Class 4A District 12 Preview

District 12

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1. Andover Central Jaguars (9-2)

Andover Central enters 2008 hoping to rebound from a 21-20 overtime loss to eventual state champion Topeka Hayden in the second round of the playoffs. Graduation vacates nineteen positions on offense and defense from that team.

Three two-way starters on the line, however, do return: senior John Ford (6-4, 240), junior Joe Washington (6-2, 225) and junior Boston Stiverson (6-5, 280).

In seven seasons at Andover Central, coach Tom Audley is 58-17. Special teams coach Bill Means enters his 54th season of coaching. –TW

2. Rose Hill Rockets (5-4)

The Rockets recovered from their first losing season (2007) since 1999, winning five games but missing the playoffs. The Rockets were 5-2 heading into their final two district games in 2008 but lost both to Andover Central and Mulvane.

Rose Hill will have some of the skill positions filled with senior all-league performers. Returning senior QB Tyler Shirley (6-2, 175), who nearly led the hoops team to a state berth, will throw to all-league targets TE/DL Heath Train (6-3, 220), WR/DB Dillon Rapp (6-1, 170) and WR/DB Josh Yates (6-3, 180). –DP

3. Mulvane Wildcats (5-5)

Coach Dave Fennewald has led Mulvane to three consecutive playoff appearances, entering his 18th season. A year after losing to Andover, 59-27, in the first round of the playoffs, Mulvane returns six starters on both sides of the football.

Seniors RB/LB Dylan Hagerman (5-10, 175), WR/DB A.J. May (5-10, 180) and WR/DB Corbin McGuire (6-1, 160) lead the offense after gaining experience in 2008. Up front, a trio of seniors, two-way linemen Ethan Copeland (6-1, 260), Charlie Hansen (6-0, 240) and Zack Burkhart (6-4, 260) will clear the way for the backfield. Junior QB Gus Strunk (5-10, 175) steps in for graduated Jordan Gosch with excellent arm strength and mobility. –DP

4. Trinity Academy Knights (3-6)

Trinity started the 2008 season by winning their first 11-man football game in school history over Bluestem, 11-0. Third-year coach Mike Kriwiel led the infant program to three wins in the Central Plains League before running into a buzzsaw of a district.

Fifteen players return for the 2009 season, including juniors RB Morgan Burns (5-11, 195), the Class 4A 100- and 200-meter champion, and FB Austin Kessinger (6-3, 225). Burns increased his bench press to over 300 pounds this off-season. Kriwiel believes Burns and Kessinger are future Division I-caliber recruits.

Senior QB Toby Kriwiel (5-11, 175) returns to direct the huddle. –DP