ALTOONA-MIDWAY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Sept. 7, 2026
Contact: Craig Null, USD 387 activities writer
CHETOPA - "Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward.”
The game-but-inexperienced Altoona-Midway Jets opened their 2026 fall campaign here Thursday, falling 56-12 to the Chetopa Hornets in a matchup of 6-man high school football squads in the Three Rivers League.
It was a homecoming of sorts for Altoona-Midway’s first-year head coach Sean Price, as the veteran sideline mentor once guided Chetopa to a state playoff run and an 11-1 record back in 2014. But while the final outcome was not as the returning coach had hoped, Price still believes the future is bright for his Jet squad.
“Obviously we have a long way to go, but I saw some very good things during the game from our kids,” Price said. “Our inexperience hurt us, but you have to start somewhere. One positive was that the kids hustled and played hard all night.”
Altoona-Midway sports no seniors and just two juniors on its 11-man roster.
Chetopa, with experienced and talented veteran performers such as Harrison Carter, Gabe Robison, Kris Thomison, Braydon Heady, and Brylan Berzas returning from last year’s 3-6 Hornet squad, pretty much controlled the game from the outset and never looked back.
But the Jets did manage a pair of touchdowns, including a first-quarter score when freshman Beau Clines connected with sophomore Zack Good on a four-yard aerial strike.
Altoona-Midway’s only other score came in the third period, when Chance Carter found pay dirt on a five-yard rush. Both Jet conversion tries failed.
Good had a nice night offensively for the Jets. In addition to his TD reception, the sophomore rushed for a total of 112 yards on 20 carries. Carter added 16 yards on four attempts.
The Jets were unable to get much going in the air, as Clines connected on just 2-of-18 passing attempts for 38 yards, including an impressive 34-yard toss to Chance Mustain.
“Zach Good rushed the ball for over 100 yards and had some great moments,” Price noted. "Chance Carter played a great game and led us in tackles. We had some bright spots - just not enough of them.”
Carter was a defensive mainstay for the Jets, as he was in on 12 tackles, including nine solo stops, two tackles for losses, and a sack. Clines finished with nine tackles, including eight unassisted. Good and Caden Sicka each collected six tackles on the evening, and Broghan Douglas chipped in with five.
Individual stats for Chetopa were unavailable. “Overall, I am pleased with our progress, despite the loss,” Price said. “This season will be all about that progress, as we play so many young kids. But I believe they will continue to get better and when we play Chetopa the next time (Sept. 24), I expect better results.”
Altoona-Midway is scheduled for its first home game this week. The Jets will host Marais Des Cygnes Valley on Friday, Sept. 11. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Frank Kennedy Field.