High School Football Previews: Halstead Dragons

HALSTEAD, Kan. (KSNW) — It’s been five years since the Halstead Dragons have finished the season with a winning record, but with a senior-led team entering year three with head coach Derek Racette, that could change.

Halstead’s players believe they’re a team that could surprise folks in the Central Kansas League in 2024, and they talked to KSN about what the primary keys are to getting above .500 this year.

“Just the simple things, perfecting the little things and making everything go better,” Halstead senior lineman Connor Herman said. “We just got a lot of people returning and a lot of people who had a lot of experience over the last three years at the starting level.”

“Being in the system for three years has been nice, and everyone’s starting to figure it out,” senior quarterback Braxton Creed said.

“Just playing the whole four quarters of the football game,” senior running back Joey Millspaugh said. “Last year, the games we should have won, we only played three quarters, and that one quarter, they outscored us. So just playing the whole game.”

Coach Racette said he can tell how much buy-in his team has throughout summer workouts, but he still understands they must take one week, one quarter and one play data time to accomplish their goals for this season.

“It’s been really good, we just got a lot of positive energy,” Racette said. “Positive leadership from our senior class. We started a lot of kids when they were sophomores, and now they’re seniors. So seeing their leadership and their growth has been special just to see and watch. Just focusing and making sure we’re doing what we’re supposed to do that day to get better and improve day by day, week by week.”

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