Class 1A State Championship Preview: Six Players to Watch

Santino Bernal November 24, 2021 @ 06:14 PM

The Class 1A State Championship Game is shaping up to be an exciting matchup between 1A powerhouse Olpe, and the rising Teutons of Inman. Both teams aren’t too familiar with each other, but they’ll quickly become acquainted come Saturday at Fort Hays State University. A few things are certain about this matchup, a streak will be broken, and history will be made. Be sure to tune in for this one. Check out the preview of each team and some key players to watch during the action. Inman: What a special season it’s been for Inman. This program has had its ups and downs over the past decade, but they’ve improved significantly these past two seasons. After finishing 8-3 in 2020, they now sit at 11-0 and are one win away from the program’s first ever state title. They may be the underdog to some, but this squad is determined to take the 1A crown from Olpe. These are three players that could help the Teutons make history. [player_tooltip player_id="35611" first="Jace" last="Doerksen"], QB, Class of ’22 Expect to see the Teutons’ offensive game plan involve a heavy dosage of their senior quarterback. The 23rd ranked signal caller in our Class of ’22 rankings has been solid during Inman’s playoff run. Over the past three games he’s thrown for 465 yards and has accounted for seven total touchdowns. He’s had an All-League caliber season, and he’ll lead Inman’s high-flying offense against a stout Olpe defense. Kendyn Blank, ATH, Class of ‘22 Blank is another weapon on offense for the Teutons, as he comes into the title game as their leading rusher. Prior to their semifinal matchup against Sedgwick, Blank had accumulated 820 yards rushing with 20 touchdowns. He didn’t see many carriers during their Sub-State win, but he was still affective. Blank rushed for 32 yards on six carries with one score. He is also a standout player on Inman’s defense. Dawson Mannebahc, DL, Class of ‘22 Mannebahc has been a key piece for Inman along their defensive line this season. He’s had a strong senior campaign and could give the Eagles fits coming off the edge. Before the Sub-State round, Mannebahc had racked up 67 total tackles with 11 being for losses. The senior shined against Sedgwick, putting together a 5.5 tackle and 2.5 sack performance. The Teutons will need him to dominate the trenches on Saturday. Ople: The Olpe Eagles could hit some major milestones in the program’s history with a win on Saturday. The defending champs could complete their first ever back-to-back, and they could extend their winning streak to 24 games. They’ll be led by a group of seniors motivated to accomplish both feats. Look for these three impactful seniors to lead the way for the Eagles. [player_tooltip player_id="35613" first="Damon" last="Redeker"], QB, Class of ‘22 An advantage the Eagles have over the Teutons is a quarterback that has already been in this position before. Redeker was an intricate piece in Olpe’s championship run last season, and he’s back again to help lead the Eagles’ offense against a defense that has shutout six opponents this year. The senior will be up for the challenge though. He’s coming off a multi-touchdown game during Sub-State and has the Eagles’ offense averaging 49 points per game this season. [player_tooltip player_id="35618" first="Ted" last="Skalsky"], LB, Class of ’22 Skalsky is arguably the heart and soul of the Eagles. The 7th ranked linebacker in the Class of ’22 headlines a defense that has only surrendered 18 points the entire season. He was their leading tackler as a junior and has put together another great year. Expect to see some big plays made by the reigning 1A Defensive Player of the Year. Derek Hoelting, ATH, Class of ’22 Hoelting is another returning starter from Olpe’s 2020 state title team. He’s a player that will be a difference maker on both sides of the ball. Olpe likes to utilize his versatility by getting him the ball any way they can on offense. On defense, he is well known for his play at linebacker alongside Skalsky. Hoelting heads into the matchup riding a two-touchdown performance during Sub-State and will look to make it into the end zone again during his final game as an Olpe Eagle.