Can Lawrence High turn it around? Will Free State High be able to reload again?

Preseason football drills are nine months away and, on paper, both the Lions and Firebirds will have solid cores returning for the 2008 season.

Wracked by injuries and saddled with a rugged schedule – all six losses were to playoff teams – Lawrence High (3-6) posted its first losing season in six years.

Free State, coming off the best season in school history (11-1 in 2006) reloaded effectively despite heavy graduation losses. The Firebirds finished 7-3, losing to Olathe South twice – once in the 6A playoffs – and to Olathe North.

Free State was solid, averaging 32.6 points a game and recording three shutouts. Senior linebacker Ryder Werts and end Scott Williams were the defensive standouts, while senior quarterback Craig Rosenstengle and junior tailback Chucky Hunter provided a two-pronged offensive attack.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Hunter carried the ball 168 times for 1,090 yards and scored 16 touchdowns. The 6-2, 190-pound Rosenstengle rushed for 754 yards on 105 carries and 14 touchdowns. Rosenstengle also completed 80 of 166 passes for 1,150 yards and eight TDs.

Free State did not, however, have a go-to receiver. Soph Camren Torneden wound up as the Firebirds’ leading receiver with 14 catches for 171 yards. Hunter was the second-leading pass-catcher with 13 for 126 yards. Senior tight end Mike Santee was the yardage leader with 191 on 11 receptions.

Free State lost its primary deep threat at midseason when junior Preston Randolph went down with a broken leg. Randolph, who also started at free safety, was the only regular lost to a serious injury.

On the flip side, Lawrence High resembled a MAS*H unit. Clint Pinnick missed two games and most of a third and running back Clifton Sims was sidelined for two games. Then the Lions’ top two receivers – Jared Vinoverski and Travis Sanders – were declared out for the remainder of the season prior to the Free State game.

Finally, the Lions lost senior linebacker and captain Quintin Rucker for the finale against Topeka High, and the Trojans posted a 35-28 victory that kept the Lions out of the playoffs.

All those injuries, the schedule gantlet and a lack of sizable linemen contributed to the Lions’ lack of consistency.

Through it all, senior Tyler Hunt was a Rock of Gibraltar. The 6-2, 220-pound Hunt played almost every down at linebacker. Hunt also carried the ball 111 times and finished as the Lions’ leading rusher with 684 yards. Sims ended with 459 yards on 114 carries.

Despite missing a third of the Lions’ games, Pinnick threw for 639 yards and seven touchdowns.

Aaron Rea, a junior wide receiver who moved up when Vinoverski and Sanders were kayoed, was impressive in the finale with seven receptions for 123 yards and three touchdowns.

Looking ahead to next season, Free State’ strengths should be Hunter and four offensive line starters – tackles Matt Frantz (6-3, 230) and Grahm Saunders (6-4, 235), guard Doug Bittinger (6-1, 215) and center Michael Lisher (6-2, 225). Lisher, a son of Free State coach Bob Lisher, started every game as a sophomore.

On defense, the Firebirds’ key returnees will be outside linebacker Mitch Werts, Saunders and Randolph.

Lawrence High will return three offensive weapons in Pinnick, Sims and Rea along with linemen Chebon Dawes, Ryan Giblin and Jay Baker. The 6-0, 215-pound Baker was the Lions’ lone sophomore starter, coming on strong after an early season injury.

On defense, the Lions will have Giblin and Rea back on the line as well as defensive backs Murphy Ray and Jake Green. Also returning will be linebacker Rashaad Marshall who started in place of the injured Rucker in the finale.