High School Football Previews: Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kapaun Mt. Carmel Crusaders are coming off a Kansas 5A State Championship appearance a season ago and are looking to finish the job in 2024.

The Crusaders had an incredible record in 2023, losing just one game in the regular season before cruising through the playoffs until they were outmatched by Mill Valley in the state championship.

In 2024, Kapaun will be without the city league’s all-time leading rusher, Omari Elias, but they have plenty of players stepping up offensively and defensively.

“We’re definitely better on defense,” Crusaders head coach Weston Schartz said. “Last year we weren’t the best defensively, but we put our athletes on that side of the ball. We’re trying to get playmakers there, and we’re excited about us defensively. When you make it to the state championship, you taste a little bit of success, and you want a little bit more. So we think we got a really good shot at making a big run at the end of the season. We got a tough schedule, no doubt. We’re playing six and five in school, but when it comes playoff time, we’ll be ready.”

So, the Crusaders have a lot of experience on the defense, but the offense is younger. They’re starting a whole new offensive line and quarterback in Dylan Burr, but he said he’s learned a lot playing behind the starters last season, and the team is ready for playoff redemption.

“Dylan [Hamilton] helped me a lot through those three years,” Burr said. “He helped me learn how to be a leader. Coach Schartz is obviously there helping me, too. I think we all have the pieces regionally to match them together.”

“We didn’t finish the job well last year, especially the defensive side of the ball,” wide receiver Jackson Daniel said. “And that really, like, it left a sting in a lot of our hearts. It was embarrassing to us that we gave up in the second half, so we intended to finish the job this year.”

The Crusaders open up the 2024 season at home against Andover High on Friday, Sept. 6.

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