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Jesse Owen begins his second season as head coach at Gardner-Edgerton with a few big questions that need to be answered on the offensive side of the football.

The Trailblazers lost their starting quarterback and top three running backs from last season’s 4-6 squad. Owen and his coaching staff will spend much of August determining who earns starting assignments for those positions.

“Our backfield is going to be inexperienced. We’re not battle-tested,” said Owen. “At quarterback, senior Conner Elder is competing with Colton Hawkinson. Colton is a junior. And there’s a sophomore. Bravin Powell-Brown is in the mix. He’s our utility guy right now. I’d say those three are among our top-22 guys.”

Junior Dawson Kindler will open the season at fullback. Senior Kyle Oatman leads a committee that will man the two slot back positions in the flexbone offense.

Whoever handles the snaps and runs the football should benefit from the return of three offensive lineman - 6-foot-2, 360-pound senior guard Jackson Kellogg, 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior left tackle Evan Norris, and 6-foot-1, 245-pound junior center Ethan Whittley - and tight end Austin Buie (6-foot-2, 220). The senior led the Blazers with seven catches for 200 yards and five receiving touchdowns.

“Buie will be an integral part of the offense,” Owen continued. “He gives us an extra offensive lineman, and we can detach him and line him up outside as well.”

While the flexbone offense develops its identity, the Blazers will lean on an experienced defense. The unit returns eight starters, including Sunflower League Honorable Mention selections senior linebacker Dawson Williams (5-foot-11, 210), senior linebacker Andrew Kamito (6-foot-3, 200), senior defensive back Eli Blazic (6-foot-1, 170), senior defensive lineman Ozzie Poague (6-foot-4, 220), and junior defensive backs Eli and Cameron Porter (5-foot-9, 160).

Williams led the defense with 56 tackles last season, while Poague sacked the quarterback three times.

A year ago, the Blazers opened the season with four straight losses before winning four of their last six games. GE opened the playoffs with a 41-20 victory over Dodge City then bowed to Manhattan 38-35.

This year’s Sunflower League schedule features home games against Shawnee Mission East, SM South, defending Class 5A state champion Mill Valley, and Lawrence. The Blazers will visit Olathe West, Olathe North, Olathe East and Olathe South.

“I expect Mill Valley, Olathe North, Lawrence, and Olathe West to be the teams to beat in our league,” Owen said. “Each of those teams is good up front, and they all have very good skill players.”

Gardner-Edgerton kicks off the 2022 seasonon  September 2 at home against SM East.