Elkhart Looks to Continue Progress

Elkhart football is back. After enduring a 42 game losing streak, the class 2A Wildcats have gone 3-6, 6-5, and 7-2 the past three seasons. Last year’s 7-2 still wasn’t good enough to qualify for the state playoffs. State champion and top ranked Meade won the district and semifinalist Stanton County, the fourth ranked team in 2A this year was the runner-up in the district. Kris Buckner enters his second season as head coach and has five starters returning on both sides of the ball and 30 out for football.

Elkhart loses two explosive playmakers in Marcus Irsik and James Kelly who both scored in Garden City Community College’s intra-squad scrimmage this weekend.

The returning Elkhart starters are: senior lineman Brian Newman; sophomore quarterback and safety Alex Gomez; senior lineman and middle linebacker Junior Moreno; senior running back, wide receiver, linebacker, and safety Oliver Barco; and junior running back and linebacker Nick Lewis.

Other key key Cats are senior lineman Rowdy Pate, senior wide receiver and defensive back Cole Parks, and junior tight end and defensive end Hunter Burnett.

Schedule

Sept. 2- Cimarron

Sept. 9- Southwestern Heights

Sept. 16- at Lakin

Sept. 23- at Leoti

Sept. 30- at Sublette

Oct. 7- Satanta

Oct. 14- Stanton County

Oct. 21- Meade

Oct. 27- at Syracuse