WICHITA, Kan. As the Friends University Falcons prepare to kick off the 2024 campaign Saturday evening (Aug. 31) at the University of Saint Mary, it's hard to shake the momentum and optimism the program carries into the new season.

Prior to last season's 9-2 breakthrough under head coach Terry Harrison, the Falcons had posted five straight losing records and hadn't recorded a winning mark since 2014. 

With the Falcons ranked 24^th in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Rating and clearly heading in the right direction, a crucial element to the turnaround is a buzzword many teams use, but for Harrison, it's the key to unlocking the true potential of the program.

"Culture is something that a lot of sports and organizations talk about, but for us, culture is everything," said Harrison.  "We want to win games, compete for KCAC Championships, and have playoff opportunities!  But for us, winning championships will never be THE GOAL.  The goal of Friends University Football will always be to have the best team culture in all of NAIA Football."

Leading the charge on the field will be the return of the electric K'Vonte Baker, last season's KCAC Player of the Year and first-team all-conference performer. Baker led the NAIA in rushing scores (25) and was third in rushing yards per game (115.3) last season. His 1268 total rushing yards are the most by a Falcon since 2016 (Jesse Rogers).

A perfect fit for the flexbone offense that the Falcons employ, Harrison has a stark familiarity with Baker, having coached the Wichita native in high school prior to Friends.

"Having coached K'Vonte in high school, this will be my fifth year coaching him," Harrison said on his weekly "Friends Feature" with Pat Strathman on Monday (Aug. 26). "Anyone that hasn't had an opportunity to watch him play is truly missing out. We anticipate big things from him, and more than that he's an awesome kid, a great leader and one of the best teammates I've ever been around."

The Falcons return 14 all-conference players overall, including a trio of sturdy running backs in Elias Pino, Laken Clowdus and Jett Cheatham that will help anchor the backfield this season.

A first-team All-KCAC selection, Pino scored 10 touchdowns on the ground and finished second on the team in rushing yards (686) and first in yards per attempt (12.0). Also a first-team pick, Clowdus produced a career-high 679 yards on the ground, with four rushing scores in 2023. Cheatham, a dynamic runner and receiver out of the backfield, scored eight touchdowns on the ground along with 118 receiving yards.

Kaden Rigsby (401 rushing yards, four touchdowns) and Kerrion Hadnot (174 rushing yards, two touchdowns) also return to give Harrison a deep returning stable of running backs.

For the flexbone system to work effectively and efficiently, a stout offensive line is required.  Even though the loss of NAIA All-American and Rimington award winner Keegan Martin at center and honorable-mention selection Stephen Acosta will certainly be felt, the team welcomes back with open arms three All-KCAC blockers in Kel Stroud (first-team All-KCAC), Kyree Watkins (second-team All-KCAC) and Kenyon Vigil (honorable-mention All-KCAC) that should keep the Falcons dominant at the line of scrimmage.

The offensive line paved the way for the NAIA's top rushing team last season, including opening the lane for a modern-era record 612 net rushing yards in the season finale victory over Bethany College (Nov. 11). The 4611 rushing yards generated last season by the Falcons also ranks as the third-most in NAIA history.

Defensively, Nolan Ewing is back and will be counted on heavily for veteran leadership.  A second-team All-KCAC defensive back, Ewing posted a team-leading 7.1 tackles per game along with three interceptions and two tackles for loss to help anchor the unit.

Joining Ewing in patrolling the secondary will be Braden Gordon, who earned All-KCAC honorable-mention honors last season. Gordon returned both of his interceptions to paydirt last year and had 24 tackles.

A pair of returning honorable-mention linebackers in Andrew Arnold and Shamarius Davis adds to the Falcon defensive core for the upcoming season. Arnold ranked second on the Falcons with 8.5 tackles for loss and Davis contributed six stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Marco Torres and Demarieo Sims are two returning honorable-mention contributors along the defensive line that will allow the Falcons a continuous dominance up front on the defensive end. Torres led the team in sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss (nine), while Sims had 24 tackles, 1.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles behind the line.

The special teams unit returns honorable-mention selection Cole Thompson, who hit six of his eight field-goal attempts last season and landed seven of 14 punts inside the 20 yard line.

Supplementing a solid group of returners for the Falcons will be a group of dynamic newcomers to the program, highlighted by Marquis Willoughby, a second-team All-KCAC linebacker from McPherson College.

"We are excited about Marquis," said Harrison.  "He brings a ton of experience as a graduate transfer and all-conference player.   Being able to rotate him and Cooper (Skrobecki) will be a huge benefit for our defense.  They will also both be big special teams contributors. I am also looking forward to watching Camari Geddis step in to a more 'full time' role as he replaces Trey Palmer.  He had a great spring and was great last year in his limited appearances."

Kickoff for the Falcons season opener at Saint Mary Saturday will be at 6 pm in Leavenworth, Kan.  The following Saturday will be the home opener, a key early KCAC contest against (RV) Ottawa University for another 6 pm kick at Adair-Austin Stadium.