KANSAS, Okla. -- Not much went right for the Kansas (Okla.) football team in 2014.
The Comets, who went 22-12 in three seasons from 2011 to 2013, slumped to a 1-9 mark in 2014 under first-year coach Steve Patterson.
Low numbers -- caused by several key starters quitting the team and others transferring out of the district -- contributed to the Comets' demise last season.
Kansas started the year 0-6 with losses by a combined score of 255-25. The Comets picked up a 32-18 win against Chouteau-Mazie in Week 7, only to lose its final three games by a combined score of 175-34.
"It wasn't fun," Patterson said. "Losing is awful, but it is what it is."
Despite some of the lopsided scores, Patterson felt like the Comets got better each week, except for the last game, a 50-12 loss to Salina at home at Dee Neel Stadium.
"I was disappointed with how we played in the last game," Patterson said. "We got better each week, I thought, and started doing some things. We had a lot of guys that had never had to play a whole lot."
With the transfers and losses last season, there was an indication the Comets would take their lumps. But Patterson stated from the beginning that he was in it for the long haul.
"You've just got to keep working and keep building the program," he said. "I mean I think we're making progress in our program. We're still going to be young. We'll have a pretty good senior class and then a lot of sophomores and freshman. There's not just a lot of juniors. It's a work in progress."
Kansas will count on a class of eight seniors to help lead the Comets' revival in 2015.
"They're all pretty good players and good kids," Patterson said. "They were some of those guys that as sophomores didn't play a whole lot. When some of those other guys didn't come out, they were thrust into some roles they weren't accustomed to. They had to adjust and get better."
Senior quarterback Jared Hogshooter (5-9, 195) played some as a sophomore and started the whole season as a junior. Hogshooter is a threat to run and pass.
"He's a good player," Patterson said of Hogshooter. "He works hard in the weight room. Hopefully we'll have a good group around him and he'll have a good season. I hope he does. He's put in the work to do that."
Senior Jon Noe (5-8, 155) will back up Hogshooter at quarterback and start at wide receiver.
Noe, along with senior Chance Wilson (5-10, 160) and junior Colton Capps (6-0, 145) will be the Comets' main receivers.
"(Wilson) had a good year as a sophomore," Patterson said.
At running back, the Comets will turn to senior Ty Whorton (5-8, 168) and sophomore Aaron Reeder (5-5, 140).
The Comets will be multiple in their formations, including one-back and two-back sets.
"It's a little bit different with the run game than we've been doing," Patterson said.
Whorton and Reeder can both run inside and outside. Patterson noted that Reeder is a little smaller and quicker and fits the mold of a "scat back."
Senior Cody Blackfox (5-5, 150) and freshman Daris Glass (5-6, 135) could also see some action at running back.
"To me you've got to be able to run the football and stop the run," Patterson said. "If you can't do those, it's hard to be very successful. I don't care if you're in a spread offense or not, you've got to be able to run the football. We've got to be able to run the football."
Sophomore Brenden Robbins (5-9, 195) will play some fullback and tight end, while junior Isac Young (5-10, 180) will also play some fullback.
The Comets have high hopes for their starting tight end in senior Dexter Nichols (6-2, 245).
"We expect him to have a good year," Patterson said.
On the offensive line, the Comets will lean on all-district senior lineman Jordan Robbins (6-2, 335), who will start at center.
Senior Mark Blizzard (5-8, 195) is a three-year starter on the offensive line and will play guard.
Junior Jarren Yeager (5-8, 185) also started along the offensive line for Kansas last year.
"It helps when you've got three of them back but we need to have some guys step up," Patterson said.
Sophomores Kade Moore (6-3, 310), Trenton Pigeon (6-3, 260), Jerry Blossom (5-8, 170) and Dustin Campbell (5-10, 240) all could help on the offensive line.
Patterson said freshmen Hayden Foreman (6-0, 230) and Zack Lamont (5-7, 220) also could get a look on the offensive line.
"You want your offensive line to be a strength," Patterson said.
The Comets will play a 4-3 formation on defense, but Patterson said they can also get into a 3-4 look as well.
"We're pretty multiple," he said.
Junior Jason Wilson (5-11, 164) will play at one defensive end spot, along with Nichols, Year, Young and Wilson.
Robbins, Pigeon, Moore and junior Nik Crawford are penciled in at the interior defensive tackle spots.
The Comets will use three linebackers.
At the strong side linebacker, or 'SAM,' are Whorton and Glass.
Blizzard will man the middle linebacker, or 'MIKE,' while Blossom and freshman Lucas Vann (5-5, 165) are also getting a look in the middle.
Robbins and Blackfox are getting reps at the weak side linebacker spot, or 'WILLIE.'
Noe, Reeder and Capps are all vying for time at the two cornerback spots.
"They're pretty interchangeable," Patterson said.
Hogshooter, Wilson and freshman Ethan Vaughan (5-7, 160) are the candidates to play safety.
The Comets have around 40 kids on their roster, and nearly a third of those players are freshmen.
"The ninth-grade group is pretty good," Patterson said.
Sports on 08/26/2015