HOISINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
CARDINALS
Classification: 3A
District: 15 (Ellsworth, Lyons, Sterling)
League: Central Kansas League
Head coach: Zach Baird (entering first season)
Assistant coach(es): Bob Brungardt, Kyle Haxton, Kevin Hoff
Base offense: Flexbone
Base defense: 3-4
Roster
Tyler Specht, QB/DB, 5-foot-11, 165 pounds, Soph.; Brad Reif, QB/DB, 5-10, 160, Sr.; Corbin Crawford, WR/DB, 5-10, 150, Soph.; Steffan Dolechek, RB/DB, 6-1, 175, Jr.; Kaleb Blazek, QB/DB, 5-8, 150, Fr.; Grant Dolechek, TE/LB, 5-11, 145, Jr.; Brandon Ball, WR/DB, 5-8, 150, Sr.; Kody Lang, WR/DB, 5-11, 145, Jr.; Sean Urban, RB/LB, 5-8, 170, Fr.; Rudy Gearhart, RB/DB, 5-8, 145, Fr.; Nolan McCurry, RB/DB, 5-8, 170, Sr.; Hunter Hanzlick, RB/LB, 5-10, 175, Soph.; Jonathan Ball, RB/DB, 5-8, 155, Soph.; Eric Barrett, RB/LB, 5-9, 150, Fr.; Christopher Ball, RB/LB, 5-8, 150, Fr.; Zade Sanders, RB/LB, 6-0, 175, Jr.; KC Stephens, TE/LB, 6-1, 205, Sr.; Mike McMahon, WR/LB, 6-3, 165, Soph.; Brittain Noah, WR/DB, 5-8, 160, Soph.; Landen Urban, OL/DL, 5-11, 225, Soph.; Justin Umphery, OL/DL, 5-9, 200, Jr.; Chris Wright, OL/DL, 6-3, 215, Jr.; Tommy Potter, OL/DL, 5-10, 150, Fr.; Kyle Lang, OL/DL, 5-7, 165, Soph.; Jeremy Breit, OL/DL, 5-10, 175, Soph.; Jack Williams, OL/DL, 5-9, 155, Fr.; Jake Curtis, OL/LB, 5-8, 155, Fr.; Ben Schneider, OL/DL, 6-1, 180, Soph.; Justin Bradley, OL/LB, 5-7, 210, Soph.; Tre Hinds, OL/DL, 6-1, 250, Soph.; Seth Owen, OL/DL, 6-2, 290, Sr.; Brenner Donovan, WR/DB, 6-2, 150, Soph.; Tanner Cassity, WR/DB, 5-6, 110, Fr.; Kirk Reisner, WR/DB, 5-10, 140, Fr.
Schedule
Sept. 5 — At Larned
Sept. 12 — NICKERSON
Sept. 19 — PRATT
Sept. 26 — At Hillsboro
Oct. 3 — At Kingman
Oct. 10 — SMOKY VALLEY
Oct. 17 — ELLSWORTH*
Oct. 24 — At Sterling*
Oct. 30 — LYONS*
* — District games
All games at 7 p.m.
HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS
HOISINGTON — There’s a new head coach in town for the Hoisington High School football team.
2014 marks the beginning of the Zach Baird era for the Cardinals.
That’s not to say he’s completely new for the players.
“I’ve worked with the defense in years past,” Baird said. “I was the defense coordinator for the last three years.
“I think the familiarity helps. It seems like a smooth transition.”
Baird brings a run-first mentality that he says will benefit the depth that Hoisington has.
“We’re going to be very run heavy,” Baird said. “We’re going to be doing a bunch of different things with the run game.
“I feel like we’re pretty deep at running back. We’ll be bringing in a lot of people there and keeping them fresh.”
Baird rattled off several names of backs who will likely carry the ball this year, including Nolan McCurry, K.C. Stephens, Steffan Dolechek, Jonathan Ball, Zade Sander and Hunter Hanzlick.
Overall, Baird said he’s been pleased with the work the players have put in thus far.
“I’ve been really pleased with the kids,” Baird said. “The seniors are doing a nice job being leaders. The coaching staff has been great.
“I just want a group of guys who play the game the right way, who execute and have fun.”
With a week to go before the preseason scrimmage, Baird had yet to choose a quarterback, but he’d narrowed it down to two, sophomore Tyler Specht and senior Brad Reif.
“Right now, it’s neck-and-neck,” Baird said. “Both are fairly close athletically. Same height and same build, basically. They’re both good decisions.
“What it’ll came down to is who makes better decisions.”
Baird isn’t the only new thing for Hoisington football.
The school has left the now separated Mid-Central Activities Association and will compete in the Central Kansas League.
“It’s new competition for us, for sure,” Baird said, “but we’ll approach it same as we always do. We’ll find out about the new teams and make a game plan.”
The new league means meeting teams Hoisington used to see frequently.
“We’re excited about that,” Baird said, “getting back in the league with Pratt. We’re excited a lot about that, and I know the kids are excited.”
