Head coach: Reece Petty—First season
Offense: Multiple Defense: Multiple
Home: Rocket Stadium—Rose Hill, Kansas
Last season: 2-7, lost to Kapun (55-7) 4A 1st round
Last playoff win: 2022 (def. Abilene, 23-6)
League: Ark Valley Chisholm Trail Division IV
Last league title: 2006 (AVCTL-III)
State titles: 1 (2011)
2025 OUTLOOK
The Rose Hill Rockets enter 2025 with new leadership on the sidelines but a wealth of experience on the field. Former head coach Landon Wright resigned in the winter after just two seasons, finishing with a 6-13 record. In his place steps Reece Petty, who inherits a roster returning 10 starters on offense and seven on defense.
The Rockets went 2-7 a year ago, but the pieces are in place to take a step forward. Junior quarterback Zander Ford returns after a breakout sophomore season in which he threw for 1,460 yards, 12 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. He’ll again run the Rockets’ multiple offense, now aided by a full supporting cast of proven playmakers.
At running back, Kai Kirchhoff-Jones is the top returning rusher after posting 222 yards and three touchdowns in 2024. He’ll be joined by Keedrin Jones, who missed time last fall but is expected to return at full strength. As a sophomore in 2023, Jones ran for nearly 900 yards and eight touchdowns, and he should provide the Rockets with one of the top backfield threats in the county.
Ford also has a go-to target in senior wideout Sebastian Bentley, who led Rose Hill in receiving last season with 31 catches for 499 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Cooper Dees and junior tight end Leven Jones add depth to the passing game, giving the Rockets balance across the skill positions.
Up front, seniors Luke Nottingham, Gavin Bantam, Caleb Williams, and Nate Larson provide experience on the line, while defensively, Chase Spaulding anchors a front seven that returns almost intact. Spaulding was a disruptive force in 2024, piling up 13 tackles for loss and three sacks. Nottingham and Bantam add size inside, while Leven Jones and Thunder Page lead the linebacking corps. In the secondary, Kirchhoff-Jones returns at safety and Dees provides coverage ability at corner.
Replacing graduated leaders like Trayton Allison-Hill and Lane Culbertson will be a challenge, but the Rockets’ depth and experience stand out in AVCTL Division IV. Petty’s focus is on channeling that veteran presence into consistent play week after week.
With Ford’s arm, a healthy Jones in the backfield, Bentley stretching the field, and Spaulding setting the tone defensively, Rose Hill believes it has the playmakers to get back in the playoff hunt.
2025 schedule
Sept. 5: vs. Clearwater
Sept. 12: at Collegiate
Sept. 19: vs. Andale
Sept. 26: vs. El Dorado
Oct. 3: at McPherson
Oct. 10: vs. Circle
Oct. 17: at Wellington
Oct. 24: at Independence
