By Wendell Redden
sports@joplinglobe.com
RIVERTON, Kan. — Kevin Tooley, head coach at Central Heights High School in Richmond, uttered two words when asked to describe what he saw on film of the Riverton Rams.
“Holy Cow!!!”
Tooley’s Vikings, 7-3, play at Riverton, 10-0, at 2 p.m. today in a second-round game of the Kansas Class 3A football playoffs.
Central advanced with a 34-20 first-round victory over Wellsville. Riverton overpowered Southeast 52-12 in its opening test.
“They have size, speed and they’re very athletic,” Tooley continued in his assessment of the Rams.
Cory White, Riverton head coach, expects a game where sustained drives and field position will determine the outcome.
“They’re very similar to us,” White said. “They want to be physical and impose their will on an opponent. It should be a good matchup. They run a double slot offense and give you different formations out of it.”
White said he was impressed with Central Heights quarterback Jordan Welch, a senior who gives the Vikings a dual threat. “He’s very poised and a good leader for their football team,” White said. “And their running back (Bob Wolfe) gets to the line of scrimmage quick, goes downhill and runs tough. Central Heights is a well-coached and disciplined team.”
Tooley said Welch and Wolfe have been the Vikings’ offensive leaders. Wolfe, although missing all but a quarter of two games, has rushed for 1,136 yards and nine touchdowns. Welch has thrown for 815 yards and eight touchdowns and has amassed 674 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing. Wide receiver Ryan Rogers has 14 catches for 310 yards and three scores.
Defensively, Tooley said, everything starts with middle linebacker Vince Croci, a senior who plays fullback on offense.
“Vince is one tough kid,” said Tooley who coached at Chetopa for 13 years (11 as head coach) before taking the Central Heights post 16 years ago.
“He ran a belt sander over a thumb in shop, cutting the thumb almost to the bone. He took some antibiotics, taped it up and hasn’t missed a play.”
Ryan Rogers, a sophomore, and Welch flank Croci at the outside linebacker spots.
Tooley said Riverton will have a size advantage up front offensively. “We’re a ball-control team and believe in running the football,” he added. “We’re not very big at guards, 150 and 170 pounds. We took a couple of skill position kids and converted them to guard. They’re quick and their technique is getting better. Our center is 180 and quick, and our tackles are about 250 each.”
Riverton has dominated the opposition this season, outscoring its 10 previous opponents, 492-53. The bulk of the offensive damage has been done on the ground. The Rams have rushed for 3,373 yards and passed for only 618. Riverton has had to punt only 12 times all season.
Senior Brenton Cates ranks among the area’s rushing leaders with 1,370 yards and 17 touchdowns. He also has 541 yards in punt and kickoff returns. Eight other backs have scored touchdowns, including nine by quarterback Kaleb Clark, eight by Chase Mead and seven by Matt Tyree.
Clark has amassed the bulk of the passing yardage, completing 28 of 56 attempts for 613 yards and 10 scores. He has three interceptions. Tyree and tight end Brad Hefley have 172 and 143 yards, respectively, in receiving yards. Tyree has caught four TD passes.
Chase Mead, Hefley, Nick Smith and Jacob Fry top the tackle charts with 109, 94, 92 and 91 points (two points for unassisted stops). Mead has 11 tackles for minus 118 yards.
Sports
County teams face 3A battles
Undefeated Riverton, Central Heights collide in 2 p.m. playoff showdown
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