19 STARTERS TO LEAD TEUTONS IN 2025

COACH SAWYER HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS

By Staff

         INMAN – After taking a step back in 2023, the Inman football team put together enough in 2024 to make the state playoffs with a youthful team that looks toward making big steps forward in 2025.

         Lance Sawyer will once again be the head coach, looking to build a successful, winning combination for 2025 thanks to the return of nine starters on the offensive side and ten on the defensive side.

         Carrying an overall mark of 54-41 in his first nine seasons leading the Teutons, Sawyer will once again be joined on the sidelines by assistant coaches Bill Garst (in his tenth season), Greg Froese (beginning season number seven), and Brock Blair for his second season.

         Among the 10 returning starters to build around will be three-year senior starters Cooper Wiens and Dylan Larson along with two-year starting juniors Malachi Brunk and Korbyn McClellan to go along with one-year starters in senior Braeden Stutzman, juniors Kash Schierling and Gage Sission along with sophomores Braxton Malloy, Kru Harris, and Bo O’Neill.

         Cooper Wiens earned honorable mention All-State honors a year ago to go along with being named first-team Heart of America for both his offensive and defensive play. From his defensive end position, Wiens led the Teutons in tackles with 83 where he also recorded 26 tackles for a loss of yardage and six sacks. The coaches say he is ‘a strong lineman who is extremely long. A hard-nosed player that has a great motor while having speed for his size, enough to have earned a state track medal in 2024 running with the Teuton 4x800 relay team’.

         Dylan Larson earned honorable mention Heart of America honors as well for his play at right guard on offense and as a middle linebacker on defense where he scored 63 tackles that included seven causing a loss of yards and a pair of forced fumbles. Coaches say Larson is ‘a good athlete who has a nose for the ball and is undersized but an extremely physical blocker on offense who pulls well when needed’.

         Malachi Brunk found honorable mention all-state honors while making first team Heart of America as a defensive back and second team as a running back on offense. Brunk scored eight touchdowns while running the ball 105 times and catching 20 passes for an overall total of 892 yards. Brunk also recorded 55 tackles, two interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles on defense. Brunk will return to quarterback, a position he played as a freshman. The coaches say Brunk is ‘an explosive athlete who is able to run extremely well’. At the 2024 state track meet, Brunk ran the 300 hurdles and threw the javelin.

Korbyn McClellan was second team All-Heart of America at both wide receiver and kick returner in 2024 after scoring 12 touchdowns and totaling 799 in offense running and catching the ball. On defense, McClellan made 30 tackles and intercepted five passes. According to the coaches, McClellan ‘has the potential to be one of the best athletes Inman has had while becoming the main running back in 2024. McClellan will move to outside linebacker on defense’.

Two other players coaches touted were Braeden Stutzman who started all games at center and defensive tackle in 2024 and is considered ‘one of the top vocal leaders on the team’, plus Gage Sisson at tight end and defensive end. Coaches say Sission ‘is an explosive and hard worker in the weight room. He is a good blocker who has improved his route running and catching ability. Sisson was a state medalist on the 2024 4x800 relay team as well’.

         Linebackers Bo O’Neill and  Braxton Malloy, plus  defensive back Kru Harris combined for 86 tackles, 13 tackles for loss of yardage, three quarterback sacks, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and a safety as freshman in 2024. Malloy and Harris also combined for 85 touches, 385 yards and three scores on offense as well.

         When talking about the three sophomores, the coaches noted that ‘Malloy is extremely fast with great vision and is shifty, while Harris is a gamer who is good at everything while having great knowledge of the game. O’Neill is simply an explosive and hard worker in the weight room where he was a runner-up in Class 1A State Powerlifting as a freshman while winning a state medal in the discus’.

         Five newcomers were listed as players to watch in 2025 for the Teutons, including juniors Tyler Jerrick, a wide receiver/defensive back, and Grant Knachstedt, a lineman on both sides of the ball plus sophomores Dalton Priddy (offensive lineman/linebacker), Jayce Jennings (wide receiver/defensive back) and Cayden Gaeddert (wide receiver/linebacker).

         Coach Sawyer explained that the keys to victories in 2025 will be, ‘we return several starters on both sides of the ball, including 93% of our rushing attack, 95% of our receiving yards, and 82% of our tackles. Our backfield will be fast while the defensive front seven will be quick. We have so much experience back it will allow us to open up what we do on offense due to the depth. Scoring in the red zone (inside the 20-yard line) will be a key and we need to stay healthy. With an experienced and talented secondary, our defensive front seven can be aggressive. If we have any needs, it will be to solidify the offensive line and depth in the secondary. We hope to open up our passing game and improve blocking from the running backs.

         Looking at the overall outlook for the 2025 season, Sawyer added, “We used the offseason to make a commitment to the standards of our program. Our guys decided to dedicate themselves to the weight room where our growth has been outstanding, and we are ready to see the results on the field. We have high expectations this season and considering how many young players we used in 2024, I am excited to see them continue to grow. We will be young but still experienced and they love  playing and being around each other while taking nothing for granted. The want to earn everything they get; this will be a fun group to watch the next several seasons.”

         The Teutons will open the 2025 season on Friday, September 5 on the road at Hutchinson Trinity Catholic. The home opener for Inman comes on Friday, September 12 when they host Wichita Trinity Academy. The remaining regular season schedule is:

         Friday, September 19 – at Sterling

         Friday, September 26 – host Remington (homecoming)

         Friday, October 3 – at Marion

         Friday, October 10 – host Sedgwick

         Friday, October 17 – host Bennington (senior night)

         Friday, October 24 – at Moundridge

         Friday, October 31 – Cross District Game

         Friday, November 7 – State Regionals

         Friday, November 14 – State Sectionals

         Friday, November 21 – Sub-State

         Friday, November 28 – State Class 1A Championship

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)