2024 Pigskin & Hoops Preview: Washburn Rural Junior Blues Football
TEAM: Washburn Rural Junior Blues
CLASSIFICATION: 6A
LEAGUE: Centennial
COLORS: Blue & White
SOCIAL MEDIA: @wrhsfball on Twitter
HEAD COACH: Steve Buhler (12th year, 64-45)
2023 RECORD: 11-1 (6A Sectional champions, Sub-state runners-up)
2023 IN REVIEW
The Junior Blues’ 2023 campaign was a thrill ride, as a veteran squad racked up 11 victories in a row and reached the sub-state round for the first time since 1992. A thrilling win over Manhattan was the highlight of their Centennial League championship-winning regular season, and the Junior Blues took care of Wichita North, Junction City, and Wichita East in postseason play to reach the 11-win plateau for the first time since Ron Bowen’s undefeated state champions of 1989. Rural held a late lead at home against Derby in the sub-state game, but a rally by the Panthers culminated in a last second field goal that ended the Junior Blues’ season in heart-breaking fashion.
KEY DEPARTURES
Among the cavalcade of first team All-Centennial League performers who graduated for the Junior Blues included quarterback Branton DeWeese, receiver Titan Osburn, defensive linemen Packson Bettis and Jamond Lane, and linebackers Jaren and JC Heim. JC Heim shone the brightest, earning first team All-State Top 33 honors from KSHSAA Covered. Both Heims, Lane, and DeWeese are now playing at Washburn, while Bettis committed to North Dakota.
TOP RETURNERS
Rural’s two-headed rushing attack of senior Lafayette Thompson (631 yards) and junior TJ Minikwu (437 yards) returns, and they’ll enjoy having two standouts at tackle back to open up holes for them. Seniors Jacob Hawks (6’8”, 290) and Caden Estrada (6’2”, 270) were both first team All-League in 2023 and are joined up front by senior center Dylan Tjachman, forming the foundation for what could be one of Class 6A’s best five-man units up front. Defensively, a standout secondary will lead the way for the ‘Wild Bunch’ in 2024, led by first team All-League safety King Leonard and fellow seniors Wilson Miller and Calvin Manthe. Senior Conner Danielson is back at linebacker, and senior Baron Blankenship is the most experienced Junior Blue in the trenches.
2024 SCHEDULE
9/6 vs Shawnee Heights
9/13 @ Blue Valley
9/20 @ Platte County (MO)
9/27 vs Blue Valley Northwest
10/4 @ Topeka High
10/11 vs Emporia
10/18 vs Junction City
10/25 @ Manhattan
Centennial League
2024 OUTLOOK
They’re getting used to success and deep playoff runs at Washburn Rural. It was a steady build to get to this point where the Junior Blues are one of the best 6A programs on the state’s West bracket, but now that they’ve arrived, they know the hard work must continue if they are to remain a winner. Coach Buhler returns 25 lettermen from last year’s team, and though they will miss some of the great players who helped lead the way last season, a new group of Junior Blues are hungry for their chance to leave a mark. Rural’s schedule is loaded, with four challenging non-league games before the Centennial League gauntlet in the second half. But this prepared and hungry team will be ready from the opening kickoff and has a chance at another great season if defensive playmakers in the front seven develop and new quarterback John Hoytal plays with poise and confidence.
FROM THE COACH’S HEADSET
“We have some big shoes to fill on the defensive side but have a lot of players returning with game experience. Offensively we should be strong returning on the line and at running back spots. Overall we will see how fast we can build this team’s chemistry and identity.” – Steve Buhler
–Dan Lucero
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