Lancers seek success despite small numbers

By Aaron Pyle
Morning Sun Staff

Like many teams in the Three Rivers League, Southeast has its
share of questions. The Lancers lost eight seniors, including two school-record holders who shined on special teams, Cullen Mutz and Ryan Wilkins. Mutz holds the Southeast records in season punt return average (26.5), season kickoff return average (25), career punt return average (25.5) and career kickoff return average (24.5). Wilkins is the record holder in punting average for a season (42) and career (40). In addition to Mutz and Wilkins, the Lancers lost several starters from the previous season, including running back-linebacker Cooper Hamblin, quarterback-linebacker Nate Jacobs, running back-linebacker Quintonn Lunsford, tight end-linebacker Zack Wyckoff, lineman Damien Woods, lineman Brandon Favuzzi and running back-linebacker Cash Windsor. Hamblin played a pivotal role in the Lancers’ run game, collecting 562 yards on 112 carries, averaging five yards per carry as he also provided six touchdowns. Cash Windsor and Mutz also provided a spark to the Lancers’ run-heavy attack combining for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. “We’re going to miss a lot of their smartness,” senior offensive lineman-linebacker Kolby Lovell said. “They just knew football. We have a lot of young people this year.” Last season Southeast held a 5-4 overall record and was 2-0 in the Three Rivers League. However, the season ended in the first round of the state playoffs with a 47-2 loss to Osage City. “We have to get to where we beat people
maybe you shouldn’t beat because we beat the people we should’ve,” coach Nick Cheney said. “The teams that beat were ranked in the state at the end of the year, so we’re learning how to compete.” Cheney is optimistic regarding the upcoming season. “We’re going to have a lot of young kids play, but that’s just a part of football,” he said. “We lost eight seniors, so we’ll have some young pups playing. … I think the kids will learn, and I think that we’ll be quick in the backfield, and the kids are eager. They are fired up, so that’ll help because they are working hard and they have a great attitude.” This season Southeast is led by four returning starters — seniors Lovell, lineman Jace Fowler, and juniors
Deric Mitchell (receiver-defensive back), tight end-linebacker Blake Logan.

Additional key returning players are senior
tight end-linebacker
Dakota Smith, juniors
lineman Blayke Burns,
lineman Austin Ford,

sophomores lineman Dylan Baugh,

running back-linebacker Aden Smith,

receiver-defensive back Matthew Swank

and running back Braxton Hudson.

Lovell said that the team needs to claim victory in the opener to set the tone for the season.
“I think we just have to win the first game, and that’s going to determine how our season is
going to go,” he said. For leadership, Cheney will look toward Lovell, Mitchell,
A. Smith, D. Smith and Hudson. He also mentioned the possibility of moving Lovell from the
line to quarterback. “Kolby Lovell, he was a quarterback in the past, and then he moved
to offensive guard and really contributed well there,” he said. “He might be the starting
quarterback this year. “We lost Drew Phillips. He broke his leg in a basketball accident
and had screws and a plate put in. The other quarterback, he’s getting an MRI to see if
he has a torn meniscus or not, so Kolby might move up the ranks. “We have a lot of
speed. We just have to utilize the speed and be
smart.” The Lancers’ season kicks off Friday when they stay home to face Baxter Springs at 7 p.m.

2022 Southeast Lancers
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr.
2 Deric Mitchell WR/DB 5-9 155 Jr.
3 Langstyn Arthur Soliven WR/DB 5-0 110 Fr.
4 Kyler Brewer RB/LB 5-6 132 So.
6 Matthew Swank RB/DB 5-8 160 So.
7 Colton Lawrence WR/DB 5-6 120 Fr.
8 Andrew Phillips QB/LB 6-2 190 So.
14 Colton Jameson RB/DB 5-8 130 So.
17/61 Blayke Maffett Logan WR/DE 6-2 200 Jr.
23 Matthew Slayton WR/LB 5-10 185 Jr.
25 Aden Smith RB/LB 5-8 165 So.
30 Braxton Hudson FB/LB 5-9 163 So.
32 Trey Sol Galindo WR/LB 5-7 130 Fr.
40 Jude Sullivan WR/LB 5-10 150 So.
42 Zeb Hendricks RB/DB 5-10 160 Fr.
44 Landon Cole FB/LB 6-0 190 Sr.
55/5 Kolby Lovell QB/LB 5-8 178 Sr.
56 Jayce Stewart OL/DL 5-10 165 Jr.
58 Dakota Smith OL/LB 5-9 185 Sr.
59 Jace Fowler OL/DL 6-2 195 Sr.
60 Jayden Johnson Keller OL/DL 5-10 210 Fr.
61 Jude Sullivan OL/LB 5-10 150 So.
62 Zack Spencer OL/DL 5-8 190 So.
65 Dylan Baugh OL/DL 6-3 235 So.
66 Austin Ford OL/DL 6-2 250 Jr.
70 Blayke Burns OL/DL 6-2 240 Jr.
71 Cayne Windsor OL/DL 5-10 205 Fr.
81 Eli Pritchett WR/DB 6-0 170 Jr.

Southeast looks to underclassmen to step up and make an impact