By Joanna Chadwick

The focus for the Wichita Northwest football team in the offseason wasn’t on winning a state title or even a City League title.

“We kept the focus on us this winter and spring,” Northwest coach Steve Martin said. “… Our motto is to take care of ourselves.”

It’s an interesting shift for a team that played for a Class 5A title in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

But it makes sense.

“Teams always talk about winning a state title,” Martin said. “But after you play in a few state title games, the focus is put on ‘can you get over the hump.’ Then you lose a couple in the state finals and then you lose the third, and suddenly that’s all you’re worried about.

“You lose touch about what really needs to happen and you’re listening to the outside noise.”

So Martin shifted the focus.

“We talked about it and said, ‘let’s not worry about the outside noise. Let’s worry about what we’re doing and take care of our kids,'” he said. “It built a big buzz within our program.

“… They answered the bell and we had a great offseason.”

In 2022, Northwest had a young team that went 8-3.

Now that youth is an experienced, tight-knit team that starts with a several outstanding offensive players in Cencere Thompson and Michael Lopez.

“Cencere is ready for his year,” Martin said. “It was LJ (Phillip’s) coming-out party (in 2022), but you could see Cencere take on the leadership role in the backfield.

“Everyone knows we have backs galore. I was interested to see how he’d take over being the guy.

“He’s got a Northern Iowa offer, and with the work he’s done in the offseason on his speed, he’ll pull even more. He’s a three-year starter, so to rely on him is amazing.”

It’s a similar situation with Lopez, a wide receiver whose 2022 season ended early on a freak accident.

He’s a a receiver who makes big plays, and paired with Thompson, defenses will have their hands full.

“I had the pleasure of watching Mikey grow up,” Martin said. “I remember that kid always being tough as nails. He was always the shortest and smallest kid, but the biggest-effort guy, the hardest-working guy. What Mikey had to do was develop the art of what I would call the art of football — being able to understand how to set up his routes, go the extra step to set up this move. It’s something that he’s really studied.”

Since 2014, Northwest’s offense has averaged more than 500 yards a game with a peak of 579 in 2018. Before Lopez’s season-ending injury, the Grizzlies were averaging 561 per game.

Taccarri Brown will be important at receiver, and tight end Phillip Givens will be a threat, too.

Throw in sophomore running back Deuce Bohannon, and Northwest is a dual threat offensively.

The offensive line is led by Nathan Davis at center, Dalton Schrader and Braxton Hopper. Gabe Contreras moves over from the defensive line.

The defense returns experience, which was tough to come by in 2022.

Tre Birch will lead the defensive line along with Brady Johnson, Keuntis Henderson and Peyton Dean.

Johnmichael Fountain, who has an offer from Iowa State, will team up with Quavon Harris and Jamari Bland.

“It’s a formidable front seven,” Martin said. “We will be tough to run the ball on with this speed and experience. We’ll be physical and fast.”