HOW 'BOUT THEM DUCKS!!!!
Thought I’d start this thing off with a little Pac 10 action via the Jayhawk Conference — that’s former Wichita North and Butler County star Zac Clark in the middle of the Oregon locker room, singing the fight song after his Ducks beat Oregon on Halloween in Eugene. I’ve always thought that things like this are the beauty of the Jayhawk — one fall you’re playing in front of a couple grand on some dingy field behind an elementary school in El Dorado and the next …
THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME: They are playing basketball now, BTW, including the Hutch men trouncing Barclay behind 18 points, 11 boards and 7 assists from Garrius Holloman on Thursday than waxing Fort Scott on Friday behind 16 from Joe Mitchell. I guess GH’s knee is gonna be okay …
If you haven’t checked out my Newman previews, you can go here and here.
Here’s my look at Saturday’s football games — I’ll do my Jayhawk stuff for Sunday when I’m posting scores, post-haste, manana:
MIAA
Washburn (7-3, 5-3 MIAA) at Emporia State (2-8, 1-7), 1 p.m. — The Ichabods must win here, in their regular-season finale, and then pray that the NCAA Division II Super Region IV rankings turn in their favor after they dropped from No. 8 to No. 9 following last week’s win over Truman. The top six teams in the rankings make the NCAA Division II playoffs. Washburn quarterback Dane Simoneau sits at 2,631 passing yards and has a chance to go over 3,000 for the season against an anemic ESU defense.
Pittsburg State (5-5, 3-5) at Truman (1-9, 0-8), 1 p.m. – This is where I pontificate on what could have been … like if PSU hadn’t redshirted Forrest Stucky and Nate Dreiling this year, they’d be probably ahead of the curve for next year. I’m just saying. What’s the fix for the Gorillas? I ain’t got a clue.
Fort Hays State (5-5, 3-5) at Missouri Southern (3-6, 3-5), 2 p.m. – I feel like this is still a really, really big game for the Tigers despite no hope of a postseason. Here’s why: A winning record. I think FHSU really turned a corner this season, but losing here would really hurt. That being said, who is gonna be the quarterback next year?
KCAC
No. 14 Friends (7-1, 6-1 KCAC) at Kansas Wesleyan (4-4, 3-4), 1:30 p.m. — A win here for the Falcons sets up a Nov. 14 showdown with Ottawa for the KCAC title, and the Coyotes, losers of three straight, have been reeling. Friends senior defensive back and former Butler standout Quinn Cunningham has been quietly putting together a fine season and leads the league with six interceptions.
Bethany (4-4, 3-4) at No. 7 Ottawa (8-0, 7-0), 1:30 p.m. — What to expect here? More berserker play from the Braves, who can win here and clinch at least a tie for the KCAC title, I think. Let me know if I’m off, but I believe if Friends were to beat KWU Saturday, then beat OU on Nov. 14 then it’d be a three-way title. UPDATE I just checked with Gary Karr who tells me I’m write. That scenario plays out it’s Mac, Friends and Ottawa all raising banners. And then there’s this to consider: Do the Braves lock up an NAIA playoff bid with a win this weekend? I think they do.
No. 16 McPherson (7-1, 6-1) at Bethel (2-6, 2-5), 1:30 p.m. -- Bulldogs have an awful lot to play for in their last two games, as mentioned above. Best scenario for them? I know this sounds weird — but it would be not winning a KCAC title. Figure this … if they were to win it would mean it’s a three-way co-championship. That means Friends and Ottawa both have one loss, and I think there’s no way Ottawa drops below Mac in the standings with a loss. That means no playoffs. Weird, right?
Saint Mary (2-6. 2-5) at Sterling (5-3, 4-3), 1:30 p.m. – Another year, another decent season from Sterling, with no playoffs. What gets them over the hump?
Tabor (0-8, 0-7) at Southwestern (2-6, 2-5), 1:30 p.m. – Dude, no way I thought The Jinx were sniffing three wins at this point. Consider this season a success for Southwestern, which breaks ground on a new stadium right after the final buzzer of this one. Party at Joey Falkoff’s!!!
‘The Dead Can’t Dance’ teaser
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