Week 3 Football Preview–Live Streaming Links

Great Bend (1-1, 0-0) at Garden City (1-1, 0-0); 7 p.m. kickoff (6:30 pm pregame on 99.9 FM KWKR with Mike Pilosof and Ross Miller)

Live Audio Streaming: https://www.westernkansasnews.com/kwkr/

One thing is for sure: Garden City Coach Brian Hill swallowed plenty of antacids following his team’s dramatic 35-34, come-from-behind win over Woodward in week two.

“I told the guys they learned a lot about themselves with that win,” Hill said. “It was a true test of character.”

Now overcoming adversity is one thing, but anyone will tell you that Hill doesn’t want to make blowing 21-point leads and then having to come from behind-any type of habit. The cardiac kids nickname has it’s downfalls.

Enter Great Bend and Bo Black and it could be another one of those nights in Garden City.

The Panthers have been notorious for giving the Buffaloes fits in recent years. In fact, with the exception of last year, the previous four meetings had been decided by a total of 22 points.

“They always come out hard,” Senior wide receiver Mitchell Hernandez said. “They want to be beat us; we want to beat them; it’s really who wants it.”

“Great Bend and Garden City always produce really good football games,” Black said. “Besides last year, it seems like they come down to the final five minutes of the game.”

And 2013 should be no exception.

Some could describe Great Bend as the walking wounded-having lost four starters to injuries last week against Ulysses. But the Buffaloes have been dealing with their own bumps and bruises; they’re without starting running back Jacob Norquist and safety Hunter Delgado for the season. Add in Malcolm Howard’s sprained ankle, and the great equalizer tonight might very well be who’s in and who’s out.

Black enters 2013 as the second winningest coach in Great Bend history. But recent success has been hard to come by. The Panthers have missed the playoffs each of the past five season-thanks in large part to the resurrection going on in Hays. And the injuries don’t help by any stretch.

“We’re not here to make excuses,” Black said. “You go with who you have and that’s that. Guys need to step up.”

One thing Black does have going for him: Success on his opponents’ home field. Great Bend is 5-1 in games played at Garden City since he took over in 2001.

So for the 57th straight year, these two conference rivals square off on a Friday night in September with the winner grabbing a leg up in the WAC.

Series Notes: Garden City leads all-time 33-27, but Great Bend has won five out the last six meetings in the Buffaloes’ den.

Coaches: Garden City-Brian Hill; 4th season (18-13); Great Bend-Bo Black; 13th season (80-43)

Scott City Beavers (2-0) at Holcomb Longhorns (1-1); 7:30 p.m. kickoff (7:00 p.m. pregame on 94.1 Mix FM with Adam Kadavy and AM 1030 KBUF with Kirk Hutchinson and Jacob Rungardt)

Live Audio Streaming: Scott City: https://www.westernkansasnews.com/mix94/; Holcomb: https://www.westernkansasnews.com/kbuf/

The Holcomb Longhorns and Scott City Beavers renew their rivalry Friday night, as the Longhorns play at home for the first time this season. It’s also the first time they’ve hosted Scott City since 2010.

Last week, the Beavers overcame a four-turnover night to be Colby 28-12. Paco Banda rushed for two scores while Trey O’Neil rushed and threw a touchdown pass to Chantz Yager. The Beavers led 14-12 at the break, and shut out the Eagles in the second half.

Scott City enters the game with a 1-0 record in GWAC play, and 2-0 overall. Holcomb enters the game at 1-1 overall, 0-1 in GWAC play.

The Longhorns suffered three injuries to key players, including starting quarterback Heath Tucker, Corey Roth and Blake Richmeier in a 20-7 setback to Hugoton Friday night in Hugoton. Calen Rupp Connected with Cory Roth for the Longhorn’s lone score of the game in the second quarter. It was a one-score game until late in the fourth when Hugoton pulled away late.

Last year, Holcomb gave Scott City their stiffest test in the regular season. The Beavers defeated the Longhorns 21-7, but remained a one score game until the middle of the fourth quarter.

Series Notes: Scott City has won nine of the last 10 against the Longhorns, including seven straight.

Hugoton Eagles (1-1) at Guymon Tigers (0-2); 7:30 p.m. kickoff (7:00 p.m. pregame on 107.6-Hits 106 with Kevin Watkins and Brett Mahan)

Live Audio Streaming: http://174.79.96.177/kfxx/

The Eagles are coming off of a big win against perennial GWAC rival Holcom. Quarterback Yates Sutton had two big runs, which would prove to be enough for a very stingy Blue Swarm defense that allowed less than 100 yards of offense. Cornerback Kellen Watkins sealed the deal with a 4th quarter interception setting the Eagles up in great field position; Sutton completed the hat trick and the Eagles won 20 to 7.

This week the Eagles travel to Guymon, Oklahoma to take on the Tigers in their homecoming game. Guymon has struggled the last few years, and they’re currently 0 – 2.

The Tigers will run a 5 – 2 defense with a rover rolled up to try and stop the Eagle option game. Offensively the Tigers will run the flex bone primarily (which is what Hugoton runs as well), so the “Blue Swarm D” should be familiar with the Guymon offense.