by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — There is the Wellington High School Crusader Club hamburger scrimmage to be held Thursday at Sellers Park. And then there is the first week practice scrimmage at the high school practice facility on Saturday. Crusader insiders know this is a more accurate glimpse of what the potential is for the 2016 WHS Crusader team.

This scrimmage was a long one this morning, as WHS players butted heads for more than two hours. The festivities didn’t end until well after 11:30 a.m. Here is what we saw:

•A more conventional offense than last season’s that Crusader fans have been accustomed to in years past;

•A potentially explosive combination of Wellington junior quarterback Cade Phelps and his speedy running backs and receivers.

•And a few early miscues, misreads, and penalties.

Overall, it was the kind of day where the hopes are sky high for the season and the team is undefeated.

Crusader dates to look out ahead:

Wellington will hold its annual Crusader Club scrimmage on Thursday, Aug. 25

•6 p.m. Youth football

•6:30 p.m. Middle School football

•7 p.m.  High School football

Also the high school volleyball team will be having a scrimmage at 6 p.m. at the middle school.

•The Wellington High School football team will have its picture day on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 6 p.m for the freshman team and then the varsity squad.

•First game is Friday, Sept. 2 vs. Clearwater at home at 7 p.m.

And just in case you have lost your schedule:

Week #1 —  Clearwater, home. 

Week #2 — El Dorado, away.

Week #3 — Rose Hill, away.

Week #4 — Andale, home.

Week #5 — Collegiate, away. 

Week #6 — Scott City, home.

Week #7 — Winfield, home.

Week #8 — Mulvane, away.

Week #9 — Ulysses, away.

The photo gallery of today’s first week scrimmage can be found here.

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