The West Platte football team will be experimenting with two quarterbacks as they begin the season in a difficult KCI Conference.
The Blue Jays plan to utilize both Jhett Chandler and Mark Sanders at quarterback after the graduation of all-district quarterback Kane Cogan. Head coach Taylor Gallagher has faith in both of them as quarterbacks, but he doesn’t want to lose what they bring elsewhere in West Platte’s offense.
“They both run the ball well and they both throw the ball well,” head coach Taylor Gallagher said. “But they also both do things at the non-quarterback position well. That’s a challenge for me to figure out the best way to utilize them both.”
A balancing act like this will be new to Gallagher. He just hopes to find the best fit for them in the team while also making the most of Chandler’s tight end skillset and Sanders’ non-quarterback skillset.
After his first year as a head coach, Gallagher learned the importance of details and communicating effectively with his players. He added Jacob Reuter to the coaching staff as the running backs and linebackers coach for this season.
The Blue Jays went 5-6 in 2024 and graduated all-state second-team running back Afton Buckler, along with Cogan and linemen Dylan Jackson and Cash Smith, but they do return some critical weapons outside of their quarterback tandem that have valuable playing experience. Alex Kinslow and Joe Blake both return as receivers and defensive backs with Canton Wilkins and Brady McMillan providing offensive services at running back.
“We’re a mixture of experience and youth,” Gallagher said. “We have a lot of guys that have played a lot of places for us, but we also have some younger kids that are going to have to fill in that we’re relying on that haven’t played a lot over the last couple years.”
Gallagher expects his team to be adaptable due to their athleticism and quickness. While he understands the conference schedule will be difficult, he wants his team to focus on the team's improvement and to be prepared once postseason play rolls around.
West Platte anticipates remaining in Class 1, where they aim for a district title for the first time in a decade. They open the season away to Christ Preparatory Academy on Aug. 30 in Lenexa, Kansas, before returning to Weston for a matchup against Crest Ridge with Chilhowee on Sept. 5.
“If we accomplish what we’re capable of, it’s because our mindset and willingness to continue to grow regardless of the week-to-week outcome,” Gallagher said.