A turnaround football season in Riverside checks in at number four on our top 10 countdown of the best sports stories from the 2018-2019 academic year for KCII area schools.

Fresh off of a 2-7 campaign in 2017, Highland took a giant leap forward in 2018 with their first playoff appearance in five seasons. They finished with an 8-3 record including a 14-13 first round class A playoff win against Durant. The Huskies were ranked throughout the year in the Associated Press poll for the first time since the 1990s. Trey Lasek was a do-it-all quarterback throwing for 1,019 yards and leading the team in rushing with 1,323. Mason McFarland was Lasek’s main target hauling in 18 passes for 367 yards and five scores. The Huskie defense was stingy giving up just 17 points a night and Brady Hahn was the anchor with 90.5 tackles. Highland loses 10 players to graduation.  Tomorrow we start our top 3 countdown when we take a look at a boys golf state qualifier.