BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HOISINGTON – Hoisington football coach Zach Baird (99-19) owns an 84% winning percentage with one missing goal – a state championship football trophy. The Cardinals ended an 12-1 season with a 30-18 setback to Nemaha Valley in the 2A title game. The Cardinals own an 11-year playoff streak highlighted by a second state championship 27-20 loss to Rossville in 2020.
“Our team goal doesn't change – that’s to win a state championship,” Baird said. “Offensively, we'll have to be physical up front and take care of the football better than we did last year. Defensively, we have to play physical up front and communicate on the back end.”
Hoisington non 2A district schedule features defending 3A state champion Cheney and perennial 3A powers Pratt, Hesston and Scott City. Hoisington’s 2A West contenders include Norton and SE of Saline.
“When you make a deep run in the playoffs the next group benefits because they play more football than teams which play nine games,” Baird said. “We got a month's worth of practice and witnessed what it takes to make a playoff run. We understand we'll go as far as our seniors take us.”
Hoisington’s flexbone offense has rushed at least 268 yards a game every year under Baird.
“I want to keep our identity of being a physical football team that runs the football,” Baird said. “Every year, that is what we want to do.”
Tailback Teron Kraft (1,228 rushing, 13 scores), Jason Robinson (nine interceptions) and Brady Reif (51 tackles) pace the Cardinals.
“Teron has got the right football mentality,” Baird said. “He’s our identity. He sets the tone for us. He is physical and plays the game the right way.”
Baird’s goal is to balanced offensively.
“I like a deep backfield because we can spread the ball around and keep guys fresh,” he said.
The athletic Robinson is battling Rhen Galla for snaps at quarterback. Quarterback Tony Moore threw for 1,509 yards and 19 scores last year. The Cardinals own a 63/12 touchdown to interception ratio the past five years.
Last year, Mason Martin had 350 receiving yards and six scores. Robinson had six TDs rushing 288 yards and three TDs receiving. Carson Mason caught four touchdown passes.
“One of the biggest things is Jason Robinson’s football IQ,” Baird said. “He’s smart, competitive and a hard worker. Jason Robinson will continue to make big plays. We’ll find ways to get him the ball offensively. Robinson is physical and good in space on defense.”
Baird said he would take “100 Brady Reifs.”
“Brady Reif is a smart, tough player. We'll rely on him to be a leader,” Baird said.
Tackle Layton Hoffman returns from a season-ending injury. Colin Mater and Exavier Chambers will play key roles in the line.
“Layton Hoffman is going to step on the scene and be an impact player,” Baird said. “He caught a bad break last year when we lost him to an injury.”
Baird’s secondary goal is getting plenty of players contributing.
“Fit in basically, all you have to do is come in, work your tail off and be coachable,” Baird said.
HOISINGTON CARDINALS
Coach Zach Baird (99-19, 11TH)
RETURNING STARTERS—DE C.J. Bryant; LG Exavier Chambers; FB/MLB Teron Kraft; OL/DL Layton Hoffman; WR/CB Mason Martin; OLB/PK Taylen Morales; LT Brady Reif; RB/S Jason Robinson;
2A DISTRICT 8—Hoisington 12-1 (4-0), Larned 6-3 (3-1), Lakin 4-5 (2-2), Cimarron 1-8 (1-3), SW Heights 1-8 (0-4)
2023 CARDINAL ROSTER
1—Rhen Galla, 5-11, 140, QB/CB, 12
2—Mason Martin, 6-2, 155, QB/WR, 11
3—C.J. Bryant, 5-11, 160, RB/OLB, 11
4—Preston Roat, 12
5—Teron Kraft, 5-10, 1850, RB/MLB, 12
6—Jason Robinson, 5-11, 148, RB/CB/FS, 12
7—Tyrus Penka, 12
9—Kalob Lamb, WR/DB, 11
11—Leighton Britt, 5-2, 95, 9
12—Marcus Ingram, 5-10, 165, RB/MLB,
13—Kolter Hahn, 5-11, 131, QB, 10
14—Logan Cossel, 5-9, 150, QB-FS, 10
15—Kaideen Chambers, 5-10, RB/OLB, 10
15—Cameron Dobyns, 12
15—Reese Galla, 5-5, 108, QB/FS/SS, 9
16—Kyler Dean Russell, 5-10, 153, RB/OLB, 12
17—Carson Mason, 5-7, RB/SS, 11
19—Lane French, RB/SS, 12
19—Ryker Stout, RS, SB/OLB, 10
19—Peyton Lomas, WR/FS/SS, 5-2, 90, 9
20—Taylen Morales, 5-9, 137, RB/PK, 11
20—Zander Mooney, WR/DB, 9
22—Jhaydyn Turner, 5-3, 120, WR/CB, 11
23—Preston Merlau, RB/MLB, 6-0, 170, 10
24—Corbin Holinde, TE/OLB, 10
25—Bentley Corbett, 5-7, RB/MLB, 9
27—Thomas Higgins, 5-8, 140, WR/CB, 10
33—Drake Martin, RB/OLB, 9
43—Brady Corbett, TE/MLB, 10
51—Grayson Strandberg, T, 12
51—Drew Hekele, 6-0, 153, WR/OLB, 10
52—Leyton Mooney, C/MLB, 10
53—Brady Reif, 5-10, 160, RB/MLB, 11
53—Peyton Kinman, 6-4, 200, T/DE, 12
54—Knoxly Nettleingham, G, 10
56—Carter Delzeit, T/DE, 10
60—Exavier Chambers, G, 12
61—Kaydin Umphrey, G/DE, 9
62—Layton Hoffman, OL/DL, 11
70—Karson Kinman, 5-9, C/NG, 10
74—Joseph Valentino, 5-11, 145, 9
75—Cooper Moore, 5-9, 200, 9
80—Kaden Tomjack, 11
FOOTBALL *2A, DISTRICT 7
8-30—at Great Bend Jamboree
9-6—at Pratt
9-13—Hesston
9-20—at Scott City
9-27—*at SW Heights
10-4—Cheney
10-11—*Lakin
10-18—*at Larned
10-25—*Cimarron
11-1—2A playoffs
