Class of 2021 Analysis & Evals: McPherson High School

McPHERSON —Three years in a row, McPherson High School made it to the semifinals and ended up being one play away from competing in the state championship. Head Coach Jace Pavlovich has seen the talent level he produced and how far his team can go. Now the question remains. Can they finally make the last hurdle before bringing a state home for the first time in school history? That remains unseen. The Bullpups lost a lot of firepower on both sides of the ball, including Cody Stufflebean, who went on to sign to play football at Kansas State. However, Pavlovich did see a lot of promises from his underclassmen that got an opportunity to contribute and has a new group of seniors who have the chance to bring the Bullpups to the promised land. Players to Watch Dylan Rinker QB 6’0 205 Dylan Rinker may be entering this season as the full-time starter for the first time, but the senior is experienced and has a rocket of an arm. However, it will be an adjustment period building the offense around him. In the last three seasons, McPherson had quarterbacks that had mobility and could make plays with both their arms and legs. Rinker is quite the opposite. Rinker will be replacing last year’s starter Kaleb Hoppes, who threw for 1,662 yards and rushed for 612 yards. Rinker might not have the athleticism Hoppes carried, but his throwing mechanics and pocket awareness could make up for it. It also helps to have a quarterback with a baseball background. Rinker played in seven games and even started one. He finished the year with 145 passing yards and three touchdowns. It won’t be a surprise if the Bullpups become a pass-happy team instead of being a well- balanced offense. They have the quarterback and enough weapons to do so. Jonah Scott OL 6’2 260 One thing Pavlovich will be most excited about is his offensive line, and Jonah Scott will be anchoring that front five. Scott is a mauler and won’t be satisfied until he puts someone on the ground before the whistle. Scott played both right and left guard in the past two seasons and has gotten better each year. He brings physicality and good feet for McPherson. Scott paved the way for McPherson’s 1,845 rushing yards and received all-state honors for two straight years. There’s no question Scott is one of the top tier linemen in Class 4A and could end his high school career as one of the top linemen in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="35484" first="Aaron" last="Powell"] WR 5’11 155 Powell made a big statement during the opening night against Salina South last season when he outran every defender with a 99-yard touchdown pass. Still not convinced? Well, how about an 85-yard kickoff return in October against Augusta High School? Powell can fly, and he showcased that as a receiver and a return specialist. Powell has playmaking abilities as a deep threat receiver. You can line him up anywhere and he can still create separations. What is also underrated is Powell’s vertical leap on deep-ball throws and ball skills. He can take on cover two coverages and could fight for the ball against any DB that stands in his way. Powell finished his junior campaign with 694 receiving yards and six touchdowns. Expect Powell to make another big leap as the primary target and team leader in his final year as a Bullpup. Brycen Labertew LB 5’11 190 Labertew will now be the man in the middle as he takes over at the middle linebacker spot after the departure of Mason Thrash. Labertew overachieved in his first year as a starter and made himself known in pass defense. Labertew was second in tackles with 74 and second in interceptions (3). He also added two forced fumbles and a blocked punt. Safe to say that Labertew has the knack for football and will be comfortable being the new voice on defense. Jayton Alexander DB 5’9 160 Alexander was a sleeper because of how loaded McPherson’s defense was last year. Now entering his senior year, it might be time to wake the critics up and take a closer look at him. Alexander comes from a basketball family background, and granted, he’s no slouch as the starting point guard either. However, as a dual-athlete, his game is quite similar. Alexander was listed as the strong safety, yet he saw a lot of time, lining up in the nickel spot, which definitely fits his forte. Despite his 5’9 160-pound frame, Alexander plays scrappy and is not afraid to take on bigger and faster receivers. He also lives for contact and is not afraid to stick his nose in it when it comes to stopping the run. He’s great when reading his keys and making text-book tackles. McPherson’s defense is quite creative because of the way he utilizes his secondary. Alexander will be asked a lot in defensive schemes, but there’s nothing Alexander can’t do.