by Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — There is a proposal being circulated to restructure the current classification system. There is also a new format in Class 5A and 6A where all 32 teams will be playing in week 9 in a seeded bracket.

But from Class 4A to eight-man football it is still the “same oh, same oh” with the season’s success depending on the final three week three-game format.

This Friday, Wellington opens district play and hosts Winfield (full preview story will be here shortly). Conway Springs and Belle Plaine, will also open district play.

As far as the eight-man teams go, they have been playing for a couple of weeks already. But this weekend will be huge for many as it is the third week of a five-game district schedule. Oxford, Caldwell and Argonia-Attica all have big games this weekend.

Here is a preview of each district involving Sumner County teams:

Wellington – Class 4A – District 5.

Mulvane is clearly the favorite to take Class 4A District 5, but as far-fetched as this might seem Wellington has a chance to make the playoffs as the district runner up team. That depends on Friday night when Wellington hosts Winfield. Both teams are 0-6.

But a victory here for Wellington suddenly makes the Crusader season much more intriguing. Ulysses is 2-4 having lost to Scott City 53-7 and Goodland 26-17. The Tigers are not considered a great team. Week #9 could be for a playoff spot, as Wellington, potentially at 1-1 in district play, travels out west to play a potentially 1-1 Ulysses squad. A loss this Friday to Winfield will likely end any kind of post-season aspirations for our Crusaders.

Belle Plaine – Class 3A District 9.

Belle Plaine is another Sumner County team that hasn’t had a great year so far, but the Dragons could make the playoffs based on the district they are in.

No team has a winning record going into District 9. In fact, Leon-Bluestem, which got out of the Central Plains League this year, is the only team with two wins. It is hard to figure in Bluestem which have not played any common opponents with the others. But Douglass, Wichita Independent and Belle Plaine have lost to similar opponents by double digit scores.

Roll the dice. This district could go any which way.

Conway Springs – Class 3A District 10.

When the KSHSAA announced its district assignments last year, most 3A football observers were stunned how they divided up Class 3A. Do you know why everyone in District 9 has four losses or more? Because everyone in District 10 is either undefeated or 5-1. It is absolutely nutty.

Conway Springs hosts undefeated Garden Plain in its final regular season home game of the year. The reality is, the Cardinals might not make the playoffs for the first time since 2006 if they don’t get off to a good start Friday, because this district is loaded.

Oxford – Class 8-man Div. 1, Dist. 2

Oxford and Cedar Vale Dexter are playing in what could be the district championship. The Wildcats pulled off a huge win at Peabody-Burns last weekend winning 44-28. CV-Dexter has beaten both Central Burden and Flinthills by large margins.

Oxford has a real good chance of making the playoffs even if it loses to CV-Dexter Friday. It would have to beat Central-Burden at home on Thursday to qualify which has already lost to CV-Dexter big. A win will give Oxford its first district championship since moving to eight-man football.

Argonia-Attica – Class 8 man Div. 1 Dist. 6.

Class 8-man D1 Dist. 6

Argonia-Attica is in good shape at the moment, but the Titans still have some work to do if they want to get to their third consecutive playoffs.

They travel to Kiowa County and Macksville in the next two weeks, which are 1-1. A&A should win those games. If the Titans do that, which seems likely, that would set up a winner-takes-all district championship game against South Central which is 2-0 and 5-1 overall.

Caldwell, South Haven – Class 8 man Div. 2 Dist. 2.

Caldwell is in for a big game this weekend when it travels 161 miles on a two hours 21 minute drive to Hartford in what could be the district championship. Caldwell has looked unbeatable so far, but Hartford is no slouch either, losing only to top five ranked Burlingame.

It would be hard to envision the Bluejays not winning the district if they win Friday. But if they lose, Hutchinson Central Christian would be a big concern which is 5-1 having lost only to Hartford 94-60 last weekend.

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