By Ernie W. Webb III COTTONWOOD FALLS – Several years ago, a group of grade school boys started a tradition of playing impromptu games of football while the high school team trudged through losses. Those kids decided before they arrived at junior high that they were going to turn the program around, and those games […]
Latest wave at Burlingame arrives with win at No. 1 Chase County Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III BURLINGAME – After an easy win to open the season, Burlingame coach Jeff Slater said we’d know more about his team after this week’s game against a perennially good Lebo squad. What we learned after the Bearcats dispatched the Wolves 54-6 is they have the tools to make a lot
Bearcats make resounding statement against Lebo Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III MELVERN – You learn things walking the sidelines during a game that you’d never know watching from the stands or on TV. Sometimes, it’s a conversation between coaches and players. Other times, it’s subtle play by a kid who gets little recognition. While there’s not a ton to cull from
Reloading Bearcats roll in opener Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III NEWTON – Meade has a rich tradition as an 11-man power, winning state championships in 2A in 1972 and 1980 and 2-1A in 2010 and 2012. Now the Buffaloes are at the top of the mountain in Eight-Man Division I. Meade (13-0) built an early lead against defending state champion
Meade holds off Little River for first Eight-Man crown Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III MADISON – Little River and Madison are storied programs with multiple state titles and a long history of making deep runs in the playoffs. That set the stage for a heavyweight slugfest Friday night in the sectional finals of Eight-Man Division I. The game lived up to the hype, as
Little River rallies late, tops Madison in sectional finals Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III LITTLE RIVER – Burlingame endured about a decade’s worth of adversity this season, battling through turmoil off the field, a school-wide COVID quarantine and a sluggish start of the season. They had to handle more Friday night when quarterback/linebacker Colby Middleton and linebacker Timmy Roberts were injured in the first
Burlingame pushes Little River to the limit in regional title game Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III BURLINGAME – As Trent Spiker’s pass floated into the end zone, Burlingame’s Kris Hovestadt positioned himself in front of Braden Simmons, bracing for an interception. Hovestadt wasn’t about to let the Bearcats lose on Senior Night, wrapping his arms around the ball and pulling it away from Simmons as they
With improbable comeback, Burlingame secures home playoff game Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III BURLINGAME – To say Burlingame has endured its share of adversity this season would be a gross understatement. That continued Friday on Homecoming night, as the Bearcats not only fell behind 12-0, but also endured a frightening scene when an assistant coach had a seizure on the sideline in the
Bearcats overcome slow start in rout of Valley Falls Read More »
BURLINGAME – After trailing 20-0 in the second quarter, Burlingame was about to pull within a score of Clifton-Clyde during the opening moments of the second half of Friday’s critical Eight-Man I district game. The Bearcats had all the momentum after driving into the red zone, but that changed on one back-breaking play. On second-and-three,
Mistakes costly as Bearcats fall in district opener Read More »
By Ernie W. Webb III The blueprint wasn’t as easy as it looked, but Little River executed it almost perfectly during a dazzling run from district runner-up to state champion in Eight-Man Division I. The formula included plenty of star power in quarterback Jayden Garrison and fullback/sometimes quarterback Graham Stephens, a bruising offensive line and
Little River caps magical run, rolls past Wichita County for state title Read More »
