GRANDVIEW ZEBRAS
Earning their stripes
A young Grandview team only saw six seniors in 2024. Many of the Zebras had the belief that the’ buy-in’ into the culture wasn’ t there; however, head coach Ryan Ebner clarified that it wasn’ t the lack of investment, but rather the lack of a senior class.
Slower to the maturity level Ebner expected, the Zebras battled through one of the toughest non-district schedules in Johnson County.
Headlined by the eventual 3A Div. I state runners-up, Malakoff, Grandview went 1-3 in their first four games.
“ It was that fifth game, we felt the momentum shifting,” said lineman Jack Bason.“ It all started to build together and we started playing really good football.”
Bason and fellow lineman Kain Johnson felt many within their class, this year’ s seniors, stepped up into leadership roles as they entered District 5-3A play.
The Zebras racked off five straight wins and were a drive away from winning a district championship.
“ It really defined us, molded us together,” said Bason about the non-district schedule.
Finishing the season with a bi-district championship win over Whitesboro and positive takeaways from the early part of the Jefferson game, Grandview brings back nearly everybody in 2025.
Offense
Bason and Johnson represent the four returning starters on the offensive line. Describing the unit as bigger and more experienced, along with being in the best shape of his life, Bason is ready to see his first action on the football field since suffering a concussion in the final game of the year.
“ Nothing needs to be said. We know what we want to do and we’ re gonna go do it,” Bason said.
As for what the offense needs to do in 2025, Johnson emphasized the importance of starting games off strong and pushing the tempo.
Where many Zebras see success in the offense begins with highly complemented running back Elijah Dominguez. According to Ebner, establishing the rushing attack sets up the passing game with quarterback Mason Landers.
Landers started last year as a sophomore and instantly felt the difference in intensity and speed of the game from JV to varsity, he noted.
Ebner viewed Landers’ progress throughout the season, progressively seeing improvement in his decision-making and ability to slow the game down.
The Zebra quarterback felt confident in himself and the team after the week six win over Whitney.
Landers completed 163 passes for 2,384
22 johnson county gridiron 2025