Class 3A District 11 Preview

District 11

1. Wichita Collegiate Spartans (9-1)

Following an undefeated 2008 regular season, Collegiate met Conway Springs in the first round of the playoffs, giving the Cardinals their closest contest until the title game, 40-21.

Collegiate is one of the favorites in Class 3A to win its first state title since 2000. Nine starters return on each side of the ball for the Spartans, including strong-armed, mobile senior QB/LB Blake Jablonski (6-2, 185) and one of the area’s best athletes, senior LB/RB Tyler Coughenour (6-1, 200).

Six-foot-six senior Tre Bailey will also take snaps at quarterback, and seniors WR/DB Brett LeMaster (6-3, 200) and WR/DB Bryce Cornejo (6-2, 160) give Jablonski two tall, long, athletic targets out of the shotgun spread.

Senior OL/DL Jace Schultz (6-2, 200) and sophomores OL Myles Copeland (6-0, 200) and OL Trace Clark (6-2, 190) must key improvement on the line. –TW

2. Douglass Bulldogs

3. Independent Panthers (2-7)

Kyle Wallis becomes Independent’s third coach in three seasons. David Roberts served as both athletic director and football coach in 2008 and now steps into a purely administrative role with the arrival of Wallis.

Returning senior QB/FS Zach Neville (6-2, 185) will start on both sides of the football. Other returning seniors are OL/DL Jacob Villapando (5-10, 185), OL/LB Bryce Lob (5-10, 190), WR/S Chase Lewonski (6-0, 175) and RB/LB Logan Carter (5-9, 160). Junior WR/DB Cory Palmer (5-8, 150) will also contribute at the skill positions. –DP

4. Bluestem Lions (1-8)

Second-year coach George Stewart says Bluestem will be better than last season, in which they broke a long losing streak with a win over Belle Plaine.

Seniors RB/LB Dakota Barnhart (5-10, 180), L Ethan Haworth (5-10, 215) and RB/DB Cody Roberts (5-9, 160) return. –TW