APPLETON CITY BULLDOGS – FOOTBALL
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Appleton City comes off an 8–3 season and aims to keep building momentum. Head coach Colton Bourland, in his fourth year, says, “This season we hope to continue to build and grow our program,” capturing a straightforward but ambitious outlook. The Bulldogs return key pieces on both sides of the ball and will rely on a core of experienced skill players and linemen to drive that growth.
On offense, Appleton City returns four starters and operates from a “Multiple formation spread offense” designed to “Make the defense cover the entire field and create explosive plays and limit turnovers.” Senior guard Weston Farmer, at 6‑3 and 245 pounds, is a first-team all-conference and first-team all-district lineman who anchors the front. Junior quarterback Beau Brownsberger brings dual-threat production, earning all-conference first team honors after throwing for “1539 yards 24 TD 6 INT Passing” and rushing for “912 yards 19 TD Rushing.” Junior running back/receiver Brycen James is listed as all-district with “393 3 TD Rushing, 301 4 TD Rec.,” and junior receiver Griffin Strope earned all-conference honors with “455 yards 9 TD Rec.” Senior fullback Wyatt Davis adds “220 yards 2 TD Rec.” as another offensive weapon.
Defensively, the Bulldogs return five starters and use a “variety of formations/looks based on the offensive scheme” with the goal to “Limit Explosive plays and create turnovers.” Farmer is again a headliner at defensive end, with a résumé that includes “All Conference 1st team and Defensive player of the year, All District, All State 1st team.” James contributes at linebacker/defensive back, Davis plays linebacker and is all-conference, Strope works at defensive back, and junior defensive end Chase Harkrader provides another edge presence.
Farmer is the team’s MVP nominee, described as “a very athletic 6’3” 245LB lineman.” The staff notes he “was an All State DE, All Conference OL & DL, Conference DPOY, All District OL & DL, and All Conference Basketball player last year,” and that “this off season, Weston has developed into a tremendous leader for us.” They highlight that “He has increased his max lifts in the weight room while being a 3 sport athlete,” and that “He has been in our offensive system for 6 years now so he has a great understanding of scheme and blocking assignments. Weston also has natural instincts for where the ball is going on defense.” Underclassman-to-watch Elliot Leiber is “a hard nosed kid who is not afraid to come up and tackle,” who “works hard everyday in the weight room and is always where he is supposed to be” and was “a phenomenal special teams player” expected “to step into a big role on defense.”
8/28 – vs. Lockwood
9/4 – vs. Drexel
9/11 – at Rich Hill
9/18 – at Midway
9/25 – vs. Jasper
10/2 – at Archie
10/9 – vs. Osceola
10/16 – at Liberal
10/23 – vs. Bishop LeBlond
