By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural put together an outstanding 8-2 football season last fall while earning a share of the Centennial League championship.
But the way the year ended -- a 42-10 second-round Class 6A playoff loss -- has stoked the Junior Blues' fires to take that next step this fall.
Washburn Rural coach Steve Buhler returns a wealth of experience from last season's 8-2 team that earned a share of the Centennial League title. [File photo/TSN]
"I think we thought about the 8-2 after awhile in the springtime, but this group was really disappointed with how we played against Free State,'' said Rural coach Steve Buhler, who is starting his 10th season at the school. "They were a really good team so we noticed there were some things we're going to have to do to get better and get past this round that we've been at for the last couple of years.
"This group's really hungry and they're still young and we're ready to go. It's been fun.''
Returning 30 lettermen, including six starters on offense and eight on defense, Rural would appear to have the firepower to make a deeper 6A run in 2022, but Buhler said the Junior Blue have to take care of business every single week, beginning with Friday night's season-opener at Wichita East.
"The first thing it taking that next step is is you've got to put yourself in a good position to take that next step, which means being in those top four seeds, so all the games that lead up to it are really important,'' said Buhler, who has a 165-93 career coaching record. "If you still break it down by those goals that everybody likes to, about being a league champion and things like that, those things lead you to the position to move on.
"We've talked a lot with the kids about you can't sit there and wait for the playoffs, you've got to focus on the weeks leading up to it and take care of the playoffs when they get here.''
Buhler, 45-41 at Rural, said another goal for the Junior Blues as a program is building the year-in, year-out success that the state's best teams seem to have.
"The 10 years I've been here, every other year has been a good year for us,'' he said. "We had a good year last year and it's really important for me as a head coach that we have that same kind if not better year this year and keep the momentum going.''
Senior Lukas Hanks is one of six returning starters for Washburn Rural, which went 8-2 a year ago. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural senior linebacker Ty Weber (32) was the All-Shawnee County defensive player of the year in 2021. [File photo/TSN]
Washburn Rural junior quarterback Branton DeWeese was an All-Shawnee County Top 22 pick last fall. [File photo/TSN]
Rural has a wealth of experience to build around this season, including 15 returners who received TopSports.news All-Shawnee County recognition (Top 22, Second 22 or honorable mention) in 2021.
Offensive returners include seniors Shane Sexton (5-foot-10, 230 offensive lineman), Zach Franco (5-11, 230 offensive line), Lukas Hanks (6-4, 240 tight end/H back), Amr Sabbarini (5-11, 185 slotback), Ma'Kenttis Adams (5-11, 185 running back) and junior Branton DeWeese (6-0, 185 quarterback).
Defensively the Junior Blue return seniors Ty Weber (6-3, 235 outside linebacker), Daniel VanWaggoner (5-10, 230 senior), Kason Williams (6-0, 180 senior) and Walker Thompson (6-1, 170 safety) and juniors Packson Bettis (6-3, 225 defensive lineman), Wyatt Conklin (6-1, 190 outside linebacker), JC Heim (6-2, 210 linebacker) and Jaren Heim (6-1, 190 safety).
Senior Dayten Smoot (5-10, 160) will handle the kicking chores for Washburn Rural.
Weber was the Shawnee County defensive player of the year last season and Bettis the defensive newcomer of the year while DeWeese was named the offensive newcomer of the year.
Weber and DeWeese were all-county Top 22 picks while Bettis, Hanks, JC Heim and Sabbarini were Second 22 selections.
Buhler said the Junior Blues have done everything they needed to in the preseason to put themselves in position for another big year.
"It's been good,'' he said. "Having them all back is nice because you start drills and they're right in it. You don't have to explain anything and then we have our freshmen with us and the freshmen just follow along with them so they're learning at the same time. It's been a good couple of weeks.''
WASHBURN RURAL
2022 football schedule
September -- 2 at Washburn Rural, 9 at De Soto, 16 Piper, 23 at Manhattan, 30 Junction City.
October -- 7 at Topeka High (Hummer), 14 Emporia, 21 Topeka West, 28 Playoffs.
