by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — It has been a long season for the Crusaders. Yet, we will write this again: the opportunity presents itself again this weekend for the 2019 Crusaders to get into the victory column.

Labette County, located two hours and 31 minutes from Wellington in a town called Altamont, is a bit of an anomaly. The Grizzlies, obviously play a southeast Kansas schedule and the only common opponent the two teams will play is Winfield. Linn Hibbs troops easily beat Labette 28-7 two weeks ago. Winfield plays Wellington next week.

And the season may come down to this: If the Crusaders don’t get it done this weekend, the chance for victory may be too elusive the rest of the way.

Labette is young. They have several sophomore starters and they aren’t big. Wellington has been going up against 250-pound defensive linemen all season but this team ranges around 150 pounds. One exception is Caleb Haggard who doubles as a defensive tackle and a fullback.

The Grizzlies will throw the ball, but don’t have the dynamic passing game of years’ past. And they turn the ball over a lot, nine times in the past two weeks.

Yet, Labette is 3-2. — having won against Independence, Coffeyville and Fort Scott.

It is no secret, Wellington’s biggest enemy has been its own. Wellington head coach Zane Aguilar said the team’s lack of success has been missed blocking assignments on offense, poor linebacker coverage, and unforced turnovers.

“I tell the team we can’t have any negative plays,” Aguilar said. “Because when we get into a second or third and long, it becomes the end of the world.”

Wellington-Labette County game at a glance:

Wellington (0-5) at Labette County (3-2), Friday at 7 p.m

Follow the game: Internet: We will not be live tweeting this gam. We will be covering the Belle Plaine game. Twitter: Follow us at Cueballnewscow. Radio: ICT Radio. Click here:  https://ict-radio.com/listen-live-1. Photos and recaps: wellington.cc and Sumner Newscow.

Game night weather: Welcome to winter. Temperatures in Altamont will be in the 40s, dipping into 30s by the conclusion of the game.

Series history: Wellington defeated Labette County last year 33-26. That was a great game in which the Crusader spotted the Grizzlies two touchdowns and would come back to win.

Game’s significance: Repeat. Win, any win, will mean everything for our Crusaders. 

Injury situation: Jakob Lira, a freshman, left the game with an ankle injury. He is listed as questionable for Friday’s game.

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Competing schedules:

WHS FOOTBALL (all games at Friday, 7 p.m.)

Labette County:

Pittsburg 40 Labette County 0

Labette County 36 Independence 31

Labette County 27 Coffeyville 19

Winfield 28 Labette County 7

Labette County 26 Fort Scott 20

Ins and outs: Wellington and Labette County played for the first time last season but will see one another again for the next two years. Scheduling a game with Labette is strategically advantageous because it keeps Wellington from having to travel out west to far-away places like Scott City or Ulysses…

… Taking the trip? Google says it is two hours and 31 minutes to get to Altamont. The best route is to get off of U.S. 160 at K-15 about 15 miles east of Winfield, head south, and get on the U.S. 166 “super highway” before turning back north west of Independence. Or you could take U.S. 160 the whole way since Altamont is on U.S. 160. But it will take you longer because you will have to drive through every small town on the route. Great view though…

… Remember that heralded quarterback called Easton Dean, who signed with Iowa State? He has been switched to tight end. He has yet to see playing time for the Cyclones…

… With the 2020 and 2021 schedule pretty much set, Labette County made it on the Wellington schedule, but Winfield and Augusta did not. 

Roster:

Click to enlarge

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