In the PrepsKC coverage area there are a few schools that go the way of the independent. There are also a few schools who are members of conferences, but the other members are outside the PrepsKC coverage area which is governed by members of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association.
In 2024 The group features Adrian, Cass-Midway, Crest Ridge and Lone Jack that are in the outside conferences and Hogan Prep Academy, KIPP Legacy and Rockhurst.
Below are the previews and Virtual Media Day for the Independent schools on the Missouri side.
Head Coach: Matt Davis, 4th season
2023 record: 11-1
Returning Starters (Off/Def): 6/6
Biggest Challenge: Adrian has been on a strong run the last few years. This senior class is a good one and the only thing that could hold this group back is complacency. They will have to remain focused each week to continue their strong play.
Outlook: A lot depends on what classification the Blackhawks find themselves in when those are announced Aug. 30. If Adrian is back in Class 2 it will be a very good Class 2 team. If the Blackhawks are in Class 1 it could be a state championship season.
Coach’s thoughts: “Right now, the senior leadership has been outstanding. The senior have done a great job of keeping everybody involved all summer doing their own workouts and getting out for all of the of contact days that we're allowed to have with them. It's only so much work you can get in and seniors organized workouts and handled everything themselves. Then the last two weeks of practice the energy that they've demanded of the entire team and their leadership that's probably the most thing I’m excited about right now.”
2024 Schedule:
8/30 @ Sherwood
9/6 Warsaw
9/13 @ Holden
9/20 @ Cass-Midway
9/27 Butler
10/4 @ Lincoln
10/11 California
10/18 @ El Dorado Springs
10/25 Cole Camp
Head Coach: Kyle Schenker, 1st season
2023 record: 3-7
Returning Starters (Off/Def): 5/5
Biggest Challenge: For the first time in more than 30 years there is a new head football coach at Cass-Midway. Hall of Fame coach Larry Burchette retired and former Harrisonville coach Kyle Schenker has taken the job. There will be an adjustment period for everyone involved but there is veteran leadership and that should make the process go smoothly.
Outlook: The Vikings have struggled the last few years but there is some good talent coming back. There is a strong commitment to football in the community and this group should take some steps forward.
Coach’s thoughts: “I knew that they're a community that has wonderful support, but I wanted to make sure we had a great coaching staff place, and we do. I'm surrounded with a really awesome coaches and that's really awesome for our kids. Obviously, the community is great and there's a there's a ton of support. They are they're really excited about their football right now I know that Midway has been down a little bit and obviously there's great tradition here. We are really excited to kind of get that kind of support and become relevant again.”
2024 Schedule:
8/30 Mid Buchanan
9/6 Lone Jack
9/13 Russellville
9/20 Adrian
9/27 @ Crest Ridge
10/4 Windsor
10/11 Cole Camp
10/18 @ Warsaw
10/25 @ Lincoln
Head Coach: Jeremiah Baruxen, 2nd season
2023 record: 7-4
Returning Starters (Off/Def): 4/4
Biggest Challenge: There was some success in Baruxen’s first season and the Panthers are looking to build on that success. The senior class is small so a lot of juniors and sophomores filling into starting roles. How quickly the underclassmen step up will be a key to the season.
Outlook: Crest Ridge will be young but there is talent that got some experience last season. While the record might look the same at the end of the year, Crest Ridge could be set up for a good run the next few years.
Coach’s thoughts: “We're really excited about these kids coming up. We got a big junior class you know good sized sophomore class and in our in our freshmen and junior high programs. We’ve some talent coming up so like they say the cupboard isn't empty. We're excited about the future, and it is about that we're trying to set that tone this year. We've got fiveseniors right now and we have our leadership council, so we're excited about getting that that culture established right and making all those changes.”
2024 Schedule:
8/30 @ Holden
9/6 Penney
9/13 @ Lincoln
9/20 @ Cole Camp
9/27 Cass-Midway
10/4 Lone Jack
10/11 Westran
10/18 @ Salisbury
10/25 Windsor
Head Coach: Phil Lascuola, 31st season
2023 record: 3-8
Returning Starters (Off/Def): 1/1
Biggest Challenge: Only one starter on each side of the ball return. Figuring out who will step on the field during the first game is the task for Hogan Prep as the season starts.
Outlook: It’s a young group that has some talent. With almost a whole team of new starters look for the Rams to be much better in October than they are in August.
Coach’s thoughts: “This summer it's been a wild, it's been good. I mean kids have been showing up they've been competing well. Some of our young guys are beating out some of our older guys and just one of those things when you do have good numbers but we're young.”
2024 Schedule:
8/30 Open
9/7 Mission Valley, Kan.
9/13 @ St. Mary's Academy
9/20 @ Lone Jack
9/27 @ Bishop Ward
10/4 @ Pembroke Hill
10/12 Pleasant Hope
10/18 @ St. Michael
10/25 @ Summit Christian Academy
Head Coach: Michael Cobbins, 2nd season
2023 record: 2-8
Returning Starters (Off/Def): 10/11
Biggest Challenge: It was a tough first season for the Gators. Low numbers to start and no seniors meant a lot of young players were going to learn on the fly. This year the numbers are up, and everyone has a year of experience under their belt so now they must continue the momentum.
Outlook: KIPP Legacy has a full year of varsity experience and that should give lots of improvement to every phase of its game. Look for their win total to get an increase in the second year of the varsity program.
Coach’s thoughts: “Last year at our first practice we had 13 kids. It's hard to practice with 13 kids. This year at our first practice we had 30 kids. Everyone has been showing and being active and really getting after it which really made our staff excited because our seniors have completely taken over. Our seniors never had seniors to look up to because they were our first founding freshman class. So, they have to learn how to become seniors for us and learn how to lead. Last year was just a big eye opener for them because they never lost up until last year. I think they lost their sophomore year to Rockhurst. They have been growing and learning with Friday night is all about. I'm excited because our seniors are leading the way for us and that's what you want as the head football coach.”
2024 Schedule:
8/30 @ St. Mary's Academy
9/5 University Academy
9/13 @ Pembroke Hill
9/20 @ Wyandotte
9/28 St. Michael
10/4 @ Turner
10/11 @ Christ Prep
10/19 Father Tolton
10/25 @ Lone Jack
Head Coach: Sheldon McKinzie, 1st season
2023 record: 0-10
Returning Starters (Off/Def): 7/8
Biggest Challenge: New coach, new field and facility brings a lot of change to Lone Jack. The Mules are looking to turn things around after a winless season in 2023 and a winless streak that stretches back to the third week of the 2022 season. The team will need to end that streak and start moving in positive direction in 2024.
Outlook: The numbers are up and almost all of the starters are back. There is a lot of energy in the program and will hopefully propel Lone Jack in gaining a few wins this season.
Coach’s thoughts: “We're in sitting in the mid 30s right now which is great for us. The new field helps with that. I think a new coach and a new attitude just kind of a chance to start over helps with that. So yeah really excited about what we've got and you know trying to try to put our best foot forward you know as we move as we move into this new season.”
2024 Schedule:
8/30 @ Windsor
9/6 @ Cass-Midway
9/13 Carrollton
9/20 Hogan Prep Academy
9/27 Cole Camp
10/4 @ Crest Ridge
10/11 Lincoln
10/18 @ Sherwood
10/25 KIPP Legacy
Head Coach: Kelly Donohoe, 5th season
2023 record: 11-2
Returning Starters (Off/Def): 3/3
Biggest Challenge: A talented senior class graduated and the Hawklets will be looking to replace a lot of starters. The incoming seniors have talent but will need to be ready for the bright lights if Rockhurst wants to turn in another outstanding season.
Outlook: This group of seniors is the second to go all the way through under Donohoe and his staff. Rockhurst came within and overtime loss of landing in the Missouri Class 6 title game that it very well could have won. If this group can take the next step it could be another deep run in the playoffs for the Hawklets.
Coach’s thoughts: “I'm super excited about where we're at right now. I like this team a lot I know we're probably not getting a lot of accolades because we replaced so many guys but man we've come together really well and I think it's going to be a pretty competitive group.”
2024 Schedule:
8/30 St. Pius X
9/6 @ Raymore-Peculiar
9/13 Olathe North
9/20 Lee’s Summit West
9/27 @ Bishop Miege
10/4 @ Blue Springs
10/11 St. Thomas Aquinas
10/18 Liberty North
10/ 25 @ SLUH
