2008 Sunflower League football capsules

Editor's note: The Olathe News compiled information on each team in the Sunflower League and will add it to this page as the capsules are published.

Free State At-A-Glance

Coach: Bob Lisher (13th season at Free State, 56-53, and 16th overall, 70-67)

2007: 7-3 (Lost in the bi-district playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 7

Returning defensive starters: 3

Preseason league rank: 3

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted

S5 SM West

S11 SM South

S19 at SM Northwest (SMN District Stadium)

S26 at Olathe South (ODAC)

O3 SM East

O9 at Olathe North (ODAC)

O17 at Leavenworth (Abeles Field)

O24 at Lawrence (Haskell), 7:30 p.m.

O31 Olathe Northwest

* Home games played at Haskell Stadium

Five Firebirds to watch

RB/KR Chucky Hunter, sr.

In a league full of good running backs, Hunter is one of the best. Fast, elusive and experienced, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior and also had several electric returns on special teams.

OL/DL Michael Lisher, jr.

At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, Lisher will be one of Free State's biggest linemen and, as the center, he's in a natural position of leadership on offense. A returning starter, he has a lot of big-game experience for a junior.

TE/LB Taylor Stuart, sr.

Stuart is a powerful (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) middle linebacker who will need to provide leadership and reliable tackling on a defense gutted by graduation. Anything he does offensively will be a bonus.

QB/CB Cameron Schmidt, sr.

Replacing Craig Rosenstengle won't be easy, but early word is that Schmidt is big (6-foot-2, 190 pounds), athletic and has a strong arm. He's also working with new Free State assistant and former University of Kansas QB Adam Barmann.

WR/CB Camren Torneden, jr.

Torneden is only 5-foot-6 but was Free State's leading receiver as a sophomore with 14 catches for 171 yards. Preston Randolph, a 6-foot-1 senior, also returns at wideout. He might have been the top receiver last year if not for a broken leg.

Telling number: 33

Average points scored each game by the Firebirds last year — a daunting number that could actually increase as the squad returns seven offensive starters. If the defense is even average the Firebirds should win a lot of games.

Circle your calendar for: Sept. 26 at Olathe South

Two of Free State's three losses came at the hands of the Falcons last year, including a 46-29 playoff trouncing to end the season. The Firebirds will get their shot at revenge against a South squad that returns only three starters on either side of the ball.

Reason to cheer

Chucky Hunter, Chucky Hunter, Chucky Hunter. One of the most exciting players in the league (if not the state), Free State's senior tailback is a bad man (in a good way). His presence should make things easier on Schmidt and the passing game and the Firebirds should pile up points.

Reason to fear

The defense let Free State down on occasion last year, allowing an average of 36 points per game in the team's three losses. With eight starters gone, including linebacker Ryder Werts and end Scott Williams, there may be more games like that in the Firebirds' immediate future.

— Andy Marso, sportswriter

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Lawrence At-A-Glance

Coach: Dirk Wedd (10th season at LHS and overall, 53-38)

2007: 3-6 (failed to reach playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 4

Returning defensive starters: 2

Preseason league rank: 7th

2008 schedule*

S5 at SM North (SMN District Stadium)

S12 SM East

S19 SM West

S26 at SM Northwest (SMN District Stadium)

O2 Olathe North

O10 at Olathe South (ODAC)

O17 Olathe Northwest

O24 Free State

O31 at Leavenworth (Abeles Field)

* Home games played at Haskell Stadium and start at 7:30 p.m.; road games start at 7 p.m.

Five Chesty Lions to watch

QB Clint Pinnick, sr.

Injuries cut short a promising junior season, but Pinnick showed flashes of greatness when he was able to play. His health will have a lot to do with Lawrence's success (or lack of it).

RB Clifton Sims, sr.

After splitting carries with Tyler Hunt last season, and battling assorted injuries, Sims will be asked to shoulder a big chunk of the offense.

OL/DL Chebon Dawes, sr.

Every team needs a smart, strong leader on its lines to have any chance of winning. In the Lions' case, that player is Dawes.

RB Jake Green, sr.

He got to show his elusiveness primarily on special teams last season, but Green will be asked to help relieve some pressure on Sims and Pinnick. If he emerges as a playmaker, the Lions could be formidable.

WR/LB Aaron Rea, sr.

The Lions' leading tackler and an emerging talent on offense, Rea brings a lot of savvy and leadership to the field. He replaces Jared Vinoverski as the squad's top receiver.

Telling number: 23

Lawrence struggled against the run, allowing the fourth-most rushing touchdowns (23) of any defense a season ago. Coughing up 163 rush yards per game isn't a formula for success in high school football. The Lions' stats against the run will be a good indicator of the team's progression this season.

Circle your calendar for: Oct. 24 vs. Free State

It kind of goes without saying the the inter-Lawrence rivalry is the biggest game of the season for the Lions and Firebirds. Lawrence might be limping into district play thanks to a brutal mid-season schedule, but a win over Free State would certainly turn things around and also would all but ensure a return to the playoffs.

Reason to cheer

Youth was served last year for the Lions, who were pressed into playing a lot of athletes before they were probably ready for the bright lights of Friday night. The upside is that those players return with experience that should serve Lawrence well as it looks to bounce back from a disappointing season.

Reason to fear

League schedule makers didn't do Lawrence many favors. Beginning with the third game, the Lions run the following gauntlet: Shawnee Mission West, at SM Northwest, Olathe North and at Olathe South. That brutal stretch will either give Lawrence confidence entering district play or suck the life from the Lions.

— Tod Palmer, sports editor

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Leavenworth At-A-Glance

Coach: Chad Speer (second season at LHS and overall, 2-7)

2007: 2-7 (failed to reach the playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 7

Returning defensive starters: 9

Preseason league rank: Tied for 10th

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m.

S5 SM East

S12 at Olathe North (ODAC)

S19 SM North

S26 at SM South

O3 SM Northwest

O11 at SM West (SM South)

O17 Free State

O24 at Olathe Northwest (CBAC)

O31 Lawrence

* Home games played at Abeles Field

Five Pioneers to watch

RB Storm Sadler, sr.

One of two running backs who will carry the load for Leavenworth, Sadler's balance and power make him a tough ball-carrier to tackle.

RB Warren Brown, jr.

One of two running backs who will carry the load for the Pioneers, Brown brings explosiveness and game-breaking ability to every carry.

MLB Justin Colver, sr.

The anchor of the defense, Colver is the on-field quarterback, making calls and adjustments and ensuring that his teammates line up properly. His improved understanding of the scheme should help the Pioneers improve substantially.

FS Justin Eldridge, sr.

A hard-hitter with good speed and a nonstop motor, Eldridge loves to fly around and lay the wood to opposing players.

OL/DL Ben Melick, sr.

One of Leavenworth's small stable of returning linemen, Melick anchors the offensive and defensive lines with fellow senior Aaron Johannes.

Telling number: 34

That's how many points the Pioneers allowed on average in Speer's first season. Without drastic improvement, it will be hard for Leavenworth significantly to increase its win total.

Circle your calendar for: Oct. 31 vs. Lawrence

Thanks to the new district alignment, there's a good chance the Pioneers will be hosting the Chesty Lions with a playoff berth on the line. For a program trying to turn the corner under a second-year coach, it could be a watershed moment.

Reason to cheer

Under first-year coach Chad Speer, the program surged forward and won two games last year. Leavenworth served notice it is no longer the league's doormat. That helped energize the program from the junior high level through the returning varsity starters, giving the Pioneers a positive launching pad into the 2008 season.

Reason to fear

Leavenworth was a more formidable opponent in 2007, but still struggled against the Sunflower League's upper-echelon teams. Outside of the running back tandem, the Pioneers return little experience on offense, which could prevent the program from surging forward again.

— By Tod Palmer, sports editor

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Olathe East At-A-Glance

Coach: Jeff Meyers (17th season at OE and overall, 113-49)

2007: 9-2 (lost in the Class 6A quarterfinals)

Returning offensive starters: 7

Returning defensive starters: 8

Preseason league rank: 1st

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m.

S5    Olathe North (ODAC)

S12    SM Northwest

S18    at Olathe South (ODAC)

S26    SM North

O3    at Olathe Northwest (CBAC)

O10    at SM East (SMN District Stadium)

O17    BV Northwest

O24    at BV North (BV District Activities Center)

O31    SM South

* Home games played at CBAC unless otherwise indicated

Five Hawks to watch

RB/SS Donnell Alexander, so.

After starting at tailback as a freshman for Grandview (Mo.), Alexander, the son of late Chiefs Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas, brings his talents to the Hawks backfield and secondary.

QB/FS Rick Settle, sr.

Settle earned his stripes as the Hawks quarterback last year, putting up 1,506 total yards of offense, but his biggest impact may be at free safety. His leadership in the secondary, a weakness for East last year, will be critical.

WR/CB Derahn Williams, sr.

Moving to wide receiver from running back, look for Williams to have a much greater role in the offense as the Hawks top deep threat. He also hopes to snag more than the five interceptions he had a junior and will continue to be a special-teams threat.

RB JaVon Williams, sr.

The leading rusher last season in the Sunflower League, Williams racked up 1,524 yards, averaged more than 7 yards per carry and scored 21 touchdowns. He'll again be asked to be the workhorse for the offense.

OL/DL Jake Woten, sr.

An All-Sunflower League performer and the anchor of the defensive line, Woten will counted on to bring leadership and tenacity to the trenches on virtually every snap.

Telling number: 26

Three of the four receivers who had a double-digit total in receptions graduated, leaving East with a returning corps of players that caught on 26 passes last year — and seven of those went running backs JaVon Williams and Cody Billings. Only Shane Gordon, who caught 14 passes for 222 yards a one TD, returns with significant experience at receiver.

Circle your calendar for: Sept. 5 vs. Olathe North at ODAC

East thinks it has the makings of a potential Class 6A state champion, which be a first for the 17-year-old program. The Hawks, who open the season ranked first in the state by rivals.com, will find out a lot about themselves against traditional powerhouse and rival Olathe North, who are No. 2 in that same rivals.com poll.

Reason to cheer

Given the relative strength of the Hawks district, which is to say that it ought to be a cakewalk, even if East finds the going bumpy during a tough early-season schedule — Olathe North, Shawnee Mission Northwest and Olathe South — it'd be a tremendous upset for the Hawks to miss out on the playoffs. And with the talent on East's roster, this bunch is guaranteed to be heard from in the playoffs.

Reason to fear

It's hard to find a weakness on the Hawks, but overconfidence is always a danger in teams with so much returning talent and so many expectations. A rocky start to the season could leave the Hawks reeling and fractured as a team.

— By Tod Palmer, sports editor

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Olathe North At-A-Glance

Coach: Pete Flood (Third year at ON and overall, 14-7).

2007: 10-2 (lost in the Class 6A semifinals)

Returning offensive starters: 4

Returning defensive starters: 3

Preseason league rank: 2nd

2008 schedule*

Games kickoff at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted

S5 at Olathe East (ODAC)

S12 Leavenworth

S19 Olathe Northwest

S25 at SM East (SM North)

O2 at Lawrence (Haskell), 7:30 p.m.

O9 Free State

O17 Blue Valley

O24 Blue Valley West

O31 at Olathe South (ODAC)

* Home games played at ODAC

Five Eagles to watch

RB James Franklin, jr.

North fans have to be salivating at the thought of a full season of Franklin. He didn't see the ball much until the fourth game last year, but his 7.1 yards-per-carry average still pushed him well over the 1,000-yard milestone.

TE/LB Doug Peete, sr.

Peete was a bit overshadowed by North's great senior class last year, but everyone should know his name after this season. Big and fast, he's an intimidating force on defense and has good hands for a fullback or tight end.

WR/CB Bryan Shepherd, sr.

"Shep" was part of an outstanding North secondary last fall and was on a couple of sprint and middle distance relays that made the state track meet in the spring. He's fast, he's tough and he's got a great work ethic.

OL/DL Lucas Vincent, jr.

Vincent is the defending Class 6A state runner-up heavyweight wrestler, a rare athlete who blends strength, quickness and balance in a 6-foot-2, 265-pound frame. Offensive line coaches will have to pick their poison when deciding whether to double-team him or Kevin Young.

TE/DL Kevin Young, sr.

Young, 6 feet-4 inches and 230 pounds, always seemed to be messing up some opponent's backfield last year. He's already verbally committed to the University of Kansas, but that didn't stop schools like UCLA and Arizona from recently offering him scholarships.

Telling number: 23.3

One could easily choose North's regular season scoring average (34.6 points per game) or its average points allowed (11.3 per game), since both led the Sunflower League. Instead we'll go with the difference between the two, which shows just how dominant the Eagles were in 2007.

Circle your calendar for: Sept. 5 at Olathe East at ODAC

The Eagles won't have to wait long to find out if they're ready to compete for league and state championships. They open the season with a gigantic game against the cross-town rival Hawks, who were ranked No. 1 in the Sunflower League Preseason Coaches Poll and are widely considered a state title favorite.

Reason to cheer

North has a transcendent star on offense in Franklin and another on defense in Young. Both are the type of athletes who can take over a game. The program got its mojo back with last year's 10-2 season and football is still the one sport that the entire school seems to rally around.

Reason to fear

Thanks to new district alignments, North's playoff path is perilous. Last year's Class 5A state champion, Blue Valley West, and the 2006 5A champion, Blue Valley, are both on the slate, followed by bitter rival and defending 6A state runner-up Olathe South. The Eagles may be one of the state's best teams, but that's no guarantee they'll advance past districts.

— Andy Marso, sportswriter

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Olathe Northwest At-A-Glance

Coach: Todd Dain (fifth season at ONW, 13-25, and ninth overall, 33-44)

2007: 3-6 (no playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 7

Returning defensive starters: 9

Preseason league rank: Tied for 10th

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted

S5 Olathe South

S12 at SM North (SM North)

S19 at Olathe North (ODAC)

S25 SM West

O3 Olathe East

O10 SM Northwest

O17 at Lawrence (Haskell), 7:30 p.m.

O24 Leavenworth

O31 at Free State (Haskell)

* Home games played at CBAC

Five Ravens to watch

LB Sean Bova, sr.

When the Ravens had success stopping the run last year it was often because Bova flew to the ball and made a play. He was one of the squad's surest tacklers.

RB/KR Devon Boyce, jr.

Technically a slot back, Boyce will get some carries, but he's also one of the favorites to take over for Nick Williams as the Ravens' leading receiver. At 6-foot-1 he's got good size, but also he runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash.

QB Josh Lemke, jr.

CJ Krug ran the spread offense about as well as any coach could ask, but Lemke looks to have better physical tools. He's taller and stronger, so if he learned from watching Krug's heady decision-making, he could be in for a great career.

OL/DL Hayden Maples, sr.

Maples is being courted by several Ivy League schools, including Harvard, and he's got the brawn to match the brains. A team captain who was All-Sunflower last year, he'll have a lot of responsibility on his broad shoulders.

RB Shawn Smith, jr.

Smith made a name for himself last spring when he took third in the 100-meter dash at the state track meet, finishing in 11.04 seconds. With that kind of speed he should be deadly in the open field.

Telling number: 81 percent

The percentage of Northwest's total offense that quarterback CJ Krug accounted for last year — an almost unheard-of ratio. Krug produced 1,851 of the Ravens' 2,274 yards either with his arm or his legs and replacing that production will be a major challenge.

Circle your calendar for: Oct. 24 vs. Leavenworth

Last year Northwest's season ended with a frustrating 35-10 home loss to the Pioneers. If the Ravens have any pride, they'll want to exact revenge and defend their home field in this game. Plus, they'll probably have to win it to make the playoffs.

Reason to cheer

The Ravens started seven sophomores who will all be experienced juniors this year. The program continues to grow and more depth should lead to more competition for playing time and tougher battles in practice.

Reason to fear

The Ravens will be inexperienced at the skill positions and not particularly deep on the offensive and defensive lines.

— By Andy Marso

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Olathe South At-A-Glance

Coach: Jeff Gourley (first year at OS and ninth overall, 47-40)

2007: 9-4 (Class 6A state runners-up)

Returning offensive starters: 1

Returning defensive starters: 2

Preseason league rank: 5th

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m.

S5 at Olathe Northwest (CBAC)

S12 at SM West (SMS District Stadium)

S18 Olathe East

S26 Free State

O3 at SM North (SMN District Stadium)

O10 Lawrence

O17 at BV West (Blue Valley)

O24 at Blue Valley

O31 Olathe North

* Home games played at the Olathe District Activity Center

Five Falcons to watch

RB Jake Byrd, sr.

Again slated to be the workhorse for the Falcons, Byrd is a durable and powerful runner with excellent vision and the will to bowl people over. He rushed for 860 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior during the regular season.

RB/CB Reggie Harris, sr.

He's the lightning to Byrd's thunder. A superior athlete, Harris will fill a scat-back role for the Falcons and brings big-play ability to every touch.

LB/TE Tanner Miracle, sr.

Unquestionably the leader on defense, Miracle will make the play calls as he moves to middle linebacker. He may be the most indispensable Falcon.

QB Tanner Dutton, jr.

Now at MidAmerica Nazarene University, Mike Keese left big shoes to fill and it looks like Dutton will be asked to try and fill them first. He'll have to make good decisions to keep defenses honest.

WR Marshall Davis, sr.

It seemed as if no one could tackle Davis when he entered during the fourth quarter late in blowouts last season. Apparently, few people could tackle the sturdy, dual-threat converted quarterback on the junior varsity — which went 7-1 — either.

Telling number: 0

That's how many combined varsity starts South's offensive and defensive lines, wide receiving corps and quarterbacks have combined. The learning curve will be steep in Gourley's inaugural season.

Circle your calendar for: Sept. 5 at Olathe Northwest

Games versus Olathe North and Olathe East are always big and the Falcons are in a brutal district with North, Blue Valley and BV West. Early-season contests against SM West and Free State also will be litmus tests for a rebuilding program, but the season may hinge on a good performance against Olathe Northwest that first game. Getting off to a good start against a city foe would provide confidence for the players and build trust toward the coaching staff.

Reason to cheer

The Falcons once again have athleticism to spare. Byrd, Harris, Davis — they're all potential game-breakers with incredible versatility as runners, receivers and passers. And that only scratches the surface for a squad with better depth than last year's 6A state runners-up, so look for South to deploy a sneaky, unpredictable attack with so many options at its disposable.

Reason to fear

As much talent as South has, if an unproven offensive line can't assert itself and if the equally unproven defensive line can't hold its ground against the run, it won't matter how much talent lines up in the skill positions. Line play also will hinder or greatly help Dutton's transition to the varsity ranks.

— By Tod Palmer

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Shawnee Mission East At-A-Glance

Coach: John Stonner (sixth year at SM East and overall, ).

2007: 2-7 (no playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 7

Returning defensive starters: 5

Preseason league rank: 8th

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted

S5 at Leavenworth (Abeles Field)

S12 at Lawrence (Haskell), 7:30 p.m.

S19 SM South (SM South District Stadium)

S25 Olathe North

O3 at Free State (Haskell)

O10 Olathe East

O17 SM North

O23 at SM Northwest (SM North District Stadium)

O31 at SM West (SM South District Stadium)

* Home games played at SM North District Stadium unless otherwise indicated

Five Lancers to watch

QB Curran Darling, sr.

Darling threw for 587 yards and three touchdowns in four games after taking over for Forrest Miller last year. At 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, he has prototypical size for a high school quarterback.

WR/DB Kevin Hertel, jr.

With the graduation of Daren Chesbrough, Hertel appears to be the frontrunner for the No. 1 receiving job at SM East. He had 13 catches for 151 yards as a sophomore.

RB/DB Stewart Jensen, jr.

SM East lost one of the league's top defensive backs in Terrance Thomas, but Jensen's return in the secondary should blunt the blow. He also had a 50-yard catch for the only score in a 7-0 win against SM South last year.

RB/LB Marcus Webb, sr.

Probably the team's top athlete, the speedy Webb recorded 408 all-purpose yards last year despite battling injuries. If he stays healthy he'll be a huge part of the offense, and he's a sideline-to-sideline defender.

OL/DL Jonathan Zeiger, sr.

Zeiger started at offensive tackle last year and he'll play a key role in protecting Darling and opening holes for Webb this season. At 5-foot-11, 245 pounds, he's one of the strongest players on the Lancers' roster.

Telling number: 18

The number of interceptions thrown by SM East last season, most in the Sunflower League. The Lancers often moved the ball well, but turnovers hurt them mightily. If they cut down on those they could quickly climb the standings this year.

Circle your calendar for: Sept. 25 vs. Olathe North

The Lancers' first three games (against Leavenworth, Lawrence and SM South) are winnable and they could face the Eagles with a 3-0 record. If that's the case then this game will be an excellent test of just how good SM East is.

Reason to cheer

The Lancers were good at both passing and defending the pass last year and that should continue. If Webb stays injury-free the running game will be much-improved and SM East will have an offense no one wants to face.

Reason to fear

The loss of Thomas will hurt on offense, defense and special teams and the second half of the schedule (with games against Olathe North, Free State, Olathe East, SM Northwest and SM West) looks brutal.

— By Andy Marso

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Shawnee Mission North At-A-Glance

Coach: Ryan Majors (third season at SMN and overall, 4-23)

2007: 1-8 (failed to reach playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 6

Returning defensive starters: 6

Preseason league rank: 12th

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m.

S5 Lawrence

S12 SM North

S19 at Leavenworth (Abeles Field)

S26 at Olathe East (CBAC)

O3 Olathe South

O10 at SM South (SM South District Stadium)

O17 at SM East (SM South District Stadium)

O24 SM West

O31 SM Northwest

* Home games played at SM North District Stadium

Five Indians to watch

QB Arthur Rucker, jr.

Thrown into the fire as a sophomore, Rucker showed flashes of brilliance and ought to emerge as one of the league's top signal-callers — assuming he gets adequate protection.

RB/WR/CB Owola (OJ) Shields, sr.

Shields does it all for the Indians, playing multiple positions on offense as well as starting at corner. Some of his greatest contributions come on special teams, where he was fourth in the league in kickoff returns and also scored a touchdown.

OL/DL Richard Pearson, sr.

The anchor of both Indians lines, Pearson hopes to lead a couple of units that must improve greatly for SM North to succeed.

LB Zack Latham, sr.

Must continue to emerge as a leader for the Indians' defense as the returning elder statesman in the middle.

DB Josh Bernal, sr.

Along with Shields, Bernal brings athleticism and experience to a secondary that improved as the defense steadily improved last season.

Telling number: 4

SM North lost eight games last season, but half of those losses were by 10 points or less. There's still plenty of work needed to get over the hump, but the Indians have been more competitive than their recent record might indicate. Turning gut-wrenching losses into victories is the next step in the program's rebuilding process.

Circle your calendar for: Oct. 17 at SM East

The Lancers will be celebrating 50 years of football that night with the Indians hoping to play spoiler. The game also serves as the district opener, making it a must-win with SM West and SM Northwest also in the newly aligned district.

Reason to cheer

Rucker threw as many touchdowns as any other returning signal-caller, finishing the season tied for SM South's Dustin King and Olathe East's Rick Settle, who both also return. That experience under center ought to translate to a more settled and polished offense — an area in which the Indians struggled last season.

Reason to fear

Who will replace Aaron Sawyer? The top athlete and biggest game-breaker for SM North last year is now suiting up at Pittsburg State University. Finding explosiveness and productivity elsewhere will be a challenge for an Indians squad that already had issues in those areas.

— By Tod Palmer

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SM Northwest At-A-Glance

Coach: Aaron Barnett (third season at SMNW, 13-7, and 10th overall, 61-35)

2007: 9-2 (lost to Olathe North in sectional playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 5

Returning defensive starters: 5

Preseason league rank: 4th

2008 schedule*

Games start at 7 p.m.

S5 SM South (SM South District Stadium)

S12 at Olathe East (CBAC)

S19 Free State

S26 Lawrence

O3 at Leavenworth (Abeles Field)

O10 at Olathe Northwest (CBAC)

O17 SM West

O23 SM East

O31 at SM North (SMN District Stadium)

* Home games played at SM North District Stadium unless otherwise indicated

Five Cougars to watch

RB/SS Bryce Atagi, sr.

The Cougars hope they won't have to expose Atagi to excessive punishment on offense because he's so valuable defensively. Still, it's hard not to hand him the ball, considering he averaged 6.1 yards per carry last year and led the league with 17 regular-season touchdowns.

QB/WR/FS Mark Fancher, sr.

One of the league's most dangerous performers at wide receiver and returning kicks as a junior, Fancher returns to QB — a position he played through his sophomore season. It seems unlikely that his play-making skills will be diminished by the position switch.

OL/DL Darion Hillman, sr.

A mountainous specimen, who's almost impossible to move, Hillman anchors quality offensive and defensive lines for the Cougars.

FB/OLB Ethan Elmer, sr.

A returning starter at linebacker, Elmer also takes over at fullback, where his speed and athleticism make him a threat on par with Atagi. In fact, his natural position probably is tailback, giving SM Northwest a dynamic ball-carrying tandem.

OL/LB Ben Davis, sr.

Called the heart and soul of the Cougars by Coach Barnett, Davis is a three-year starter on the offensive line and one of the hardest workers on the SMNW roster.

Telling number: 1

That's how many outright Sunflower League championships SM Northwest has won since the school opened in 1969. And that title came last year, giving the Cougars an unprecedented springboard into the 2008 season. The Cougars split league championships in 1979 and 1983.

Circle your calendar for: Sept. 12 at Olathe East

District play in the all-SMSD football district obviously will be critical, but the first big test for a relatively inexperienced Cougars squad comes in the second week. SM Northwest hits the road to face one of the top suitors for its Sunflower League crown. It will provide a strong indication of how serious a threat the Cougars are in Class 6A this season.

Reason to cheer

The old saying tells us "defense wins championships," and few teams have more speed and discipline on defense than the well-coached Cougars. Offensive line play, of course, is as vital to winning ultimately, and again SM Northwest is convinced it has one of the top units in the league

Reason to fear

The Cougars lack varsity experience in key skill positions and lot a great deal of leadership when Joey Zdeb, Bryce Murray, Tyler McKee, Josh Douglas, Alex Carder and last year's senior class graduated. That class left some big shoes to fill from a leadership standpoint for this year's senior class.

— By Tod Palmer

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Shawnee Mission South At-A-Glance

Coach: Brandon Claypool (third season at SM South, fifth overall, 13-27).

2007: 2-8 (Lost to SM Northwest 41-9 in opening round of state playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 4

Returning defensive starters: 8

Preseason league rank: 9th

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m.

S5 at SM Northwest (SM South District Stadium)

S11 at Free State (Haskell)

S19 at SM East (SM South District Stadium)

S26 Leavenworth

O3 at SM West (SM South District Stadium)

O10 SM North

O16 Blue Valley North

O24 Blue Valley Northwest

O31 at Olathe East (CBAC)

* Home games played at SM South District Stadium

Five Raiders to watch

OL/DL Alex Baker, sr.

One of two returning starters on the offensive line, Baker will be key to improving a rushing attack that finished last in the league a year ago. At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds, he's one of the squad's biggest linemen.

RB/LB Travis Baker, sr.

Baker started at linebacker last year but may log more time in the backfield this year with the graduation of Kevin Cole. Also chipping in to replace Cole will be Johannes Swanepoel, a junior who's the defending state champion javelin thrower.

WR/DB Deron Dangerfield, sr.

The loss of leading receiver Tra Ammons hurts, but it also opens the door for Dangerfield to become a star. He had 27 catches last year, which was only two fewer than Ammons.

QB Dustin King, sr.

King threw for 1,137 yards last year, the second-most in the Sunflower League. A starter since early in his sophomore season, he returns as one of the most experienced quarterbacks in Class 6A.

OL/DL David Saunders, sr.

Only two Sunflower teams gave up more rushing yards than the Raiders last year. Stopping the run this year starts up front with Saunders (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) and his mates.

Telling number: 119.2

The difference between SM South's average yards rushing per game (85.3) and averaging rushing yards allowed per game (204.5) last year. In the smash-mouth Sunflower League running and stopping the run is key and the Raiders must be better at both to improve on last year's record.

Circle your calendar for: Oct. 10 vs. SM North

The Raiders beat SM North last year in a 21-20 barn-burner that had serious playoff implications. Both teams are coming off disappointing seasons and will be looking at this rivalry game as one they should win.

Reason to cheer

The Raiders have eight starters back on defense, which should keep them in games. They also have a quarterback who seems like he's been around forever in Dustin King. Few defenses will be able to give King a look he hasn't seen and he may be able to pull out some wins in the fourth quarter of close games.

Reason to fear

The Raiders lost their top playmaker, Traa Ammons, to graduation and will need a huge improvement on the offensive and defensive lines to move into the top half of the league standings.

— By Andy Marso

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Shawnee Mission West At-A-Glance

Coach: Tim Callaghan (Sixth year at SMW and overall, 37-17)

2007: 5-4 (failed to reach playoffs)

Returning offensive starters: 6

Returning defensive starters: 5

Preseason league rank: 6th

2008 schedule*

Games kick off at 7 p.m. unless otherwise indicated

S5 at Free State (Haskell)

S12 Olathe South

S19 at Lawrence (Haskell), 7:30 p.m.

S25 at Olathe Northwest (CBAC)

O3 SM South

O11 Leavenworth, 12 p.m.

O17 at SM Northwest (SMN District Stadium)

O24 at SM North (SMN District Stadium)

O31 SM East

* Home games played at SM South District Stadium

Five Vikings to watch

LB/FB Justin Scott, sr.

Every year, it seems, SM West has a blue-collar, head-busting player who flies around with reckless abandon on defense and smashes people as a lead blocker on offense. It kind of defines the program, and Scott inherits that role as a senior.

RB/S Darron Harvey, sr.

If there's one skill position where depth is paramount in the Sunflower League, it's running back. Harvey provides much needed depth and athleticism, giving SM West options for diversifying the offense.

QB DJ Balazs, jr.

He took his knocks after winning the starting quarterback job, but Balazs also should feel more comfortable with the offense and commanding the huddle. If he's not, look out, but if he is, the Vikes could soar.

WR/DB/K Danny Herring, sr.

One of the most versatile athletes on the Vikings roster, it'll be rare for Herring to set foot on the sideline after kickoff. Needless to say, his leadership will be critical.

RB Zach Allen, sr.

Expected to step into some pretty big shoes — and the accompanying expectations — as the feature back replacing second-team All-Sunflower League performer JD Steffen, Allen must become a leader on and off the field for the Vikings to succeed.

Telling number: 2

That's how many passing touchdowns the Vikings had last year — by far the worst in the Sunflower League. Junior quarterback DJ Balazs averaged a respectable 6.92 yards per attempts and completed more than 60 percent of his passes last season, but that didn't necessarily translate into a productive passing game. Balazs, who returns under center, threw one TD to go with four interceptions.

Circle your calendar for: Oct. 17 at SM Northwest

Two teams make the playoffs from each district, but it's still preferable to go into the playoffs as a district champion from a confidence standpoint and because the district champ typically draws an easier first-round opponent. The Vikings and Cougars look like the top squads in District 1, so that opening game could determine the eventual district winner.

Reason to cheer

Team chemistry was an issue as SM West came apart at the seams and lost the final four games of the season after a 5-0 start last fall. But the Vikings have worked hard to get on — and stay on — the same page this fall. With a program such as SM West, talent and execution are rarely an issue, so expect the Vikings to bounce back strong.

Reason to fear

For the most part, the Vikings are an unproven bunch. Even players with varsity experience haven't necessarily experienced varsity success. Developing confidence as a team and learning to compete could be a challenge for SM West.

— By Tod Palmer