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Season Preview: Spring Hill

By Sean Brewer, 810 Varsity, 07/28/21, 8:00PM CDT

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Broncos amped for future ahead

>> Spring Hill team page, schedule <<

For the past two seasons,  Spring Hill  has made some noise in the Kansas  football playoffs, only to run into of the top teams in their respective classes. 

In 2019, the Broncos defeated a salty Pittsburg squad in the first round and then faced Tonganoxie, who defeated the Broncos and went on to claim the state runner-up in class 4A that season. 

Last year after a convincing first-round win against Shawnee Heights, Spring Hill was rewarded with a second-round matchup against 5A juggernaut Mill Valley. The Jaguars went on to win their fourth state title since 2015 after defeating Spring Hill, which ended the Broncos shortened season at 4-4.

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“We play in a tough conference in the Frontier League,” head coach Jason Feeback remarked, “But playing two of the top programs in their respective classes the last two years in the playoffs is helping us to become better - both as coaches and for the players. We love to play the best of the best.”

The aforementioned Frontier League is loaded with formidable programs such as state semifinalist De Soto and Paola, and again looks to be loaded with talent in 2021.

The Broncos will offer some top talent of their own agents fellow Frontier League foes. Senior Zach Knowlton (5-foot-8, 160) is an incredibly athletic shifty-speedster who is recognized as one of the top athletes in Kansas. Not only can he catch and carry the rock, but he will hope to have opposing receivers on lock from his defensive back position. 

Draven Pipkin returns to the backfield where he amassed over 600 yards rushing last season. The senior back averaged nearly six yards-per-carry last season and found the end zone eight times.

Calling the shots from behind center will be returning starting quarterback Fletcher Pankey (5-foot-10, 175). The senior signal caller stepped in and started five games for the Broncos in 2020, which should help the offense get off to a faster start this season.

“We lost a couple very close games to start the season last year,” Feeback recalled. “Some of that was just being inexperienced, but we have some fantastic returning athletes who are anxious to get the season started.”

The offensive line will be a spotlight area this season for the Broncos. While they return big seniors Aiden Palmer (6-foot-2, 250) and Andrew Campbell (5-foot-11, 240), the coaching staff hopes to develop a handful of others to provided needed depth in the trenches.

Sophomore linemen Mark Debiak (6-foot-3, 200) and Riley Frank (6-foot, 245) are two linemen identified as potentially playing key roles as the season progresses.

On the offensive wings, Spring Hill returns a quatro of talent. In addition to Knowlton, Kameron Crotchett (6-foot-2, 185), Carter Meade (5-foot-11, 175) and Daniel Mitchell (5-foot-11, 170) all will again be banked on to haul in the Pankey-delivered goods this season. 

“We have a chance to be a really good football team this year - if some pieces fall into place,” Feeback predicted. 

Defense is an area where some of those pieces and breaks need to fall right for the Broncos, who return only two starters from last year. Seniors Nathan Jones (5-foot-10, 245) and Collin Rooney (6-foot-1, 180) are the lone retuning starters. 

However, Feeback noted junior RJ Dominick (6-foot-5, 200) and senior Garrah Bauer (6-foot-4, 195) are players the coaching staff are really excited about. 

Knowlton, Crotchett, Meade, Campbell and Mitchell will likely be called upon for double-duty while some of the defensive depth is developed.

“We’re fortunate to have some athletes who aren’t afraid to hit,” Feeback said pridefully. “They are also willing to play both ways if that’s what the team needs. They are a great group of young men.”

Feeback added that he feels the Broncos are in the middle of creating a legacy for future players - something he wanted to do when he took over the program six years ago.

“We are excited about the great things happening at Spring Hill,” Feeback gushed. “We play a lot of teams with tradition. While they have tradition, we are building one.”

The Broncos begin the 2021 campaign on September 3 against Louisburg.

>> Spring Hill team page, schedule <<

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