Friday night preview: Wellington travels to Clearwater, Conway Springs to battle Kingman, more…
By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — It is week 2 in Kansas High School football. It will be another warm one. Temperatures at kickoff will be around 90, getting into the lower 80s before game’s end.
Here’s what to expect in Sumner County this Friday night.
Wellington (0-1) at Clearwater (1-0), 7 p.m.
This will certainly be a more accurate barometer of how far Wellington’s football team is progressing. It is always kind of hard to determine where you are when you are playing Andale.
Wellington and Clearwater have been trading victories since 2018 – going 2-2 in the past four meetings. There was that cancelation in 2021 due to a COVID outbreak. The Crusaders won pretty impressively 49-18 last season, giving Jeremiah Meeks his first victory as the Crusader coach.
This could be an offensive shoot-out. Clearwater rolled over El Dorado 33-6 in its season opener.
Both Wellington and Clearwater had impressive passing numbers in week #1. While Wellington had 251 yards in passing, much of that against Andale’s first-team defense, Clearwater threw for 210 yards against El Dorado and rushed for 105. Clearwater also allowed just 187 yards of offense for the game – including just 33 yards passing.
Meeks said Wellington has not incurred any injuries after week #1.
Belle Plaine (1-0) at Medicine Lodge (1-0) 7 p.m.
Belle Plaine is sitting at 1-0 in Blake Pontious debut as the head football coach. The Dragons defeated Douglass 32-8. Medicine Lodge won over Chaparral 20-6 in its season opener. Last year the Indians pulled off an exciting 23-20 victory over Belle Plaine in week #2.
Kingman (0-1) at Conway Springs (0-1), 7 p.m.
Conway Springs looks to bounce back after losing a close one to rival Garden Plain last Thusday, 20-14. Kingman was pummeled by Cheney 34-7. But that isn’t a good barameter because Cheney is No. 2 in Class 3A and is expected to be the team to challenge Andale in the playoffs.
Conway Springs lost to Kingman last year 36-0.
South Sumner (1-0) at Norwich (0-1), 7 p.m.
South Sumner dumped Cedar Vale-Dexter 50-0 to keep its regular season winning streak intact. The Outlaws will travel to Norwich, where the Eagles are coming off a bruising 48-0 loss to Argonia-Attica.
Argonia-Attica (1-0) at Cedar Vale-Dexter (Dexter), 7 p.m.
The Titans hope to make it 2-0 when they travel to Dexter. The Spartans lost to South Sumner 50-0 last week while A&A destroyed Norwich 48-0. Last year A&A was a 45-0 victor over CV-Dexter.
Oxford (1-0) at West Elk (1-0), 7 p.m.
Oxford was a beast in week #1 beating Flinthills 56-0. This most certainly will be a tougher game for the Cats. West Elk destroyed Udall in week #1 70-8. Last year the Patroits defeated the Wildcats 64-16.
