by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — If the Argonia-Attica football players have been nervous this week, they sure are not showing it, said Luke Greenwood, A&A co-head coach.

“They are extremely excited and focused,” Greenwood said. “We’ve had a great week of practice. I don’t think I would say nerves has been a factor.”

Come Saturday morning at 11 a.m. when the Titans walk onto the field that may be a different story. A&A will be trying to bring home a Class 1A Division II eight-man state championship in Newton at Fischer Field. If accomplished, the Titans will be the first Sumner-Harper County football team to win a state championship since Conway Springs did so in 2011.

The last time an eight-man team has won a state championship in the area? Attica did it in 1988 winning the 8-man Division II crown. None of the football players were alive then. 

Needless to say the two communities are excited. A community pep rally is set for tomorrow night. Then the boys will get on a bus at 6 a.m. Saturday after a team breakfast in Harper and travel north to play for all the marbles at 11 a.m. The game should be a doozy. Greenwood said Victoria will be a run-first I formation team that will lull a defense to sleep before initiating the play-action pass.

The Knights are physical and they’ve played a meaty schedule. Victoria’s only loss this season was to Central Plains 42-24 in week one. Central Plains is playing for the 8-man Division 1 championship.

“I think the key moment of the game will be right off the bat, how we match up with them physically,” Greenwood said. “If we can’t, then it’s going to have to be a tough game and we will have to make plenty of adjustments.”

There is no doubt Victoria is the real deal. It is a well-established eight-man powerhouse from western Kansas, having won a state championship five times. The last time came in 2006.

The last Sumner County team to make the eight-man state championship game was in 2007 when South Haven played Sharon Springs. That game ended at halftime with the western school winning by more than 50 points.

Hopefully, that scenario won’t be a repeat.

In the Knights 28-12 victory over Sharon Springs on Friday, they punted and fumbled twice and gave their opponent a short field at the beginning of the game. Both times Victoria held Sharon Springs scoreless.

The Knights have a tenacious defensive line – ruled by juniors Brandon Brungardt and Wheaton Hockersmith. They wore Sharon Springs offense down, allowing just one offensive touchdown for a team accustomed to 300 yards of offense and 50 points per game.

They will have to do it again.

A&A has been averaging over 50 points in every single contest this season but one and last week’s 70 point total was no exception.

It was a contest in which the Titans scored on nearly every possession while taking advantage of four turnovers.

“The kids have really done a nice job of adjusting,” Greenwood said. “After that first possession in which Axtell drove the length of the field, we kept our heads and adjusted. That was a physical team, but we wore on them and eventually took control in the second half.”

ARGONIA-ATTICA VS VICTORIA GAME AT A GLANCE:

Argonia-Attica (12-0) vs. Victoria (11-1), Saturday at 11 a.m. at Fischer Stadium in Newton, Class 1A 8-man Div. II state championship.

Follow the game: Internet: Live twitter blogs on this site, Sumner Newscow. Twitter: Follow us at Cueballnewscow. Photos and recaps: Sumner Newscow.

Game night weather: Could be a great day to watch a football game. The weather is expected to be in the 50s with a 20 percent chance of rain. The sun should peak its head sometime during the game.

Series history: None.

Competing schedules:

Argonia-Attica (12-0)

A&A 66 Cunningham 20

A&A 28 Cedarvale-Dexte 26

A&A 74 Central Burden 34

A&A 90 Pratt-Skyline 52

A&A 60 Caldwell 38

A&A 53 South Haven 6

A&A 62 Pretty Prairie 6

A&A 54 Norwich 6

A&A 54 South Barber 8

A&A 84 Southern Coffey 40

A&A 56 Pike Valley 32

A&A 70 Axtell 44

Victoria (11-1)  

Victoria 24 Central Plains 42

Victoria 62 Ellinwood 8

Victoria 46 St. John 0

Victoria 26 Ness City 22

Victoria 48 Northern Valley 0

Victoria 68 Beloit St. Johns-Tipton 56

Victoria 58 Thunder Ridge 34

Victoria 1 Natoma 0

Victoria 50 Otis-Bison 0

Victoria 34 Hoxie 20

Victoria 64 Minneola 12

Victoria 28 Sharon Springs-Wallace Co. 12.

Game’s significance: The Class 8-man Division II state championship. Duh.

Injury situation: Argonia-Attica continues to be healthy, and that has been key to its success this season.

Stats: Argonia-Attica season stats and some comparisons with Victoria can be found here.

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