Hutchinson News Preview Of Big Game

Everyone around these parts knows about Wichita Collegiate football. The Spartans have won three state championships, including two this century.

And the names produced by Collegiate through the years ... man, it's hard to imagine a Class 3A school producing this much major-college talent, from DeAngelo Evans (Nebraska) to Harrison Hill (Kansas) to Banks Floodman (Kansas) to Joe Rheem (Kansas State).

Evans, you may recall, still owns the state record for career rushing yards at 8,472. Better numbers than a kid named Barry Sanders put up.

But what about Rossville? What do you know about Rossville?

Rossville is the reigning Class 3A state champion, beating Scott City in a thrilling game last November at Gowans Stadium. But Rossville has been a victim to geography through the years.

Less than six miles southeast of Rossville is Silver Lake, and Silver Lake has gobbled up eight state titles.

But right now, it's all about Rossville. The Bulldogs have won the last three "War on 24" matchups, have the trophy that Silver Lake envies and are playing in a game today that Silver Lake so often does.

And if you haven't heard of Tucker Horak, you probably should learn about him. The Rossville quarterback is the first player in Kansas history to rush for at least 2,000 yards and pass for at least 2,000 yards in a single season. He has scampered for 2,705 yards and 45 touchdowns, while heaving the ball for 2,043 yards and 30 scores. For his career, Horak has accumulated more than 12,000 yards of offense.

As such, Rossville has pretty much beaten the snot out of everybody this year. The fewest points the Bulldogs have scored? That was 42, which came in a 42-32 quarterfinal win against Pittsburg Colgan. Five times, the powerful Bulldogs have racked up at least 61 points. Four other times, they scored at least 42.

And just to prove Rossville has more than Horak, Dawson Hammes has rushed for 1,050 yards. Three receivers - Christian Roduner, Cole Schumacher and Jacob Bradshaw - have at least 405 yards and four touchdowns each.

Collegiate, of course, has the kind of arsenal that can keep up with Rossville should the game turn into a track meet. Austin Waddel has thrown for 1,491 yards and 18 touchdowns while Nathan Burgoyne has rushed for 1,458 yards and 30 scores while averaging eight yards a carry.

The defense might be Collegiate's best asset, though. Rose Hill, Circle, Clearwater, Bluestem, Douglass and Halstead tried but failed to score. Wellington, Conway Springs and Garden Plain mustered a single touchdown. That means in nine of 13 games played, Collegiate has allowed eight points or less.

You always like to think state championship games are going to be classic, down-to-the-end battles. It doesn't always pan out. But if this is not one of those, it would be a surprise.