Week 6 preview with audio streaming links
Garden City (3-2, 2-1) vs Wichita East (2-3, 2-3); 7 p.m. kickoff (6:30 pm pregame on 98.1 FM Z-98 with Mike Pilosof and Ross Miller)
Live Audio Streaming: https://www.westernkansasnews.com/z98/
Garden City, Kan (westernkansasnews.com)-In six quarters, the Buffs went from their season being on the brink, to receiving some votes from the state-wide polls; funny how things change.
Brian Hill’s emphatic speech following the Great Bend game got his team’s attention; they’ve thrived ever since.
The Buffs have posted back-to-back wins over two of the most powerful offenses in the state, and in doing so, they’ve garnered the full attention of all 6A coaches.
“They just dominated previously unbeaten Hays and Liberal; that’s impressive in itself,” said Wichita East Head Coach Brian Byers, whose team travels to Buffalo Stadium tonight. “That’s definitely a scary group.”
Scary is right. Garden City has scored 96 points in just six quarters. To put that even more into perspective, they’re averaging 38 points in their last two first halves. Not bad for a team that’s missing a lot of key components.
“We’re tired of hearing about everyone else and their problems,” Buffs Coach Brian Hill said following his team’s 61-20 win over Liberal. We have plenty of key guys sitting on the sideline, and we don’t expect anyone to feel sorry for us.”
Their opponent tonight is dealing with their own injuries. Blue Aces starting quarterback Alec Shillings will miss his third straight game after injuring his ribs earlier in week two against Wichita West. That means senior George Bousfield, a former wide receiver, will make his third straight start under center.
“He’s still working on some of his mechanics,” Byers said. “He’s done a good job for us.”
While the offense struggles to score points, the defense is one of the tops in the city league. Bill Coffman’s unit is allowing just 15 points per game, while holding teams to just 79 yards passing.
“It’s a Wichita school so you know they’re going to have athletes,” Hill said. “They move around very well on defense.”
Series Notes: 3rd all-time meeting (Buffs lead series 2-0); 2011 game schedule in Garden City was canceled because of a lightning storm
Scott City (4-1) vs. Goodland (3-2); 7:30 p.m. kickoff (7 pm pregame on Mix 94 with Adam Kadavy)
Live Audio Streaming: Scott City: https://www.westernkansasnews.com/mix94/
The Scott City Beavers will host the Goodland Cowboys Friday night at Darner Field in Scott City, as both teams tune up for district play that begins next week.
Goodland enters Scott City on a two-game slide, as they had a 75-34 setback at Ulysses last Friday night in which they gave up over 650 yards on the ground.
The Cowboys are led by sophomore quarterback Trey Teeter, who has thrown for over 1300 yards and 14 touchdowns. Teeter passed for four scores in the loss last Friday night.
Goodland is in the middle of a three-game road trip that ends in Clay Center next Friday.
Scott City bounced back from their first regular season loss since 2008, with a 28-0 victory over the Hugoton Eagles on homecoming night last week.
It was the second year the Beavers shut out the Eagles. The Beaver defense was solid, forcing five turnovers and holding Hugoton’s rushing attack to only 81 yards, nearly 300 yards fewer than their average. Scott City opened up a 7-0 halftime lead to 21-0 after three quarters, thanks to a defensive touchdown and a rushing score.
Scott City has won the last nine in the series, dating back to 2006. The Beavers and Cowboys played during the regular season and in the opening round of the playoffs in 2010 and 2011.
Holcomb Longhorns (3-2) vs. Ulysses Tigers (5-1); 7:30 p.m. kickoff (7:00 p.m. pregame on AM 1030 KBUF with Kirk Hutchinson and Jacob Rungardt)
Live Audio Streaming: https://www.westernkansasnews.com/kbuf/
The Holcomb Longhorns will host Great West Activities Conference leader Ulysses this Friday night in high school football action on KBUF 1030.
The Longhorns are coming off their second straight win, a 35– 14 thrashing of winless Colby, which Holcomb led 35 – 6 at halftime. This week offers a much differentchallenge as the Ulysses Tigers are 4 – 1 on the season, 3 – 0 in conference play, including a big winover perennial power Scott City.
While the Longhorn offense has revolved around quarterback HeathTucker (8 rushing TDs, 5 passing TDs, 1 punt return TD), the Tigers rely on running back Ian Rudzik, who has rushed for 1094 yards and 15 TDs in 5 games. Coach Jerry Johnson says it’s the perfect game for his Longhorns this week, with district play starting next week.
Hugoton (3-2) vs. SW Heights (3-2); 7:00 p.m. kickoff (6:30 pm pregame on KFXX 106.7)
Live Audio Streaming: http://174.79.96.177/kfxx/
Hugoton Eagles coming off of a disappointing loss to the Scott City Beavers will host the Southwestern Heights Mustangs this friday for Hugoton’s Homecoming.
The 3-2 Mustangs are led by four sophomores: Emilio Barnabe is 9 of 27 passing for 118 yards. 5’10 185 pound sophomore Efrain Chavez is the leading rusher for the Mustangs with 435 yards. Jorge Dela Torre 6’4 210 has added 200 yards of offense 9 receptions for 114 yards and 95 yards rushing on just 11 carries.
The Southwestern Heights leading tackler is Ivan Rascon with 63 tackles on the year. For the Hugoton Eagles leaders are the same. Ross Davis leading rusher with 489 yards, Yates Sutton has chipped in 368 yards on the ground as well. Receiving, Nic Frederick has 9 receptions for 159 yards.
The 3-2 Eagles average 335 yards per game with 290 of that coming on the ground. Leading tacklers for the Eagles are Bradley Campbell (12.4 tackles per game), Andrew Mendoza (9.8) and Nic Frederick (9.0).
Defensively the Eagles are giving up a paltry 140 yards per game. Although the majority of those yards have come in the two defeats. In their 3 wins the Eagle Blue Swarm defense has only allowed 30 yards per game.