City League high school football preview: Wichita player rankings, team predictions

The Kansas high school football season kicks off on Friday and The Eagle has you covered for a complete rundown of the Greater Wichita Athletic League.

Below is a list of 50 players to watch in the City League, followed by league predictions and full team previews with each team’s schedule and top players returning.

50 players to watch in City League

Note: List is sorted in alphabetical order.

Pharrel Adams, East junior linebacker

Noe Alvarado, North junior quarterback

Micah Amphone, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior defensive lineman

Ja’Mari Bland, Northwest junior linebacker

A’maree Bohannon, East junior defensive back

Deuce Bohannon, East junior running back

Dylan Burr, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior quarterback

Ryder Campbell, Northwest junior wide receiver

John Paul Carrillo, Bishop Carroll senior offensive lineman

Chase Carter, Northwest junior wide receiver

Carter Clupny, Bishop Carroll senior quarterback

Dustin Cochran, Northwest junior offensive lineman

Jackson Daniel, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior wide receiver

Peyton Dean, Northwest senior defensive lineman

Sam Doell, North senior defensive lineman

Mencali En, West senior linebacker

Augie Fast, Northwest junior running back

Johnmichael Fountain, Northwest junior linebacker

Peyton Gosch, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior tight end

Temar Grey, Heights junior running back

Quavon Harris, Northwest senior linebacker

Kasen Hartfield, Southeast junior defensive back

Hayden Hiebert, Bishop Carroll senior defensive back

Austin Howard, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior linebacker

Robert Hunter, East junior quarterback

Marcus Johnson, Southeast junior linebacker

Rashawn Johnson, South junior quarterback

Terrick Johnson, Heights senior defensive back

DeAnthony Jones, East junior running back

Mason Kaltenbach, Bishop Carroll senior defensive lineman

Kyle Keya, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior linebacker

Caleb Maholmes, West senior linebacker

Jaylen Mason, Northwest junior quarterback

Maddox McGinnis, Northwest sophomore offensive lineman

Lucas Meyer, Heights senior running back

James Moore, West senior defensive lineman

D.J. Ngassa, East junior defensive lineman

Drew Niedens, Bishop Carroll junior running back

Raphael Oblinger, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior offensive lineman

Damauri Parker, South senior wide receiver

Cal Purvis, Kapaun Mt. Carmel junior linebacker

Karlan Ransom, East senior wide receiver

Noah Schreck, Kapaun Mt. Carmel senior defensive back

Maverick Stehman, Heights senior defensive lineman

Brendan Stonestreet, Bishop Carroll senior linebacker

Ja’marcus Webster, South senior linebacker

Andre Williams, East senior defensive lineman

Deongelo Williams, Northwest junior offensive lineman

Talan Wittsell, South senior offensive lineman

Trale Wilson, West senior defensive back

Wichita City League team predictions

1. East

1. Kapaun Mt. Carmel

3. Northwest

4. West

5. Bishop Carroll

6. Heights

7. South

8. Southeast

9. North

GWAL football team previews

Bishop Carroll Golden Eagles

Coach: Dusty Trail, eighth season, 53-22

2023 record: 3-6, lost in 5A first round

Class: 5A

Schedule: Sept. 6, Northwest; Sept. 13, at Southeast; Sept. 20, at Bishop McGuinness (Okla.); Sept. 27, at South; Oct. 4, Heights; Oct. 11, Kapaun; Oct. 18, East (at South); Oct. 25, Derby.

Top players: Brendan Stonestreet, sr., 6-0, 205, LB; Drew Niedens, jr., 5-10, 195, RB; Carter Clupny, sr., QB; Mason Kaltenbach, sr., 6-1, 230, DL; Hayden Hiebert, sr., 5-11, 175, DB; Alex Rohr, sr., 5-10, 170, DB; Ridge Trail, jr., 5-9, 190, DB; John Paul Carrillo, sr., 5-10, 200, OL; Zane White, jr., 6-3, 235, OL; Nathan Goertz, jr., 6-3, 195, TE; Jack Duling, jr., 6-1, 175, DL; Hayden Sattler, sr., 5-10, 170, WR; Blake Bowmaker, jr., 5-8, 165, DB.

East Blue Aces

Coach: Ene Akpan, sixth season, 27-20

2023 record: 8-3, lost in 6A quarterfinals

Class: 6A

Schedule: Sept. 6, at Heights; Sept. 13, Northwest (at South); Sept. 20, Kapaun (at Stryker); Sept. 27, West (at Southeast); Oct. 4, Highland Park; Oct. 11, North (at Heights); Oct. 18, Carroll (at South); Oct. 25, Dodge City (at South).

Top players: Pharrel Adams, jr., 6-0, 210, LB; Deuce Bohannon, jr., 5-6, 175, RB; Robert Hunter, jr., 6-0, 170, QB; A’maree Bohannon, jr., 5-11, 175, DB; Andre Williams, sr., 6-4, 225, DL; Karlan Ransom, sr., 6-0, 170, WR; D.J. Ngassa, jr., 6-2, 255, DL; DeAnthony Jones, jr., 5-11, 190, RB; Austin Fulton, sr., 6-1, 330, OL; Zion McIntosh, sr., OL; Rey’zhian Shears, jr., LB; Nick Dooley, sr., LB; Jamarius Howard, jr., DB

Heights Falcons

Coach: Dominick Dingle, seventh season, 26-27

2023 record: 5-4, lost in 6A first round

Class: 6A

Schedule: Sept. 6, East; Sept. 13, at Topeka; Sept. 20, Garden City; Sept. 27, Southeast; Oct. 4, at Carroll; Oct. 11, at South; Oct. 18, North; Oct. 25, Kapaun (at Stryker).

Top players: Lucas Meyer, sr., RB; Terrick Johnson, sr., DB; Maverick Stehman, sr., DL; Jonathan Vasquez-Chavira, jr., K; Temar Grey, jr., RB; Darius Rogers, jr., RB; Zane Masterson, jr., QB; Jonovan Wyatt, jr., LB; Kaleb Martin, sr., LB; Joshua Ibidokun, jr., DL; Jamiere Armstrong, jr., DB.

Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders

Coach: Weston Schartz, fifth season, 34-11

2023 record: 11-2, lost in 5A championship

Class: 4A

Schedule: Sept. 6, Andover (at Stryker); Sept. 13, North (at Heights); Sept. 20, East (at Stryker); Sept. 27, at Northwest; Oct. 4, Southeast (at Stryker); Oct. 11, at Carroll; Oct. 18, St. James (at Stryker); Oct. 25, Heights (at Stryker).

Top players: Kyle Keya, sr., 6-4, 200, LB; Jackson Daniel, sr., 5-10, 175, WR-DB; Peyton Gosch, sr., 6-2, 210, TE; Austin Howard, sr., 6-0, 180, LB; Noah Schreck, sr., 5-10, 180, RB-DB; Micah Amphone, sr., 5-10, 180, DL; Dylan Burr, sr., QB-DB; Wyatt Sullenger, jr., 5-9, 150, RB-DB; Cal Purvis, jr., 6-3, 205, RB-LB; Ken Huff, so., RB; Ethan DuPont, so., K; Raphael Oblinger, jr., 6-0, 200, DL.

North Redhawks

Coach: Mitch Kucera, third season, 0-18

2023 record: 0-9, lost in 6A first round

Class: 6A

Schedule: Sept. 6, Liberal (at Northwest); Sept. 13, Kapaun (at Heights); Sept. 20, West (at South); Sept. 27, at Great Bend; Oct. 4, at South; Oct. 11, East (at Heights); Oct. 18, at Heights; Oct. 25, at Southeast.

Top players: Noe Alvarado, jr., QB; Jaden Fountain, sr., LB; Josh Bafunye, sr., RB-LB; Cesar Ramos, sr., LB; Manny Martinez, sr., DL; Mario Jackson, sr., OL; Mason Classes, sr., OL; Sam Doell, sr., TE-DL; Manuel Avalos-Lopez, jr., OL; Eli Judson, jr., WR; Bryan Avalos-Rivas, jr., DL; Javier Zapata, sr., DB; Jhett Haberly, so., DB.

Northwest Grizzlies

Coach: Steve Martin, 13th season, 101-31

2023 record: 7-3, lost in 6A second round

Class: 6A

Schedule: Sept. 6, at Carroll; Sept. 13, East (at South); Sept. 20, Junction City; Sept. 27, Kapaun; Oct. 4, West; Oct. 11, at Manhattan; Oct. 18, South; Oct. 25, at Eisenhower.

Top players: Jaylen Mason, jr., 6-2, 200, QB; Johnmichael Fountain, jr., 6-0, 205, LB; Maddox McGinnis, so., 6-3, 290, OL; Quavon Harris, sr., 5-9, 190, LB; Deongelo Williams, jr., 6-4, 255, OL; Dustin Cochran, jr., 6-4, 255, OL-DL; Chase Carter, jr., 6-3, 205, WR; Augie Fast, jr., 6-1, 190, RB; Ryder Campbell, jr., 6-3, 190, WR; Griffin Baker, jr., 6-3, 195, WR; Gabe Contreras, sr., 5-10, 290, OL-DL; Devin Gracey, sr., 5-10, 245, OL; Franklin Ekue, jr., 6-0, 185, RB; Peyton Dean, sr., 6-0, 260, DL; Ja’Mari Bland, jr., 5-10, 215, LB; Emorjai Buncome, jr., 6-3, 220, DL; Brady Johnson, sr., 6-2, 260, DL; D’Anthony Rivera, jr., 5-8, 155, DB; Christian Sanders, sr., 6-0, 170, DB.

South Titans

Coach: Russ Wells, sixth season, 12-32

2023 record: 2-7, lost in 6A first round

Class: 6A

Schedule: Sept. 6, Southeast; Sept. 13, at Liberal; Sept. 20, at Dodge City; Sept. 27, Carroll; Oct. 4, North; Oct. 11, Heights; Oct. 18, at Northwest; Oct. 25, West (at Friends).

Top players: Ja’marcus Webster, sr., 6-0, 215, RB-LB; Antonio Carrion, sr., 5-10, 180, TE-LB; Chris West, sr., 5-10, 180, TE-LB; Austin Nguyen, sr., 5-11, 260, OL; Damauri Parker, sr., 5-9, 165, WR; Talan Wittsell, sr., 5-9, 205, OL; Deon Bernard, sr., 6-3, 335, OL; Rashawn Johnson, jr., 5-9, 155, QB-DB; Anthony Nguyen, jr., 6-1, 250, OL-DL; Jaeden Frierson, jr., 6-2, 165, WR-DB; Jay’den Kirk McGowan, jr., 5-9, 210, RB.

Southeast Buffaloes

Coach: Corby Milleson, first season

2023 record: 1-8, lost in 6A first round

Class: 6A

Schedule: Sept. 6, at South; Sept. 13, Carroll; Sept. 20, Topeka; Sept. 27, at Heights; Oct. 4, Kapaun (at Stryker); Oct. 11, at Garden City; Oct. 18, West (at Friends); Oct. 25, North.

Top players: Torean Kincaid, sr., 5-10, 280, OL; Zahkyan Robertson, jr., 5-9, 160, WR; Jim Brizgaloff, jr., 5-10, 280, OL; Kasen Hartfield, jr., 5-9, 160, DB; Vernon Williams, jr., 6-1, 180, DB; Seven Clark, jr., 5-11, 190, LB; Kenny Jackson, jr., 5-10, 180, LB; Marcus Johnson, jr., 6-1, 190, LB; Keshawn Bryant, sr., 5-11, 170, DB; Will Obar, so., 6-4, 170, QB; Kedric Harrison, so., 5-9, 175, RB; Evan Brashear, so., 5-9, 175, RB; Kevon Adkins, sr., 6-1, 170, DB; Irving Ortega, sr., 5-10, 210, DL.

West Pioneers

Coach: Jeremy Moss, second season, 3-6

2023 record: 3-6, lost in 6A first round

Class: 6A

Schedule: Sept. 6, Topeka (at Friends); Sept. 13, at Emporia; Sept. 20, North (at South); Sept. 27, East (at Southeast); Oct. 4, at Northwest; Oct. 11, Louisburg (at Friends); Oct. 18, Southeast (at Friends); Oct. 25, South (at Friends).

Top players: Mencali En, sr., 5-11, 205, LB; Trale Wilson, sr., 5-10, 155, WR-DB; James Moore, sr., 5-10, 240, DL; Caleb Maholmes, sr., 6-1, 200, LB; Bruce Kirkeby, sr., 5-9, 250, OL; Chance Johnson, sr., 6-3, 260, OL-DL; Wayman Kidd, sr., 6-1, 180, TE-DL; Mello Thomas, sr., 5-8, 390, DL; Colby Eck-Watkins, so., 5-10, 175, QB-LB.