After making consecutive trips to the Class 5A state playoffs, Bonner Springs coach Lew Kasselman and his players are hoping to make it three in a row.

However, if the Braves qualify for the playoffs this year, it will be in a lower classification. Bonner Springs has dropped into Class 4A.

“Moving to 4A really doesn’t change anything,” Kasselman said. “We’re still going to have to play the games and we’re still going to have to beat good teams.”

However, instead of playing 5A powers like Topeka Seaman and Overland Park Aquinas, schools with nearly twice Bonner’s enrollment, the Braves will be matched against schools their size and smaller.

On offense, Kasselman will have the deepest and most versatile set of weapons he has had in years.

Three offensive line starters return — senior center Brad Rittinghouse and juniors Emmanuel McComb and Robert Smith.

Jordan Lamb will take the reins at quarterback for the second straight season.

“Jordan became a student of the game this summer,” Kasselman said. “He’s worked really hard and I’m expecting him to lead the offense. His level of play is so much higher right now than it was at this time last year, and that’s nice because I don’t have to spend as much time going over things with him.”

Senior tailback Christian McDonald figures to have most of the carries.

Throw tight ends A.J. Holmes and Nick White as bookends on the line and the Braves’ attitude — as always — figures to be “try and stop us.”

Returning lettermen: Front row, from left: Brad Rittinghouse, Jordan Lamb and Robert Smith; Back row: R.J. Wild, Emmanuel McComb, Christian McDonald, Blake Kasselman, Andy Martin, Travis Hubbel and A.J. Holmes.

“I’m excited about our offense this year,” Kasselman said. “We’ve got a heck of a backfield and we could have five good wide receivers and two of those wide receivers are running backs, so we’ve got a lot of weapons.”

Bonner Springs will be loaded with defensive weapons as well, although Kasselman is still experimenting with putting the right pieces in the right places.

McDonald will be an anchor at linebacker, but the secondary could be young with freshmen L.T. Lee and Tyler Jock likely contributors. Lack of depth is a concern, however, on both offense and defense.

“There is a little different focus with this year’s team than I’ve seen in a while,” Kasselman said. “They’re a little more goal-oriented and they’re pretty unique. They want to do everything together and they want to do everything right.”

The Braves will open their season Friday at home against Basehor-Linwood.