Every fall we get our first glance at the rosters for the upcoming season. Despite fresh faces and new names, Lawrence Free State and Olathe North find themselves atop league predictions year after year proving that tradition runs deep in their DNA.
Lawrence Free State saw its starting quarterback Jordan Preston transfer to Mill Valley which opened the door for junior Malik Berry to take the reigns of a Firebird squad that finished 10-1 a year ago. Offensively the Firebirds look loaded with talent as seniors Jax Dineen and Keenan Garber return. Upfront the Firebirds are led by junior Turner Corcoran who already has offers from Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia and Auburn just to name a few.
The Firebirds will open the 2018 campaign on Friday night facing first year varsity program Olathe West. Free State will then host Olathe East followed by a road trip to Shawnee Mission North. Three-straight home games will await the Firebirds following their return, starting with Shawnee Mission West (9/21), Sedalia Smith-Cotton (9/28) and Olathe South (10/5). The final two regular season matchups are must watch in the metro as Free State will hit the road to face Shawnee Mission East (10/12) before closing out with the “City Showdown” against Lawrence (10/19).
Chris McCartney hopes Olathe North can continue to build momentum after a 7-4 campaign last season. The Eagles hope they can return to the Kansas 6A State Championship game for the first time since 2010. North will be led by senior wideouts Devin Stoker, Daymonn Sanchez and Elijah Williams. Defensively the Eagles are anchored by Stoker along with Math Martin. A few sophomores to keep an eye out for this year would be quarterback Arland Bruce IV and running back Jarrett Kendricks.
Olathe North will open its season with a rivalry matchup against Olathe East. Shawnee Mission North will then come to town for the Eagles home opener followed by three road games beginning with Shawnee Mission West (9/14). The Eagles will head west in week four as they’ll face Columbine High School out of Denver. North will close the season with Olathe South, Shawnee Mission East, Lawrence and Olathe Northwest.
Adam’s Sunflower League Predictions:
1 Lawrence Free State
2 Olathe North
3 Shawnee Mission East
4 Olathe East
5 Lawrence
6 Olathe South
7 Gardner-Edgerton
8 Shawnee Mission West
9 Shawnee Mission Northwest
10 Shawnee Mission South
11 Olathe Northwest
12 Olathe West
13 Shawnee Mission North
