Sumner Preview: District playoffs on the line for several local teams
by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — It is crunch time in high school football. Conway Springs is in good shape, as is Argonia-Attica. Belle Plaine and Oxford are currently in the playoffs but have some work to do. Caldwell is most certainly in the mix but after two losses need to right the ship. South Haven is in trouble.
The following are the district standings and preview and playoff analysis of the games ahead:
| Class 2A District 6 | |||
| District | Overall | Points | |
| Garden Plain | 3-0 | 5-1 | 15 |
| Kingman | 2-1 | 4-2 | 12 |
| Belle Plaine | 2-1 | 3-3 | 7 |
| Chaparral | 1-2 | 2-4 | -7 |
| Douglass | 0-2 | 3-2 | -21 |
| Bluestem | 0-2 | 0-5 | -21 |
Belle Plaine at Garden Plain — Let’s not sugarcoat this game. Yes, Belle Plaine has outscored its last two opponents 108-0. But this is Garden Plain that defeated the Dragons 56-0 in the playoffs last season.
A lot can play out here for Belle Plaine. Assuming the Dragons lose to the Owls tonight (and we are not saying this is going to happen) that would drop Belle Plaine 2-2 in the district with a date with Douglass next week. Douglass and Chaparral’s game for tonight has been canceled due to the virus. That sets up all kinds of possibilities for the three teams Belle Plaine, Chaparral and Douglass vying for two playoff spots. That doesn’t take into account that the Belle Plaine-Douglass game might be canceled as well.
| Class 1A District 4 | |||
| District | Overall | Points | |
| Conway Sprgs. | 4-0 | 5-1 | 21 |
| Sedgwick | 3-0 | 6-0 | 14 |
| Remington | 2-2 | 2-4 | 0 |
| Elkhart | 2-2 | 2-4 | -5 |
| Sublette | 1-3 | 1-4 | -3 |
| W. Independent | 1-3 | 1-4 | -6 |
| Johnson-Stanton | 0-4 | 1-4 | -16 |
Stanton County at Conway Springs — The Cardinals will continue the “domination tour” tonight against a team still winless and having already lost to Elkhart, Remington and Sublette. Conway Springs and Sedgwick are headed for a winner-takes-all showdown next week for the district title.
| Class 8-man 1 District 2 | |||
| District | Overall | Points | |
| Madison | 3-0 | 6-0 | 21 |
| Chase Cty | 2-1 | 4-2 | 7 |
| Central Burden | 2-1 | 2-4 | 6 |
| Oxford | 2-1 | 2-4 | 1 |
| Flinthills | 0-3 | 0-6 | -15 |
| Udall | 0-3 | 2-4 | -19 |
Oxford at Central-Burden — It has been a while that Oxford can talk about playoff positioning. But that is now the case when it travels to Central Burden tonight. That was a big win for Oxford last weekend when it doubled up Udall 40-20. With that victory, the Wildcats have the opportunity to finish as high as second in the district with Central and Chase County in the forecast. Central lost its first four games but came back to defeat Udall 5o-34 and Flinthills 60-14
| Class 8-man 2 District 6 | |||
| District | Overall | Points | |
| South Barber | 3-1 | 3-2 | 20 |
| Norwich | 3-1 | 3-3 | 7 |
| Caldwell | 3-2 | 4-2 | 4 |
| Stafford | 2-2 | 4-2 | -2 |
| Peabody-Burn | 2-2 | 3-3 | -8 |
| Hutchinson CC | 2-3 | 3-3 | -21 |
| South Haven | 0-4 | 1-5 | -17 |
Caldwell at South Barber — Caldwell at one point appeared as if it was going to run away with this district, but the Bluejays have been besieged with injuries and are fighting for their playoff lives. South Barber usually always pieces together a good football team, and the Chieftains are currently on top of this division. A loss drops Caldwell to 3-3 and a borderline playoff team
South Haven at Peabody-Burns — South Haven scored 60 points last week and still lost. Peabody-Burns defeated Stafford earlier this season 64-62. Look for some offense here.
