SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
NICKERSON, Kan. — Nickerson High School football coach Taylor Bauman took advantage of the first possible second his team could practice to open the 2024 season, at midnight, Monday.
"It was a lot of fun," Bauman said. "This was the first year we've done it and I think the guys really enjoyed it. It was kind of a spur of the moment idea I had this summer and talked with the coaching staff and some of the guys and they were all in for it. It's something we get to do together as a team and an experience you only get as a high schooler."
The Panthers finished the 2023 season with a 1-8 record, but Bauman likes the experience his young team has had the past couple of seasons.
"We've talked a lot over the offseason about what it's going to take to get back to where Nickerson has been in the past," Bauman said. "Our guys know what it takes to be successful, and we're looking for the guys to take that next step to truly be successful. We can do it, we know what we need to, but we need to make sure we're taking that next step when things get hard. We need to be comfortable with being uncomfortable."
Bauman says the experience will help heading into this season, especially on the offense.
"We had some young guys that had to fill in last year when maybe they weren't ready, after some injuries to seniors," Bauman said. "So the benefit to that is now they're all coming back. We had nine starters last year that were either freshmen or sophomores. That experience will really come in handy this year as we continue to grow."
The Panthers' defense should be better this year, too.
"We had some guys that're seniors this year that stepped up as juniors last year," Bauman said. "Keastin Abernathy is a beast out there on the defensive edge. Addrick Nelson and Landen Hays back there as safeties, between those three seniors out there, they kind of just run the defense."
The class 3A district the Panthers had been in the past two seasons was arguably the toughest one in the state of Kansas with Andale, Cheney, Pratt and Smoky Valley.
"Andale and Cheney are obviously two powerhouses," Bauman said. "Cheney overtook Andale for the 3A title, but those two have won the past two titles. When you're going up against those teams every week as freshmen and sophomores, it makes you grow up pretty quick."
Nickerson will open the season Sept. 6 at Conway Springs, the defending class 1A state champions.
NICKERSON HIGH SCHOOL
9/6 @ Conway Springs
9/13 @ Haven
9/20 HALSTEAD
9/27 HESSTON
10/4 @ Andale
10/11 @ Lyons
10/18 SMOKY VALLEY
10/25 @ Wichita Trinity Academy