Six weeks into the Arena Football League’s 2024 season, the Southwest Kansas Storm have a record of 3 wins and 3 losses. Their current win streak is two games. Two of their three losses have been close battles that the Storm just couldn’t quite close out. In Week 1, they lost to the Salina Liberty by a score of 43-40, a loss they avenged in a Week 5 thriller, beating the Liberty 34-31.
Their Week 3 loss to the Wichita Regulators was by a single point, with a final score of 43-42. They’ll have the chance to avenge that loss in Week 7 as the Regulators make the trip to Dodge City. Let’s meet a few of the key pieces for this Southwest Kansas Storm team.
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Head Coach
The Southwest Kansas Storm are led by Head Coach Gary Thomas. Thomas is no stranger to the Dodge City, Kansas, community. He was the head man at Dodge City Community College from 2013 to 2018. There, he was twice named the KJCCC Coach of the Year and won the third most games in program history.
Quarterbacks
The Storm split time under the two-quarterback system that’s been very effective for the team. Caden Walters brings indoor football experience to the Southwest Kansas Storm—one of many players on the team who played locally at Dodge City Community College.
Walter also grew up in Dodge City. He is the starter for the Storm and has five touchdown passes and 282 yards through the air in the first four games. He’s tacked on three touchdowns on the ground as well.
Matt Struck checks in at 6-4 215 lbs with a gunslinger of an arm. Struck’s high school coach would tell recruiters, “he could throw the ball 60 yards through a window.”
Struck comes in in relief for Walters and has played in three games, where he’s thrown for 279 yards and three touchdowns.
Skill Players
Todd Athey and Eugene Minter are two other players on this Storm team whose names you need to know. Athey is an experienced indoor football player. The 6-4 215 lbs player formerly made the All-IFL Rookie Team honors.
Athey has the fourth most receiving yards in the AFL through six weeks with 228 receiving yards. He leads the team in receptions with 18 grabs and 5 touchdowns.
Eugene Minter had a productive career at Dodge City Community College, earning All-Jayhawk Conference honors in 2018. He is the other top weapon for this Storm team. Minter has 16 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown on offense.
He’s also a strong contributor on the defensive side of the ball, an important trait to have in Ironman football. Minter has snagged six tackles and an interception on defense.
