By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

OTIS -- Senior running back Mike Hlavaty and his Otis-Bison teammates have heard the doubters concerning the Cougars' 2010 season.

Last year, Otis-Bison enjoyed the biggest jump of any football team, in the state vaulting from 2-7 to 10-1. The Cougars' fulcrum was senior quarterback Kevin Wissman, who earned Hays Daily News Offensive Player of the Year honors after he accounted for nearly 2,100 yards of total offense and 42 touchdowns.

This fall, the Cougars return seven offensive and six defensive starters, including the rock-solid Hlavaty and seniors Josh Krom and Robert Kolas, two of the area's top linemen. However, Otis-Bison graduated two seniors, lineman Matt Suppes and Wissman. The veteran Cougars look to end this season with a state championship -- and show they can win without their all-state quarterback.

"I think some of the guys feel like we have something to prove as a team because a lot of people think what we did was a lot of what Kevin did," Hlavaty said.

The Cougars open the season ranked fourth in Eight Man, Division II, the same spot they ended last fall. Hlavaty, who earned all-conference honors as a running back, linebacker and specialist, is a four-year starter who rushed for 1,036 yards, 21 touchdowns and collected 63 tackles. As a kicker, Hlavaty averaged 46.2 yards a kickoff and 37.1 yards per punt. According to MaxPreps.com, Hlavaty is the only returning Kansas eight-man player who averaged at least 37 yards a punt and rushed for more than 1,000 yards.

The all-around talent has helped the 5-foot-8, 180-pound Hlavaty appear on many preseason watch lists, something that surprises him.

"I see those guys and I don't know if I belong with those guys," he said. "It feels really nice to be on the list, but I still feel like we have got something to prove, I have got something to prove."

The 6-0, 240-pound Krom and the 5-8, 235-pound Kolas paved the way for an offense that scored 608 points, fifth-best in eight-man, and combined for 25 tackles for loss on defense.

"We bring a lot of experience and ability back," Krom said. "I think everybody is looking at us to beat."

Junior quarterback Trevor Keller (92 passing yards, four scores) played well in spot duty behind Wissman and will take over full-time this year.

"He throws a good ball," coach Travis Starr said of Keller. "He has got some zip on it, but he has got a lot of accuracy. He has got a lot of leadership on him, so he is not afraid to take a hit if he needs to."

Few in Kansas have a player as strong, mobile and versatile as Hlavaty, who can bench 240 pounds and squat 405 pounds. Kicking-wise, Hlavaty has always had a strong leg. In elementary school, Hlavaty participated in punt, pass and kick; kicking was his best skill. The left-footed kicker always kicks the ball with his toe, a boot that has often yielded touchbacks on kickoffs last fall.

"I never really just sat and worked on it," he said. "It's always been there."

Hlavaty and the rest of the senior class enjoyed an undefeated season in seventh grade football and basketball. In eighth grade, they lost just one football game.

"I know everybody, when they looked at us in middle school, when you guys are juniors and seniors, when you guys are seniors, you guys should be up there going to state," Hlavaty said.

Hlavaty and several teammates started as freshmen as Otis-Bison continued a stretch of five straight losing seasons. Hlavaty, though, was a consistent battering ram in the backfield, rushing for 929 yards in 2008 before he reached the 1,000-yard plateau on a team-high 154 carries last fall.

"I like to be the guy that no one wants to tackle," he said. "Someone has got to do it. I have always liked that. I like to bring the contact to people. It is always a lot of fun."

Last year produced an enjoyable season as Otis-Bison earned its first playoff berth since 2003. For the Cougars, this fall's goal is the state crown.

"This year, it's kind of about what they can do without (Wissman)," Hlavaty said.

"We can prove to other people, the doubters, that we can still play."