Wichita Area Program Review: Eisenhower

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a disappointing end to the 2023-2024 season with a three-point loss to state runner-up <em>Kapaun Mount Carmel</em>, 42-39, <em>Eisenhower</em> had been on a hot streak, decisively winning three playoff games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the opening game of the playoffs they rolled over <em>Andover</em> 35-6. In the second game they continued to dominate, blasting <em>Hays</em> 41-17. Then in the quarter-finals drubbed a solid <em>Maize </em>team 35-14.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the semi-final game against<em> Kapaun,</em> the <em>Eisenhower </em>offensive star-power was in full view, as QB <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='676467' first='Derek' last='Morgan']</em></strong> completed 14-24 passes for 186 yards and four TD's. Standout wideout, <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='442660' first='Carter' last='Pabst']</em></strong> hauled in five passes for 109 yards, averaging just under 22 yards per catch and scored two touchdowns. While graduating senior <em>Lucas Dickman</em> added 186 yards on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These returning standouts and a key group of returning starters and all-conferences performers from a year ago will be expected to step up to keep the machine in high-performance mode.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this report we will go through an in-depth look at the <em>Eisenhower</em> football program and detail strengths and concerns and take a look at the upcoming schedule this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, without further adieu, I bring you the&nbsp;<em>Eisenhower football team</em>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eisenhower</strong>:&nbsp;class 5A,&nbsp;<em>Ark Valley-Chisolm Trail</em> Division II</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>League/District Play:</strong>&nbsp;<br>2023 Overall Record:&nbsp;<strong>10-2</strong><br>2023 League Record:&nbsp;<strong>5-1</strong><br>2023 Playoffs:&nbsp;lost to <em>Kapaun</em> in Sub-State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:&nbsp;</strong><em>Darrin Fisher</em> - 6th Year @ EHS, 26-21 record.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Coordinator:&nbsp;</strong><em>Will Bergkamp</em><br><strong>Special Teams Coordinator:&nbsp;</strong><em>Matt Busby</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Assistant Coaches</strong>:&nbsp;<em>Lance Francis, Enrique Espinoza, Kris Houseberg, Jakob Thomas, Jeran Trotter, Thomas Waterman</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 Football Outlook</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Strengths:</strong>&nbsp;Strong leadership from senior class; returning firepower on offense, with a strong nucleus at QB-WR-RB; large number of players in the program</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Concerns</strong>: Potentially inexperienced sophomore starters on both sides of the ball; particularly on defense, where there are six positions needing to be filled.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preview</strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offensively</em></strong>, at QB <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='676467' first='Derek' last='Morgan']</strong></em> (<em>Lehigh University</em>) set school records for touchdowns, completions, passing yards in a season returns to lead a high-octane offense. He is developing into one of the top dual-threat QB's in the state and will be counted on to provide team leadership.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the receivers, All-State <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='442660' first='Carter' last='Pabst']</em> </strong>(<em>University of North Dakota</em>), caught 51 passes for 893 yards and scored a dominating 19 touchdowns, returns as one of the top deep threats in the state; as well as senior WR <em>Canyon Mayer</em>, who was All-Conference a year ago, catching 31 passes and scoring two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At running back, there are big shoes to fill as <em>Lucas Dickman</em>, who gained 1847 yards and scored16 touchdowns, graduated. To fill the gap, <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='426515' first='Brayden' last='Pappas']</strong></em>, who has looked sharp in early practices, will be the primary back spearheading the running attack. The running game will definitely continue to be a strength offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The offensive line graduated three lineman, and will be anchored this year with senior, All-Conference <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1542896' first='Ethan' last='Trometer']</strong> </em>and fellow trench mate<em><strong> Josh Nelson</strong></em>. Replacing key offensive lineman will be a critical development this fall in order to keep the high-scoring offense hitting on all cylinders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Defensively</em></strong>, the team is coming off one the best seasons in school history, unfortunately they graduated five starters, including two linebackers, two d-backs and one defensive lineman. To fill the gaps, the team will be looking for players to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anchoring the defense this fall will be returning All-Conference defensive lineman<em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1466196' first='Makai' last='Tagatac'],</strong> </em>who will be counted on to shut down the opponent's running game between the tackles, as well as rising-star linebacker junior <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1241209' first='Jackson' last='Reed']</strong>. </em>In the secondary two starters return, including standout cornerback <em>[player_tooltip player_id='1573911' first='Kasten' last='Koehn'] </em>who had 3 interceptions and was All-Conference last season.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>: below highlights the key areas of the starting teams that need to be supplemented this fall. The returning skill players and guys in the trenches are a dangerous group. If the replacements can fill the void Eisenhower will again be a force to be reckoned with this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offense</strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB - <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='676467' first='Derek' last='Morgan']</em></strong> - Sr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1542896' first='Ethan' last='Trometer'] </em></strong>- Sr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - <strong><em>Josh Nelson</em></strong> - Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OL - <strong><em>Brody Engel</em></strong> - Sr.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>OL - TBD</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>OL - TBD</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB - <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='426515' first='Brayden' last='Pappas']</em></strong> - Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='442660' first='Carter' last='Pabst']</em></strong> - Sr</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - <strong><em>Canyon Mayer</em></strong> - Sr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WR - <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1573517' first='Hayden' last='Nall']</em></strong> - Jr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>WR - TBD</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defense</strong>: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>DL - TBD</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1466196' first='Makai' last='Tagatac']</em></strong> - Sr. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DL - <strong><em>Turner Jameson</em></strong> - Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LB - <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1241209' first='Jackson' last='Reed'] </em></strong>- Jr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>LB - TBD</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>LB - TBD</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>LB - TBD&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CB - <strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1573911' first='Kasten' last='Koehn']</em></strong> - Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>CB - TBD</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>S - <strong><em>Joe Santillan</em></strong> - Sr.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>S - TBD</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Losses</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>2024 Graduates</em>&nbsp;–&nbsp;<strong><em>Lucas Dickman</em></strong>, 1847 yards, 16 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/5 – vs. <em>Valley Center</em> (last year - W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/13 – vs <em>Goddard</em> (last year - W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/20 – @<em>Newton</em> (Last year - DNP)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9/27 – @<em>Salina Central </em>(last year - W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/4 – vs <em>Andover</em> (last year - W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/11 – vs. <em>Salina Central</em> (last year - W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/18 –<strong> </strong>@<em>Andover Central</em> (last year W)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10/25 – vs <em>Wichita NW</em> (last year - DNP)&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conclusion, get this team on your watchlist and follow their quest for the championship. Don't miss out on seeing a number of standout players who will be playing Saturdays in the very near future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And, as always, if anyone knows of players and/or teams&nbsp;<em>flying under the radar</em>&nbsp;feel free to reach out to&nbsp;<strong><em>CoolDaddyO</em></strong>&nbsp;via&nbsp;<strong><em>DM</em></strong>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<strong><em>X</em></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->