By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The 2022 football season was a turnaround one for the Great Bend Panthers. After back-to-back winless seasons, Great Bend dropped its first two games of last season to cap a 19-game skid. A 31-6 win against Buhler in week three kicked off a seven-game win streak before the Panthers ended their season at 7-3 with a 40-35 playoff loss to Salina Central. Erin Beck is back to lead the Panthers for an eighth season and is ready to carry that momentum forward.
"I'm really excited about this team at all levels and can't wait to get started," he said.
There will be some obvious losses to graduation. Cayden Scheuerman was a two-year starter under center. Last year he came up a yard shy of 1,500 yards passing and finished second on the team with 882 rushing yards. He combined for 25 touchdowns. His favorite target was Braylon Council, who graduated after leading the Panthers with 727 yards and seven touchdowns on 53 receptions. Defensively, Beck loses Skyler McMullen and Mathew Moeder, who each recorded at least 80 tackles.
But there is plenty of returning firepower. Senior Cody Miller earned All-WAC honors at running back, as did seniors Colton Brack at tight end and Maddox Spray at wideout. Miller was a workhorse on the ground with 187 carries for 981 yards and 14 scores, and he caught 22 passes for 258 more yards. Brack caught 20 balls for 253 yards and three touchdowns, and Spray added 173 yards and two touchdowns on his 21 receptions.
If last year's squad was light on seniors, this year's squad will rely heavily on them. First-team All-WAC selection Matt Johnson returns to the offensive line and at linebacker where he recorded 73 tackles. Dee'Onn Jones was also a first-team all-league player at defensive end where he recorded 52 tackles in just six games.
Junior Aidan Davidson returns to both sides of the line, and sophomore Trent Kern returns as an offensive lineman and linebacker. Senior Cooper Liles returns at linebacker where he had 55 tackles. Senior Kaiden Hoffman and sophomore Ian Premer return at defensive back. Senior Alex Galindo returns as kicker.
"Trent returns after starting both sides of the ball last season as a freshman," Beck said. "Aidan also provides experience on both sides of the line after being a two-way starter last season. Ian returns at free safety and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do at wideout this season as well. Cooper and Kaiden both had breakout junior seasons and will provide experience in our secondary."
There will be some new faces as well. Sophomore Daxton Minton will take over for Scheuerman under center. Junior Jace Schartz will likely see more action at running back after rushing for 46 yards as a sophomore. Juniors Owen Kaiser and Eli Soupiset and sophomores Jacob Hall and Hayden Kelly could see more time at receiver. Junior Trey Milsap joins the returning linebackers, and sophomores Blaine Ensley and Karter Brown could make an impact on both lines.
Great Bend opened last year with losses to solid teams from McPherson and Hays that combined for a 20-4 record last year. The Bullpups were hit hard by graduation, losing quarterback Hunter Alvord and his 1,500 passing yards, as well as three rushers who accounted for 2,200 yards, or 95 percent of last year's total. Hays loses quarterback Kyreese Groen but returns one of the top backs in the state in senior Malik Bah.
In all, Great Bend's opponents last year compiled a 51-48 record. The Panthers will play at home this year against McPherson (Sept. 1), Wichita Southeast (Sept. 22), Dodge City (Sept. 29), and Garden City (Oct. 20). The first round of the Class 5A playoffs begins Oct. 27.