We're a few months away before the first touchdown is scored in Wyandotte County, but Kansas City-Atchison League football has been on my mind the last week or two.

There are some interesting story-lines developing this summer.

Do not consider these predictions, as transfers are still possible. Official predictions will come the week of the season opener.

Still, some early thoughts:

• Will Sumner Academy's defense step up more consistently to back up its high powered offense? Watching the Sabres' offense was one of the funner things to do last year. Eli Alexander and Benny Parker are flat out scary on offense, among other players. The Sabres made it look easy on offense last year. But on defense, the Sabres made it look easy for the other team to score at times. The Sabres scored 32 points in a loss against Piper and 34 points in a loss against Topeka-Seaman in the state playoffs. The defense needs to get better before Sumner Academy can make any type of deep postseason run. But the offense is there and that's why the Sabres are likely going to be the pre-season favorite to win the league. 

• Is Harmon ready to compete for a league title? Having covered several basketball games at Harmon last year, there is a buzz about Harmon football.  The Ming Brothers transferring to the school should help, as Herman Ming was the best pure weapon at quarterback last year for Schlagle. Still, the players, coaches and Officer Blount, a security guard friend of mine, is pretty fired up about Harmon football. Will head coach Calvin Davenport take Harmon to new heights? The defensive effort and discipline were there last year, but the offense lacked.

• How will Atchison do in its first year in the KCAL? The Redmen defeated a KCK opponent last year – Wyandotte – 28-12. However, the team struggled against the likes of Bishop Miege (a 60-0 loss) and Mill Valley (a 37-14 defeat). Another note: some KCK teams will have to go to Atchison next year, while some will host Atchison. That will certainly be an advantage for the hosting schools.

• Will Washington rebound from an embarrassing 1-8 campaign? Last year was the worst football season at Washington in some time. They were whipped by KCK opponents and Wyandotte snapped a lengthy losing streak against them.

• Who will have the best offensive line? Line play is crucial at any level of football. But a solid, good line could be the single most factor in crowning a league champion this year.

• New head coaches will take over at Wyandotte and Washington this year. Will a new regime at each school lead to improvement?

• How will Schlagle recover from transfers and graduation? The Stallions lost key contributors to surrounding schools and graduation. Schlagle finished with a winning record last year, but like Washington entering last season, there are a lot of pieces to replace.

• A very early prediction on the league standings, which will almost certainly change: 1. Sumner 2. Harmon 3. Washington 4. Atchison 5. Schlagle 6. Wyandotte

While Sumner Academy is celebrating its fourth state title, next year's season is already on my mind.

Here's a look at some things to watch before and during next year's season in the Kansas City, Kan., League. (Well, excuse me – the Kansas City-Atchison League.)

• Transfers: There's always rumors of players transferring to other schools. This year is no different. Transfers are critical to a team's success or downfall. The most notable transfer in recent memory is when Leo Lyons (then Leo Criswell) transferred from Washington High School to Piper. Although there's not an impact player like that, any transfer could be key. Whether its across state lines or inside the district, transfers can make a huge impact.

• How will Washington adjust to being on the radar?: The Wildcats had a great final month of the season and crashed the dream of a Highland Park-Bishop Miege state game. However, now they'll have everyone's attention. Will they play the role of the (or at least a) favorite well?

• It's Benny Parker's team: Sumner has a lot to replace with Reese Holliday, Davonte Chaney, Anthony White and Justin Strickland graduating. But Parked showed he could be a team leader at the state tournament and nearly single handedly beat Topeka-Hayden.

• While the champs and Harmon both lose seniors, don't write them off: Both Sumner Academy and Harmon have talented to very talented sophomore classes and a few freshman to keep an eye on. Sumner's Vernon Vaughn, Marcus Allen and Falcon brothers will likely join Parker and Eli Alexander on the varsity roster. Meanwhile, don't think the past two years have been flukes at Harmon. A sophomore class consisting of Jordan Horn, Darrin Hawks, Branden Roark, Al Hayes and Terrance Simmons will help pick up the slack for the departing De'Ontae Hooks, James Davenport and Exavier Bass-Brooks. Harmon's freshman of the year Mike Carson has a possibility of starting.

• Speaking of Harmon, Jauan Wilson's "the man.": Although he's been credited with being the team leader since his freshman year, Wilson is the team's lone senior next season and is the unquestionable leader of the team. Wilson has the ability to put his team on his back like Holliday and Washington's Tra'Vaughn White did this year. Will he take a younger group of Hawks to the state tournament? Big things are expected for Wilson, who's considered the "face of the program" by his coaching staff.

• Will perennial powers Wyandotte, Schlagle improve?: It's been a few rough seasons for these teams. Schlagle looks like the better of the two teams, bringing back Rozell Nunn and LaRay Young. Wyandotte will look to fill the (very large) void of Trinity Hall. Terry Moore returns for the Bulldogs.

• How will the freshman classes look?: Every two or three seasons, a freshman class comes along that transforms the league. Four years ago, a class arrived at Sumner Academy that had two guys named Reese Holliday and Davonte Chaney. Since then, they've won a state title, three league titles and several individual awards. The class did pretty well. This past season, Washington can boast pride about having the best freshman. Two years ago, Harmon had its best freshman team ever. There may not be star power in this league next year, but young talent is everywhere.

• Will Washington's junior class from this season take another step?: White, Kalen Allen and the Hibler Twins (Myles and MIchael) were not expected to take Washington to state this season. Entering next year with Wyandotte County's best senior class, will they contend for a state title? Talking to White a few weeks ago, he expects it. As bold as that sounds, he's been pretty accurate so far in his predictions.

• Will Atchison do anything to shakeup the league?: In basketball, it doesn't look probable. The team resembled road kill against their future league opponents this season, most notably getting destroyed at home by both Sumner Academy and Washington. It might take a few seasons for them to contend.

Slowly, the impact of the newly developed Kansas City-Atchison League is being felt.

Last December, the logo of the new league was released. In recent weeks, some schools in Kansas City, Kan., have been adding the Atchison shield to their gymnasiums.

The following is not intended to make light of the addition to the league or to criticize the school itself.

But Atchison is an odd fit to say the least.

All five current teams in the Kansas City, Kan., League are natural rivals. Whether it's Washington-Schlagle, Harmon-Wyandotte, Sumner Academy-Washington or any combination of the league's current five teams, you have a strong rivalry.

Atchison is not a fit in this area, at least in the major sports.

Also, all schools are within a 10-15 minute drive of each other. Atchison is a good 90 minutes away. Still, there's nothing wrong with expanding the KCKL. But there was a missed opportunity.

How about Bishop Ward instead? Or Piper? Or both?

The current Kaw Valley League is stretched out more than the truth in Congress.

Both Piper and Bishop Ward would have made more sense.

Washington and Schlagle High School are just a simple drive away from Piper. Bishop Ward is in the downtown core of KCK, along with Sumner Academy, Wyandotte and Harmon down to the south.

The Bishop Ward-Piper rivalry would be maintained. And more rivalries would be built. Sumner Academy-Ward is an old Huron League rivalry. Piper could develop a nice geographic rivalry with Washington or Schlagle.

And most importantly, both schools are located in KCK.There would be no need to add the silly dash and another city's name to the league title.

Turner would have been a nice addition to the KCKL, too.

Turner played some KCKL teams in both football and basketball this season. Turner and Sumner Academy have played some fun games in football the past three seasons. A Harmon-Turner rivalry could develop based on geography and some historic bad blood between the two schools.

There's really no excuse as to why the eight teams in KCK are not in one league.

A unified city-wide league would be best.

Too bad it will never happen.

While high school sports are shut down over the holiday break, one bit of news was released last week.

Courtesy of a head coach in the league, the new logo for the newly formed Kansas City-Atchison league has been released.

The league was established earlier this year, with Atchison High School joining the current Kansas City, Kan., League, which features Harmon, Schlagle, Sumner Academy, Washington and Wyandotte high schools.

While Atchison will be new to the league, they aren't exactly new to some schools.

They already play some KCK League schools in both football and basketball. Plus, they were in the now defunct Huron League with Sumner Academy.