By Staff
LITTLE RIVER – After two straight trips to the eight-man division I state championship game, the Little River football program needs to replace a wealth of graduates but have some young horses to still make a third straight run for the top spot in 2023.
Kevin Ayers returns for his fifth season as the leader of the Redskin football program where he has amassed a 43-7 record, including the back-to-back state championship trips as well as a season mark in 2022 of 11-2 while going 5-0 in Wheat State League games.
With a career mark of 203-46, Ayers has the track record for continued success while being assisted on the sidelines in 2023 by Chad Lafferty, Tyson Konen, and Shane Cordell.
Replacing eight seniors will be a priority for the coaching staff as those players include nearly 4,000 yards of offense from top rusher Braxton Lafferty (2,000 yards of total offense), top passer Rylan Konen (nearly 1,400 yards of total offense, and Grant Stephens. Stephens was also a leader on defense with 20 quarterback sacks and 34 tackles for a loss of yardage among his 105 total tackles.
“We graduated eight solid seniors,” noted coach Ayers. “That leaves some big holes to fill and finding players to fill those roles will be a challenge, but we do have kids that are hungry for their turn.”
The cupboard is not empty though as the Redskins return four starters on both offense and defense for 2023.
Among those returning to supply leadership will be seniors Andrew Smith and Carter Stansbury plus junior Ruxton Birdsong. Smith is a six-foot-two, 175-pound tight end and defensive back, while Stansbury is a five-foot-ten, 180-pound, offensive and defensive lineman, and Birdsong is a six-foot, 175-pound offensive lineman. Smith was the team’s leading receiver in 2022 and both he and Stansbury combined for over 100 tackles on defense.
When looking at what is ahead for 2023, Ayers said, “We have good numbers in our freshman and sophomore classes, so we look forward to seeing several of these players to step up into starting and leadership roles.”
Others to watch according to the coaches include three juniors in Kyler Bergkamp, a five-foot-eight, 150-pound running and defensive back, Hayden Eck, a five-foot-eleven, 155-pound lineman and Hunter Sneath, a six-foot, 165-pound lineman.
Coach Ayers concluded his pre-season reflections on Little River football by adding, “With only two seniors on this season’s roster, we will be young and very inexperienced at a lot of positions. We look to see a lot of improvement as this team gains experience while moving through the season. We have had an exceptional summer and the boys are extremely excited. As always, we hope to play a disciplined, physical style of football while continuing to improve.”
The Redskins open the 2023 season hosting Canton/Galva on Friday, September 1 before going on the road for three straight weeks at Rural Vista, Ell-Saline and Solomon.
2023 LITTLE RIVER FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
Friday, September 1 = Host Canton/Galva
Friday, September 8 = at Rural Vista
Friday, September 15 = at Ell-Saline
Friday, September 22 = at Solomon
Friday, September 29 = Host Moundridge
Friday, October 6 = at Herington
Friday, October 13 = Host Pretty Prairie
Friday, October 20 = at Goessel
Thursday, October 26 = TBA – Bracket Game
Friday, November 3 = TBA – State Regionals
Friday, November 10 = TBA – State Sectionals
Friday, November 17 = TBA – Sub-State
Saturday, November 25 = 8-Man Division I State Championship
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(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)
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