by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Usually the first round of the Tuesday night high school football playoff games fall inconveniently on election night every two years. But due to the quirk in the calendar this year’s playoff games are a week earlier than the big election night.

So who will get elected, um, win a victory? Will it be South Haven (9-0) or Marias Des Cygne Valley (6-3)? Will it be Caldwell (5-4) or Waverly (9-0)? Will it be Conway Springs (8-1) or Wichita Independent (6-3)?

Let’s do a little analysis of the playoffs ahead for the three Sumner County teams. 

South Haven

See bracket here: http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Football/PDF/Brackets/8MI.htm

The Cardinals are probably Sumner County’s best bet to go on a long playoff run. But let’s not get too hasty. South Haven is playing in eight-man Division I, not II, as in years past. That means the Cards are playing larger schools in eight-man football.

Also, South Haven has some injuries. Bryce Byers is out for the season with a collarbone injury. J.T. Yunker is day-to-day with a knee injury.

Plus, one always has to wonder how South Haven will perform in a close game. The Cardinals have rolled over opponents this year. South Haven never scored less than 46 points and never allowed opponents more than two touchdowns.

Even with the injuries, South Haven took care of Central Burden 52-14 in the final game. That was the closest game of the season for South Haven and that was a 38-point margin. South Haven battles Marias Des Cygne Valley which has either blown away opponents or been blown out. There has never been much middle ground for that team, located in Melvern -  east of Emporia and west of Ottawa. The three opponents that MDCV lost to are playing in the playoffs with an accumulative record of 26-1. MDCV were throttled by all three but it knows how to play those caliber of teams.

In the past four weeks, the Trojans have outscored their opponents 174-52.

If South Haven wins tonight, the Cardinals will then battle what could be a mammoth game with Madison, which is likely to get past Scandia-Pike Valley. We won’t preview that game until both teams win. But if it materializes, it could be a hoot.

Caldwell 

See bracket here: http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Football/PDF/Brackets/8MII.htm Caldwell has a tough draw in the first round. The Bluejays battle Waverly, ranked No. 3, by the Kansasprepfootball.com poll.

The Bluejays have most certainly been on a roller coaster ride this season, getting huge wins over teams like Argonia and Norwich, but losing to teams like South Barber and South Haven by big margins.

Waverly, which is east of Emporia by about 36 miles, will be at home. The team has destroyed most everybody in its path by the kind of margins South Haven is accustomed to beating opponents.

Caldwell has its work cut out for it tonight.

Conway Springs

See bracket here http://www.kshsaa.org/Public/Football/PDF/Brackets/3A.htm

The Cardinals host Wichita Independent for the second time this season. The first time came in week #3 which seems like eon years ago. Cardinals rolled over Wichita Independent 48-20.

But there was some chinks in the Cardinal armor. Conway Springs defense gave up 308 yard of offense in that game including 197 in the air. Offensively, Conway Springs rolled up 564 yards of offense.

The defending state champion Cardinals are having an interesting season to say the least. Quarterback Tanner Wood broke the state game rushing record with 659 yards against Chaparral two weeks ago in an 84-56 victory.

How significant of a feat was it? Woods now ranks No. 3 on the all-time rushing list in the nation.

Only Paul McCoy of Matewan, West Virginia, who had 661 yards in 2006, and John Giannanotonio of Netcong, New Jersey, who holds the all-time mark of 754 yards set in 1950, has had more.

In Kansas, the previous record was set by Claflin’s Kipp Connell, who ran for 488 yards on Nov. 3, 1998 during a 73-0 blowout victory against Moundridge.

There is no reason to think Conway Springs will lose Tuesday, but the second round game is a juggernaut. The Cardinals are likely to face their old nemesis Garden Plain. The Owls won the regular season game 41-21.