Garth Brooks performed recently at area football mecca, Arrowhead Stadium, and as he sang one of his classic hits, "The Thunder Rolls", one could think he was referring to an area championship football program.

For the first time since the school opened its doors in 2005, St. James Academy caught lightning in a bottle and brought home its first state football championship in 2020, as the Thunder soundly defeated Arkansas City in the championship game in Hutchinson, 56-34.

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Head coach Tom Radke stated the championship run was a direct result of unwavering dedication and hard work, but at the core it was a culmination of trying to improve one day at a time. After starting the season with four losses in its first seven games, St. James rumbled their way to five straight wins on the way to the state title and finishing its season at 8-4. For the achievement, Radke was the Chiefs’ representative for the annual Don Shula NFL High School Coach of the Year award.

“Our credo at St. James has always been about improving every day and finishing every play,” Radke said proudly. “It wasn’t an easy path, but the guys played hard every week. We just kept improving throughout the season.”

The Thunder’s schedule was filled with games against bellwether programs such as Bishop Miege, Rockhurst and St. Thomas Aquinas as well as fellow Eastern Kansas League teams. It’s a schedule Radke says has been essential in building a winning program.

“We play in arguably the toughest conference in Kansas in the EKL,” Radke proclaimed. “In order to be the best, you have to beat the best - and that’s exactly what the guys did last year.”

Last year’s senior-heavy squad was packed with all-star performers, including Kansas Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year and current Air Force Falcon, running back La’James White. A number of other Thunder will also be continuing their gridiron career to play on Saturdays, including defensive lineman Harry Spencer (University of Missouri), Jacob Boone (Mid-American Nazarene University) and Sam Schmidt (Baker University).

While the Thunder are loaded with underclassmen and depth, only two of the projected starters on offense and four on defense will be seniors. Many of this year’s starters saw playing time last year, despite a number of close games - a reason why Radke thinks this year the Thunder will get off to a better start.

“We feel that playing underclassmen is essential to having continuity in our program,” Radke shared. “The only way players can get experience is from playing, but playing time also has to be earned.”

One of the top returning Thunder will be tight end Tyler Claiborne (6-foot-3, 202). The senior and Otis Taylor semifinalist (best receiver in the Kansas City metro area) led the Thunder in 2020 with 76 catches for 1,171 yards and 12 touchdowns. Claiborne is one of the top-rated receivers in Kansas for the class of 2022 and is garnering plenty of attention from college recruiters.

Tossing the pigskin to Claiborne and the other Thunder skill positions will be junior Jackson House (5-foot-11, 188). The son of Chiefs linebacker coach Matt House, Jackson will take over from under center for Dakota Burritt, who left St. James holding all but one career passing records for the Thunder. 

Other Thunder catching passes will be junior receivers Finn Burritt (6-foot-2, 170) and junior Nick McDermott (6-foot-3, 205).

Sophomore running back Russell Malcolm (6-foot, 192) has big shoes to fill in the Thunder backfield. In picking up the proverbial torch and taking over for White, Malcolm will be fortunate to have a stout offensive line to pave the way.

Lone senior starting offensive lineman Josh Bichelmeyer (6-foot-3, 258) will be joined on the line by three juniors in Will Golomski (6-foot-1, 221), Wade Spencer (6-foot-2, 223) and Jack Bichelmeyer (6-foot-2, 201). Sophomore Spencer Schuetz (6-foot-1, 238) will be looked at to learn on-the-job and develop quickly, a characteristic Radke says could be a harbinger.

“If the young athletic linemen can come together quickly,” Radke prognosticated, “It could be another fun year on offense.”

On the defensive side, the Thunder will again field one of the more aggressive and athletic units in the area. The 4-2-5 set offered by the Thunder defense focuses on the interior zone, which will give the line - backers and men - ample chances at big plays. 

The defensive line will be led by an all underclassmen lineup, including two-way lineman Wade Spencer. The junior big man returns after registering 49 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 2020. Spencer has already landed on a number of recruiting watch lists for the class of 2023, with some ranking him as one of the top five defensive lineman recruits in Kansas in his class.

The three other trenchmen include sophomore Braxton Guetterman (5-foot-9, 213), and juniors JP Conley (5-foot-9, 235) and Jesus Diaz (6-foot-3, 212). Radke said expects a number of underclassmen to step up and provide plenty of depth. 

The defensive midfield will be covered by senior linebacker Charlie Reece (5-foot-10, 181) and sophomore Spencer Dohm (5-foot-9, 175). 

The Thunder’s defense set is also largely dependent on backfield speed, an area the coaching staff thinks will grow into a team strength.

“We have some extremely fast defenders,” Radke gushed, “and will be looking at them to continue to develop and make big plays.”

Returning to the secondary will be seniors Trey Clark (6-foot, 161) and Holden Artzer (5-foot-10, 155), who snagged an interception and accounted for 34 tackles last season.

Andrew Holton (5-foot-9, 167) and Josh Boone (5-foot-7, 141) will use their speed to track down defenders that escape from the midfield zone. Radke said to also keep an eye on junior defenders Blake Boydston and Huston Callahan (6-foot-1, 166) as two players who could earn plenty of playing time this season.

While the euphoria of winning a state championship will never dull for the 10th year head coach, Radke says the future is bright for the St. James football program.

“We are really looking forward to the leaders we have coming back in,” Radke said with pride. “With over 100 football players on the squad this year, I’m confident we have the athletes to compete for another deep run in the playoffs.” 

St. James Academy begins the defense of their state championship on September 3 with a matchup against their Catholic school rival, St. Thomas Aquinas. 

>> Thunder team page, schedule <<