By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news will post preview stories for all 10 Shawnee County high school football programs over the coming days, leading into the opening games of the 2025 season on Sept. 4 and 5.
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After posting a 9-3 record and advancing to the Eight-Man Division I state semifinals in 2023, Doug Bonura's Cair Paravel Latin football team had to, in many ways, learn a whole new game last fall as the young Lions began the transition into the 11-man ranks.
Doug Bonura's Cair Paravel Latin Lions will be looking to make big strides this fall in the Lions second season of 11-man football. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
And for a team that graduated nine seniors from '23 and had only 19 total players last season, it wasn't a big shock that the Lions struggled to a 2-7 record.
But Bonura said the Lions gained a ton of experience from playing a schedule chock full of traditional small-school powers and are ready to make strides this fall.
"It was a big change coming into that and playing good teams is helpful in that because it exposes your weaknesses really quickly, especially having such a young team,'' Bonura said. "Last year we had three returning starters and a total of four returning lettermen.
"This year I have eight returning starters per side, which is really helpful. They're young, but they've had a year of experience and learning, 'Oh, that's what it is,' and this year I think they'll be like, "Oh, that's not so bad.' ''
Even though making the switch to 11-man football has been a challenge, Bonura said his team has embraced the change.
"I think they love 11-man because there's some things about 11-man that are nice compared to 8-man,'' Bonura said. "There's just more things you can do, but you also have more bodies to deal with and that's a challenge for a small school.''
Top senior returners for the Lions include fullback/linebacker Tobias Bonura, wide receiver/defensive back Luke Budden, offensive lineman/linebacker Caleb Cleverdon, tight end/defensive end Oliver Ellis and wide receiver/defensive back Lucas Marichal.
Bonura received TopSports.news All-Shawnee County honorable mention in 2024.
Other key returners include juniors Cole Haubold, Cole Stafford and Jackson Kaberline and sophomore Chase Hastert.
Sophomore Chase Hastert is slated to take over as the starting quarterback for Cair Paravel Latin this fall. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hastert is in line to be the starting quarterback for Cair Paravel Latin this fall after backing up multi-year starter Jase Pavlik last season.
For the second straight season the Lions will play their home games at Washburn University's Yager Stadium, beginning with the Sept. 5 season-opener against West Franklin.
The Lions will also have home games against Osage City on Sept. 12, against Mission Valley on Sept. 26, Rossville on Oct. 10 and a Saturday night tilt with Olpe on Oct. 25.
"We're looking forward to it,'' Doug Bonura said. "It's going to be exciting. Our guys are excited to be out there and get after it this year.''
CAIR PARAVEL LATIN
2025 football schedule
(Home games at Yager Stadium)
September -- 5 West Franklin, 12 Osage City, 19 at Council Grove, 26 Mission Valley.
October -- 3 at Wabaunsee, 10 Rossville, 17 at Maranatha Christian Academy, 25 Olpe.
Next up: Hayden.
