SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School football team is gearing up for the 2024 season, and the Salthawks will rely heavily on its senior class heading into the new year.
The Salthawks finished the 2023 season with a 7-3 record, falling to Maize South in the second round of the class 5A playoffs, 21-20.
"We're a bit thin compared to previous years, but I think we have really good football players," Salthawks seventh year head coach Mike Vernon said. "We're going to have to make sure that we take care of them and they don't get hurt along the way. We have a pretty high ceiling, just got to make sure everyone stays healthy."
The Salthawks may also have to turn to some of the youth on the team at certain points this season.
"During the season we need to make sure that we develop some depth and that will be where this season is made," Vernon said.
Vernon is very optimistic about his defense coming into the year.
"Our defense is going to be pretty dang good," Vernon said. "Our linebackers are all back, and we need to have a couple of defensive linemen step up, but I think that will happen. Secondary will be really good."
Although starting quarterback from last year, Robert Hunter, transferred to Wichita East, Vernon is excited for what the offense can accomplish this fall.
"We've got three offensive linemen that are phenomenal," Vernon said. "We'll have two guys that are going to have to work their way through it, but I know they'll do a great job. Fullback Kade Smith is going to have a really good year. He's a hard runner and just does amazing things."
Senior Terrell King will miss time early in the season with a broken foot, but Vernon is confident the all-state selection will be back sooner than later.
"He'll be back second week hopefully," Vernon said. "He's a phenomenal football player, maybe the best football player in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League. Once we get him back and make sure to keep him healthy then good things will happen."
The Salthawks will have back-to-back home games to open the season. Andover Central comes to Gowans Stadium on Sept. 6 and Valley Center on Sept. 13.
"It's always nice to stay home, especially at the beginning when things are so new, especially for younger starters and younger kids," Vernon said. "Andover Central and Valley Center are both really good programs and it will be a good start for us. It will get us really ramped up for later on when we get into Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League play."
Hutch High opens AVCTL play at Maize in week three and then a rare Thursday night game on Sept. 26 at Salina South.
"I'll have to call up some of the guys in the Kansas City area that are used to playing Thursday night games and see how we want to attack that," Vernon said. "I think this is probably going to be something that's going to be in the future anyways, so might as well get used to it now and start figuring it out."
The Salthawks have been playing in a jamboree in the week prior to the first week of the regular season, but that will not be happening this season.
"We were in with McPherson and Valley Center last year," Vernon said. "Valley Center didn't want to be in a jamboree when they'll play us the second week, so we decided with how thin we are we'll just scrimmage ourselves and make sure that we're ready to go for that first game."
HUTCHINSON HIGH SCHOOL
9/6 ANDOVER CENTRAL
9/13 VALLEY CENTER
9/20 at Maize
9/26 at Salina South
10/4 DERBY
10/11 at Campus
10/18 NEWTON
10/25 at Maize South