Semifinal football
Nov. 21, 2009 @ 2:28 a.m. by Joannaby joanna
What a night of football this was. Heights has advanced to the Class 6A championship game. Find me a person who expected that after the Falcons’ season-opener. Or after Week 6, for that matter.
Hutchinson has moved on to the Class 5A title game, beating Bishop Carroll. There’s not many who didn’t predict that happening before the season.
Buhler fell at Topeka Hayden, and Smith Center continues to win.
The Heights victory over Derby was amazing. What a fantastic ending — a goal-line stand in the final seconds. Sounds like it was one of the most exciting games of all those played tonight.
Heights has been through so much this season. The Falcons lost a ton of players from 2008, quarterback John Moreland got hurt, just as he was finding his rhythm. But Heights handled it. Sophomore quarterback Matt Reed has been a key.
For Derby, it’s a disappointing end. The Panthers were back where they were in 2008, but fell short again. That is just so tough.
Heights will face Olathe North next Saturday in Topeka. (I was kind of hoping Blue Valley would win because it would be two teams that had started out poorly, only to peak at the right time. Alas,….)
Buhler surely will be experiencing a whole lot of what-ifs. What if Jorden Oden hadn’t gotten hurt? Would the Crusaders be playing for the 4A title? I’m betting on it. But Hayden took care of Buhler tonight and will face Miege next Saturday in Salina.
In 5A, Bishop Carroll traveled to Hutchinson, and there weren’t many who believed the Eagles could pull off the win. Not because the Eagles aren’t talented — they are. Extremely talented. But because Hutchinson is a juggernaut. Hutchinson was just as big and fast and physical as I expected. (They are who we thought they are! — Dennis Green)
Carroll played pretty well, even getting compliments from Hutch’s Josh Smith and coach Randy Dreiling. But in the end, that offense of Hutch’s was too much. Smith had 302 rushing yards. Bell threw for 248.
Hutch is now back where it’s been the past six seasons. Hutch played in five straight 6A title games, winning four straight, and the Salthawks won 5A last year. And yes, Hutch was once in a 26-game losing streak. (I told Dreiling I was definitely going to mention that.)
Hutchinson will face Gardner-Edgerton next Saturday at Emporia State.
3A, we’ll find out who that will be on Saturday.
In 2-1A, many thought Oakley was going to be the team to end Smith Center’s losing streak. I chuckled at each person who thought that because I just won’t believe that anyone can beat Smith Center until it actually happens.
Oakley kept it tight. It was 20-20 at the half. But Smith Center scored 13 in the second half, Oakley didn’t score.
So there you have it. We’ve got 8-Man I and II championships today, so if you’re dying for football, check it out.
Otherwise, we’ll be chatting here for the next week about the upcoming championships. It should be fun.
DerbyDad says:
November 21st, 2009 at 7:01 am
First off Congrats to the Heights Falcons and good luck at state. Keep up your D and you can prevail as state champs. Congrats also to my Derby Panthers for a good season. Yes it was so close but you proved you could hang tough. Honestly you exceeded many Panther fans expectations but I know each of you feel you could and should have won that game last night.
Carroll Fans you now have seen the Machine that is Hutch. You Eagles had a very good season and for the most part played well friday night. It is just tough to beat a team that executes their blocking assignments so well and has gifted athletes at most positions. Next year will be interesting for BC with a new signal caller but it is obvious you too have many skilled athletes and will be very competative.
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bcvarsityfootball says:
November 21st, 2009 at 12:13 pm
You said it DerbyDad…it’s a tough pill to swallow. I believe both teams will come back next year stronger for what they endured in 2009.
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fan says:
November 21st, 2009 at 12:32 pm
hayden is only beating people because their star players are injured
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yes2u says:
November 21st, 2009 at 1:22 pm
bcvarsity- being from hutch i was quite impress with carroll your team and your fans are a class act! Bell is the real deal one day i expect to see him on sunday but you had many other good players to.Love your coach class act to and very smart.This is the start of a great series and it will be tough for us to always beat you and i hope likewise. But it will make us both better. By the way wish you played Derby to they have a great coach and a great program and there concessions are the best in our league.
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that guy says:
November 21st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
not to take anything away from anyone’s accomplishments, but when i see something as bold as this, i must comment.
“i expect to see him on sunday….”
Come on now. Lets not jump the gun. there are some 120 division 1 schools with football teams and last year, 12 quarterbacks were drafted…i would only expect 4, 5, maybe 6 will even be considered take their headset off to just start playing catch on the sidelines each sunday this season.
Having said that, as of November 21st, 2009, i would say that is the definition of JUMPING THE GUN.
but like i said, not to take away from anyones accomplishments :)
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John says:
November 21st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I agree; Hutch is a machine.
If watching Josh Smith run roughshod over some of my best friend’s sons wasn’t enough to make me want to be back in Wichita, the Hutch traffic lights after the game sealed the deal. I’m not sure what intersection that I sat at for several minutes but it made the old Kellogg and Rock look like a yield sign.
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KSFOOTBALL says:
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:16 am
That Guy theres a lot of us that “expect” to see Bell on sundays jumping the gun or not . Could he fail to do so yes but the “tools” both mental and physical are clearly there.
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Jazz says:
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:25 pm
that guy is well named
he is that know-it-all, criticize everything, “that guy”
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hawkdad says:
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Hey John that was 11th and K61….. we avoid it like the plague. I swear you can feel your hair turning gray sitting at that light.lol
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topcat says:
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Fan, you have no clue what you are talking about. Hayden had 2 or 3 starters out w/ injuries, also. Oden is a good ballplayer. I remember him from last year’s Hayden game, but he’s not worth 21 additional points in a game like that. Buhler’s got some big ‘ol boys up front, but Hayden controlled both offensively and defensively. They also beat a good Andale team on their home field, again w/o 3 of their starters. Injuries are a part of the game, Hayden’s had their fair share.
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Spin Away says:
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:08 pm
I know what ‘that guy’ is trying to say, but I have to admit, he looks like he’s got a great start to getting there. He very well may do it, if things work out right for him. Maybe he’ll end up being something else, like a wide out or something. It will be interesting to follow his progress. That would be neat to see some of these local products playing prominent roles in a couple of years for their college teams.
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redcoalcarpet says:
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Blake definitely has the pedigree for the NFL!
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Swim Mom says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 am
My son (watching the BC/Hutch game Friday) said that Smith looked like a “cube” running down the field. Stout, fast, unstoppable. Remember the Borg? Resistance is futile.
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that guy says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
sure enough jazz, sure enough!
and thanks for understanding what i’m getting at spinaway…i even said it in my blog post, in no way was i taking anything away from blake’s accomplishments,i just feel its WAYYYYYY to early to say stupid things like that! lets let him play against kids that have football class rather than PE, against kids who get to play ALL YEAR ROUND…i’m just as excited as anyone else for a wichita product to go BIG…
have a great day JAZZZY
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Crack says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 am
Way to early for NFL talk, Way to early for OU talk atleast # 3 or 4 on dept chart and don’t forget all you are is a piece of meat, Stoops is smart enough every year you better go after other QB it’s earned not a given, time will tell.
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The fan says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Crack – I see you are still not making any sense. Please give it up!!!
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Crack says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Really Fart I mean fan what part don’t you understand IDIOT. 1. He hasn’t even played a game of College, 2. Stoops keeps looking at other QB’s every year and the year after and after that, 3. At least #3 or 4 on dept chart going in. Pick your posion Fart which one don’t you understand.
My guess is? The word REALLY
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The fan says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Crack -
You are a genius…NOT. I wish there was something valuable that we all could gleen out of your posts but I guess that would be REALLY hoping for too much. I would recommend that you spend more time with some grammer books so that we can understand what your trying to say.
If your not sure where to find such textbooks we can probably point you in the right direction.
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Crack says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Gleen??? Really I bet you watch Glee on TV. LOL
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The Fan says:
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I have never heard of the show but if there is any chance they speak in complete sentences on this show maybe you should watch and learn.
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Crack says:
November 25th, 2009 at 10:46 am
You know the show The Fan, you lettered in Glee Club. LOLLLLLLLLL
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