Wrestling Schedule

Dec.

6                 @ Mission Valley Tournament
12-13          @ Eudora Invitational
19               Kaw Valley Duals @ Rossville

Jan.

9-10             Rossville Tournament
16-17           @ Bobcat Classic at Basehor Linwood
24                @ Holton Turnament

Feb.

5                  @ Wabaunsee
7                  @ Silver Lake Tournament
13                Mid-East League Tournament at Wabaunsee
20-21           321A Regional
27-28           321A State

Boy's Basketball Outlook

Rossville Bulldawgs Basketball Outlook for 2014-15

Coach: Derek Dick (7th year).

Last year’s record: 7-15 (4-6, 4th in league).

Postseason: lost in 3A sub-state semifinals.

Returning starters: (6) Lake Schultz-Pruner, G, 6-0, sr.; Thatcher Horak, G, 6-0, sr.; Ethan Woodcock, G, 5-10, sr.; Terrance Sowers, F, 6-1, sr.; Corbin Horak, F, 6-2, sr.; Tucker Horak, PG, 5-10, jr.

Other returners/newcomers: Christian Roduner, F, 5-11, jr.; Dawson Hammes, PG, 5-11, so.; Wyatt Dyche, G, 5-10, so.; Chayne Hulbert, F, 6-4, jr.; Lorenzo Mason, PG, 5-10, jr.

Outlook: Bulldawgs return top nine players from last year’s team. ... Thatcher Horak led team with 12 ppg average while Schultz-Pruner was right behind with 10 ppg. ... Tucker Horak averaged 8 ppg, while Corbin Horak and Sowers each added 6 ppg. ... Hulbert is transfer from Blue Valley-Randolph and Mason moved in from California and both could have big impacts.  Many players not able to practice due to the football team playing in the state title game.

First Game:  Dec. 5 vs. Wamego.

Girl's Basketball Outlook

Girl's Basketball Outlookfor 2014-15

Coach: Michael Bell (2nd year).

Last year’s record: 11-11 (4-6, 4th in league).

Postseason: lost in 3A sub-state semifinals.

Returning starters: (3) Taylor Kirk, C, 5-10, sr.; Heidi Nitsch, G, 5-4, jr.; Amanda Hill, F, 5-9, so.

Other returners/newcomers: Michaela Little, F, 5-7, sr.; Lauren Steckel, G, 5-7, jr.; Lora Shinn, F, 5-9, so.; Sara Shinn, F, 5-9, so.; Rachel Day, F, 5-8, jr.; Katie Conley, F, 5-7, jr.; Maura Buhler, G, 5-4, fr.; Jaylen Porter, F, 5-6, fr.; Ashley Zemek, G, 5-4, fr.

Outlook: Bulldawgs made eight-win improvement in Bell’s first year and return bulk of squad. ... Kirk and Hill each averaged 8 ppg and Kirk also grabbed 8 rpg. ... Nitsch averaged 7.5 ppg and Steckel added 6 ppg. ... Talented freshman class will add depth.

First Game:  Dec. 5 vs. Wamego

Football Banquest To Honor Team

The Football Banquet is scheduled for Wed, December 10th @ 6:30 in the Commons Area of the high school. 

The Meal will begin at 6:30.  Pulled Pork sandwiches will be provided.  Bring a side dish and/or dessert to share.  Drinks and places settings will also be provided. 

Presentation of the team and honors will follow the meal.

Friends and family are invited to come out and honor our 2014 3A State Champions!!

Joan Seitz-Sebring Celebrates 80th

    Joan Seitz-Sebing of Rossville will celebrate her 80th birthday with a reception at the Rossville American Legion from 2-5 PM on Dec. 7th.  She requests no gifts.

CatchItKansas Football Rankings

Class 3A Season Ending Rankings

  1. Rossville (14-0), W 21-14 against Scott City, (LW: 1)

  2. Scott City (13-1), L 21-14 against Rossville, (LW: 2) 

  3. Silver Lake (11-2), season complete, (LW: 3) 

  4. Halstead (10-3), season complete, (LW: 4) 

  5. Wellsville (9-3), season complete, (LW: 5)

Also considered: Collegiate (10-2), Colgan (9-3), Centralia (9-2), Norton (10-1)

Where we were right: Class 3A has long been dominated by a select few, mainly Rossville, Scott City and Silver Lake. That held true again this fall, but several contenders rose up.

Surprises: Halstead enjoyed its best season since 1980 and pushed Scott City to overtime in the Class 3A semifinals. Great credit for first-year coach Jason Grider and his run-heavy option offense behind juniors Elijah McKee and Blake Beckett. Wellsville and Norton each had great seasons.

Biggest number: 0. Before this season, Rossville had never defeated Silver Lake in the playoffs nor won a football championship. This year, the Bulldogs went 2-0 against their War on 24 rivals and won its first title.

Best Player: Tucker Horak. Rossville’s junior quarterback broke his own rushing record from 2013. He finished with 1,651 passing yards with 22 scores against eight interceptions. He also rushed 163 times for 2,089 yards and 28 rushing scores and led Kansas in yards per carry. Rossville scored 14 points in the final 7:15 and Horak rushed for the game-winning TD in the final seconds. He rushed for 212 yards in the state finale. Rossville had never trailed in the fourth quarter of a game until Saturday. Kicker Paul Steinke, a foreign exchange student, went 101 of 101 on PATs to set the state record.

Paul Steinke Sets State Records

From CatchItKansas
Rossville exchange student breaks records

Nearly 5,000 miles from home, Paul Steinke set state records in his first season playing football

POSTED: 11:00 AM CST Dec 01, 2014 

Football is a very Americanized sport. Other sports such as soccer, basketball, and even volleyball to an extent, are much more globalized. For Rossville, the game of football has given one player a very unique experience in his first months in the United States.

Paul Steinke is a foreign exchange student from Hamburg, Germany, who arrived in the small town of Rossville this last August. Steinke’s 4,800 mile journey began before that, as the process to becoming a foreign exchange student is fairly thorough.

Steinke had to submit an application, write an essay explaining what it would mean to become a foreign exchange student, and proving proficiency in the English language on an English exam. Steinke’s host family selected him last spring to come to Rossville, a town dwarfed in comparison to the nearly 2 million people that live in Hamburg.

After arriving in Rossville, Steinke wanted to have as American of an experience that was possible. What a better way than to join the football team.

But what did Steinke even know about football?

“I knew what a touchdown was,” Steinke laughed. “And I knew that the kicker needed to kick it through the uprights.”

That basic understanding would foreshadow one of the most surprising stories for the Rossville football team this season.

“For somebody who doesn’t really understand the game, you don’t have a whole lot of expectations at all,” said Rossville Head Coach Derick Hammes. “But we could tell real early that he could really kick it and kick it very accurately.”

Steinke has been more than accurate, he has been lights out for the Bulldogs. Stenkie has had a record breaking season, setting the state record for the most consecutive extra-point kicks (101), the most total extra-points in one game (13) and the most extra-points in one season (101). All are accolades that don’t seem like such a big deal to the humble boy from Hamburg.

“When I did it, I was like, ‘What, I did that?’”  Steinke said.

Without realizing his own ability, Steinke said he did not know he was doing anything special until his teammates asked him how he never missed any kicks at practice.

Steinke’s foot has added an often over looked commodity that many smaller schools do not have. Consistency and reliability in the kicking game is an asset that contributes to any successful football team.

He was so successful in earning confidence and trust from his coaches as Rossville was ready to look to Steinke to win the 3A state championship game.

As Rossville was setting up a Steinke field goal inside the opponent’s 20 yard line with one minute remaining in a tie ball game, a Scott City penalty gave Rossville a first down.

“He was incredibly accurate all year, he didn’t miss an extra-point all year,” said Hammes. “We were more than prepared to have Paul kick the winning field goal if that’s what we needed to win.”

With such a potent offense, Steinke had only had two field goal attempts all season, but of course he made them both.

Two of Steinke’s biggest fans have been watching his unorthodox rise to football success via the internet. Steinke’s parents have been fortunate enough be able to watch Paul kick for Rossville thanks to the school streaming the games on the internet, even if that meant the games normally start at 2 a.m. in Hamburg.

“They know that football is a big deal here, they will be celebrating this,” Steinke said of the state title victory.

Steinke has a history of playing soccer, also known as the other football, and is a very talented golfer. Coach Hammes believes both of these sports have attributed to Paul’s incredible season.

“His soccer background helps of course, but the golfing helps as well. I think the pre-shot routine and mechanics of the golf swing helped,” Hammes said.

One thing his previous athletic experience did not prepare him for was how to make a tackle. Steinke recorded one tackle on the season, but admitted that it definitely is not the best thing he can do but he got the job done.

At the start of the school year, Steinke wanted to join a team to get an American experience all while meeting new people. He got that and so much more.

“The team is awesome, we celebrate and support each other and help each other out. It really has been a great season,” Steinke said.

Written by Ryan Tarletsky, CatchItKansas Web Producer

Scott City Game Photos (11/29/14)

    For photos at the 3A State Championship game,  go to:

http://rossvilleksphotos.blogspot.com/2014/12/state-final-game-photos-nov-29-2014.html

Senior Thatcher Horak and Scott City player 

CatchItKansas Article On Champs

Any time you set a goal and you work together to reach that goal and you achieve it, well that’s the ultimate,” said Rossville Head Coach Derick Hammes.

Many considered last week’s victory over Silver Lake to be the biggest win in program history, as Silver Lake had eliminated Rossville eight times in the previous twelve postseasons.

That opinion would be short lived.

“I am so happy for our seniors and proud of them, but I’m really happy for our community,” said Hammes. “They love the Bulldogs and it feels great to bring a championship home to them.”

The game started out being a defensive battle, which was surprising considering both teams had been averaging more than 45 points per game coming into the contest.

Rossville had an opportunity to get on the board first during their first drive of the game as wide receiver Chris Roduner had broken free and was streaking down the field, but the pass from quarterback Tucker Horak was just a yard out of the reach of a diving Roduner.

Both teams would punt twice before any real offensive momentum started. Even when the Scott City offense began to creep closer to the first score of the game midway through the second quarter, the Beavers would lose a fumble while inside the Rossville 20 yard line.

Taking advantage of the turnover, Rossville would then take advantage of another Scott City mistake. The Beavers would jump offside on a fourth down and three, giving the Bulldogs a first down. Tucker Horak would then finish the 14 play, 82 yard drive by punching through the line and diving in head first from three yards out to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead heading into halftime.

The Bulldogs would receive the kickoff to open the second half, and Horak sparked things with a 28 yard run on their first play. With momentum seemingly all on Rossville’s side, the Bulldogs failed to gain another first down on the drive, forcing them to punt to a previously quiet Scott City offense.

With their backs against the wall, Scott City quarterback Trey O’Neil led the Beavers offense 84 yards to their first touchdown of the day, a 30 yard pass to Chantz Yager, to tie the game 7-7.

Looking to respond, Rossville would travel 54 yards before a Horak fumble inside the 20 yard line gave the ball back to Scott City.

Scott City, searching for their third state title in three seasons, knew this was their chance.

Beaver’s Head Coach Glenn O’Neil braved the odds, going for it on 4th and 1 on the Scott City 38 yard line and converting, keeping the drive alive.

As the Scott City offense marched down the field, the crowd grew louder and louder, nearly exploding when O’Neil connected with Sloan Baker for a 34 yard touchdown pass to put the Beavers up 14-7.

Trailing for the first time in the game with less than nine minutes to go, the Bulldogs looked to their leader and workhorse in Horak to even the game up.

On a third down and two, Horak connected with Roduner on a screen pass that would travel 24 yards. After that, the Rossville offense became the Tucker Horak highlight show.

It seemed as if Horak was covered in grease, as in several instances Horak wiggled his way out of two, three, even four Scott City defenders to get the necessary extra yardage. Horak would fight his way to averag 8 yards per carry on the day.

On a 3rd and 5 on the Scott City 18 yard line, Horak lowered his head and plowed into the line. Swarmed by what seemed to be every Scott City lineman, many assumed the Bulldogs would be dealing with a fourth down situation. Suddenly, Horak could be seen spinning his way out of the would-be tacklers, sprinting down the sideline and diving for the pylon just after stepping out of bounds on the two yard line. Horak’s 16 yard run would set up teammate Nick Reesor for a two yard touchdown run to tie the game at 14-14.

“Our line opened up some big holes that drive and I knew we could break off a big play sooner or later,” Horak said.

Scott City quarterback Trey O’Neil, who also plays in the defensive secondary, would injure his throwing shoulder on that big run by Horak.

Although O’Neil would continue to play, it was apparent that his shoulder was in some real pain as he could be seen continually moving and shaking his right arm, trying to keep that shoulder loose.

Scott City would be forced to punt to Rossville with just over four minutes remaining in the game, which proved to be plenty of time for Horak to work his magic.

“Coach found a little hole in the defense and we knew if we could bounce it to the outside that we could take advantage of it,” Horak said.

That big play happened on the second play of the driver, as Horak would scamper 23 yards to put the Bulldogs on the Scott City side of the field.

After driving to the Scott City 13 yard line, the Bulldogs were faced with a fourth down decision. Thinking back to earlier in the game when Rossville drew Scott City offside for a fourth down conversion, Hammes figured he’d give it another chance and try to draw the Beavers offside once more. With one of the better kickers in the state in Paul Steinke, Hammes was confident that even if Scott City didn’t jump offside that Rossville could still take the lead.

“We were more than prepared to have Paul kick the game winning field goal,” Hammes said of his decision. “But we didn’t need to this time.”

Hammes call worked, as a hard count by Horak while putting a man in motion drew the Beavers offside, giving Rossvile a first and goal on the eight yard line.

Horak would capitalize from the Scott City mistake with a five yard touchdown run to put the Bulldogs up 21-14 with less than one minute remaining in the game.

After a touchback on the kickoff, Scott City would run a double reverse, wide receiver pass from Brett Meyer to Yager for 21 yards to start the drive. This may have been a gutsy decision from the Scott City coaching staff, trying to catch Rossville off guard, or this may have been an indication that O’Neil’s injury to his throwing shoulder was seriously starting to affect his arm strength.

After an O’Neil spike to stop the clock, Lake Schultz-Pruner would intercept an O’Neil pass across the middle of the field, sealing the Beavers fate as state runners up and clinching Rossville’s first state title in program history.

Both O’Neil and Horak transformed from quarterbacks into warriors throughout the game as both men took beating after beating, becoming battered and bruised, but both continued to get back to their feet.

After the final whistle, Horak could be seen falling to a knee in what could have been a mental, physical and emotional sigh of relief. It was all over. Rossville had won.

“Becoming state champions is something that has never happened at our school, and that was something that really drove us to work hard all year,” said Horak. “I feel like I need a really long nap now.”

A nap would be well warranted for Horak, as he would finish with 212 yards rushing on 27 carries. Horak contributed 267 of Rossville’s 342 total yards of offense.

The Rossville signal caller and youngest of three Horak’s on the team, will look to celebrate the school’s biggest win with the rest of the Rossville community.

After seeing rival Silver Lake, a mere ten minute drive away, win three state titles since 2006, it’s now Rossville who is the last team standing. It is Rossville hoisting the trophy above everyone else.

For the first time ever, it is the city of Rossville that is home to high school state champion

Pep Rally Photos

    Photos of the big Community Pep Rally on Friday, Nov 28. can be seen at:
http://rossvilleksphotos.blogspot.com/2014/12/pep-rally-for-scott-city-game.html

Dawgs Overcome Adversity To Win Title

From CJOnline:

No matter how easy Rossville had made things look on its way to Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game in Hutchinson, Bulldawgs coach Derick Hammes knew his team’s road had been anything but a completely smooth one.

Rossville began the season without starting senior fullback-linebacker Nick Reesor, who missed two games with torn meniscus in his knee. Then senior receiver-corner Corbin Horak dislocated his elbow in the opener and missed two games. Then senior back Jack Steckel was lost for five games with a Lisfranc foot sprain that initially was feared to be season-ending, though he returned in the playoff quarterfinals.

“We just had to learn from that adversity,” Hammes said. “Last year, we never really had that challenge. We needed to be challenged in that way and overcome it.”

Rossville answered the challenge to take a 13-0 mark into the championship showdown with fellow unbeaten and No. 2 Scott City. The top-ranked Bulldawgs answered an even bigger one in Saturday’s title game to capture the program’s first state title with a 21-14 victory over the Beavers.

Just three plays into the game, the electricity surging through the Bulldawgs players and fans was almost completely zapped. Junior defensive lineman Isaac Luellen was down on the field for an extended time, eventually taken off on a cart and to the hospital with a dislocated elbow.

Not long after, Rossville suffered an even bigger blow though the injury was far less obvious to the crowd. Senior standout Thatcher Horak suffered a hip bruise that knocked him out of the game for several series.

Just like that, the Bulldawgs were without their second-leading rusher, second-leading receiver, top return man and best combo cornerback. Horak, who had 1,874 all-purpose yards and four interceptions, never returned defensively and was limited to just three touches for 22 yards on offense.

Needless to say, their absences were noticeable as Scott City rallied from a 7-0 halftime deficit to take a 14-7 lead early in the fourth quarter on a pair of long pass plays.

“They were big losses and it took some of our options away from us,” Hammes said. “I thought the guys filling in did a good job, but you don’t just replace a guy like Thatcher. He’s been so big for us this year.”

The confidence Hammes had in his team’s depth was mirrored by his players.

“I was a little worried, but I knew we had guys that were going to step up and do good things for us,” said senior linebacker Lake Schultz-Pruner, who had a first-half fumble recovery and game-clinching interception in the final seconds to go with 15 tackles. “We just had to do our jobs we’re supposed to do every play and things worked themselves out when we worked together as a team.”

There was still the matter of overcoming the first fourth-quarter deficit Rossville had faced all season, and doing it without Horak at full strength. Another new challenge for the Bulldawgs and another one they met head on.

Rossville scored twice in the final 7:14 with Tucker Horak delivering the win on a 5-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds left in the game. The junior quarterback finished the game with 212 yards rushing and two touchdowns, putting the final touches on a monster season that saw him rush for 2,089 yards and 28 touchdowns and throw for 1,651 yards and 22 touchdowns.

“We got to show what we were all about, show that we were made of something,” Horak said of overcoming the injuries. “We’ve had people stepping in all year and I was impressed by that — underclassmen, upperclassmen, anyone we needed to did it.”

Rossville’s 14-0 season ended a number of near-misses for the program.

The 1992 Bulldawg squad reached the state championship game before falling 3-0 to Hesston. The 1979 squad gave up just three points all season — a state record — yet didn’t make it to the championship game, falling 3-0 to Smith Center in the playoffs.

And in eight of the previous 12 seasons, Rossville’s season had ended in the state semifinals at the hands of archrival Silver Lake.

Saturday’s title was for all those teams, Tucker Horak said.

“To finish off just feels amazing,” he said. “I’ve had some of the guys who were on both of those teams (1979, 1992) come up and talk to me today and it’s just an outstanding feeling knowing we finished something that they started long ago.”

Rossville Wins State!!!!

From CJOnline:
HUTCHINSON — The situation seemingly was anything but a comfortable one for Rossville.
For the first time all season, the top-ranked Bulldawgs were behind in the fourth quarter of a game. Not just any game, mind you, but Saturday’s Class 3A state championship game, trailing undefeated and No. 2 Scott City by a touchdown with eight minutes to play.
    One key starter was out with an injury. Another was limited by injury as well.
    And the offense that had put up the most points in 3A all season was finding yards almost as tough to get as points.
    Tough spot, right? Well, not exactly.
    “It was kind of a good feeling,” Rossville quarterback Tucker Horak said. “We got to show what we were all about and that we were made of something.”
    Given the opportunity, Rossville proved it had the makeup of a champion. The Bulldawgs scored the game’s final 14 points, rallying past Scott City for a 21-14 victory on Horak’s 5-yard touchdown run with 28 seconds to play at Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium. The win capped a 14-0 season for Rossville and delivered the program’s first state football championship.
    “The thing I’ve loved about Rossville from the get-go was the simple fact that they have a passion for football,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “Gosh dang it, that’s what a coach wants. He wants to go somewhere where they love football and don’t run away from challenges and hard work. This just means so much to me and them.”
    Rossville had to face a challenge square on almost immediately from the start of Saturday's title contest. In the span of a few plays, the Bulldawgs lost starting lineman Isaac Luellen to an elbow injury that required him to be carted off the field, and then Thatcher Horak — the Bulldawgs’ second-most productive offensive player and standout defensive back — to a hip bruise.
Luellen didn't return and Horak was available only on a limited basis and their absence was noticeable, particularly when Scott City used a pair of second-half touchdown passes to erase Rossville’s 7-0 halftime lead.
    Trey O’Neil hit Chantz Yager behind the Rossville secondary for a 30-yard score to tie the game late in the third quarter. After Rossville fumbled it away at the Scott City 17 on its next possession, the Beavers marched down the field and O’Neil hit Sloan Baker all alone for a 34-yard strike with 8:45 left in the game that gave Scott City a 14-7 lead.
Trailing for the first time in the fourth quarter all year, Rossville had met its ultimate challenge.
    “What I saw in the kids in a couple timeouts was I saw them get determined,” Hammes said. “When I saw that, I knew we were going to be OK. It was kind of calming for everybody that, ‘Hey, we’re going to be OK. We’re still in this.’ We weren’t playing our best, but we were still in position and they believed in each other. Ultimately, that got it done for us.”
    The Bulldawgs answered Scott City’s go-ahead score almost immediately. Tucker Horak hit Christian Roduner for a 25-yard gain and then busted runs of 14 and 16 yards to set up Nick Reesor’s 2-yard touchdown plunge, capping a drive that took just 1 minute, 25 seconds. After holding on defense, Rossville got the ball back with 4:24 left and 78 yards from paydirt and a state title. Horak covered 23 on Rossville’s second play and the Bulldawg march was on.
    Methodically, the Bulldawgs moved closer and closer and time ticked off the clock. Runs of 16, 10, 3 and 4 by Horak got the ball to the Scott City 14 and a 1-yard gain by Steckel set up a fourth-and-2 at the Scott City 13.
    Instead of putting the game immediately on the foot of kicker Paul Steinke, the state’s most accurate kicker this year, the Bulldawgs lined up to go for it and Scott City jumped offsides. After a 3-yard run by Reesor, Horak scored up the middle on a 5-yard run and Steinke booted the PAT to cap a year where he went 101 of 101 on kicks.
    “Our line has been dominating all year and I just trusted them,” said Horak, who finished with 212 yards rushing and two touchdowns. “We stuck to our system and pulled it out in the end. ... I knew they had a good defense, but there was really no doubt in my mind we were going to go down and score.”
    There was still the matter of stopping Scott City in the final 28 seconds. O’Neil had thrown for 179 yards, but hurt his right arm on a defensive play on Rossville’s first scoring drive of the quarter.
The Beavers completed a reverse pass from Brett Meyer to Yager for 21 yards on first down, but O’Neil’s next pass was picked off by Lake Schultz-Pruner, sealing the victory.
    “I knew it was the last 20 seconds I was ever going to play football so I was going to give it my all, and it might have been the best feeling I’ve ever felt,” said Schultz-Pruner, who also had a fumble recovery and 15 tackles in the game. “It’s about as big of a defensive performance as it gets. State championship game, and we held them to 14, that’s pretty good. I’m proud of our effort.”
    Both Rossville and Scott City entered the game with high-powered offenses, but defense ruled the opening half. The only score of the half came after Schultz-Pruner recovered a fumble at the Bulldawg 18 and Rossville went 82 yards in 14 plays with Horak scoring from three yards out.
Even though the Bulldawgs had struggled the rest of the half to move the ball, Hammes felt at ease.
    “I felt like we weren’t doing things as well as we could have and didn’t execute like we could, but we’re still up 7-0,” Hammes said. “I told the guys at that point, we were in a good spot. And then again at the quarter. It just seemed like toward the end when we needed the focus the most and make some plays when we needed to, we did it.”
    Scott City lost for the first time after a tough playoff run. O’Neil was 16 of 21 passing for 179 yards and also ran for a team-high 41. But Rossville bottled up the Beavers’ tandem of 1,000-yard rushers as Wyatt Kropp and Cooper Griffith managed just a combined 63 yards as Reesor finished with 17 tackles, Ethan Woodcock added 12 and Roduner and Dawson Hammes each had 10.
    “It was two very good teams,” Scott City coach Glenn O’Neil said. “We knew Rossville was very good and we went through some good teams to get here. I’m proud of our effort, but we were just a little short.”

Rossville (14-0)    0 7  0 14 — 21
Scott City (13-1)   0 0  7   7 — 14

Ross — Tu. Horak 3 run (Steinke kick)
SC — Yager 30 pass from O’Neil (Portes kick)
SC — Baker 34 pass from O’Neil (Portes kick)
Ross — Reesor 2 run (Steinke kick)
Ross — Tu. Horak 5 run (Steinke kick)

GAME IN FIGURES
                               Ross          SC
First downs              17            20
Rushes-yards        49-283     42-120
Passing                    54             211
Comp-Att-Int       4-14-0      18-26-1
Punts                    4-38.8       5-36.4
Fumbles-Lost         1-1            3-1
Penalties-Yards      0-0           3-15

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Rossville: Tu. Horak 27-212, Reesor 10-43, Steckel 6-13, Th. Horak 2-11, Hammes 2-6. Scott City: O’Neil 11-41, Kropp 16-38, Griffith 9-25, Yager 6-16.
PASSING — Rossville: Horak 4-14-0, 54. Scott City: O’Neil 16-21-1, 179, Meyer 2-3-0 32.
RECEIVING — Rossville: Roduner 2-33, Th. Horak 1-11, Reesor 1-10. Scott City: Baker 7-99, Meyer 5-35, Yager 4-64, Kropp 2-13.

Dawgs Ready For Championship Game

ROSSVILLE (KSNT) – Last week, Rossville held on to beat Silver Lake 21-14 in the Class 3A state semifinals. It marked the first time that Rossville knocked out the Eagles in the postseason.
    “For us it’s just business as usual,” Rossville head coach Derick Hammes said.    The Bulldawgs certainly have taken care of business in 2014. Other than the two meetings with Silver Lake, Rossville won every game by at least three touchdowns.    “It’s honestly indescribable,” Rossville senior running back/linebacker Nick Reesor said. “Seems like the whole town of Rossville has been congratulating us. Feels great to finally get it done. It’s been a while since Rossville’s been there.”    Rossville hasn’t played for a state championship since 1992. The Bulldawgs lost that lone title appearance against Hesston.    “The reception has been amazing,” Rossville senior wide receiver/defensive back Corbin Horak said. “Pretty much after every game the whole town goes together at the (American) Legion. Hangs out, talking, loving all the players.”    Saturday’s opponent Scott City is also undefeated and beat Halstead in overtime last week.    “It’s an amazing feeling knowing the whole town will be down there to support us,” Horak said.    Rossville’s season is already memorable. Now the Bulldawgs want to add once more victory to make 2014 truly special.    “Come Saturday it should be fun,” Reesor said. “Last game with the boys so we’ll give it our best.”    “I think it would be awesome for those guys to really make their mark on a program with a big victory,” Hammes said.     To see the video that goes with this story,  go to:   

http://kansasfirstnews.com/2014/11/27/rossville-football-aims-for-perfection-in-class-3a/

RHS To Tackle Scott City For 3A Title

From CJOnline

HUTCHINSON — It’s just another week.

That’s the message Rossville football coach Derick Hammes has preached to his team from the start of the season. Set a routine, follow it, and win or lose move on to the next game.

“We tried to establish that a long time ago,” Hammes said. “We just emphasize that process that if we do the things the right way each week when you do have a big football game there’s a business-as-usual atmosphere.”

But this isn’t just another week. This is a week where Rossville is coming off arguably the biggest win in program history, a 21-14 victory over rival Silver Lake in last Friday’s Class 3A state semifinals — something the Bulldawgs had never done.

That makes this week an even bigger game, another opportunity to do something no other Rossville football team has ever done and that’s win a state championship.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, No. 1 Rossville (13-0) will meet No. 2 Scott City (13-0) at Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium for the Class 3A state title. The only other time the Bulldawgs have played for a championship, it ended with a 3-0 loss to Hesston in the 1992 3A title game.

“We definitely understand what’s on the line,” Hammes said, “and there’s definitely an excitement among the players to see if we can get this done.”

Clearing last week’s hurdle was obviously huge for the Bulldawgs. Eight times in the previous 12 years, Rossville had made it to the brink of championship weekend. Eight times in the previous 12 years, Silver Lake had blocked that path and made the trek to the title game.

Following Friday’s win, several Bulldawg players fell to their knees, partially in exultation and partially in relief after the victory was secured on Thatcher Horak’s 85-yard touchdown run with two and a half minutes left in the game.

It was a victory the program had waited a lifetime for.

“Ever since I can remember, honestly,” Bulldawgs senior Corbin Horak said.

Such victories demand so much focus and energy that a letdown is natural. Only there’s no time for that with Scott City just as big of a test in Saturday’s final.

Hammes doesn’t believe there’s a danger of it happening, either.

“I think our group has a combination of experience and confidence and that’s huge,” Hammes said. “Number one, through the experience factor, they’re not going to let it happen. And they have the confidence in their ability and each other that we’re going to prepare and do everything necessary to win that next game like we have all year.

“The fact that we had (beaten Silver Lake) in two other regular-season games helps us a lot. If this would have been our first victory, it might be a different story. But the fact that we had some recent success against those guys really helped in that game and should help in moving on to the next one.”

While Rossville is making its first trip to the finals in more than 20 years, Scott City is back in the championship game for the second time in three years. The Beavers captured the 2012 state title with a 28-21 overtime victory over Silver Lake in Hutchinson.

In fact, Hutchinson has become sort of a home away from home for the Beavers. In addition to the 2012 football crown, the Scott City boys basketball team won three straight 3A state basketball titles from 2011-13 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, which is right across the parking lot from Gowans Stadium.

“We’ve been very fortunate to go there so many times,” said Scott City coach Glen O’Neil, who coaches both sports. “It helps with the sense of being comfortable with what they’re going to see on Saturday. They’ve been there before and the basketball kids have been there a number of times. Being in Hutchinson it’s pretty familiar. But at the same time, once you get between the lines, it doesn’t matter where you are.

“It is a sense of comfort, but we know Rossville can knock that sense of comfort right out of us.”

Scott City earned its spot in the title game with a 20-14 overtime win over Halstead in the semifinals. The Beavers’ path has been littered with tough outs — undefeated Norton in the second round and powerhouse Wichita Collegiate in the quarterfinals — after a demanding regular season that included the likes of 4A Division II semifinalist Holcomb and perennial playoff contender Ulysses.

“We’ve had a tough schedule, and we’ve seen a different variety of offenses that has prepared us for whatever we might see,” O’Neil said. “The guys have had to come in every Monday and had to get ready for a different wrinkle — a spread, a wing-T, a power I. They know they’ve got to bring their thinking caps to prepare.”

Rossville’s path, meanwhile, has been equally as tough. After cruising in the playoff opener against Pleasant Ridge, the Bulldawgs have knocked off three straight teams with traditions as rich as any in the state in recent history. Wins over Centralia, Colgan and Silver Lake in three straight weeks gave Rossville victories over programs that have combined for 18 state titles, including 10 since 2000 with a total of 23 title game appearances in that same span.

“We recognize that Scott City, Conway Springs, Beloit and the teams out west have been tough for a lot of years and then it’s been mostly Silver Lake and Rossville on the east side,” Hammes said. “Then you put two tradition-rich programs that moved up from 2-1A in Centralia and Colgan and you’ve got to face one in the regular season, and then for a second time in the playoffs. And you go up against (Colgan coach) Chuck Smith and all the games he’s won and then coach (C.J.) Hamilton and your rival (Silver Lake). I think we’ve had an extremely challenging road to get to where we’re at and we’re awfully proud of what we’ve accomplished. Now we’re ready to see if we can take it one more game.”

Both teams have potent offenses led by outstanding quarterbacks.

Rossville junior Tucker Horak has run for 1,878 yards and 26 touchdowns on just 135 carries (13.9 ypc), breaking his own school record for single-season rushing yards. He’s also passed for 1,595 yards and 22 touchdowns, completing 74.6 percent of his passes.

His counterpart, Trey O’Neil, is the lone holdover starter from the 2012 title team and has completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 1,868 yards and 21 touchdowns, while throwing just two interceptions.

Both have plenty of weapons around them as well. Thatcher Horak has run for 981 yards and 14 touchdowns while also adding 531 yards receiving and eight touchdown grabs. Nick Reesor adds 476 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, while Christian Roduner (524 yards, 6 TDs) and Corbin Horak (385 yards, 3 TDs) are also threats in the passing game.

Scott City features a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Cooper Griffith (1,181 yards, 18 TDs) and Wyatt Kropp (1,051 yards, 17 TDs). Brett Meyer (598 yards, 7 TDs) and Sloan Baker (562 yards, 7 TDs) are O’Neil’s top targets.

“If you look at them offensively, they throw a lot at you in terms of schemes and formations,” Hammes said of the Beavers, who have racked up 576 points, second only to Rossville’s 656 in 3A. “You have to be on top of your game so you can handle those things. ... You’re defending a team that can run the ball very deliberately and then you’re defending a team that can spread you out. Most nights, you’re defending a team that can really run the ball or a team that can pass it. With these guys, they have the ability to do both and do both within a series of plays. That’s a challenge.”