Crusader Preview: All the things you need to know for the Wellington vs. Wamego matchup (updated with rankings)
Wellington players ring the victory bell again last Friday night. (Photo by Katie Ford).
By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — It has been a hot minute since the Wellington football team has been this far in the playoffs. The last time was in 2018, when Wellington lost to Goddard in the Sectional playoff game. Before that, it was 2009. So it is understandable that when Wellington travels to Wamego tomorrow night at 7 p.m., it will be a big, big game for the Crusader Red fanbase.
The Crusaders (8-2) travel to Wamego (8-2) in the 4A quarterfinals. The Sectional game kickoff is at 7 p.m. Come early. Dress warmly. The temperature will be in the 40s.
The Colby Zeka Shelter Insurance Company with their painted “Go Big Red” sign in downtown Wellington.
Wamego, situated between Manhattan and Topeka, knocked out Rose Hill 42-14 last week, and has defeated Coffeyville 49-14, Clearwater 45-10, and El Dorado 58-14. Their two losses — Clay Center and Tecumseh-Shawnee Heights — are against teams still playing in the playoffs. Last year they were Class 4A-West Champions losing in the state championship to Bishop Miege.
“They are good, but we are good,” said Jeremiah Meeks, Wellington’s head football coach. “They will be very physical on defense and have two really good running backs. They are also very big up front on the offensive line. But do I think we can play with them? Absolutely.”
Carter Burnett with the game-winning catch last Friday. (Photo by Katie Ford).
Against Rose Hill, Wamego took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and was held scoreless in the second quarter. But in the third quarter. Rose Hill connected on a 78-yard touchdown pass and had narrowed the margin to 14-7. Wamego then took over and scored three touchdowns to take a 35-7 lead en route to a four-touchdown victory.
“They did the same thing with Clearwater, which was a close game for a while before Wamego wore them down in the second half,” Meeks said. “That is what they do, wear teams down. That’s why I like our chances; we have more depth than those teams. We can platoon and keep our kids fresh.”
Wamego outdistanced Rose Hill 339 to 250 in total yards. While they didn’t throw 472 yards against the Rockets like Dusty Bannister did three weeks ago, they did accumulate 178 yards in passing to go with their 161 yards in rushing. Pruitt Nowlin, the Red Raider quarterback, was a crisp 13-of-17 against Rose Hill with five touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Wamego is led by Thomas McIntire, a 5-9, 170, senior, who rushed for 127 yards last weekend on 23 attempts.
Defensively, Wamego is one of the best in Class 4A. During the regular season, the Red Raiders were No. 2 in defense allowing 198.1 yards per game. Offensively, it was No. 7, averaging 368 ypg. The Red Raiders were fifth in rushing and 14th in passing, compared to Wellington’s 26th in rushing and second in passing.
The Crusaders are coming off yet another final-minute thrilling win, defeating Coffeyville 27-20.
“Our kids know what they need to do to win,” Meeks said. “After we made our touchdown to tie the game, the defense made an incredible defensive stand and then we got the ball back with 40 seconds and managed to score. That’s a sign of a confident team.”
Meeks anticipates a lot of touchdowns. But if Wellington can stay close in the fourth quarter, that could be a very good sign for the Dukes. The Crusaders have taken down Clearwater, McPherson, Rose Hill, Circle and Coffeyville with final-minute theatrics. Another close game would be another chapter to Crusader lore in a season that has been dominated by thrillers.
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THE INS AND OUTS…
Comparable schedules
Wellington’s statistical leaders
Receiving yards per game – Carter Burnett, 82.8, Skyler Branam 82.7.
Rushing yards per game – Nick Giefer, 84.8, Bannister 22.3.
Total TDs – Burnett 11, Giefer 10.
Tackles per game – Colton Bannister 9.5, Burnett 8.2
Sacks – Brody Weir 4, Milo Elder 2.
Interceptions – Branam 3, Axl Norris 3.
Passing touchdowns – D. Bannister 25, T. Elmore 1.
Receiving touchdowns – Burnett 11, Branam 7.
Rushing touchdowns – Giefer 9, D. Bannister 5.
Caused fumbles – Elder 3, A. Norris 2.
Passing yards – Bannister – 2,214.
Receiving yards – Burnett – 744, Branam – 716.
Rushing yards – Giefer – 848, D. Bannister 223.
Wellington playoff history (excluding week #9 bracket games)
1969 – Class 3A
Wellington 35 Hays Cadet 21 – sub-state
Wellington 21 Bonner Springs 14 state
1971- Class 3A
Wellington 18 Kapaun 21 bi-district.
1976 – Class 3A
Wellington 19 Pratt 0 bi-district
Wellington 21 Haven 20 regional
Wellington 7 Kapaun 24 sub-state
1977 – Class 3A
Wellington 0 Augusta 21 bi-district.
1978 – Class 5A
Wellington 32 Independence 14 regional.
Wellington 7 Bishop Carroll 15 sub-state.
1979 – Class 4A
Wellington 32 Ulysses 14 bi-district.
Wellington 12 Russell 25 regional.
1981 – Class 4A
Wellington 21 Andover 0 bi-district
Wellington 35 Salina Sacred Heart 0 regional.
Wellington 43 Norton 14 sub-state.
Wellington 14 Baldwin City 52 state.
1982 – Class 4A
Wellington 6 Andover 0 bi-district
Wellington 42 Marysville 7 regional
Wellington 20 Norton 13 sub-state
Wellington 27 Sante Fe Trail 8 state.
1986 – Class 4A
Wellington 0 Augusta 10 bi-district
1987 – Class 4A
Wellington 3 Pratt 14 bi-district.
1988 – Class 4A
Wellington 38 Chaparral 21 bi-district.
Wellington 0 Scott City 56 regional.
1992 – Class 4A
Wellington 28 Scott City 21 – bi district
Wellington 26 Smoky Valley 15 – regional.
Wellington 14 Chapman 13 – sub-state.
Wellington 18 Maur Hill Prep 33 – state.
1993 – Class 4A
Wellington 3 Ulysses 10 – bi-district.
1994 – Class 4A
Wellington 25 Andover 7 bi-district.
Wellington 8 Scott City 27 regional.
1995 – Class 4A
Wellington 19 Andover 28 bi-district.
1996 – Class 4A
Wellington 35 Augusta 7 bi-district.
Wellington 50 Abilene 7 regional.
Wellington 19 Ulysses 21 sub-state.
1997 – Class 4A
Fredonia 7 Wellington 6 bi-distrct.
1998 – Class 4A
Augusta 17 Wellington 14 bi-district.
1999 – Class 4A
Wellington 23 El Dorado 14 bi-district.
Wellington 18 Thomas Moore Prep 7 regional.
Concordia 16 Wellington 14 sub-state.
2000 – Class 4A
Wellington 38 El Dorado 6 bi-district
Wellington 17 Ottawa 0 regional.
Wellington 28 Ulysses 6 sub-state.
Fort Scott 20 Wellington 7. 20 state.
2001 – Class 4A
Wellington 35 Circle 7 bi-district.
Wellington 30 Wamego 15 regional.
Wellington 32 Scott City 14 sub-state.
Wellington 30 Fort Scott 8 state.
2002 – Class 4A
Wellington 19 Andale 14 bi district.
Wellington 14 Kingman 0 regional.
Wellington 14 Marysville 7 sectional.
Wellington 7 Scott City 0 sub-state.
Wellington 21 Fort Scott 14 state.
2003 – Class 4A
Wellington 41 Haven 20 bi district.
Wellington 40 Goodland 20 regional.
Holton 41 Wellington 7 sectional.
2004 – Class 4A
Wellington 14 Augusta 12 bi-district.
Wellington 28 Andover 14 regional.
Ulysses 28 Wellington 22 sectional.
2005 – Class 4A
Augusta 27 Wellington 7 bi-district.
2006 – Class 4A
Rose Hill 21 Wellington 6 bi-district.
2007 – Class 4A
Wellington 28 Andover Central 14 bi-district.
Topeka Hayden 21 Wellington 6 regional.
2008 – Class 4A
Wellington 41 Pratt 0 – bi-district.
Andale 33 Wellington 17 – regional.
2009 – Class 4A
Wellington 21 Ulysses 0 – bi-district
Andale 35 Wellington 17 – regional.
2010 – Class 4A
Andale 40 Wellington 14 – bi-district.
2017 – Class 4A-DI
Maize South 39 Wellington 7
2018 – Class 4A
Regional round – Wellington 14 Buhler 7
Sectional – Goddard 28 Wellington 14.
2023 – Class 4A
Regional round – Wellington 27 Coffeyville 20.
Sectional – Wellington at Wamego.
How to get there
For you not going, here is how to follow game:
Live tweets: https://twitter.com/Cueballnewscow You must be registered on X to see them.
Live broadcast: Listen live on KLEY 104.1 FM and 1130 AM starting at 6:45. Or listen to Crusader Radio online at radio353.com.
Live videocast: On the Wamego High School website: https://www.usd320.com/vnews/display.v/SEC/Athletics/Activities%7CLivestream%20Events
K-Prep rankings.
Here was the rankings for Class 4A.
- St Thomas Aquinas (7-3)
- Tonganoxie (8-2)
- Atchison (10-0)
- Wamego (8-2)
- Andover Central (7-3)
Others: Abilene (7-3), Basehor-Linwood (7-3), Bishop Miege (8-2), Buhler (7-3), Chanute (8-2), Coffeyville (6-4), Eudora (5-5), Louisburg (9-1), McPherson (7-3), Wellington (8-2)
Class 4A Playoff Bracket can be found here.
