by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — The 2021 football season may be delayed in Wellington but not so for the outer Sumner County teams.

Tonight, high school football has begun with five Sumner County games, including one that was just scheduled at the last minute. Here’s a preview of what fans should expect tonight:

Clearwater at Belle Plaine

OK. Here is a scheduled game that just five days ago did not exist. The game with Wichita Independent got canceled for Belle Plaine, and Clearwater lost its scheduled game with Wellington. So the two neighboring schools, who never really play one another in anything, had an open slot. Naturally, they decided to hook up Friday night in Belle Plaine.

Clearwater, a 3A power, will prove to be a tougher test for Belle Plaine than Wichita Independent. The Dragons already have a challenging schedule not to mention plenty of holes to fill due to graduation. The Dragons went 4-5 last season after its breakout 8-2 season in 2019. That was due to moving to a much tougher district that included the likes of Garden Plaine, Chaparral, and Kingman.

Belle Plaine still has six returning starters including quarterback Colby Barton (6-0, 175, sr.) who threw for 421 yards in 2020. The Dragons have three of its five offensive linemen back as well. The linemen will need to hold down the fort as the inexperienced skill players develop.

Colton Koenig is in his third season and is 12-7 with Belle Plaine in his first two seasons. His third year may be his most challenging yet. There is no doubt replacing players like Eli Wiseman, Austin Hilton, Caleb Steele, and Tim Bible will be a tough task.

Garden Plain at Conway Springs 

Garden Plain vs. Conway Springs is one of the best high school football rivalries in the state. Usually it is a contest slated for late in the season or better yet the playoffs. But these two teams will see one another in the season opener. That’s due to Garden Plain playing in 2A and Conway Springs in 1A.

In fact, the Owls will be the only Central Plains League rival Conway Springs will see all year. Conway Springs like it did last year will play its share of western Kansas teams.

The Cardinals are ranked in ‘others’ according to the K-Preps high school website, and will once again look to make a playoff run. Last year, Conway Springs rolled into the postseason and was 8-1 when it squared off against Inman in the third round. Its season abruptly halted as Inman dismantled the Cardinals 46-6.

Conway Springs was hit hard by graduation, losing 90 percent of its Wing T offense.

“We will look to rely heavily on the rushing attack,” said Matt Biehler, who will be embarking on his 13th year as the Conway Springs head coach. “Look for Derrick Smith, Brayden Kunz, and Logan Warren to handle the duties with Ethan Perkins, Ian Solomon, and Zane Zoglmann clearing the path. Patrick Friess and Lance Pauly will be athletic and give us another element.”

The Red Rage defense has many returning faces. Lance Pauly and Derrick Smith will lead the secondary. Ian Solomon and Ethan Perkins must be physical players on the line. Logan Warren will need to be a physical linebacker.

Norwich at Argonia-Attica (at Attica)

Quick. How long has Argonia-Attica been a football program? If you answered nine years, you are a winner. Where has the time gone?

The Titans are looking for big things again this season after going 9-2 in 2020. They are ranked in “others” in the K-Preps eight-man div. 1 poll.

A&A will be bringing back Xander Newberry (6-2, 176 sr.) as the quarterback after he was selected on the all-district first team in 2020. He will be joined by returning starters Adam Blanchat (5-10, 160, sr.) at running back; Seth Drouhard (5-10, 195, sr.) and Blake Shaddox (5-10, 200 sr. on the offensive line. Conner Harnden (5-10, 150, jr.) will also be a returning running back.

“We should have good team speed and experience, returning three backs and receivers on offense,” said Luke Greenwood, ninth year co-head coach. “Defensively, we return five starters off a defense that gave up 15 ppg last year.”

The Titans are replacing three graduating linemen and two all-state two-way players in Blake Goodman and Noah Phillips.

“We look to be competitive in our district and hopefully run for a championship,” Greenwood said.

In 2020, A&A defeated Norwich 46-0 in the season opener.

Oxford at Caldwell

The two Sumner County rivals meet again.

Oxford’s Shawn Burkes is definitely the godfather of the league. He will be starting his 16th year as head coach and 33rd overall for the Wildcats.

Last year, Oxford was 2-7, but will be returning six offensive starters including Peyton Rush (6-0, 185, jr.) at tight end/running back; Michael Lewis (5-9, 150, jr.) wide receiver/tight end; Zane Shepherd (5-9, 170, so.) offensive line; Caleb Smith (5-9, 250, so.) offensive line; Casey Walker (6-4, 270, jr.) offensive line and Kyan Morris (6-0, 180, jr.) as the quarterback.

“We are looking to be more competitive in our district this year,” Burkes said. “Last year, we only had two seniors so we played several sophomores and due to injuries, some of them played in new spots.”

Burkes said if the team can stay healthy and have some kids step up, the Wildcats will be more competitive.

On the other side of the ball is Caldwell.

Caldwell’s head coach Sean Blosser has been at his school for quite a while as well. Blosser is in his 11th year. He has a nice group coming back from an 8-3 team that lost in the sectionals in 2020. There are five defensive and four offensive starters and 11 returning lettermen.

The Bluejays, who will merge with South Haven next season, have 20 players this season and seven seniors to use its spread option offense.

Look for Keiondra Smith to start at quarterback, Brody Perkins at running back,  and Dawson Bristor and Wrangler Jesina at wide receiver.

The offensive line starters include Miles Newell, Johnny Provencia, and Matrix Eames. The tight end is Jackson Risley. Defensively, Caldwell runs a 3-2 defense with Eeams, Newell and Christopher Clark on the line; Perkins and Jackson Risley as linebacker; and Keiondre Smith as defensive safeties.

“We feel we have plenty of team speed this season,” he said. “We do have a young offensive line that hasn’t been a unit together in a varsity game.”

Central-Burden at South Haven.

South Haven will be embarking on its final year before merging with Caldwell with a new coach. Robert Weber will take over at the helm. You might recognize him as the head basketball for the Cardinals.

South Haven went 2-7 in 2020, winning its consolation game with Tescott. They have six returning starters and eight returning lettermen.

Some of the key starters include Grady Howell, sr., running back/linebacker; Alex Smith, so., quarterback, defensive back; Tucker Locker, sr., RB/DB; Cole Theurer, so., off./def. line; Gus Wiens, sr., off/def. line; Parker Dodds, sr., off./def. line.

South Haven has seven seniors, one junior, three sophomores, and four freshmen.

The Cardinals had their biggest win of the season in 2020 when they defeated Central Burden 42-14.

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