Riverton, in Class 3A, taking on undefeated team once again
By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
For the second time in three games, the Riverton Rams tackle an undefeated football team.
The Rams controlled visiting Caney Valley in the eighth week of the regular season.
Tonight the Rams (7-2) travel to Cherryvale to face the 9-0 Chargers in the first round of the Kansas Class 3A playoffs. Kickoff is at 7.
“Cherryvale is very skilled and athletic, and they try to utilize their speed,” Riverton head coach Cory White said. “They are not an extremely physical team, but they will run the stretch play, try to get the ball on the perimeter and make plays. They are very good in special teams as well.”
White said the Chargers compare in some ways to St. Mary's-Colgan, which handed the Rams their first loss this season.
“They are not as big as Colgan, but their athleticism is comparable to Colgan,” he said. “They are not going to throw the ball like Colgan. They are primarily a running team.”
Ball control will be one key to Riverton's success.
“We need to be able to run the ball at them,” White said. “We have speed as well, but it would be to our advantage to run at them.”
The Rams are making their third consecutive playoff appearance.
“I'm pleased with the progress we've made, the way we competed in district,” White said. “It's all about getting in the playoffs, and we have.”
Cherryvale, under second-year head coach Harry Hester, went 9-0 for the second straight year after winning eight games from 2005-07. Last year the Chargers lost their playoff opener at home to Galena 34-24.
Erie at Galena
The Bulldogs (9-0) rolled past Erie 47-13 in their fourth game en route to the CNC League championship, but head coach Beau Sarwinski has stressed to his team that victory brings no guarantees in the 3A playoff rematch tonight in Galena.
“The regular season was good,” Sarwinski said. “Be proud of what you accomplished but not too proud. Now you are playing a one-game schedule. This is the most important game of the season. If you win, you advance. If you lose, the season is over and you get ready for basketball and other things.”
Erie (4-5) secured is playoff berth Thursday night by blanking Frontenac.
“Erie has gotten better,” Sarwinski said. “They feel like they can come in and do some things, create trouble for us. They will come out ready to play. When you play a team twice, especially if you beat them the first time, that puts a little extra pressure on you. We have to come out and be able to play well.”
Sedan at Colgan
St. Mary's-Colgan and Sedan will kick off at 6 p.m. — one hour earlier than usual — at Hutchinson Field in Pittsburg for the 2-1A first-round contest.
The Panthers (8-1), who came within one second of winning the CNC, have not played a close game since the second week when Galena scored a touchdown and 2-point conversion with one second left for a 36-34 victory.
Colgan has won seven straight games by an average of 36 points and not allowed more than a touchdown in any of those games.
“The first five weeks were the hardest part of our schedule,” Panthers head coach Chuck Smith said. “We haven't had any pressure on us, and it's a lot different throwing the ball and catching the ball when the score is tied or you're behind by 7.
“Our kids need to really be intense in practice and challenge each other by pushing each other because we have some real toughies coming up pretty quick. You practice hard so you can play hard, that's a real belief of mine.”
Sedan (2-7) finished second behind Oswego in its district and secured its playoff berth by beating Howard-West Elk.
Rematches from SEK
scheduled in Class 4A
By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Two rematches from the Southeast Kansas League regular season are on tap tonight in the Class 4A playoffs.
Columbus plays host to Coffeyville while Labette County visits Independence in a pair of 7 p.m. kickoffs for bi-district games. Chanute, the SEK champion, also made the playoffs and has a home game against Paola.
Coffeyville at Columbus
The Titans (7-2) and Golden Tornado (5-4) will be hard-pressed to duplicate their Sept. 25 meeting in Columbus — a 41-40 Coffeyville victory.
The 'Nado, trailing 40-34, scored on a 65-yard touchdown pass and kicked the extra point with 15 seconds remaining to pull out the victory. Coffeyville quarterback Ethan Cordray and receiver Cameron Craig combined for 227 yards through the air.
“They have two very good athletes, and we'll have to do a good job containing them,” Columbus head coach Dan Grundy said. “We need to keep them from making the big play and make them put together a drive, but if they can run the ball at 6 or 8 yards a pop, it will be hard to do that.”
The Titans, riding a five-game winning streak, have been effective both running and throwing the ball.
Lewis Kellogg paces the ground game with 909 yards on 127 carries and 16 touchdowns. Dale Benedict and Wade Robinson have combined for 776 yards, and Benedict has 584 yards and 10 touchdowns on 36 receptions.
Quarterback Damion Tinnin has hit 119-of-205 passes for 1,976 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Matt Crain tops the receiving corps with 38 catches for 770 yards and six scores.
Chase Leonard has made a team-high 90 tackles, and Tank Burns and Kellogg have 59 and 55 tackles, respectively.
“We're playing pretty well,” Grundy said. “Our offense has some things figured out and we're not making mistakes. Defensively, we have to be able to stop the run.
“Our passing attack is one of the better ones in the area, but we'll start off with our run game first. Kellogg and Benedict having a big game running the ball would really help us.”
Labette County at Independence
The Grizzlies (5-4) and Bulldogs (7-2) met in a season opener, won by Independence 34-29.
“We're still running the same things, but both teams are better,” Labette County head coach Craig Hartman said. “We really played well. We made a couple of mistakes that hurt us. Hopefully we won't have those same mistakes the second time around.”
Labette County beat Girard and Parsons the last two weeks to finish second in the district behind Columbus.
“We're playing real well right now,” Hartman said. “Both of the last two games we've scored quite a few points, and for the first time this season, our defense seems to be getting their legs under them and playing well.
“And we're healthy again. We had a stretch in the middle of the season where we didn't have some of our key players, and now they are back.”
Oswego to host
Uniontown in 2-1A
By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
Uniontown certainly gave Oswego a midseason push toward its unblemished season record.
One month ago in Uniontown, the host Eagles jumped out to a 13-0 first-quarter advantage before Oswego took control in the second period en route to a 44-13 victory.
“They jumped out on us right off the bat,” Oswego head coach Andy Fewin said. “We didn't come ready to play, but we have pretty good kids. They turned the tide quick — we were up 24-13 at halftime and reeled off 20 more points in the second half. They motivated us. They woke us up, believe me.”
Oswego (9-0), in the Class 2-1A playoffs for the first time since 2004, begins postseason play tonight at home against Uniontown (4-5). Kickoff is at 7.
Uniontown lost at Colgan 45-6 last Thursday in the game that decided the district crown.
Season rematches aren't new for the Indians, who are 15-3 in the last two seasons under Fewin after winning five games total from 2004 through 2007.
“People forget that we played Sedan twice this year and last year, so we're used to rematches,” Fewin said. “The kids know they can't take anybody lightly.”
The Indians have outscored their opponents 377-19 and averaged almost 330 yards per game — 259 on the ground.
Damon Trotnic has 801 yards on 108 carries, and Lane Martin and Nick Billingsly have 550 and 501, respectively. Trotnic has scored 14 touchdowns, one more than Martin, and Martin has thrown for 650 yards and 12 scores on 36 completions in 85 attempts.
“Our kids have done a great job,” Trotnic said. “I thought we could be pretty good, but I still don't think we're there yet.”
