2010 Week 1 WAC capsules

Hays High (7-2 in 2009) at Chapman (1-8)

The second year of the Ryan Cornelsen era opens with a home game against Class 4A Chapman. The Indians won their first outright Western Athletic Conference football crown in school history last year with a 4-0 record. This season, they'll look to post back-to-back league titles for the first time in school annals and end a streak of 15 years without a postseason berth. Chapman, the boyhood home of Hays High athletic director Clint Albers, defeated Concordia 21-12 in Week 3 for their only win of 2009. They had just two losses within 14 points. Chapman, under third-year head coach Jeff Schwinn, runs the spread offense and a 4-3 defense. They averaged just 13 points a game in 2009. Hays High has won three straight season openers by a combined score of 115-42.

Garden City (4-5) vs. Scott City (11-1)

One of the few matchups all season pitting a Class 6A team (Garden City) vs. a Class 3A squad (Scott City). The Buffaloes start 2010 under new coach Brian Hill, the former Garden City Community College defensive coordinator. Garden City returns senior quarterback Cody Bernbeck, a three-year starter and the WAC's leader in passing yards and total offense in 2009. The Buffs, who also return senior Raul Silva, the team's leading receiver, run a multiple offense and a 4-3 defense. Scott City, ranked in the top-10 in the preseason coaches' poll, led Class 3A in scoring defense last season and lost to Wichita Collegiate, the eventual state champion, in the playoffs. Scott City, which has 39 victories in the last four years, has suffered four straight playoff losses by 14 points or fewer. Senior quarterback Ron Baker heads the Beaver Wing-T offense, while junior defensive end Luke Hayes and Colborn Couchman pace the 4-4 defense.

Dodge City (8-3) vs. Wichita Southeast (4-5)

Dodge City had plenty of upheaval after the Red Demons won their first Class 6A playoff game since 1994 and finished with an 8-3 record. Former coach Justin Burke led for Chapparal in the offseason after he resigned at Dodge City over practice time rules. Dave Foster, formerly the Elk City (Okla.) coach, takes over. He lost Dodge City's top four players -- quarterback Ty Thomas, end Laton Dowling, running back Jace Banner and wideout Landon Head -- to graduation, but lineman Jesse Trent returns and Jared Helfrich, last year's backup, takes over at quarterback. Dodge City will run a spread offense and a 3-4 defense. The Red Demons defeated Wichita Southeast 26-3 in the 2009 season opener. Wichita Southeast has returning all-league players in 6-foot-3 wideout Nick Taylor, linebacker Tyrone Metcalf, lineman Kenneth Sellers and tight end Brett Bluma under sixth-year head coach Gary Guzman.

Liberal (3-7) vs. Ulysses (5-5)

Liberal struggled under first-year head coach Wade Standley, but lost three games by a combined nine points. They did finish 2-1 in district and lost in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs to six-time defending champion Hutchinson. The Redskins return quarterback Slader McVey, who passed for 1,690 yards and 17 scores last season. Wideout Jade Cathey led the WAC in catches and receiving yards and is a Kansas State University commit. Ulysses started 0-3 but reached the postseason before they lost to Wellington in the first round. They return five offensive and six defensive starters under 11th-year head coach Jason Kenny (83-29 overall).

Great Bend (4-5) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (10-2)

No Class 5A team played more close games in 2009 than the Panthers, who finished 3-3 in contests decided by six points or fewer. The Panthers bring back senior quarterback Greg Hildebrand, senior center Dakota Zecha and junior Tyler Uselton on the offensive line in the spread offense. Aquinas, ranked No. 5 in Class 5A in the preseason coaches' poll, run a spread offense and a 4-3 defense. Aquinas has reached the Class 5A semifinals in the last five seasons and seven of the last eight. They lost to eventual state runner-up Gardner-Edgerton in the semifinals last year; G-E gave the Saints both of their 2009 losses. Running back Dagan Reed has a scholarship offer from the University of Nebraska.