Sumner County preview: Week #4 is the start of district play for a few local teams
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — Hard to believe but the season is approaching the halfway mark of the regular season. This is also the first week for district play for a couple of Sumner County teams that determine post-season positioning. Here is what is on tap for the Sumner County teams outside Wellington…
Kingman at Belle Plaine — The Dragons are hoping to find some kind of offense in their first district game against Kingman. The Eagles shut out Marion 61-0 last week and their only loss has been to Cheney 34-14. Eagles defeated Belle Plaine 28-7 in 2020. Things don’t look to be much easier tonight.
Conway Springs at Ellinwood — The Cardinals don’t have to travel as far this week as they did to Elkhart the week before. Ellinwood is about 15 miles east of Great Bend. This still on the surface doesn’t look like much of a game. Ellinwood has yet to score this season, losing to Olpe 68-0, Inman 68-0, and Smith Center 66-0. However, look at those opponents again. Olpe is No. 1 in Class 1A, Smith Center is No. 2, and Inman is No. 3. Conway Springs is in “others.” Maybe someone should send the Ellinwood coaching staff some flowers for having to endure such a brutal schedule.
Goessel at Argonia-Attica (at Argonia) — The Titans return to Argonia for the first time this season where it will host Goessel. A&A has been rolling having outscored its opponents 144-14 and not allowing a game to go past halftime. Goessel is 1-2 and may put up some resistance having lost the week before to very good Little River 66-20 and beating Herington the week before 46-0. A&A won this game at Goessel in 2020 42-14.
Caldwell at Hutchinson Central Christian — Caldwell is 3-0 and is playing a private school from Hutchinson that has had a lot of success in the past. There were a couple of years that Caldwell and HCC were vying for the playoffs against the other. This year, HCC appears to be down a bit. The Cougars are 0-3 having lost last week to South Barber 56-6 which defeated Norwich by two points the week before. The Bluejays, fresh off their two-point win over Norwich, have an opportunity to get to 4-0. Caldwell defeated HCC 56-20 in 2020.
Flinthills at Oxford — The Wildcats are still looking for their first win and Flinthills provides them an opportunity to do so. Flinthills is 1-2 losing to West Elk 34-14 last week. That same West Elk team defeated Oxford 46-22 in week #2.
South Haven at Norwich — The Cardinals will travel to Norwich searching for its first win. Norwich won in 2020 54-22.
