2024 Pigskin & Hoops Preview: Lyndon Tigers Football
TEAM: Lyndon Tigers
CLASSIFICATION: 8-Man Division 1
LEAGUE: Flint Hills League
COLORS: Orange & Black
SOCIAL MEDIA: @Lyndon_FTBL on Twitter
HEAD COACH: Michael Massey (2nd season, 13-0)
2023 RECORD: 13-0, state champions
2023 IN REVIEW
It took merely two seasons as an eight-player program for the Lyndon Tigers to rule the class. On the backs of arguably one of the most talented rosters of any school in the state, Lyndon claimed its first-ever state football championship last November in a 34-6 blowout win over Leoti-Wichita County in a snowy title game, capping off an undefeated season. What’s more, the Tigers cruised through most of those 13 games. The 28-point win in the state title game was tied for their second-smallest margin of victory for the season; Lyndon played just one one-score game, won 10 games by over 40 points and pitched five shutouts.
KEY DEPARTURES
The historic 2023 Lyndon roster was senior heavy, including a group of four players now playing collegiately. Kaedin Massey and Tanner Heckel were both named to the KSHSAA Covered Top 33 (Heckel first team, Massey second team) and played in the Shrine Bowl, and are both playing Power 4 football at Kansas State and Illinois, respectively, while Jalen Massey is now at Washburn and Casten Wirth is playing at Butler Community College. Caleb Anschutz, Daxten Miller and Ethen Ramey were all major contributors and award winners last season, too, and have since graduated.
TOP RETURNERS
Four offensive starters from last year’s championship team will return in 2024, although several of them will be playing new positions. Eli Feltner is making the rare move from offensive line to quarterback, though it’s actually a return to his natural position. James Marcotte will slide into the starting running back role, Lucas Griffin will line up out wide and Landon Walker will man the slot. Marcotte is also the only full-time starter on defense returning after tallying 99 tackles and a pair of sacks last year. Look for Feltner to play a major role in the secondary as well.
2024 SCHEDULE
9/6 vs Pretty Prairie
9/13 @ Frankfort
9/20 @ Wichita-Independent
9/27 vs Chase County
10/4 vs Flinthills
10/11 @ Madison/Hamilton
10/18 vs Yates Center
10/25 @ Northern Heights
Flint Hills League, District Game
2024 OUTLOOK
It goes without saying that the 2024 Tigers will look substantially different than the 2023 version, if for no other reason than how many younger, newer players will be getting consistent playing time. Even though many of those players didn’t see the field a ton last season due to all the blowout, halftime-finish wins, what’s working in that group’s favor is that they practiced against the best team in the state all year long. The schedule itself is worth highlighting as well because it’s nearly a brand-new set of opponents for Lyndon this year. It only played three of this year’s opponents last season as well, a massive change due to redistricting. However, regardless of the schedule and roster churn, this is a program that knows what it takes to win in November and expects to do more of that in Year 2 under coach Michael Massey. As long as Lyndon’s returning and debuting talent coalesces and works through any new obstacles early in the year, those high-profile victories should be the norm again this season.
FROM THE COACH’S HEADSET
“We are looking to develop a lot of kids that don’t have a lot of experience. We might have a tough go of things early in the season but have our sights set on being ready for playoff time.” – Michael Massey
–Brendan Dzwierzynski
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