By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news will post preview stories for all 10 Shawnee County high school football programs over the coming days, leading into the opening games of the 2025 season on Sept. 4 and 5.
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A lot of Kansas high school football programs -- actually the vast majority of them -- would be downright giddy if they were able to play for state championships in back-to-back seasons.
But there's no giddiness in the Hayden camp ... only determination.
Veteran Hayden football coach Bill Arnold talks to his team during Monday's season-opening practice. {Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Wildcats won a pair of undefeated Class 4A titles under Tom Stringer in 1998 and 2004 and have continued to be a perennial state power in Bill Arnold's 18 years (19th season this fall) at the Hayden helm, including a 4A crown in 2008.
But there have also been numerous near-misses, including losses to Cheney and Andale in the past two 3A title games, and those are the games that stick in the crawl of Arnold, who has a 222-68 career coaching record,
"You watch on ESPN and you see the Buffalo Bills going to the Super Bowl all the time and never winning it,'' Arnold said. "Well, we have won it before, but we've only won it once (the 2008 title) and we've got five kissing your sister trophies in my office and I'm tired of looking at them,'' he said. "But everything's got to fall into place.''
Hayden went 11-2 last season, including a 36-19 loss to Andale in the state final, and returns a wealth of experience to build around this fall.
"We have experience,'' Arnold said. "This senior class has been playing since they were sophomores, most of them, and they should know what to expect. Athletically, they're very talented, but it's like I told them, they can't do it by themselves. It takes a whole squad.''
"We lost a three-year starter at quarterback (Jett Wahlmeier). We lost a four-year starter at corner and wide receiver and probably one of the most prolific kids that we've had since I've been here in (Jensen) Schrickel. But at the same time I think we've got guys that we can fill the spots in and go with it.''
Headlining the list of Wildcat returners are senior running back/defensive back Kade Mitchell (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) and senior fullback/linebacker Jude Krentz (5-10, 200), who were both TopSports.news All-Shawnee County Top 22 honors last season.
Mitchell rushed for 808 yards on 104 carries last fall and scored 26 total touchdowns while Krentz led the Wildcats with 132 tackles (75 solo).
Other top senior returners include quarterback Connor Hanika (6-5, 190), center/defensive lineman Julian McGivern (5-10, 210), running back/linebacker Jackson McGivern (6-0, 200), tight end/linebacker Xander Blasing (6-2, 225), offensive tackle Jackson Haas (6-2, 235), offensive guard Andrew Rohr (6-0, 220) and linebacker Logan Saenz (6-2, 195).
"It's a group of kids that have been playing together since they were in second, third, fourth grade and they've been playing varsity, some of them for three years and Julian's been playing for four, so you have high expectations for them and you expect them to get out there and perform and perform in a leading manner because they've got to set the tone for everybody else,'' Arnold said.
Hayden will open its season at home against Eudora on Sept. 5.
HAYDEN
2024 football schedule
September -- 5 Eudora, 12 at St. Michael Archangel, Mo., 19 at KC-Bishop Ward, 26 Wamego.
October -- 3 at Hiawatha, 10 Holton, 17 at Perry-Lecompton, 24 Jefferson West.
Next up: Highland Park.
