Haviland’s Tanner Stevens will have some big shoes to fill this season. His own.
After intercepting 13 passes and breaking up 20 more in 2008, the senior defensive back will be hard pressed to equal or better his own performance. However, Stevens could fall slightly short of his junior season numbers and still be considered to be at the top of the class.
The 6-foot, 155-pounder shouldn’t fall off pace too much in 2009, if at all, and earns Dean Backes’ defensive MVP honors of the 2009 Kansas Small School Preseason All-State Football Team.
Should Stevens fall short of postseason honors on the stop side of the ball in 2009, he is capable of making some noise offensively. Stevens caught 31 aerials for 654 yards and nine touchdowns a season ago.
St. Francis’ Trent Raile is Stevens’ peer on the offensive side of the ball. The 6-1, 185-pound running back chalked up 1,787 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 196 carries a year ago.
Raile is top notch on defense as well after earning credit for 92 tackles, seven interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
Here is a look at the rest of the small school all-state football team, which includes Classes 3A and 2-1A, both 11-Man classes, as well as both divisions of 8-Man football.
First Team Offense
QB – Matt Redeker, Olpe, Sr. 6-1 190 2008 Honorable Mention All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 Honorable Mention All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle; Threw for 1,441 yards in 2008.
RB – Trent Raile, St. Francis, Sr. 6-1 185 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle; Carried the ball 196 times in 2008 for 1,787 yards and 21 touchdowns, was in on 92 tackles and intercepted 7 passes and recovered 4 fumbles defensively.
RB – Colt Rogers, Smith Center, Sr. 5-11 150 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle; rushed for 1,740 yards in 2008.
RB – Caleb Brill, Conway Springs, Sr. 5-9 160 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Wichita Eagle; Rushed for 1,889 yards on offense and intercepted 5 passes.
WR – Toby Peters, Oberlin, Sr. 6-2 190 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Wichita Eagle; Caught 52 passes a year ago for 923 yards and 9 scores.
WR – Matt Buhler, Rossville, Sr. 6-3 175 2008 Honorable Mention All-State Class 3A Topeka Capital Journal; Caught 42 passes for 811 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2008.
WR – Matt Bird, Quinter, Sr. 6-2 165 2008 Honorable Mention All-State 8-Man Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 Honorable Mention All-State 8-Man Wichita Eagle.
Athlete – Tanner Engweiler, Hutchinson Trinity, Sr. 5-11 175 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Wichita Eagle; Ran the ball 164 times for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008, caught 22 passes for 625 yards and 7 more scores, was in on 87 tackles on defense and intercepted 9 passes, recovered 4 fumbles and returned 19 punts for 293 yards.
OL – Trevin Pfannenstiel, Meade, Sr. 6-3 310 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle; A big reason the produced more than 4,300 total yards of offense, including 3,392 yards rushing and 54 scores a year ago.
OL – Jace Warren, Pleasant Ridge, Sr. 6-7 260 2008 Honorable Mention All-State Class 3A Topeka Capital Journal.
OL – Jacob Owen, Hoisington, 6-4 285 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Wichita Eagle
OL – Matt Erbert, Ellis, Sr. 6-4 280 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal
OL – Jase Hubert, Olpe, Sr. 6-1 250 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle
First Team Defense
DL – Luke Eakes, St. Marys, Sr. 6-3 225 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal
DL – Ethan Jirak, Oakley, Sr. 6-0 210 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle; Made 32 tackles and was credited with a sack and a fumble recovery.
DL – Zach Nemechek, Quinter, Sr. 6-4 240 2008 First Team All-State 8-Man Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State 8-Man Wichita Eagle
DL – Nathan Haug, Baileyville B&B, Sr. 5-11 240 2008 First Team All-State 8-Man Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State 8-Man Wichita Eagle
DL – Jacob Ingham, Quivira Heights, Sr. 6-0 180 2008 Honorable Mention All-State 8-Man Wichita Eagle
LB – Brad Hefley, Riverton, Sr. 6-3 255 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Wichita Eagle
LB – Jared Kaufman, Moundridge, Sr. 5-10 225 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle; Was in on 85 tackles in 2008
LB – Tyler Bruton, Burrton, Sr. 6-0 170 2008 Honorable Mention All-State 8-Man Wichita Eagle.
LB – Weston Hiebert, Goessel, Sr. 6-0 170 2008 Honorable Mention All-State 8-Man Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 Honorable Mention All-State 8-Man Wichita Eagle.
DB – Luke Olsen, St. Marys, Sr. 6-1 200 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal.
DB – Tate Omli, Ell-Saline, Jr. 5-10 185 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle; Was in on 41 tackles and intercepted 9 aerials on defense a year ago, completed 105 of 181 passes for 1,442 yards and 20 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions and rushed for 647 yards on 97 carries.
DB – Tanner Stevens, Haviland, Sr. 6-0 155 2008 First Team All-State 8-Man Topeka Capital Journal; Made 67 tackles, intercepted 13 passes and broke up 20 passes a year ago, caught 31 passes for 654 yards and 9 scores on offense.
DB – Joe Olberding, Centralia, Sr. 5-10 180 2008 First Team All-State Class 2-1A Wichita Eagle
Kicker – Jake Craig, Lyons, Sr. 5-10 185 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Topeka Capital Journal; 2008 First Team All-State Class 3A Wichita Eagle.
Punter – Jordan Tice, Osage City, Sr. 5-8 165 Averaged 38.09 yards on 23 punts a year ago.
Returner – Terrell Lane, Norton, Jr. 5-11 205 Returned 11 kicks for a 43.27 yard average through 10 games in 2008.
Other Kansas Players to Watch
Quarterbacks: Bryant Beneke, Sr., SE-Saline; Ben Malotte, Sr., Marysville; Matt Foster, Sr., Sterling; Nate Yunker, Jr., South Haven; Matt Hager, Sr., Pleasant Ridge; Derek Racette, Jr. Hutchinson Trinity; Tyler Glatczak, Sr., Centralia; Keegan McCullick, Sr., Minneapolis; Lex Parsons, Sr., Oakley; Shawn Talkington, Sr., Chase County; Kyle Haverkamp, Sr., Baileyville B&B; Devin Hoffman, Sr. Claflin; Reggie Jordan, Jr., Hill City; Kody Workman, Sr., Sylvan.
Running Backs: Garrett Breech, Sr., Flinthills; Ryan Huerter, Sr., Baileyville B&B; Troy Albright, Sr., Galena; Brandon Barnes, Sr., Oskaloosa; Logan Eck, Sr., Beloit; Wade Hansen, Sr., Sedgwick; Will Ryan, Jr., Pleasant Ridge; Brad Wimer, Sr., Horton; Dylan Pfeifer, Sr. Ellis; Kenneth Tharman, Sr., Troy. Receivers/Tightends: Steven Harkness, Sr., Leoti; Brady McCoy, Jr., Sedan; Trevor Smith, Sr., South Central; Matt Buhler, Sr., Rossville; Sam Martin, Sr., Inman; Jesse Masters, Sr., Troy; Mark Riordan, Sr., Sacred Heart; Logan Wedel, Sr., Minneapolis; Bradley Argabright, Sr., Olpe; Adam Klein, Sr., Minneapolis; Zach Demars, Jr., Southern Cloud; Tanner McFarland, Sr., Haviland.
Offensive/Defensive Linemen: Greg List, Sr., Pleasant Ridge; Cole Long, Sr., Medicine Lodge; Rodney Steinlage, Sr., Centralia; Mike Downard, Sr., Marysville; Russell Hampton, Sr., Central Heights; Jordan Haverkamp, Jr., Silver Lake; Nick Klenda, Sr., Marion; Daniel Youngers, Sr., Garden Plain; Dillon Corbett, Sr., Smith Center; Ben Hasenkamp, Sr., Centralia; Brent Houston, Sr., Southern Coffey; Dylan Montgomery, Sr., Lebo; Billy Stensland, Sr., Greensburg.
Linebackers: Isaac Bush, Jr. Marysville; Jacob Fry, Sr., Riverton; Henry Ott, Sr., Madison; Chase Cargile, Sr., Sedgwick; Nathan Gonzales, Sr., Holcomb; Jace Lowe, Sr., Silver Lake; Kaleb Moeller, Sr., Beloit; Josh Decker, Sr., St. Marys; Gideon Fuchs, Sr., Ellis; Tyler Gleason, Sr., Centralia; Johnny Lang, Sr., Chase County; Jesse Watt, Sr., Pittsburg-Colgan; Adam Liebl, Sr., Claflin.
Defensive Backs: Ashton Draper, Sr., Norton; Damon Trotnic, Sr., Oswego; Tate Andrews, Sr., Sharon Springs; Brayden Bloomfield, Sr., Clifton-Clyde.
Specialists: Alex Walsh, Sr., Lyndon; Dylan Barnard, Jr., Madison; Mitch Buhler, Jr., Rossville; Shane Hammer, Sr., Cherryvale; Michael Mesh, Jr., Hutchinson Trinity; Garrett Bane, Sr., Sedan; Skyler Martin, Jr., Pleasanton; Julio Arias, Sr., Jetmore; C. J. Cole, Sr., Colony-Crest.
