By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow – The following is a preview of Sumner County football games tonight outside Wellington:

Leon-Bluestem (1-5) at Belle Plaine (0-6)

It was Oct. 6, 2023. Belle Plaine defeated Leon-Bluestem 39-14. Since that point, Belle Plaine has not won, losing 27 straight games. Tonight, Belle Plaine could very well end this streak once and for all against the same team.

Bluestem has struggled this season, getting its lone win against Western Kansas opponent Syracuse 22-6. It also lost to Eureka in overtime 22-16. Last week, it fell to Sedgwick, another one-win team, 33-22. This is a very winnable game for Belle Plaine, which has certainly looked improved this season after playing Douglass and Medicine Lodge within a touchdown.

The two teams did not play one another in 2024 or 2025. There’s a lot of history here for two programs that have generally struggled. In 2008, for instance, Leon-Bluestem broke a multi-year losing streak by beating Belle Plaine 12-8. Perhaps history will repeat itself; this time, the Dragons will break a long losing streak and beat Bluestem.

Conway Springs (2-4) at Sedgwick (1-5) 

Conway Springs can clinch a playoff berth with a win in Sedgwick. As mentioned above, Sedgwick just got its first victory last week against Bluestem. Conway Springs dominated Belle Plaine 42-8.

Central Burden (3-3) at Oxford (4-2) 

Oxford returns to district play by playing South-Central Border League rival Central-Burden. If Oxford wins here, it will wrap up a District 2 championship, having already beat South Sumner and Udall. This is a winnable game for the Wildcats, as South Sumner buried the Raiders a couple of weeks ago 46-0.

West Elk (1-5) at South Sumner (in South Haven) 

The Outlaws play a West Elk team that has struggled mightily this season in a non-district contest. West Elk defeated Udall 48-0 in week 2 and hasn’t won since, losing to Oswego 54-8 and Yates Center 60-6. Meanwhile, South Sumner after having that hiccup with Oxford has rolled past Central Burden 46-0 and Cedar Vale-Dexter 84-24.

Argonia-Attica (4-2) at Hutchinson Central Christian (5-1)

A&A will have its hands full when it travels to Hutchinson. HCC is 5-1 and has won every game by more than 16 points. The one exception? A 46-0 loss to Cunningham – which hasn’t allowed a score yet. The Titans, though, are 3-1 in 8-man div. 2 District 2 play tied with HCC. There’s not a lot of difference between these two teams as far as the schedules are concerned. A&A beat Norwich last week 42-24. HCC beat the same team 36-20. This could be a barnburner.