SIX-MAN FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW by Kerry Sherman

SIX-MAN FOOTBALL SEASON PREVIEW

BY: KERRY SHERMAN

Cheyenne Wells opens the new season as the defending champ after beating Stratton 50-27 last November for its second title in four seasons. The Tigers will attempt to claim the first repeat in program history, but will have to outlast a very talented field of challengers to do so. The teams are listed in the order of their respective league finish last season.

CENTRAL

HANOVER (7-3-1 OVERALL, 4-0-1 LEAGUE)

The Hornets lost two of their final three contests last year, including a 65-50 defeat by Caliche in the opening round of the postseason. They will have a number of holes to fill this season after losing their top passer and three leading rushers, but they do bring back their top two receivers in Thomas Griffin (22/281/6) and Tanner Lindsey (19/466/10). Griffin is also the top returning producer in the ground game after gaining 186 yards last season. The Hornets also get back Nolan Sweazy, who ran for 114 yards as a freshman.

Those three returnees will also be key to the defense after the unit lost four of the top seven tacklers from 2024. Griffin finished third with 61 stops, while Lindsey was fifth with 37. Sweazy recorded 30 stops.

KIOWA (5-5 OVERALL, 4-1 LEAGUE)

After posting a 2-4 record midway through the season, Kiowa put together a three-game winning streak to get into the postseason conversation. However, the Indians dropped their finale to Prairie 57-6 and were eliminated. On the offensive side of the ball, the Indians will have to replace their top two runners from a year ago, but do bring back QB James Brewer, who threw for over 600 yards and nine TD. Brewer will have back his top target in Antonio Vigil, who caught 10 passes for 228 yards and four scores. Vigil is also the top returning ground gainer for Kiowa.

John White is back to spearhead the defense, having racked up 111 tackles as a sophomore. Zayden Kalisch (43) and Vigil (35) are the only other players on the roster who had double figures last season. Kalisch led the team with five sacks and nine fumble recoveries, while Vigil picked off a team-leading four passes.

DEER TRAIL (3-7 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

Losses in the final three games of the regular season put an end to any hopes the Eagles had of making the postseason, as they were outscored 172-65 in that slide. Chris Manriquez-Bustamante, who shared the passing duties last season, is back after tallying 542 yards and nine touchdowns. He’ll have both of last year’s top receivers, Jayden Mingee (30/493/7) and Mursal Hussein (27/359/9) back in the attack. Hussein is the only player to top 100 yards on the ground a year ago to return. He had 146.

Hussein was second on the team with 100 tackles as a sophomore, and he’ll be called upon to lead the defense this season. There will be plenty of help, as Mingee (47), Preston Bertram (30), Jackson Burdick (27), and Sebastian Anguiano (21) all picked up double digit stops during the season. Mingee showed of his hands on defense, picking off eight passes.

MANZANOLA (3-5-1 OVERALL, 1-3-1 LEAGUE)

The Bobcats got off to a nice start in 2024, picking up two early wins. However, they endured a four-game losing streak in the second half of the season before ending the campaign with a 20-14 victory over La Veta. Two of five players who gained at least 100 yards on the ground return, led by Danner Carroll, who led the way with 251 yards. Jesse James added 126. James is also the top returning passer with 18 yards, and receiver, having caught four passes for 102 yards.

Jimmy James topped the Manzanola defense with 36 tackles as a freshman, and Carroll was third with 24. Jesse James was the only other Bobcat in double figures with 11. Christian Vigil was one shy.

MIAMI-YODER (4-5 OVERALL, 1-4 LEAGUE)

Miami-Yoder’s playoff chances were hurt by its lack of success inside the Central. They dropped three straight in league play late in the season, including one by forfeit, but did finish strong by winning the last two of the year. The Buffs took a big hit on offense with the graduation of Gavin Howard, who piled up more than 2100 yards from scrimmage, but they do return Robert Book and Christopher McGilvray, who combined for more than 800.

Book finished his freshman season with 85 tackles, ranking second on the team. Jack Ejlersen racked up 48 to end the year fourth on the squad. Seven of those were sacks to lead the Buffs. Book forced two fumbles, recovered three, and blocked a pair of kicks.

BETHUNE (3-5 OVERALL, 1-4 LEAGUE)

Bethune (3-5) got last year off on a good note, beating Antonito, but the Bobcats then went on a skid of five straight games. In the final two contests of the year, they made plays, beating Manzanola and Hi-Plains, and giving the program optimism for this season. Ismael Perla led the team in rushing 934 yards and six touchdowns, while also throwing for 109 yards and two scores, and catching four passes for 53 yards and two TD. Josh Salinas was the top passer for the Bobcats, throwing for 232 yards and five scores. He added 211 yards rushing. Bethune also returns senior Caleb Gitschlag, who hauled in two TD receptions.

Defensively, Perla was fourth on the team with 43 tackles, and Salinas made 20 stops in just three games. Gitschlag recovered three fumbles.

EAST CENTRAL

STRATTON (12-2 OVERALL, 5-0 LEAGUE)

Last year saw Stratton aiming for third consecutive state title, only for the Eagles to be upended in the title game for a second time by Cheyenne Wells, this time by a 50-27 count. Stratton also dropped the 2021 to the Tigers.  Von Isenbart threw for 1232 yards and 24 TD last year, the Eagles lost two key targets in the passing game. However, Gavin Ruhs became a reliable receiver for the team, finishing with 10 catches for 244 yards and six touchdowns. Judson Isenbart was third  in rushing a year ago with 245 yards and four tuds, followed closely by Nolan Notter with 233 and four. Dominic Hornung was also in triple digits, gaining 179 yards and scoring three times.

Stratton lost three of its top defenders to graduation, leaving V. Isenbart as the leading returnee with 84 stops last season. Notter finished with 58. That unit also returns Haxden Mills, who tallied 45 tackles. Notter was among the state leaders with 13 sacks, and V. Isenbart ranked highly with nine interceptions.

OTIS (11-2 OVERALL, 4-1 LEAGUE)

Both of the blemishes on Otis’ record came at the hands of Stratton. The second of those was in the state semifinals, where the Bulldogs held a 32-18 halftime lead,, but fell 49-32. Austin Hornung returns after throwing for 741 yards and 23 TD, but his top two receivers are gone. That leaves Grady Bechtle and his eight grabs for 140 yards and four scores as the leading returnee. The Bulldogs also lost a lot in the ground attack, but will get Mitchell Stivers back. Stivers ran for 612 yards and 19 touchdowns last season.

Cambric Klinzmann has shown a nose for the ball in his first two years, leading the Bulldog defense with 77 tackles and five interceptions a year ago. The next two tacklers are gone, but Otis will have Hornung (48) available to help a unit that only had one other players with more than 20 tackles, that being Malakye Reece with 24.

IDALIA (10-3 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

It was hard for Idalia to not let the words “what if” not dominate the offseason, after the Wolves came within an eyelash of upsetting Cheyenne Wells in the semifinals. The Tigers pulled off a late miracle and went on to win the state title less than a week later. Everything starts up front, with both lines, as Jaasiel Estrada, Juakin Sawatzky, and Edward Keller look to lead the way. Offensively, Broderick Kite is back for his sophomore season at QB after throwing for 715 yards and 14 touchdowns last year. He lost his favorite weapon, but almost everyone else who caught a pass is back. That includes Gabe Kechter, who snagged 10 receptions for 221 yards and five scores. Kechter was also huge as a runner, pacing the Wolves with more than 1900 yards and 42 touchdowns. Three other backs who put up at least 100 yards are back in Hayden Drullinger, Carson Helling, and Seth Monarrez.

The Wolves had four players with at least 90 tackles a year ago, and two return. Kechter was tops with 136, and Hayden Drullinger was third with 99. Kite finished fifth with 63, and Hunter Drullinger was next with 52. Idalia picked off 14 passes last season, five by Hayden Drullinger and three by Helling.

ARICKAREE/WOODLIN (7-4 OVERALL, 2-3 LEAGUE)

During the regular season, the Bison lost to the top three teams in the regular season, but put together a late four game winning streak, including a wild 81-66 playoff victory over Fleming. They came up short in the quarterfinals against Cheyenne Wells (75-38). Austin Wright threw for more than 1200 yards and also topped a thousand on the ground, having a hand in 38 touchdowns. Jorge Ramos finished the year second in rushing (487 yards, 11 TD) and receiving (24/364/8) and will be key again as nobody else had more than 100 yards in either part of the offense.

Defensively, the Bison had four players with more than 100 tackles, and two are back. Ramos tallied 141 to be second on the squad, and Wright followed with 137. Luis Machado gives the team another key defender back after piling up 74 stops, and Keith Page tallied 62. Wright was second on the team with 11 sacks and four fumble recoveries.

GENOA-HUGO/KARVAL (2-7 OVERALL, 1-4 LEAGUE)

It was a rough 2024 for the Pirates, who opened the year with four straight losses and finished it by losing their final three games. Only one of the losses was by fewer than 20 points. They started a freshman, Ryker Lockhart, at QB and he threw for 1343 yards and 17 touchdowns. He lost four of his top five targets to graduation, leaving Isiah Yoder (9/142/1) to help out. Yoder is also the top returning runner for the Pirates, who lost their top three. He was just over 100 yards for the season.

Genoa-Hugo/Karval returns more experience on the defensive side of the ball, with five players who had 24 or more tackles. Spoke Carr leads the group with 44 a year ago, followed by Clayton Nelson (36), Yoder (34), Lockhart (28), and Garren McClendon (24). Yoder led the unit with three fumble recoveries, and Nelson added two.

HI-PLAINS (0-10 OVERALL, 0-5 LEAGUE)

Will not field a team.

NORTH

CALICHE (10-2 OVERALL, 6-0 LEAGUE)

The first year in 6-man was very good for the Buffs, who won some entertaining contests, as five games were decided by 15 or fewer points. Both of their losses came at the hands of Stratton, including a 59-13 decision in the quarterfinals. They were hit pretty hard by graduation, but return QB1 Avery Bell (660 yards, 7 TD), and second leading receiver Riley Becker (16/208/1). Bell also had 14 receptions last season. The rushing attack lost its top two gainers, and Zachary Yost is the only back who tallied more than 100 yards to return.

The Buffs had four defenders close to or over 100 tackles a year ago. Bell tied for the team lead with 109, and Yost was fourth with 95. Cooper Rockwell and Mason Hernandez are likely to improve upon their 55 and 49 stops, respectively. Bell and Yost shared the team lead with five interceptions.

FLEMING (7-4 OVERALL, 5-1 LEAGUE)

Following a season-opening loss, Fleming reeled off seven consecutive victories. However, the Wildcats dropped their final three games of the year, including the 81-66 loss to Arickaree/Woodlin in the opening round of the playoffs. Their offense should be in good hands, with the return of their quarterback, Treyson Kirkwood, who threw for more than 900 yards and 13 TD. He’ll have his top three receivers back in Pierson Japp, Dane Cunningham, and Conner Marchant, all of whom had double digit grabs and triple digit yardage. Marchant also leads a stable of young running backs after gaining 734 yards last year in the ground game.

Marchant topped the century mark with 102 tackles last year, second on the team. Mason Mollohan tallied 74, while Japp (62) and Cunningham (41) combined for more than 100.

PRAIRIE (5-6 OVERALL, 4-2 LEAGUE)

Prairie had an interesting season, with two two-game winning streaks, and a pair of two-game losing streaks. The Mustangs book-ended their season with losses to Idalia, the latter coming in the opening round of the postseason. Brennan Bringelson is the top returnee on offense, with 312 rushing yards, and 12 catches for 146 yards, and six total touchdowns. He did that in just six games. The Mustangs lost their top two passers, runners, and receivers.

Wyatt Walker finished third on the team in tackles as a freshman, racking up 53 in seven games. Bringelson was right behind him with 40. Dylan Chase (25), Westin Canada (22), and Tyler Troudt (21) should all see bigger roles this season.

PEETZ (3-7 OVERALL, 3-3 LEAGUE)

The Bulldogs went winless in their non-conference slate, including a pair of late losses in a four-game slide to end the year. To be fair, every one of those losses outside of the league were to teams that made the postseason. Peetz returns all but one player who attempted a pass, led by Logan Vallier, who threw for close to 400 yards. They also bring back their top five runners, with Dylan Wagner (460 yards, 8 TD) and Conner Schumacher (320 yards, 8 TD) as the only ones who gained more than 100 yards. Also back on that side of the ball are the top three receivers.

Wagner (65) and Vallier (52) give the Bulldogs both of last year’s leading tacklers. Parker Reker and Schumacher recorded 32 tackles apiece, with both missing extended action during the season.

BRIGGSDALE (4-5 OVERALL, 2-4 LEAGUE)

Briggsdale was just two plays away from having a very different season. The Falcons lost to Peetz by six and then fell to Caliche later in the year by a 35-34 count. Winning either one of those would have likely put the Falcons into the playoffs. Scot Francis is back after throwing for 914 yards and 15 touchdowns, but he lost his top three targets. In fact, he is the leading returning receiver, with seven catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. The ground game will have to find some new pieces, as none of the returnees even gained 60 yards a year ago.

Defensively, the Falcons have to replace six of the top seven tacklers from last season, with only Francis (52) returning. Koy Gebauer is next with 18. Jeremiah Sparks recorded three blocked kicks in just four games.

NORTH PARK (3-6 OVERALL, 1-5 LEAGUE)

After an 0-6 start, North Park rebounded nicely, winning its final three games of the season. The opponents had a combined win total of three. The Wildcats have their starting QB, Aiden Pittington (322 yards, 7 TD), but don’t return anyone with more than four receptions last year. Levi Seely caught four for 60 yards, with two going for scores. Tristan Telck is the top returning runner with 139 yards.

North Park lost two of its top three defenders, but bring back Curtis Hopkins (72). Pittington was fourth with 62 stops, and Telck added 46. Hopkins had all five of the team’s interceptions, and also recovered three fumbles.

WELDON VALLEY (2-7 OVERALL, 0-6 LEAGUE)

The Warriors posted their third straight two-win season a year ago, losing four in a row early in the season, and three consecutive to end the campaign. They did not post full stats, but they return a core of Zander Braun, August Filter, and Seth O’Patik on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, those three are joined by Blake Davis and Adrian Lopez.

SOUTHEAST

CHEYENNE WELLS (13-0 OVERALL, 6-0 LEAGUE)

The Tigers were dominant in their run to the state title, only having three games decided by fewer than 35 points. Two were against Stratton, opening and closing the season. The third was in the semifinals, were they escaped Idalia’s upset bid, 28-24. Trey Scheler was named player of the year after running for 1991 yards and 39 TD, and posting a 15/374/9 receiving line. The Tigers do have to replace last year’s starting QB, but with Kit Carson sending players over, including Mason Marriott (1545 yards, 20 TD passing), the blow is softened. Counting players from Kit Carson, Cheyenne Wells will have seven backs who gained at least 100 yards last season.

Scheler racked up 126 tackles and seven interceptions last season, adding to his POTY credentials. Kelby Leonard added 83 stops. Fernando Ferrales-Fierro (57) and Levi Mayhan (56) were among the team leaders for Kit Carson.

GRANADA (8-3 OVERALL, 5-1 LEAGUE)

All three of Granada’s losses in 2024 were against teams that made the semifinals (Stratton, Cheyenne Wells, Idalia). The Bobcats allowed more than 70 points in each, including a 71-18 loss to Idalia in the quarterfinals. They had three backs with more than 500 yards, two of them freshmen. Fernando Cadena led with 570 and 10 TD, while Sebastian Pizarro was third with 519 and 5 TD, despite missing multiple games due to injury. Cadena was third in receiving with 22 catches and 320 yards.

Cadena topped the defense with 108 tackles, and Pizarro was third with 70. Alejandro Perez is back after notching 59 stops. Cadena stuffed the stat sheet, adding three picks and four fumble recoveries.

EADS (5-5 OVERALL, 4-2 LEAGUE)

Eads had a tough slate last year, with every loss to a playoff team. Two were to semifinalists in Cheyenne Wells and Otis. The Eagles also had a near miss in the opening round, falling to Sierra Grande 50-42. Shaine Winder ran for more than 1100 yards and 16 TD in just six games Karsten Buller added close to 400 yards, while also leading the Eagles with 19 catches and 254 yards. Adyn Hough tossed the pigskin for more than 700 yards and 14 scores.

Buller (53) and Winder (41) were first and third on the defense in tackles, while Gaige Rittgers was fourth as a freshman with 36. Hough added 27, and Alyxx Egley tallied 23.

CHERAW (5-6 OVERALL, 3-3 LEAGUE)

Cheraw kept its fans on the edge of their seats, having five games decided by 14 or fewer points. The Wolverines went 1-4 in those close contests. They were knocked out of the postseason in the opening round by Otis in a lopsided 62-6 decision. The Wolverines return a nice trio on offense in QB Rhett Dutton (745 yards, 10 TD), William Ledbetter (1080 rushing yards, 22 TD), and Colton Bruna (13 receptions, 200 yards).

Cheraw’s top two defenders from last year, but that unit brings back a lot of experience. Jacob Herman (63), Samuel Goheen (49), Ledbetter (48), and Bruna (40) all return. Herman was second on the team with three fumble recoveries.

WILEY (2-7 OVERALL, 1-5 LEAGUE)

The first year in 6-man for Wiley included two one possession games in which the Panthers came up just short. That included a 40-38 loss in the opener against Miami-Yoder and a 33-30 defeat against fellow newcomer, Caliche. Junior QB Brent Mauch is back to lead a young squad after throwing for just shy of 1000 yards and running for 259 more. Isaiah Lucero was second in receiving with 11 grabs for 202 yards.

The Panthers did not report full defensive stats, but with what was shared, Mauch tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Devonte Pizarro was tops with two forced fumbles and two recoveries.

WALSH (1-9 OVERALL, 0-6 LEAGUE)

After starting the season 1-1, Walsh struggled with consistency the rest of the way. The Eagles dropped a pair of single digit games inside the league, losing to Kit Carson by nine and Wiley by two. They had a young squad, including a freshman QB in Hudson Gourley. Gourley threw for 1795 yards and 20 scores, and will have four of his top six targets back. That group includes Samuel Wright (27/436/10), Maddox Gourley (25/310/1), Beau Foster (16/153/1), and Grady Mundell (15 receptions). Wright was the leading runner with just under 300 yards.

In Wright, the Eagles get their top defender back. He led with 44 stops. The next three tacklers graduated. Mundell was next with 33, and M. Gourley tallied 31. Ty Hoffman had a team-leading three fumble recoveries.

KIT CARSON (4-6 OVERALL, 2-4 LEAGUE)

The Wildcats are not fielding a team.

SOUTHWEST

SIERRA GRANDE (9-1 OVERALL, 5-0 LEAGUE)

The Panthers had a number of close calls, winning four games by 12 points or less. That includes the eight-point win over Eads in the opening round. Their perfect season ended in the quarterfinals with a 66-6 loss to Otis. Jadyn Martinez (59/1114/21) and Rolando Najera (35/757/19) led the Panthers in receiving, but they’ll have a new passer throwing the ball this season. Sierra Grande also lost its top three runners, with no one on the roster even gaining 50 yards last year.

Martinez was a tackling machine, racking up as many tackles (113) as the next two teammates combined. Both of those Panthers are gone, but Carlos Lopez (49) and Najera (45) are both back. Martinez picked off a team-leading six passes.

BRANSON/KIM (6-4 OVERALL, 4-1 LEAGUE)

A strong start to the season got the Bearcats into the playoffs, but they dropped three of their last four, including a 44-15 defeat by Granada in the opening round. Half of their losses on the season were to the Bobcats. Cooper Winter (472 yards, 8 TD) and Cameron Rosas (171 yards, 5 TD) combined for close to 650 yards and 13 touchdown passes, with Will Doherty (18/210/2) serving as the leading receiver. Doherty was also second on the team in rushing with 245 yards and six scores.

The Bearcats must replace last year’s leading tackler, but they bring back six of their top eight. Doherty heads up that unit with 67 stops a year ago, followed by Winter (53), David Gamez (46), Acoya Bartlett (37), Rosas (22), and Mason Riddle (14). Gamez intercepted four passes and broke up 17 more.

PRIMERO (6-3 OVERALL, 3-2 LEAGUE)

The Bulldogs got out of the gates 5-0, but ran into some troubles down the stretch, losing three of the last four. The lone win came by forfeit. They lost to Sierra Grande by 10 and Branson/Kim by four. Still, Primero reached the playoffs, eventually losing to Cheyenne Wells in the opening round. This year will see the Bulldogs having to replace a lot of pieces, as no one on the roster completed more than one pass, and Ralsten LePlatt is the only one to have rushed for more than 100 yards, finishing the season with 106. Gabe Sintas led the team in receiving with a line of 34/731/19.

LePlatt enters the season as the top tackler back from last year after posting 55. Kailain Sanford added 48. It’s a big drop off from there, as Josh Pachorek and Jeremiah Montoya finished with 17 apiece. Sanford recorded seven sacks, while Le Platt tallied four, to go with five forced fumbles and four recoveries.

LA VETA (2-7 OVERALL, 2-3 LEAGUE)

The Redhawks opened last season with three straight losses, and ended it with another three-game slide. They gave up 50 or more points in all but one of their seven losses. La Veta turned to a freshman QB, as David Roel led the team with 462 yards and nine touchdowns. Kendall Ingram added 273 and five. Kaydyn Kent did a good chunk of the damage on the receiving end, finishing with 17 catches for 380 yards and nine TD. Sunny Kent (670) and Ingram (329) nearly combined for 1000 rushing yards.

The top three defenders are back from last year, led by Theisen Tolbert, who tallied 67. Ingram finished with 56, and Tayten Medina notched 51. Kyle Presley added 45; K. Kent, 44; and S. Kent, 34. Ingram and Medina recovered four fumbles apiece, with Medina forcing six on the season.

COTOPAXI (1-8 OVERALL, 1-4 LEAGUE)

Cotopaxi began the 2024 season with five consecutive losses and end the year with three more. The Pirates were held to 18 or fewer points in all but two of their games last season. William Fong put up almost 1100 passing yards with a dozen TD tosses. His top target, Kenny Teter, posted a line of 30/377/2 as a freshman. The Pirates struggled to run the ball last year, with Landen Pearce leading the way at 169 yards.

Last year’s top two tacklers are gone, leaving Jamison Thurston as the leading returnee with 32 a year ago. David Sovocool added 23, while Teter and Jacob Warren tallied 19 and 16, respectively.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY (0-0 OVERALL, 0-0 LEAGUE)

Did not field a team last season and will this year.

ANTONITO (0-7 OVERALL, 0-5 LEAGUE)

Will not field a team this year.

INDEPENDENT

FLAGLER (3-7 OVERALL)

As noted earlier, Flagler’s ranks are supplemented this season by a handful of Hi-Plains players. The Panthers are coming off a 3-6 season in which they played an independent schedule, with one of the victories coming over Hi-Plains. They will again be playing as an independent this fall, making them ineligible for postseason play. Dillon Brent threw for 414 yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman last season, and he has all of his targets back, including senior Brayden Hill. Hill grabbed 18 passes for 282 yards and five scores, while also running for three more touchdowns. Keegan Isenbart led the ground attack with 415 yards and eight touchdowns. Everyone else who carried the ball also return.

Hill and fellow seniors Cody Homm and JR Kountz were the top three tacklers on the squad, with each recording at least 50. Hill was tops with 57, including a team-best eight sacks. Homm added 52, and Kountz tallied 50 with five sacks. Jordan Wilson picked off four passes.

As for the reinforcements, Gabe Harvie finished last year at Hi-Plains with just over 300 yards through the air. Ian Ayres and Jayden Hile were second and third in rushing yards, with Hile scoring a team-leading two touchdowns.