Fourth year head coach Tony Crough wore a shirt with a simple message across the chest to the team's first practice this fall — two words simply stating "Prove It." That phrase has been the mantra in the past for Hays High football. But not many inside the program feel they have followed through. There may be no better time that now with a large number juniors and seniors returning for 2021. Seventy-five players donned pads for the first practice.
Fifteen of those upperclassmen saw significant time during a 5-3 campaign that came to a close in the Week 9 game at home to Maize South. It was the Indians second loss to the Mavericks in 2020. The other tally in the loss column came against Kapaun.
Hays claimed its first Western Athletic Conference title since 2014 and will try to win back-to-back crowns for the first time since 2011 and 2012.
Coach Tony Crough
Clemson commit Jaren Kanak highlights a group of eight offensive players that were all significant contributors a season ago. Roy Maroni, Carson Kiefer, Jordan Dale and Bryce Salmans all return to the skill positions where they helped the team move the ball for 321 yards per game and average 24 points per contest. Dale earned Offensive Player of the Year honors in the WAC for his play at quarterback and wide receiver.
Gavin Nutting and Karson Russell anchor the offensive line after starting the past season there.
Defensively, the Indians gave up an average of 16 points per game. Division 1 recruit Gavin Meyers enters his senior year with 259 total tackles. He will be joined at the linebacker spot by fellow senior, Dalton Dale who has 117 tackles to his credit. Wyatt Crain returns to the secondary.
The defensive line will also have Nutting, who enters his senior season with 129 career tackles and Carson Spray, who as a sophomore saw increased time as the season progressed. After starting on the offensive line last season, Grayson Walburn moves to the defensive line.
Senior Jack Fields will handle the kicking duties once again. Fields made 16 of his 21 extra point attempts.
Like every team, questions remain to be answered on day one of the season. The Indians lost Gaven Haselhorst and Trey Adams to graduation. The two defensive ends combined for 348 tackles, 84 of which were for a loss, in their careers. Haselhorst now resides in Manhattan where he is playing for Kansas State University.
Another noticeable absence from the field was Dylan Dreiling. The senior baseball standout has elected not to play this season. Dreiling saw time at both quarterback and running back in 2020.
Hays High opens the season by hosting Wichita East on Sept. 3.