By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
Despite a challenging 3-6 finish to the 2023 season, the Chapman football program looked primed to take a step forward in 2024, with many expecting the return of head coach Kurt Webster, and quarterback Kelan Gruver.
Instead, the Irish were quickly left looking for replacements for both, with Webster taking a job at Shawnee Mission Northwest and Gruver following his father to Bonner Springs.
The first step for Chapman was to install a new head coach, and in February, the Irish had their man, announcing Jason Grider as the program’s new leader.
Grider spent his last two seasons coaching the Bethel Threshers at the NAIA level, and the eight seasons before that as head coach at Halstead.
His time with Halstead was highlighted by a six-year run from 2014 to 2019, during which the Dragons went 48-17, making multiple deep playoff runs and reaching the quarterfinals in 2015.
While the football culture in Chapman runs deep, Grider wants to instill those same values in this year’s Irish squad.
“We want to be smart, fast, and physical,” he said. “Most of the time the more physical team wins the ballgame, and we want to get ourselves to the point where we’re a very physical football team that eliminates mistakes.”
In terms of both talent and character, the cupboards in Chapman were far from bare upon Griders arrival, and he and his team have already set to work getting the most out of a hungry team.
“We’ve got really tough, smart, hard-working kids, and to me, that feels like a big strength,” Grider said. “We don’t have to coach effort here, and I think that says something about what Coach Webster was able to do here and what kind of kids we have in this community.”
The second big hurdle for the Irish to overcome lay in finding a new quarterback, a role that will be taken on by senior Cooper Lewis, who converts from slot back last year.
“Cooper’s a real smart kid and he understands what we want to accomplish,” Grider said. “From the outside, our offense looks simple for a quarterback, but he has to make a ton of reads and he’s picked that up quickly. He’s physically and mentally tough and that’s helped him win and find success at this position.”
Lewis will have good company in Chapman’s traditionally run-heavy backfield, with returners like Cade Hanney and Dakota Curtis expected to have a significant impact this season.
Chapman also returns five starters on defense in Lewis (S), Curtis (S), and Hanney (LB), alongside Kam Krogman (CB) and Ian Sayers (LB).
That group should get a boost from another core of rising stars like Talon Landreville, Blake Barnum, Neziah Brown, Isaac VanMeter and Jacob Gfeller.
The Irish will face a challenging schedule in a loaded NCKL this year, but Coach Grider and company remain dedicated to taking things one snap, and one game at a time, working to steadily improve throughout the season.
“We want to get a little bit better every day,” he said. “We’re focused on the journey, not the destination. If we can come out, eliminate mistakes, play hard and execute the way we’re capable of, I think we can be real successful this year. What that looks like in wins and losses I’m not sure but these kids have been working their tails off and they understand what it takes.”
Chapman will open their 2024 season at home when they take on Smith Center at 7:00 this Friday.
2024 Chapman Football Schedule
9/6: vs. Smith Center
9/13: at Abilene
9/20: at Riley County
9/27: vs. Clay Center
10/4: at Concordia
10/11: vs. Wamego
10/18: vs. Marysville
10/25: at Rock Creek