WILDCATS MOVE UP TO 11-MAN FOOTBALL
By Staff
MOUNDRIDGE – Moundridge head football coach Tyler O’Connor had a super successful first season in guiding the Wildcats to a 9-1 season mark after losing to Chase County in the State Playoffs while playing 8-man, division I.
The biggest task ahead for coach O’Connor and his staff will be to convert their gameplan from 8-Man, Division I football to Class 1A, 11-man football!! While doing so O’Connor plus his assistants Dustan Kanitz, Courtney Moddelmog, and DeWayne Stos will do running a spread option offense and a 3-4 defense.
Not making it easy will be a schedule which includes five of the eight teams on the schedule sporting winning records in 2023 including three with at least eight wins in Medicine Lodge at 9-3, Marion at 9-2, and Sedgwick who finished 8-2.
Did we tell you that returning to 11-man will bring with it a plus in a way, they will have back on their schedule, long-standing county rival – the Inman Teutons!!
“We look to make the transition to 11-man football as we focus on improving week in and week out,” reflected coach O’Connor on the changes ahead. “We will have a very tough schedule that will consistently test us.
What the Wildcats will have is a roster that is heavy with upper classmen, including eight players with strong starting game day experience.
Leadership of the team will sit on the shoulders of seniors Henry Hecox and Bear Moddelmog.
Hecox has been the starting quarterback since his freshman season and in that same period has built himself into a 6’ 2”, 205-pound beast on the field. Last season he earned All-State honors as both quarterback and linebacker while being named district most valuable player. On offense, Hecox has thrown for 1,629 yards and scored 37 touchdowns in his first three seasons, including a completion rate of 66% in 2023 good for 822 yards and 16 scores. He also ran 95 times for another 807 yards in 2023 while finding the end zone 21 times.
Bear Moddelmog was a constant in the Wildcat passing game as a 6’ 3”, 195-pound target at tight end where he pulled in 22 receptions for 377 yards and 10 scores, averaging 17.1 yards every time he caught the ball.
When playing defense, Moddelmog and Hecox combined for 104 tackles, five quarterback sacks while playing defensive end and linebacker, respectively.
Six other Wildcats return with starting experience, they include:
Ø Braden DenHartog – a 6’ 1”, 225-pound senior all-state offensive lineman who also recorded 28 tackles and five sacks as a defensive end.
Ø Layton Schmidt – a junior all-state defensive end who had 28 tackles and a pair of sacks while making use of his lengthy 6’ 4”, 175-pound makeup.
Ø Layton Weins - a 5’ 11”, 230-pound senior bruiser whose blocking at center on offense helped the team average 8.7 yards per carry while also plugging up the opponents running attack at nose guard.
Ø Thomas Jenkins – at 6’ 2”, 215 pounds, the junior was an outstanding blocker on offense while putting in solid time on the defensive line as well.
Ø Kaizer Kanitz – a 6’ 0”, 170-pound junior wide receiver/defensive back earned all-state honors in 2023 in three areas receiver, defensive safety and a returner who scored five touchdowns on punt returns. Kanitz recorded 53 runs/receptions for 593 yards on offense while recording 57 tackles and making nine interceptions on defense.
Ø Fynn Burge – another 6’ 0” 170-pound junior who fills spots at wide receiver and defensive back.
Among the underclassman the coaches see as potential starters and impact players are:
Ø Logan Wulf – 5’ 10”, 260-pound sophomore offensive/defensive lineman.
Ø Paul Grill – 5’ 7”, 165-pound junior running back/linebacker.
Ø Braden Elmore – 5’ 10”, 155-pound junior running back/defensive back.
Ø Heath Churchill – 6’ 2”, 160-pound junior wide receiver/defensive back.
Ø Logan Greenwalt – 5’ 7”, 150-pound sophomore defensive back/athlete.
Ø Josh Koehn – 6’ 0”, 160-pound sophomore linebacker/specialist/quarterback.
A strong group of upper classmen on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball will be what coach O’Connor calls a huge strength for 2024 while he also shares concerns with the transition back to 11-man play, admitting that at times they may be learning on the fly.
Reflecting on the overall outlook for the upcoming season, coach O’Connor noted, “We will rely heavily on a team of upper classmen with plenty of playing experience. We will also look to several underclassmen to make significant impacts from day one.”
2024 WILDCAT SCHEDULE
Sept 6 > at Bennington (League game)
Sept 13 > at Sterling (League game)
Sept 20 > Host Medicine Lodge
Sept 27 > Host Herington (District game)
Oct 4 > Host Reminton (League/District game)
Oct 11 > at Marion (League/District game)
Oct 18 > Host Sedgwick (League/District game)
Oct 25 > at Inman (League/District game)
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)
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