High School Football Previews: Andale Indians

ANDALE, Kan. (KSNW) — We had two instant classics last year between the Andale Indians and the Cheney Cardinals. The Cards were able to take down Andale in each game en route to a 3A State Championship.

Let’s begin our football previews with an Andale team that, before that first loss to Cheney, hadn’t felt the pain of a loss since 2018.

“I really think the key is kind of like the brotherhood that we have,” said senior offensive lineman Curtis Dyke. “The way that we’re going to play together as a team because the way our offense is set up, there’s no, like, one really good guy. We’re all a team, so if we all do our job, then we’ll get everything done.”

Now, after facing two losses to the same team in the same season, this powerhouse football program is as motivated as ever to climb back to the top of the 3A mountain.

“We’re pretty fired up about it,” explained senior offensive lineman Isaiah Wilson. “We want to get that title back and get our win streak back cruising up.”

For Andale to reach that very familiar peak, they will do what they’ve always done, put in the work every single day, and play with a toughness and physicality that has made them the program that others try to emulate.

“I think we’re just trying to avenge the last loss,” added senior offensive lineman Ben Molitor. “We have a lot of motivation this year, and we’re all really dedicated, and I think our attendance shows and the way we show up every day and nobody’s late.”

Head coach Dylan Schmidt has won four state championships in seven years with the Indians, but he’s not focused on past success, opting to prepare for what’s coming next for his team.

“Overall, the biggest thing I tell everybody every year is if we can stay healthy,” Schmidt explained. “That’s always the key. We’re a little beat up right now. I mean, we’ll be healthy by the time the games are all around. But in general, our kids have been here. They’ve been working hard. They know the system. As long as we get our guys healthy, which we will, we’ll be in good shape. We’ve created five takeaways a game on average. I mean, it’s been incredible. And then we’ve turned it over one. And if you look at the years that we’ve won it, that’s been the recipe. So if that’s in our favor like that, I like our chances.”

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