3-6)

Although Hawks head coach Keith O'Neal got his first official win in 2023 on a forfeit by St. Mary's Academy, the third-year coach is still hungry for that first on-field triumph, and may just get it out of the gate in 2024.

Maranatha Christian Academy is changing coaches and moving up to 11-man football this season after last year’s 3-6 record in 8-man division I. The Eagles return only two starters from last year's team.

It wasn't obvious in the win column, but the Hawks took a big step forward in 2023, cutting back 2022's epic blowouts and scoring 41 total points versus just 6 in 2022.

Look for no-fear sophomore running back Adrian Fernandez to continue heading up Harmon's rush-heavy offense. Senior linebacker Carlos Gallardo, last season's leading tackler, will be key on defense.

Coach O'Neal has been shaking things up off the field as much as on, building a booster and alumni clubs, and recruiting local advertising sponsors to support the team.

Wyandotte (1-8) at Highland Park (7-3)

Wyandotte's lone 2023 win was against Harmon, but the Bulldogs were competitive throughout the USD 500 schedule, scoring at least 19 points in each contest.

The Bulldogs young 2024 roster will need to have a few more of those games tip their way to rise up in the Meadowlark standings.

Highland Park's epic 65-game losing streak is a distant memory at this point, with the Scots rolling through the 2023 regular season and making a splash in the playoffs.

The Scots won last year's season-opening matchup against Wyandotte 33-7.

Spring Hill (7-3) at Bonner Springs (1-8)

The Braves opened last season with a 14-57 loss to Spring Hill, which went on to a 7-3 overall record and a playoff win.

Bonner Springs' lone 2023 victory was a dominating 36-6 home win over Schlagle. Head coach Byron Mays will look to continue his rebuild of the Bonner squad with an emphasis on fundamentals and ongoing improvement.

Junior running backs Kayne Smith and Leonard Fungasha will continue to be a big part of Bonner's run-heavy offense.

Turner (0-9) at Lansing (5-5)

Turner faces another daunting UKC schedule, hoping for some measure of payback in its opener at Lansing, which pasted the Golden Bears 86-6 last season.

Shelby Steffen takes over at the helm of the Bears, replacing hall-of-famer Rick Byers, whom Steffen credits as a mentor and for building the foundation of Turner's coming success.

Steffen has strong participation numbers on his side, with enough students coming out to build a freshman team for the first time in seven years.

Steffens also has a core of multi-sport athletic talent to build his power running attack, looking to keep games close and wear down opposing defenses. Running backs Kaden Roebuck and Erickson George will make linebackers think twice before taking the hit.