By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Editor's note: TopSports.news has finished its tour of preseason football practices at all 10 Shawnee County high schools and will post preview stories over the coming days leading into the opening games of the 2022 season Sept. 1-3.
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Topeka High football coach Carlos Kelly knows there's sure to be some challenges ahead this fall for a young Trojan team that faces a brutal schedule.
But Kelly, who has just seven seniors on his roster, will be focused on making steady progress as the Trojans try to work towards re-capturing their place as a Centennial League and Class 6A contender.
Third-year Topeka High football coach Carlos Kelly talks with Trojan quarterback Peyton Wheat during a 2021 game. [File photo/TSN]
"We'll have to be patient and our schedule does not allow us any kind of leeway on patience, but at the same time Coach 'A' (Walt Alexander) was here for quite a while and he went through those nicks and bruises at the beginning to get it started off and then they did a really great job,'' said Kelly, a former assistant on Alexander's staff.
"Coach 'A' was a good coach. A lot of people don't give him credit for what he did off the field in the weight room and getting guys to buy in.''
Now Kelly, whose Trojans are coming off a 2-7 campaign, is trying to follow that same blueprint.
"It starts from everywhere and everything has to be on point for a smooth machine to run tip top,'' Kelly said. "Every cog in the machine has to do their part.''
Topeka High will build around six players with starting experience on offense and six on defense.
Senior Peyton Wheat (6-foot, 195) returns for his second season as Topeka High's quarterback after transferring from Free State while the Trojans also return offensive starters Isaiah Kincade (5-11, 190 junior running back), Elijah Kincade (6-0, 205 senior tight end), BJ Canady (6-6, 245 junior tight end/quarterback), David Moore (6-3, 265 senior offensive lineman) and Jeovanny Gonzales (6-1, 265 senior offensive lineman).
Canady, who has received Division I recruiting attention, is a top returner on defense at defensive end while High also returns Isaiah Kincade (cornerback), Elijah Kincade (outside linebacker), Ethan Martell (5-10, 170 senior strong safety), Clarence Ross (5-8, 155 junior defensive back), Jaziah Mack (5-8, 140 junior defensive back) and JaShuan Kenoly (6-1, 165 senior defensive back).
Canady and Isaiah Kincade received TopSports.news All-Shawnee County and All-Centennial League honorable mention a year ago.
The Trojans face a 2022 schedule that ranks as one of the state's toughest, starting with an opening non-league game on Sept. 3 against Maize and star quarterback Avery Johnson, a Kansas State commit.
Maize, 10-3 a year ago and the 5A runner-up, is one of six schools on Topeka High's eight-game regular-season schedule that won at least eight games last fall while the Trojans, who play only one city school, also face a grueling six-hour (one-way) road trip to Liberal.
"It makes you a little grumpy,'' Kelly said about the '22 schedule, "but we're past that and we've just got to do what we can.
"We look to grow and stay competitive while continuing to get better each week during the season.''
TOPEKA HIGH
2022 football schedule
(Home games at Hummer Sports Park)
September -- 3 Maize, 9 at Manhattan, 16 at Liberal, 23 Emporia, 30 at Wichita Northwest.
October -- 7 Washburn Rural, 14 at Junction City, 21 Hays, 28 Playoffs.
Next up: Topeka West.
