Wichita Northwest clinches seventh City League football championship in last 10 years

How a football team handles adversity following a loss often reveals its true character.

Northwest took care of its business like champions on Friday and can now celebrate like champions: The Grizzlies’ 62-8 win over South clinched them sole possession of the City League high school championship with a perfect 5-0 league record.

Northwest, ranked No. 5 in Kansas Class 6A, bounced back from its first loss of the season, a 38-17 road setback to No. 2-ranked Manhattan, and won at least a share of the City League title for the seventh time in the last 10 years.

“I loved how we responded last week at practice,” Northwest coach Steve Martin said. “Our kids came back to practice ready to work after losing to Manhattan. They kept focus as a team and they’ve done a great job of being selfless this season.

“We have a lot of talent on our team, but our guys have put away those personal goals and done whatever it takes to help our team.”

By Northwest’s lofty standards, last season was a relative disappointment. The Grizzlies finished 7-3, in a three-way tie for the City League title, and exited the playoffs in the second round.

Martin credited junior quarterback Jaylen Mason, junior linebacker Ja’Mari Bland and senior linebacker Quavon Harris for a culture reset this offseason. It’s why Martin believes Northwest has been able to come away with a 6-1 record and No. 5 ranking in Class 6A against one of the toughest schedules in the state this season.

Northwest’s 2024 campaign continues Friday with a regular-season finale on the road against a top-10 Class 5A team: Goddard Eisenhower.

“It felt like last year we maybe let the wins start to surpass the culture, meaning I don’t think we took care of ourselves before we worried about winning football games,” Martin said. “It was a tough offseason for us.

“We had some transfers and some kids leave and anytime you lose to another City Leagu e team, it left a bad taste in our mouths. Those three kids really got everybody together and let it be known that it wasn’t good enough anymore. They did a great job of pushing their teammates.”

Mason has progressed in his second season of starting at quarterback, throwing for 1,206 yards with 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Chase Carter (427 yards, eight touchdowns), Ryder Campbell (393 yards) and Griffin Baker (276 yards, four touchdowns) have become his favorite targets.

Junior Augie Fast, a transfer from Maize, has blossomed in a starting role, with 1,207 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He rushed for 216 yards in the win over South.

Harris (71 tackles) and Bland (49 tackles) have spearheaded an improved defense, while Franklin Ekue, Brady Johnson, Johnmichael Fountain, Bryant Roberts, Christian Sanders and Jaelynn Ligon have also played key roles on that side of the ball.