Crusader preview ’24: Wellington gears up for a very promising year (2024)

By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — High expectations don’t always accompany the Wellington High School Football program. But boy, do they have them during the preseason of 2024.

Kansas Pregame has Wellington at No. 5 in Class 4A. The K-preps.com ranking will likely be out soon, while other publications are waiting and seeing.

The conventional wisdom has Wellington as high as two in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Division 4, with Collegiate and the Dukes vying for second place behind Andale.

It might have something to do with Wellington returning almost all the pieces from last year’s passing extravaganza. The Crusaders accumulated 2,616 yards in the air in 2023. Passing records fell like rain as Dusty Bannister (6-1, 195, sr.) became Wellington’s first 2,000-yard plus passer in school history as a junior. That also included that regular season game last year against Rose Hill when he threw a blistering 482 yards for the school’s passing game record.

The receiving corp is back in its glory: Carter Burnett (6-5, 190, sr.), Sky Branam (5-10, 170, sr.), Grady Norris (6-1, 165, sr.) and Jagger Norris (5-11, 165, sr.).

Couple that with its top running back and the bulk of its defense, and you have a recipe for success.

But expectations and the games themselves are two different things. Wellington will immediately know what kind of team it has when it travels to Wichita Collegiate this Friday. Then, the Crusaders host Andale on its newly planted natural turf at Sellers the week that follows. Those two opponents will likely be the toughest of the regular season.

Once you get past those two, there are potential landmines along the way. Wellington travels to Augusta, hosts Winfield, and then goes to Rose Hill.

In the post-season, Wellington may see teams like Andover Central, Kapaun, Buhler, and Wamego. There are many “ifs” going into the season.

Also, longtime Crusader fans can’t help but think back to 2019, when a Wellington High School team was predicted to finish in the top five after a tremendously successful 8-3 season, only to finish 2-7. That team also opened the season with Andale and Collegiate. Those are demons Wellington hopes to exorcise this year.

The work is only getting started.

Quarterback

Bannister has been getting plenty of statewide hype. He was a first-team non-senior in 2023 by Sports in Kansas and was named to a slew of all-state honors. That happens when you accumulate seven school records, including 25 touchdowns thrown last season – six more than any other Wellington quarterback in history. This season, Bannister is bigger, weighing in at 195 pounds, and hopes to get to his benchmark of 200 pounds.

“His understanding of the game and decision-making is so much more than what it was last season,” said Jeremiah Meeks, third-year Wellington head football coach. “He knows how to read defenses better than ever.”

Bannister also hopes to get more rushing reps and increase his throwing accuracy on the fly. Last year, he had 237 yards rushing with five scrambling touchdowns.

Wide Receivers

Wellington’s big four is back—a little faster and a bit stronger. Meeks said Wellington doesn’t lack speed.

Branam and Burnett were Wellington’s one-two punch in 2023. Branam had 36 catches for 868 yards, while Carter had 44 catches for 842 yards. They both combined for 18 touchdowns.

G. Norris will be an added factor that Wellington didn’t have for most of last season. He suffered a season-ending wrist injury in week two against Clearwater.

Brother J. Norris will add depth to an already loaded receiving corp. Bannister should have plenty of receivers to throw to.

Rushing

Nick Giefer (6-0, 180, sr.) will return as Wellington’s primary running back. He accounted for 862 yards last season for a 4.6-yard per-carry average. Wyatt Dickey (5-10, 200, sr.) will be helping in that position. He transferred from Arkansas City and decided to attend Wellington for his senior year. Jalik Armstrong (5-1, 170, jr.) will also get snaps as a running back.

Offensive line

This might be Wellington’s most significant question mark entering 2024. The Crusaders lost two starters, and during the off-season, Greer Buchanan (6-2, 290, sr.) suffered an ACL tear in basketball. There was fear G. Buchanan would miss the regular season. However, that is not the case. He should be back by midseason.

Meeks has shuffled the line’s lineup. Buchanan will become a left tackle instead of a center, which he has played throughout high school. In the meantime, as his knee returns to health, two people could start at the position: Cameron Rosenberg (6-2, 240, so.) and Marcus Provost (6-1, 255, jr.).

Jamar Armstrong (5-9, 231, senior) will start at left guard. He has been having some back issues and missed a few scrimmages this past week, but the coaches expect him to start on Friday.

Goran Djurovic will start at center (5-9, 232, so.). Meeks calls him a ‘nasty’ person on the field, meaning he will create a lot of havoc.

Colton Strange (5-10, 236, sr.) will be the right guard, and Ethn Brungardt (6-0, 210, jr.) will start at right tackle.

Tight end

Brody Weir (6-3, 252, sr.) is a four-year starter and is getting looks at both K-State and Wyoming University. He will be all over the field as a rusher or receiver. But his primary position is tight end.

This position is loaded, and Meeks won’t hesitate to have more than one at once. Milo Elder (6-1, 240, jr.) is also expected to start.

“I want him on the line because of his size,” Meeks said. “But Elder is so fast, I can’t have him not be a receiver either.”

Colten Zeka (6-3 225, so.) will be the third weapon at tight end.

Defensive line

This is how loaded Wellington is this year. Meeks plans on platooning everyone but two starters. That’s a coach’s dream, especially at the Class 4A level, having as few two-way players as possible and providing rest for everyone.

There’s little doubt that Weir and Burnett will probably be on the field as much as possible. Burnett had 96 tackles, while Weir had 58. Again, it might be a case of where to pinpoint their existence on the field. They could be anywhere. It will depend on the situation.

The primary defensive ends will be Cason Ramirez (5-10, 215, jr.) and Evan Kelly (5-10, 192, sr.), who both will return to terrorizing opposing offensive linemen. On the inside, look for Elder and Weir, with Couper Buchanan (6-0, 240, sr.) factoring in the defensive tackle rotation.

Linebackers

Colton Bannister (5-9 200, jr.) is as important defensively for the Dukes as his brother Dusty is on offense. The “Mike” linebacker had 111 tackles in 2023, including 41 solos. Here is even better news. C. Bannister has gained 32 pounds during the offseason. Keep your eye out for No. 33.

Parker Thornton (5-10, 170, sr.) will also work the linebacker position.

Secondary

Wellington will have plenty of speed in the backfield. Axl Norris (6-1, 170, sr.) will be one of the starting cornerbacks, with Tristan Tencleve (6-0, 165, sr.) manning the other side.

The safety positions will be a combination of four individuals. G. Norris, Ja. Armstrong, Cooper Hatfield (5-10, 170, jr.), and Dickey being part of the rotation.

Kicking

Traditionally, the kicking game is always a bit of a mystery for Wellington, and 2024 is no exception. Cole Zeka appears to have the kickoff duties sowed up. J. Norris and Branam are competing for field goal and point after attempts.

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Schedule and want to expect:

Week #1 – Sept. 6: Wellington at Collegiate (all games are at 7 p.m.).

Game thoughts: This could be a battle. Collegiate and Wellington were neck and neck at the half last season before the Spartans took off in the second for a 56-20 victory. Collegiate needs to replace its quarterback, and it has some question marks on the line. But with the Spartans, they can always go out and get those players.

Week #2: Sept. 13: Andale at Wellington.

Game thoughts: Andale is Andale.

Week #3: Sept. 20: Clearwater at Wellington.

Game thoughts: Clearwater is in a bit of a rebuild. Wellington barely won this game last year despite nearly doubling them up statistically.

Week #4: Sept. 27: Wellington at Labette County.

Game thoughts: The Crusaders should cruise. Wellington holds a five-game winning streak against the Grizzlies.

Week #5: Wellington at Augusta.

Game thoughts: Augusta was 2-7 in 2023 but had a brutal schedule.

Week #6: Oct. 11: Winfield at Wellington.

Game thoughts: Wellington last played Winfield in 2022 when the Vikings stunned the Crusaders on a last-minute drive in the first round of the playoffs for a huge upset.

Week #7: Wellington at Rose Hill.

Game thoughts: The Rockets and Crusaders played a classic a year ago in the Bannister record-breaking game. It will be interesting to see how this game compares to last season.

Week #8: Oct. 25: El Dorado at Wellington.

Game thoughts: The Wildcats have struggled recently, going 0-9 in 2023, including a 53-14 loss to Wellington.

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Odds and ends:

This marks the first year that Wellington’s Sellers Park will no longer have the “hump” that gave players a sense of what it would be like to play football on Mount Everest.

The field underwent much dirt work to get a flattened surface and a new Bermuda turf.

There was a moment this spring when the turf wasn’t entirely sticking to the soil underneath, resulting in some tense moments between the coaching staff and the company that laid it. But thanks to agronomist and assistant coach Nick Wellington, the field looks pretty good going into the season.

“I think in 2025, we will have one of the best surfaces around,” Meeks said. “It will be so soft.”

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It’s Labor Day weekend, and there are no high school football games – a first in six years. That happens once every seven years when the quirk of the schedule when football starts a week later. Meeks loves it because there are no junior varsity games on Monday, Labor Day.

The high school state championship games are always played on Thanksgiving weekend, and the schedule is adjusted accordingly.

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