1) Butler
2) Coffeyville
3) Garden City
4 tie) Dodge City and Hutchinson
6) Independence
7) Fort Scott, and
8)Highland.
During the media day, one thing became increasingly apparent; the league is
very balanced from top to bottom.
Highland – For the first time in 25 years, Marty Allen will not be
roaming the sidelines for the Scotties, instead it will be first-year head coach
Keith Majors. Even with a young and inexperienced group, Majors still returns
11 Letterman (7-defense, 4-offense) Highland has three Pre-Season All-Americans
led by returning starter, defensive end Drew Hudgins (6’5 230, Spring Hill, KS)
and tight end Jeremy Carson (6’5 230 Seneca, KS). Quarterback Billy Bob Orsagh
(6’1 185, Eastland, TX) transferred to Highland from Millsaps College in
Jackson, Mississippi. He was a Texas top 15 QB on Rivals.com in 2004, while
throwing for 7, 000 yards in high school.
Fort Scott – The Greyhounds also have a new man at the helm in
first-year head coach, Rion Rhoades. Coach Rhoades is no stranger to this
conference as he has spent the last two seasons at Coffeyville Community College
as the defensive coordinator. He and his staff will be looking to revitalize a
program that has fallen on hard times in recent years. They have generated a
great deal of excitement and energy in Fort Scott, while only being there a
short time. Even with a good first recruiting class, the Greyhounds will be
young and inexperienced. They must rely heavily on their freshman if they are
to make a push toward the upper tier of the Jayhawk Conference. One advantage
in this building year for Fort Scott is that they will host four of the top five
teams in the conference.
Independence – Dave Ward begins his third season as head coach of the
Pirates. They look to improve on last year’s 3-6 record, but their lack of
depth could play a factor. The Pirates return 4 or 5 starters on both offense
and defense. They will be led by Kenny Scrivens (5’11 210, Brunswick, GA) and
Daniel Onnen (6’3 295, Humbolt, KS). Scrivens is a linebacker with a great work
ethic. He was one of the top tacklers for the Pirates last year and will be
relied on for motivation and leadership. Onnen is an offensive lineman, who had
a great season back in 2003 and was selected as a Pre-Season All-American.
However, in the summer of 2004, he was called up by the Army National Guard and
sent to Iraq, where he remained for almost an entire year. He arrived back in
Independence in January of 2006 and had a great off-season. Onnen has again
been selected as a Pre-Season All-American.
Hutchinson – Hutchinson celebrates its 75th anniversary this season
with the opening of their new stadium, which should be one of the top-notch
facilities in not only this conference, but also the nation. Head coach Craig
Jersild will be entering his fourth season at the helm of the Blue Dragons. He
believes this year’s squad will be the best he has had since he came to
Hutchinson. They return 14 Letterman (defense-7, offense-7) and 2 starters
(defense-1, offense-1). Caleb Otto (6’2 300, Stafford, KS) and Toby Gifford
(6’6 310, Louisburg, KS) will anchor an offensive line that will be the strength
of the Blue Dragons’ offense. Stephen Leapheart (6’3 244, Kansas City, KS)
didn’t have a catch last year at tight end, but was a second team all-conference
punter. Brandon Kush (6’4 280, Louisburg, KS) is a defensive lineman, who will
provide immediate impact and leadership for a much-improved defensive unit that
allowed 40 points a game last season.
Dodge City – Marcus Garstecki is in his second year as head coach of
the conquistadors. It will be a challenge to match last season that saw Dodge
have its first winning season and bowl appearance since 1992, while also
reaching the Region VI Championship game. The biggest question coming into 2006
is finding a replacement for All-American quarterback Omar Haugabook. The
leading candidate is Alex Melugin (6’2 210, Wichita, KS). Melugin played some
last season and will be the leader heading into the fall. Freshman Bobby McGee
(6’3 230, Ft. Lauderdale, FL) and Harry Betsey (6’2 210, Quincy, FL) will also
compete for the starting nod. Their defense will be led by 2nd team NJCAA
All-American Kellen Belcher (6’3 285, Chipley, FL). Belcher recorded a school
record 15-½ sacks in 2005. Returning starter Zeke Adair (5’11 190, Wichita, KS)
and Pre-Season All-American Briceton Wilson (6’2 225, Tallahassee, FL) will help
to make up a tough defense unit.
Garden City – Head coach J.J. Eckert is in his second with the
Broncbusters. After leading the Busters to a 7-4 record and an appearance in
the Dixie Rotary Bowl, Eckert is hopeful for another successful season.
However, their schedule doesn’t do them any favors early on. They open with
back to back road trips to #2 ranked Trinity Valley and #3 ranked Butler. The
Busters return 12 starters and 19 letterman including wide receiver Mike Jardin
and fullback Blake Alexander. Jardin caught 38 balls for 666 yards and seven
touchdowns, while Alexander, who was the fourth leading receiver, caught 14
balls for 185 yards and one touchdown. Shurkee Barfield and Kevin Dixon return
to anchor a defensive line that was one of the best in the conference last
year. Dee Brown and Rock Dennis are back at the cornerback position, where they
combined for 77 tackles and 7 interceptions in 2005. Derrick Raymer returns as
punter after averaging 38.3 yards per punt while placing 16 punts inside the
opponent’s 20-yard line. The biggest question mark heading into this season is
finding a replacement for All-American kicker Luke Dreiling.
Coffeyville – Jeff Leiker begins his sixth season at the helm of the
Red Ravens. The Ravens are coming off a Region VI Championship and appearance
in the Sea Company Golden Isles Bowl. This season Coffeyville looks to make
another run at the conference and region crowns, as well as a possible shot at
the national championship. The Ravens return 12 Lettermen (defense-7,
offense-5); they are led on defense by Pre-Season All-American Gary Chandler
(5’11 186, Wichita, KS), defensive back Nathan Robinson (5’7 165, Rockingham,
NC), and linebacker Fred Wright (5’11 210, Fort Valley, GA). The only returning
starter on offense is wide receiver Ronald Davis (6’2 192, South Coffeyville,
OK). Davis finished 2005 with 182 yards on 13 receptions and one touchdown. He
has developed over the spring into the go to receiver for the Ravens in 2006.
Anchoring the offensive line will be Joe Blaes (6’3 295, Cherryvale, KS), Josh
Weigel (6’4 305, Overland Park, KS), and Jordan Bowersox (6’2 285, Wichita,
KS). Special teams will be all new for 2006 and could be room for concern as
well as the development of the offensive line.
Butler – Troy Morrell returns for his seventh season as head coach of
the Grizzlies. They return 27 Lettermen (defense-12, offense-15) and 5 starters
(defense-3, offense-2) from a squad that finished 9-2 in 2005. Even though,
they lost the last two games of 2005, the Grizzlies still managed to win their
fifth consecutive Jayhawk Conference Championship. The Grizzlies start this
season ranked 3rd in the nation and expectations are high in El Dorado. Butler
has quite a bit of talent returning in 2006 starting with quarterback Paul Eck
(6’4 200, Andale, KS). Eck started every game at quarterback last season and
finished throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 24 touchdowns. Quinn Cunningham
(6’2 185, Salina, KS) should prove a good target for Eck, along with tight end
RJ Armstrong (6’2 250, Parsons, KS). The offensive line will be anchored by
Chet Hartley (6’4 310, Kingman, KS) and Naseri Eteuini (6’4 315, Manhattan,
KS). Defensively, the Grizzlies are led by linebackers David McDowell (6’2 245,
Asheville, NC) and Austin Panter (6’3 235, Kensington, KS) and cornerback
Jonathan Warren (6’2 200, Madison, FL). Butler’s kicking game should be solid
with the return of Joe Paletta (6’1 175, Derby, KS). Last year, Paletta led the
nation in scoring by kickers with 98 points. The Grizzlies will be tested early
with a road game at Kilgore, Texas and home contests with Garden City and Dodge
City.
Notes – This year every conference team opens up against a team from
the Texas League and will also have a game against Air Force Prep and a Bye
week. The Region VI Playoffs have been shortened to two rounds. The top four
teams make the playoffs where we have the semifinals and the championship.
Anyone wanting to find scores or other information on the KJCCC can go to
www.kjccc.org .