LARNED HIGH SCHOOL
INDIANS
Classification: 4A Division-II
District: 8 (Holcomb, Hugoton, Pratt)
League: Central Kansas League
Head coach: A.B. Stokes (entering third season)
Assistant coach(es): Austin Kingsbury, Tad Remy, Mike Hensley, Quinton Burgess
Base offense: Multiple I
Base defense: 3-4
Roster
Skyler Hoch, RB/LB, 5-foot-9, 205 pounds, Sr.; Jeromie Kramer, OL/DL, 5-11, 215; Sr.; Nick Warrick, OL/DL, 6-0, 210, Sr.; Jeromy Bartz, RB/LB, 5-8, 185, Sr.; Gage Stude, RB/C, 5-8, 170, Sr.; Ty Oneill, OL/LB, 215, 5-10, Sr.; Joe Tapia, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Mike Duft, WR/C, 5-8, 160, Sr.; Colton Gladow, WR/C, 5-9, 160, Sr.; Tyler Stelter, WR/LB, 5-11, 185, Sr.; Trey Kraisinger, QB/S, 6-2, 165, Sr.; Tanner Galliart, WR/C, 6-2, 160, Jr.; Isiah Perez, WR/S, 6-0, 180, Jr.; Landon Erway, RB/LB, 5-9, 175, Jr.; Evan Skelton, QB/S, 5-9, 160, Jr.; Marcus Allen, OL/DL, 5-9, 330, Jr.; Blake Ritchie, OL/DL, 6-1, 245, Jr.; Wyatt Davis, OL/DL, 6-1, 200, Jr.; Gary Barker, RB/LB, 5-6, 155, Jr.; Tanner Madden, RB/LB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Noah Brown, OL/DL, 5-9, 220, Jr.; Lukas Anderson, OL/DL, 5-10, 235; Andreas Vereecke, WR/C, 5-7, 160, Jr.; Dakota Green, WR/C, 5-9, 165, Jr.; Colton Henbest, OL/LB, 6-2, 210, Jr.; Nate Williams, OL/LB, 6-2, 200, Soph.; Brandon Bartz, RB/LB, 5-9, 165, Soph.; Kolby Keith, WR/S, 5-10, 165, Soph.; Roger Klenke, OL/DL, 5-8, 145, Soph.; Dalton Bright, WR/C, 5-7, 130, Soph.; Austin Mead, WR/C, 5-9, 140, Soph.; Ulysses Solis, K/P, 5-10, 175, Soph.; Max Easley, RB/LB, 5-5, 135, Soph.; Jonathan Herter, RB/LB, 5-10, 165, Soph.; Mason Schartz, WR/C, 5-7, 135, Soph.; Colton Massey, QB/S, 5-10, 160; Soph.; Tarren Dooley, RB/LB, 5-10, 165, Soph.; De'Shaun Clark, OL/DL, 6-2, 315, Soph.; Dakota Ellis, OL/DL, 5-10, 150, Soph.; Jordan Kramer, OL/DL, 5-10, 275, Soph.; Brandon Perez, WR/DL, 6-0, 165, Soph.; DJ Mead, QB/C, 5-9, 150, Soph.; Marcus Nolde, WR/LB, 5-3, 120, Soph.; Dakota Cauthon, WR/S, 5-11, 160, Soph.; Brennan Behnke, RB/LB, 5-9, 155, Fr.; David Valadez, K/P, 5-7, 125, Fr.; Carson Smith, QB/C, 5-3, 105, Fr.; Jacob Simmons, WR/C, 5-0, 100, Fr.; Wes Davis, RB/LB, 5-11, 150, Fr.; Jordan Taylor, OL/DL, 5-7, 160, Fr.; Austin Gladow, RB/LB, 5-7, 125, Fr.; Alex Barger, RB/S, 5-6, 120, Fr.; Dusty Nelson, OL/DL, 5-6, 170, Fr.; Nicholas Orth, WR/C, 5-7, 115, Fr.; Alex Sanger, WR/C, 5-5, 100, Fr.; London Whittington, OL/DL, 6-1, 230, Fr.; Tim Gardea, OL/LB, 5-5, 145, Fr.; Juan Delgadillo, OL/DL, 5-7, 155, Fr.; Kelton Barrett, OL/DL, 5-9, 150, Fr.; Mason Burris, RB/S, 5-4, 120, Fr.; Edgar Garcia, OL/DL, 6-2, 260, Fr.; Cody Lemuz, OL/DL, 5-6, 175, Fr.; Wyatt Tremain, OL/DL, 6-0, 230, Fr.; Jeremiah Slattery, OL/DL, 5-7, 180, Fr.; Trapper Larsen, WR/LB, 5-9, 150, Fr.
Schedule
Sept. 5 — HOISINGTON
Sept. 12 — At La Crosse
Sept. 19 — KINGMAN
Sept. 26 — NICKERSON
Oct. 3 — At Lyons
Oct. 10 — At Haven
Oct. 17 — HOLCOMB*
Oct. 24 — At Hugoton*
Oct. 31 — PRATT*
* — District games
All games at 7 p.m.
HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS
LARNED — Larned High School’s football program made school history with the school’s first playoff appearance in 28 years and first winning record in 15 years.
Head coach A.B. Stokes orchestrated the turnaround with a 7-3 record that ended with a 60-0 playoff loss to Andale.
The challenge will be tougher in 2014 with a move to the rugged Central Kansas League. Class 2A powerhouse LaCrosse is the Indians’ non-league test before a 4A Division-II District with Hugoton, Pratt and Holcomb. Holcomb has reached the playoffs 10 of the past 11 years while Hugoton and Pratt missed the playoffs in 2013.
“It’s a tougher schedule because we play more Class 4A teams and schools that have a reputation for good football teams,” Stokes said. “We will get quality competition week in and week out. Our schedule gives us an opportunity to compete in our District.”
The Indians feature first-team all-league linebacker Jeromy Bartz and all-league safety Trey Kraisinger. Honorable mention all-league players returning are back Landon Erway, linebacker Tyler Stelter and safety Evan Skelton.
Other returning offensive starters are fullback Skyler Hoch, tight end Tyler Stelter and linemen Ty O’Neill and Jeramie Kramer, Kraisinger won the quarterback battle with Evan Skelton, who will play a receiver spot. He will replace quarterback Easton Palmer, who accounted for 1,700 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2013.
“Trey is calm and reserved and is good at staying in the pocket and making plays,” Stokes said. “He’s gives us our best look on offense with Evan Skelton also on the field as a slot receiver.”
The Indians will feature a two-back offense, but will throw as much as 40 percent of the time. Stokes knows the base will be the running game.
“To have an effective offense, I believe you have to run the football and set up your passing game,” Stokes said. “We’ve got some good speed in our backfield that will help us in our play-action passing game.”
Stokes favors Holcomb as the District favorite.
“A successful season would be winning our fair share of games and competing as hard as we can in the games when we don’t win,” Stokes said. “The guys are working hard and will compete.”
Stokes said Larned has an element of surprise on its side.
“We may have a chance to surprise some teams that we haven’t played before,” he said. “We take nothing for granted. Just because we had a winning season last year guarantees us nothing. We’re confident we’re doing things the right way.”
About five players will start on both sides of the football.
The defense returns eight defensive starters and yielded 22 points per game. Other returning defensive starters are cornerback Gage Stude, linebackers Bartz, Erway and O’Neill and defensive lineman Nick Warrick. The Indians shut out Ellinwood and held Ellis and Thomas More Prep under 10 points.
“Defensively, we want to play fast and strike hard,” Stokes said. “Our biggest concern is taking care of the physical teams that we match up against. We feel like we’ll be prepared for the challenge.”
Larned has 66 players out two seasons after breaking a 24 game losing streak in 2012. Stokes is 10-9 in two seasons.
Larned will get tested from the opener, which features MCAA champion Hoisington, which beat the Indians 27-9 last year.
