City League high school football preview: Wichita player rankings, team predictions
The Kansas high school football season kicks off this week and The Eagle has you covered for a complete rundown of the Greater Wichita Athletic League.
Below is a list of 40 of the best players in the City League, followed by league predictions and full team previews with each team’s schedule and top players returning.
List of 40 top City League football players
Note: List is sorted in alphabetical order.
Tre Birch, Northwest senior defensive lineman
Paul Bloomer, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior offensive lineman
Brandon Busher, West senior wide receiver
Alonzo Cabral, Heights senior offensive lineman
Nate Campbell, Heights senior linebacker
Henry Chrisman, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior running back
Nathan Davis Jr., Northwest senior offensive lineman
Chase Dupont, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior kicker
Omari Elias, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior running back
Mencali En, West junior linebacker
Johnmichael Fountain, Northwest sophomore linebacker
Jayden Garnes, North senior linebacker
Jayce Glasper, Northwest senior quarterback
Thomas Gorges, Bishop Carroll senior running back
Sam Hampton, Bishop Carroll senior defensive lineman
Van Haneberg, Bishop Carroll senior wide receiver
Jeremiah Harris, Northwest junior defensive back
Luke Holthusen, Bishop Carroll senior wide receiver
Jackson King, Bishop Carroll senior quarterback
Jacob King, Northwest senior defensive back
Rayvelle Leaks, East senior running back
Michael Lopez, Northwest senior wide receiver
Cale Milleson, Heights senior linebacker
DaeOnte Mitchell, East senior quarterback
Carter Morris, Bishop Carroll senior linebacker
Hank Purvis, Bishop Carroll senior offensive lineman
LT Robinson, East senior wide receiver
Ross Robinson, South senior linebacker
Avante Scales, Heights senior defensive back
Ronelle Slaughter, Southeast senior running back
Aydan Spiers, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior offensive lineman
Dayontay Standifer, East senior defensive back
Nathan Thengvall, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior defensive back
Cencere Thompson, Northwest senior running back
Orlando Watley, North senior defensive back
Quentin Webb, Southeast senior defensive lineman
Ja’marcus Webster, South junior linebacker
Ashton White, East senior wide receiver
MJ White, East senior wide receiver
Omari Wishom, East senior defensive back
Wichita City League team predictions
1. Northwest
2. Bishop Carroll
3. Kapaun Mt. Carmel
4. East
5. Heights
6. South
7. Southeast
8. West
9. North
City League football team previews
Bishop Carroll Golden Eagles
Coach: Dusty Trail, seventh season, 50-16
2022 record: 7-3, lost in second round
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Northwest; Sept. 8, South; Sept. 15, at Derby; Sept. 22, at Junction City; Sept. 29, North; Oct. 6, Kapaun Mt. Carmel (at Riverfront Stadium); Oct. 13, Heights; Oct. 20, East.
Top players: Jackson King, sr., 6-3, 190, QB; Hank Purvis, sr., 6-5, 310, OL; Thomas Gorges, sr., 5-8, 160, RB; Luke Holthusen, sr., 6-1, 175, WR; Carter Morris, sr., 5-10, 210, LB; Sam Hampton, sr., 5-10, 240, DL; Van Haneberg, sr., 5-10, 170, WR; Parker Flax, sr., 6-1, 190, WR; Hayden Hiebert, jr., 5-10, 165, DB; Cash Ungles, sr., 5-10, 205, LB; Hayden Woolley, sr., 5-11, 175, DB; Tyler Chrisman, sr., 5-9, 170, DB; Carter Clupny, jr., 6-0, 180, QB; Dalton Welch, sr., 6-3, 255, OL; Xavier Triana, sr., 6-1, 265, OL; Cal Purvis, so., 6-2, 210, TE; Jay Minton, sr., 5-10, 165, DB; PJ Truman, sr., 5-11, 210, DL.
East Blue Aces
Coach: Ene Akpan, sixth season, 27-20
2022 record: 6-4, lost in second round
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Washburn Rural; Sept. 8, Kapaun Mt. Carmel (at Carpenter); Sept. 15, Southeast (at Northwest); Sept. 22, at Northwest; Sept. 29, at West; Oct. 6, Emporia; Oct. 13, North (at Northwest); Oct. 20, at Bishop Carroll.
Top players: DaeOnte Mitchell, sr., 5-11, 195, QB; Dayontay Standifer, sr., 6-1, 210, DB; Rayvelle Leak, sr., 5-11, 180, RB; MJ White, sr., 5-11, 160, WR; Ashton White, sr., 5-9, 165, WR; Omari Wishom, sr., DB; LT Robinson, sr., 5-10, 150, WR; Skylar Toppah, sr., 6-2, 220, OL; Austin Fulton, jr., 6-1, 330, OL; Zion McIntosh, jr., OL; Sa’Ron Hill, sr., 5-10, 220, OL; Jaylen Lyons, sr., 6-2, 240, DL; Porter Blanton, jr., DL; Shyne Jones, sr., LB; Camren Davis, sr., 5-10, 140, DB; Donnie Jackson, fr., RB; Keng Smith, fr., DL; Malakai Jones, fr., DL.
Heights Falcons
Coach: Dominick Dingle, sixth season, 21-23
2022 record: 4-5, lost in first round
Schedule: Sept. 1, Garden City; Sept. 8, Northwest; Sept. 15, North; Sept. 22, West (at Friends); Sept. 29, at South; Oct. 6, at Southeast; Oct. 13, at Bishop Carroll; Oct. 20, Kapaun Mt. Carmel.
Top players: Nate Campbell, sr., 5-11, 190, RB-LB; Cale Milleson, sr., 5-11, 190, RB-LB; Avante Scales, sr., 5-11, 165, WR-DB; Dennis Carter, sr., DB; Michael Smith, sr., DL; Ashmar Anderson, sr., 6-0, 170, DB; Alonzo Cabral, sr., 6-2, 225, OL-DL; Jayven Martin, sr., 5-10, 215, OL-DL; Tavion Johnson, jr., QB; Jameson Holland, jr., RB; Malcolm Duckworth, sr., DL.
Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders
Coach: Weston Schartz, fourth season, 23-9
2022 record: 5-5, lost in second round
Schedule: Sept. 1, South; Sept. 8, East (at Carpenter); Sept. 15, Northwest; Sept. 22, Columbia-Battle (Mo.) (in Kansas City); Sept. 29, at Southeast; Oct. 6, Bishop Carroll (at Riverfront Stadium); Oct. 13, at St. James Academy; Oct. 20, at Heights.
Top players: Omari Elias, sr., 5-10, 200, RB; Dylan Hamilton, sr., 5-9, 175, QB; Will Thengvall, sr., 6-4, 180, WR; Paul Bloomer, sr., 6-6, 220, OL; Aydan Spiers, sr., 6-6, 245, OL; John Knapp, sr., 6-1, 230, OL; Henry Orth, sr., 6-0, 240, OL; Peyton Gosch, jr., 6-2, 210, TE; Henry Chrisman, sr., 5-8, 160, RB; Jackson Daniel, jr., 5-11, 170, DB; Austin Howard, jr., 6-0, 180, LB; Kyle Keya, jr., 6-4, 190, LB; Charlie Chrisman, sr., 5-10, 175, DB; Nathan Thengvall, sr., 6-3, 170, DB; Brody Holovach, sr., 6-1, 230, DL; Chase Dupont, sr., 6-1, 165, K.
North Redhawks
Coach: Mitch Kucera, second season, 0-9
2022 record: 0-9, lost in first round
Schedule: Sept. 1, Southeast (at Carpenter); Sept. 8, at Garden City; Sept. 15, at Heights; Sept. 22, at South; Sept. 29, at Bishop Carroll; Oct. 7, West (at Riverfront Stadium); Oct. 13, East (at Northwest); Oct. 20, Pittsburg (at Southeast).
Top players: DJ Fowler, sr., 6-3, 190, QB; Orlando Watley, sr., 6-1, 130, DB; DeAnthony Jones, so., 6-0, 185, RB; Noe Alvarado, so., 5-11, 200, RB-LB; Mason Classen, jr., 5-10, 290, OL; Josh Bafunye, jr., 5-10, 235, DL; Jaden Fountain, jr., 6-4, 170, DL; Sam Doell, jr., 6-3, 195, DL; Jayden Garnes, sr., 5-10, 200, LB; Jalon Humphrey, sr., 5-11, 165, WR-DB; Rico Jones, sr., 5-9, 150, WR-DB; Shaydyn Bowers, sr., 5-8, 200, LB; Adolfo Cabrales, sr., 6-1, 265, DL.
Northwest Grizzlies
Coach: Steve Martin, 12th season, 94-28
2022 record: 8-3, lost in quarterfinals
Schedule: Sept. 1, Bishop Carroll; Sept. 8, at Heights; Sept. 15, at Kapaun Mt. Carmel; Sept. 22, East; Sept. 29, at Topeka; Oct. 6, South; Oct. 12, West (at Riverfront Stadium); Oct. 20, Manhattan.
Top players: Cencere Thompson, sr., 5-9, 195, RB; Jayce Glasper, sr., 6-1, 185, QB-DB; Michael Lopez, sr., 5-6, 150, WR; Taccari Brown, sr., 6-0, 170, WR; Nathan Davis Jr., sr., 6-0, 265, OL; Tre Birch, jr., 6-2, 280, DL; Johnmichael Fountain, so., 6-2, 205, LB; Jeremiah Harris, jr., 5-11, 160, DB; Jacob King, sr., 5-10, 170, DB; Deuce Bohannon, so., 5-6, 175, RB; Dalton Schrader, sr., 6-5, 285, OL; Braxton Hopper, sr., 5-11, 240, OL; Philip Givens, sr., 5-10, 220, TE; TJ Love, jr., 6-4, 315, OL; Gabe Contreras, jr., 5-9, 305, OL; Quavon Harris, jr., 5-10, 165, LB; Jamari Bland, so., 5-10, 215, LB; Jalil Cooper, sr., DB; A’maree Bohannon, so., 5-11, 175, DB; Jaylen Mason, so., 6-2, 180, QB.
South Titans
Coach: Russ Wells, fifth season, 10-24
2022 record: 3-6, lost in first round
Schedule: Sept. 1, at Kapaun Mt. Carmel; Sept. 8, at Bishop Carroll; Sept. 15, Dodge City; Sept. 22, North; Sept. 29, Heights; Oct. 6, at Northwest; Oct. 13, at Southeast; Oct. 20, West.
Top players: Ross Robinson, sr., 5-10, 185, LB; Asa Berry, sr., 6-2, 200, DL; Andrew Deleon, sr., 5-11, 215, OL; Jaylen Fitzsimmons-Woods, sr., 5-9, 145, DB; Isaiah Grames, sr., 6-0, 200, RB-LB; Isaiah Espinoza, sr., 5-10, 180, LB; Parker Hardgrave, jr., 6-7, 315, OL; Ja’marcus Webster, jr., 6-0, 180, LB; Ivan Teal, jr., 5-10, 155, WR-DB; Antonio Carrion, jr., 5-11, 240, OL-DL; Rashawn Johnson, so., 5-9, 155, QB-DB.
Southeast Buffaloes
Coach: Marcus Bagley, third season, 1-17
2022 record: 1-8, lost in first round
Schedule: Sept. 1, North (at South); Sept. 8, West; Sept. 15, East (at Northwest); Sept. 22, at Great Bend; Sept. 29, Kapaun Mt. Carmel; Oct. 6, Heights; Oct. 13, South; Oct. 20, at Dodge City.
Top players: Ronelle Slaughter, jr., RB; Micah Fiscus, jr., QB; Elliott Merten, sr., OL; Quentin Webb, sr., DL; Khalik Thomas, jr., DL; Jordan Mewborn, sr., OL; Dubbron Moore, sr., RB; Elijah Dixon, jr., LB; Vernon Williams, so., DB; Leonel Sweet, jr., DB.
West Pioneers
Coach: Jeremy Moss, first season
2022 record: 2-7, lost in first round
Schedule: Sept. 1, Dodge City; Sept. 8, at Southeast; Sept. 15, at Garden City; Sept. 22, Heights; Sept. 29, East; Oct. 7, North (at Riverfront Stadium); Oct. 12, Northwest (at Riverfront Stadium); Oct. 20, at South.
Top players: Mencali En, jr., 5-10, 205, LB; Chance Johnson, jr., 6-3, 225, OL; Dru Johnson, sr., 5-9, 205, OL; Brycen James, sr., 6-2, 310, OL; Brandon Busher, sr., 5-9, 165, WR; Trayshaun Higgins, sr., 5-9, 160, RB; Kameron Wade, sr., 6-0, 170, WR; Anthony Steele, jr., 6-2, 175, QB; James Moore, jr., 5-11, 225, DL; Wayman Kidd, jr., 5-10, 175, DL; Robert Echols, sr., 6-2, 175, DB; Akio West, sr., 6-0, 170, DB; Caleb Maholmes, jr., 6-0, 200, LB; Marteaus Carter, so., 5-6, 165, RB; Jacob Bible, jr., 6-1, 190, DL.
