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Andover, KS | |
| Not signed in (Sign In) | September 3, 2010 |
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Andover, KS | |
| Not signed in (Sign In) | September 3, 2010 |
Editor's note: The following was written by Kelly Kiser, who was the head coach for Andover High School's only state championship in football. It was the 1984 season. ScoopFire is running a series of stories celebrating the 25th anniversary of that title.
Thank you so much to Coach Kiser, and to assistant coaches George Stewart and Doug Synder, and the numerous players from that team who have helped me out so much on this project the past month.
One last reminder: There will be a 25th anniversary reunion of Andover's state championship at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26 at Emerson Biggins, 808 E. Douglas in Wichita. Anyone who would like to come is welcome. - Adam Knapp
In 1984, the four months we all spent together as a team was a great time. In fact it was a journey. Something special. I have great memories, it was a fantastic season. I don't think I would change a thing. Not everyone gets to do what we did, but this team was the State Champions that year. Thanks to all that were there.
6 Pete Overman, jr., SE/S - Pete caught key touchdown passes in the Augusta and Kingman games. I was glad when I found out Pete had moved back to Andover that summer. We didn't have any idea how many big plays he was going to make but he almost passed out when he found out he had to sub quarterback in the state game. His speed won him a 100 meter state championship in track his senior year. All League.
8 Bryan Stephens, so., QB/S - Bryan was our B-team quarterback that year and always practiced hard and never complained about having to play against the first team defense in practice. He was the starting quarterback his senior year. He kept trying to call plays on the sideline that year.
12 Jay Shelton, jr., QB/S - Jay "Willie," I still don't know where that nickname came from either. Jay had more energy than he knew what to do with, but was always practicing and playing as hard as he could. Made him a better player to be a starter the next year.
14 Brent Wasson, sr., QB/S/P/K - Brent's decision making of who to throw the ball to was key. He made great reads all year in the passing game. Great on the option especially against Maize and Maur Hill. The plays he made were the difference in many games. Sealed the Chaparral game with that interception touchdown return. I was probably the hardest on Brent because he had that extra talent and he kept making one big play after another all year. All state and all league.
20 Bobby Seacat, sr., WB/S - Bobby was very quick and a great receiver, but that hit he made on the Maur Hill receiver on the sideline to break up a pass in the state game was the best. He was also good at reminding the other seniors when they weren't hustling. All state at 120 pounds and made many other big plays. All League and All State.
22 Gary Bontz, sr., CB/WR - Gary jumping up and deflecting that halfback pass against Maur Hill right before halftime was critical. And intercepting two passes in one game against Augusta. God bless Gary, we will always remember him.
23 Butch Kirkendoll, jr., TB/CB - Butch was a offensive guard in junior high, he made a great transition to tailback his junior year. I knew we had a chance when he ran back that interception against Maur Hill and the other touchdown as well. Butch was a hard hitter, and I don't think he ever missed a tackle. All League.
24 Mike Wondra, so., TB/CB - Mike was the toughest player. He had to take all those tackles during practice against the first defense. But it paid off, the next two years he played tailback on the varsity. Not very big but was as quick as anybody.
31 Larry Routon, jr., WR/S - Larry was always catching passes I would throw to him against the first team defense in practice. It made the secondary better for it. Snyder remembers playing a JV game at Kingman in the cold and all Larry had on was a t shirt under his jersey. Great team player.
32 Tim Clopton, jr., WR/DE - Tim picking up the fumble against Clay Center and running it back for a touchdown was key. Put us where we needed to be to win the game later. I still don't know how he could play defensive at only 135 pounds. I still don't know if he thanked Jeff Cartwright for making the hit that caused the fumble so he could run it back for the touchdown. I think he had a smile on his face the whole way. All League.
33 Heath Trekell, sr., TB/LB - Stewart and Snyder and I needed help and Heath always gave us coaching tips. Whether we wanted it or not. Key catch in the Clay Center game, third and six on our own 10 yard line in the last four minutes of the game to get a first down that led to the final drive to a score. He scored four touchdowns against Haven that year. All League.
34 Rob Morgan, jr., FB/DE - Rob came back to Andover his junior year and had all these special plays that we could use on offense, and of course they all included him carrying the ball. I remember the Maize playoff game in the first quarter we just kept giving Rob the ball right up the middle. Set up the option later in the game. Always had a smile on his face that kept everyone with the right attitude. All league.
39 Justin Hromek, sr., WR/S - Justin came out for football his senior year for first time. Always had a positive attitude and kept hustling all through practice. Great team player. Stewart was worried that he was going to break one of his fingers and ruin his bowling career.
41 Matt Cartright, so., FB/LB - Matt had more fun than anyone I think. He always had a smile and had great games filling in at fullback and linebacker all season. Fearless tackler and would hit anybody as hard as he could which is what I think he liked to do most.
43 Mike Smoots, so., SE/DE - I think Mike was the skinniest kid I ever saw. He always worked hard and was a JV warrior. Mike was one that gave everything he had to make us a better team.
51 Jeff Caballero, so., C/DT - Big, tough defensive tackle and center that filled in when needed throughout the year. It was key when Jeff Cartwright got hurt against Chaparral. He kept the team spirit going on the field or in the locker room or on the bus or off the field.
52 Tony Duncan, sr., OG/DT - Tony was the most improbable starter on the entire team. He surprised all the coaches on how much he wanted to play and the effort he gave. Great team player and made up for his lack of ability with hustle and effort and used his head. At first he could not remember which way to pull on sweeps but he figured it out.
53 Jamie Lytle, sr., OG/LB - I never figured out where Stewart came up with Jamie's nickname, Terpentine. I think he was held together with tape. Key leader on the offensive line as well as linebacker. Jamie was always making key blocks on the trap play or tackles on the defense. It seemed he and Trekell always would win the coin toss. All league.
54 Jeff Cartright, sr., C/DT - Jeff never played center until the 2nd week of practice that year. Jeff was smart. Figured things out like the hit he made on the option on the Clay Center quarterback to cause the fumble that turned into a touchdown for Clopton. But only the people in the huddle can remember that quarterback sneak to win the Clay Center game. Jeff called the play in the huddle during our last time out. He and Brent walked into the end zone and now one else moved on a quarterback quick count. All state and all league.
55 Cory LeMay, so., C/LB - Cory was a backup player at linebacker, center and guard. And filled in when needed many times. Which made him a starter the next two seasons. I will never forget the video tape he gave me the next year.
58 Todd Brown, so., OT/LB - Todd started at offensive tackle as a sophomore, that was tough in our league. Filled in at linebacker as well. He kept making big hits when we needed them. I don't think anyone stopped us from running off tackle to right all year. All league.
59 Todd Crouch, jr., OG/DT - Todd was there every play in practice against the first team defense and gave everything he had. Another one of the JV warriors and kept us competing hard even though he was not a starter.
60 Robert McElroy, sr., OT/DT - Robert was a key backup player that filled in on key plays. None bigger than the first touchdown on the Maur Hill game. Robert was another player that made the others better even though he wasn't a starter.
66 Byron Stout, sr., OG/LB - Byron was a starter and then got hurt in the middle of the season. Was one of those seniors that kept us going, even after getting hurt. Kept everyone pumped up.
67 Jason Gill, so., OG/DE - Little but always hit as hard as he could in JV and against the first team in practice. Jason never quit and would hit anyone regardless of size. Another one of Snyder's JV warriors.
71 Newell Fleming, jr., WR/DB - Newell was little (that year) but was a team player and was always competing and working hard in practive and on JV. Another reason we got better in practice every day.
72 Matt Goering, so., OG/DE - Great back up player that worked hard. Another one of the players that made himself better by playing smart. Worked hard in practice and on JV and made him a starter the next two seasons.
73 Troy Griffin, so., WR/CB - I think Troy was the smallest player but the biggest talker. Kept everyone pumped up and told everybody we could beat anybody. I think he was Bobby Lawrence's trainer.
74 Brian Mills, so., OG/LB - Brian was the quietest person on the team. Smart kid that always practiced hard against the first team in practice. Was there every play on JV games.
75 Brant Quinton, jr., OG/DT - Brant was another one of those players that made himself better by using his head. Another one of the players that wasn't a starter but played every down against the first team in practice and JV.
76 Tom Adsmond, so., OG/DT - Tom was always lining up against the starting line and giving everthing he had. Made the first team better by practicing hard and playing hard on JV.
77 Cord Kremer, jr., OT/DT - Cord started at left tackle and was a back up defensive tackle. Was a solid blocker and hit as hard as anybody. Cord gave everything he had on every play and was key pass blocker.
80 Bobby Lawrence, so., TE/DT - Bobby ran every play at full speed. Never did I ever see him coast on any play, practice or game. Stewart and I (and everyone) are still in awe of him splitting the double team against Maur Hill and making the one arm tackle against their best runner. Not bad for a sophomore against two 250 pound linemen in the biggest game of the year. Needless to say our leading tackler. All state and all league.
82 Ben Goering, sr., TE/DE - Ben was the key that kept closing down any run play to our right. A solid tackler that never missed a tackle. Ben loved to hit and kept the defensive line solid the whole year. All league.
83 Steve Chismar, sr., WR/CB - Steve came into a new school and a new team for his senior year and never complained. Steve stepped right in and worked as hard as anyone did. Played smart and kept making big plays at key moments. We would have not been on the one yard line during the Clay Center game with 30 seconds to go if he had not said "I can beat the defensive back again." We ran the same play twice in a row for 30 yards each play. That led to the win. All league.
84 Pat McCutchon, jr., WR/S - Pat played hard against the first team as a back up player. Another JV warrior. Never complained and was willing to do whatever he was needed to do. Great practice player that made the first team work hard.
88 John McEachern, jr., TE/MLB - John never missed a down on defense and I don't think he ever missed a tackle at middle linebacker. But I remember that key pass reception on third and long right down the middle for 35 yards agains Andale that set up our first score of the season against the team that had eliminated us from the playoffs the year before. All league.
Tom Swaney (Mgr.) - Tom would have been our center but due to a back injury could not play his senior year. Was a great help to the coaches keeping everything together for us. A senior that was committed to his teammates.
Clark Goetzinger (Mgr.) - Clark was a sophomore that could not play from a knee injury. Was a great help like Tom was. A player that helped the team with dedication. Came back to have an outstanding senior year as a starter and made all league.
Robert Wilson (Mgr.) - Robert was the toughest and smartest manager any team could have. Knew where everything was and kept track of it. Robert got into a little scuffle with someone at a JV game at Chaparral. When we found out, we knew if he was willing to fight for the team, then we were going to win that playoff game at Chaparral. After all our manager was tougher than anyone they had.
Doug Snyder (assistant coach) - By his own admission, a good looking guy. Doug was in the press box most of the time on the headset with George and Tim. Had a great sense of perspective that kept my thinking on track. Was a great coach for the players because he was only five years older than the seniors. Doug did a lot of individual coaching the players needed that I didn't always have time to do. Tim, Doug and George would collectively talk and then let me know what I was doing wrong. There was plenty of things to point out. I remember Doug recognizing that Maize defense had completely changed for the second game and we kept running right up the middle the entire first quarter.
Tim Johanson (assistant coach) - Tim was the leader of the freshman team and was another coach that helped the players with individual coaching. Tim would keep track of what was going on during the games and would point out key plays and players. Kept me on track for down and distances and he kept the stats. I don't know if he ever realized that I charted all plays and tracked our own team tendencies from his stats.
Merv Weiese (assistant coach) - Merv was the girls basketball coach and filled in as assistant freshman FB coach. He gave me a lot of coaching points not related to FB but how to coach players. I remember him telling me not to over coach a player.
George Stewart (assistant coach) - George was our defensive mind. Set a great plan from the start that played out all the way through the season. Made key defensive calls one after another. He had a lot of solutions of how to block the other teams defensive line as the offensive line coach. I think George wanted to win more than I did.
Thanks to Junior High coaches Bob Wilson, Ron Turner, Steve Cost and Mike Smith for all the scouting of the opposing teams and coaching the junior high.
Trivia question. Does anyone remember what time Mr. Crandall said it was when we crossed the railroad tracks after the Rose Hill game?
Next: Part 6. The box score from the 1984 Class 4A state championship football game, as well as several memories from players and coaches that didn't make the articles. If you would like to submit one, or if you have any photos from that season, Adam Knapp can be reached at adam.knapp@scoopfire.com.
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Comments are in chronologic order (Total 1 comments)
Have to make a correction to the notes above: Clark Goetzinger (Mgr.) - Clark was a junior that could not play from a knee injury. Was a great help like Tom was. A player that helped the team with dedication. Came back to have an outstanding senior year as a starter and made all league. Clark was actually a sophmore that year...I should know since I am his big brother and I can vouch that it killed him to miss that season. He was a TRUE football warrior having only started to play organized football two years prior.