It’s football season! A look at area high school teams

By Max Goodwin

The crisp feel of fall and football homecoming games is in the air. The Telegraph takes a look at how area high school teams are.

Ruskin

Ruskin’s development with Coach Tim Callaghan in his second year is evident. They’ve grown from an athletic group with potential into a team learning how to win games. The Golden Eagles are undefeated after two games and a fantastic finish with a game-winning touchdown in overtime to beat William Chrisman. That’s a massive accomplishment for a program that hasn’t won more than two games since 2009.

In its first game, Ruskin, assigned to Class 5 this year, faced Truman, a Class 6 school, and won 56-19. It was only their second season-opening win since 2011. In the second game against William Chrisman, Ruskin displayed resolve late in the game, making plays in the fourth quarter and overtime to win.

“The schedule has been favorable, but we have a good core of kids,” Callaghan said. “Good to see smiles on their faces.”

Ruskin came into the season a step ahead of where it was a year ago and has been able to pick up where they left off at the end of last season with less work on fundamentals and more offensive and defensive development going into this season. The Golden Eagles don’t have as many kids who came out to play football this year as Coach Callaghan had hoped, but what they lack in depth, they make up for in athleticism and determination. 

Senior running back Leonard Butler IV has vision and speed. He scored twice in the season opener against Truman, including a 70-yard touchdown. Butler IV also plays defensive back and made two interceptions in the same game. He then scored the first touchdown in the win against William Chrisman on a 45-yard rush. 

Junior quarterback Adarious Brown, with his ability to throw accurate deep passes, brings playmaking potential to the Ruskin offense, and wide receiver Roger Haney has had big receptions this year. 

Center

The Center Yellowjackets are a young team that has already developed from the season’s first game to the second. After a 34-0 loss in the first game against Lafayette (St. Joseph), Center bounced back to beat Schlagle 20-14, with running back Motrell Moore scoring the game-winning touchdown. Moore is one of just six seniors listed on the Center roster, compared to 20 freshmen and 11 sophomores. 

“For the first game, that was a lot of their first Friday nights, and they struggled quite a bit,” Center Head Coach Rob Powell-Deppe said. “I was really pleased with their attitudes and just being ready to work and come back from a tough loss.”

Israel Jonigan is a freshman starting at quarterback. Powell-Deppe and his coaching staff are still learning what they have with Jonigan and where his development could go. He’s a hard worker who watches and listens to everything his coaches tell him. 

Linebacker Auggie Banion is another freshman already gaining college scouts’ attention after just two games. Banion had 13 tackles against Lafayette. He blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown against Schlagle.

“The kid is all over the field, and he’s just a freshman,” Powell-Deppe said. “I already have colleges inquiring.”

Center’s inexperienced but talented team should be interesting to watch grow over the season.

Grandview

In his first season as head coach, Dwayne Darden takes what he learned as an assistant coach in Dan Joiner’s staff and leads Grandview as Joiner was hired at North Kansas City in the offseason. Darden has also been a throws coach for Grandview track and field. It’s been a whirlwind since Darden took over the football program, but he represents a continuation of the coaching staff that has been in place for the past three years with Coach Joiner.

Grandview graduated a talented class of seniors last year. Coach Joiner’s son, Derek Joiner, is a defensive tackle who graduated last year and is now at the University of Houston. The team is still figuring out how to put the pieces together this season, and so far, they’ve had to do that against good opponents.

Park Hill South won 38-8 after taking a 14-0 lead a few minutes into the game and dominating throughout. It wasn’t any easier in the second game of the season with a 45-8 loss against Kearney, the defending MSHSAA Class 4 State Champion. 

It’s been an overwhelming first two games at Grandview, but there are games ahead that are more winnable than their first two. The Bulldogs face their former coach on October 4 when North Kansas City and Coach Joiner visit Grandview.

Rockhurst

Rockhurst reached the semi-final game of Class 6 last year, where they lost in overtime, 28-27, against eventual state champion Liberty North. Most of that team graduated. On offense, 10 of 11 starters are gone. A new group takes their place in a Rockhurst program that always has depth at each position. 

Rockhurst won the season opener 24-12, beating St. Pius X in the first matchup between the two schools in 50 years. The Hawklets then traveled to Ray-Pec and beat the Panthers 34-14. Expectations may not be as high this season for a mostly unknown team, but few will be surprised if Rockhurst makes another playoff run in November.

After sitting behind Ethan Hansen for two years, quarterback Charlie Loose is ready to lead the team in his senior year. The Rockhurst rushing attack is divided between sophomore Cash Lewandowski, junior Pierce Fisher, and senior Von Pham, with Beau Neuburger playing fullback. Lewandowski plays running back and linebacker, and he made two of the game’s biggest plays against St. Pius X in his varsity debut, scoring a touchdown and forcing a fumble.

It’s the fifth year for Kelly Donohoe as head coach at Rockhurst. As Greg Oder moves to Staley, Vinny Careswell moves into the defensive coordinator role for Rockhurst, coming from Lee’s Summit West. He will coach a mostly new defensive unit as well.