SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
INMAN, Kan. — The Inman High School football team is young, but optimistic heading into the 2024 season.
"We're going to be young, but I think we're as talented as we've been in the state runs," head coach Lance Sawyer said. "I think as long as we trust the process and continue to get better everyday, I think we'll be OK."
Sawyer enters his ninth season as the head coach of the Teutons and 18th year overall as a head coach. He has guided Inman to a 50-36 overall in his first eight seasons, while compiling an overall record of 84-85.
The Teutons were hit hard by graduation and departures following the 2022 season, leading to a 3-6 mark in 2023. Inman finished the 2022 year with an 11-2 record, falling to St. Marys in the 1A state title game.
Sawyer is excited to see what the offense can do this season, especially with the speed in the backfield.
"We might have as much speed as we've had in those state runs," Sawyer said. "Korbyn McClellan is as fast as Harrison Brunk and Tanner Heckel, so he could be a really special kid. I think offensively as a whole we'll be young, but we'll be pretty talented."
As far as the defense goes, Sawyer thinks that may be more of a question mark.
"The defense is really yet to be known," Sawyer said. "I think we'll be OK, we may switch up schemes from what we've done in the past to fit our personnel better. I think we'll have a strong defensive line with Cooper Wiens, Evan Kamczynski and Gage Sisson will all help anchor that unit. The linebacker group will be good with Dylan Larson, Sebastian Martinez, Carson Seidl and Braxton Malloy."
The Teutons open the season Sept. 6 at home against Trinity Catholic before traveling to Wichita to face Trinity Academy on Sept. 13. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Teutons and the Knights.
"Everybody in our league had to go find one game outside to fill our schedules," Sawyer said. "So the Heart of America paired up with the Central Plains League and us and Wichita Trinity each had an opening in Week 2."
Sawyer is very familiar with Trinity Academy head coach Trey Hall.
"My first game ever coaching is now their coach," Sawyer said. "He was at Sunrise Academy 18 years ago and I was at White City 18 years ago, so we'll meet up again."
INMAN HIGH SCHOOL
9/6 TRINITY CATHOLIC
9/13 @ Wichita Trinity Academy
9/20 STERLING
9/27 @ Remington
10/4 MARION
10/11 @ Sedgwick
10/18 @ Bennington
10/25 MOUNDRIDGE