Dawgfeed 11 is now on-line. You can watch it at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a79YXinMkfo
Friday, November 28, 2014
Thursday, November 27, 2014
John Wehner Passes Away
John Alfred Wehner, 86, passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at his home.
He was born October 21, 1928 at Delia the son of John J. and Mary E. Stallman Wehner.
John graduated from Delia High School in 1947. Mr. Wehner worked for the Union Pacific Railroad about 10 months then at his father's grocery store in Delia. John A. and Esther Wehner purchased the Delia store on February 19, 1949 and operated it until January 1, 1957. He moved to Rossville and bought Wehner's IGA from his brother Clarence. They added Western Auto in 1959. In 1969 they built the grocery store in Silver Lake and changed from Western Auto to True Value. The new store in Rossville was built in 2001 and Johnny Dollar was opened on July 7, 2006. John was looking forward to the Wehner family celebrating 100 years of business on April 15, 2015. John was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville.
Mr. Wehner was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Irene Doyle, Florence Simecka, Clarence Wehner and Kathryn Rezac. On October 10, 1945 he was united in marriage to Esther Horak in Delia. They celebrated 69 years of marriage. She survives of the home. Other survivors include three children, John L. (Peg) Wehner, St. Marys, Bob (Jolyne) Wehner, Rossville and Debbie (Rocky) Taylor, Topeka; two brothers, Melvin Wehner, Eudora and Francis (Mary C.) Wehner, Colorado Springs, CO; 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild on the way.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Monday, December 1, 2014 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville. Mr. Wehner will lie in state after 6:00 P.M. Sunday, November 30, 2014 at the church where there will be a Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. Interment will be in the Rossville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Midland Hospice and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536. Online condolences may be sent to www.piperfuneralhome.com
He was born October 21, 1928 at Delia the son of John J. and Mary E. Stallman Wehner.
John graduated from Delia High School in 1947. Mr. Wehner worked for the Union Pacific Railroad about 10 months then at his father's grocery store in Delia. John A. and Esther Wehner purchased the Delia store on February 19, 1949 and operated it until January 1, 1957. He moved to Rossville and bought Wehner's IGA from his brother Clarence. They added Western Auto in 1959. In 1969 they built the grocery store in Silver Lake and changed from Western Auto to True Value. The new store in Rossville was built in 2001 and Johnny Dollar was opened on July 7, 2006. John was looking forward to the Wehner family celebrating 100 years of business on April 15, 2015. John was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville.
Mr. Wehner was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Irene Doyle, Florence Simecka, Clarence Wehner and Kathryn Rezac. On October 10, 1945 he was united in marriage to Esther Horak in Delia. They celebrated 69 years of marriage. She survives of the home. Other survivors include three children, John L. (Peg) Wehner, St. Marys, Bob (Jolyne) Wehner, Rossville and Debbie (Rocky) Taylor, Topeka; two brothers, Melvin Wehner, Eudora and Francis (Mary C.) Wehner, Colorado Springs, CO; 9 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild on the way.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Monday, December 1, 2014 at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Rossville. Mr. Wehner will lie in state after 6:00 P.M. Sunday, November 30, 2014 at the church where there will be a Rosary recited at 7:00 P.M. Interment will be in the Rossville Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or Midland Hospice and sent in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, Kansas 66536. Online condolences may be sent to www.piperfuneralhome.com
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Hildegard Pearl Passes Away
Hildegard J. Pearl, 80, passed away Sunday, November 23, 2014 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, November 29, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in St. Marys. Hildegard will lie in state on Friday, November 28, 2014 at the church after 4:00 P.M. where there will be a rosary recited at 7:00 P.M.
Her complete obituary can be read at: http://piperfuneralhome.com/obituaries/hildegard-j-pearl/
Community Rally and Dinner
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State Bound T-shirts For Sale
Rossville Dawgs STATE BOUND T-shirts for sale!
Short sleeve T $8
Long Sleeve T $12 Crew Neck Sweatshirt $15 Hoodie $20
Please text 640-1667 or 554-8071
Or email twhorak@yahoo.com or shari_gentry@yahoo.com to place your order.
BLACK SHIRTS WITH RED/WHITE LETTERING!
Youth sizes S, M, L and adult sizes available.
Need orders by 4 pm Tuesday.
Please pass the word!
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Silver Lake-RHS 3A Semi-final Photos
Photos of the RHS-Silver Lake 3A semifinal game can be seen at:
http://rossvilleksphotos.blogspot.com/2014/11/below-are-photos-of-silver-lake.html
http://rossvilleksphotos.blogspot.com/2014/11/below-are-photos-of-silver-lake.html
Monday, November 24, 2014
Dawgs To Play Scott City In 3A Final
Rossville will play Scott City for the 3A state championship on Sat., Nov. 29, at 1:00 in Hutchinson at Gowan Stadium at the Hutchinson Community College.
You can watch the game on-line at:
http://www.ihigh.com/rossville/
You can watch the game on-line at:
http://www.ihigh.com/rossville/
Land Auction on Dec. 9
There will an auction at 10 AM on Dec. 9 at the Rossville Community Center for 155 acres of farmland near Rossville. The details are at:
http://www.landsofkansas.com/kansas/land-for-sale/155-acres-in-Shawnee-County-Kansas/id/2033651
http://www.landsofkansas.com/kansas/land-for-sale/155-acres-in-Shawnee-County-Kansas/id/2033651
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Dawgs Defeat Eagles 21-14
From CJOnline:
SILVER LAKE — Well after the scoreboard hit 0:00 in Friday night’s War on 24 Class 3A state semifinal, Rossville players and fans remained on Silver Lake’s C.J. Hamilton Field not quite ready to leave.
So many times before, the hugs being shared were those of condolences after the Bulldawgs’ season had come to an end at the hands of their archrivals.
Not this time.
This time — and for the first time in program history — Rossville was able to enjoy the moment and celebrate it to the fullest, knowing its season wasn’t done. After losing eight semifinal games to Silver Lake in the last 12 years, the Bulldawgs finally turned history on its head, pulling out a nerve-wracking 21-14 victory.
“It’s always in doubt when you play these guys,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “For our community, this is big. Over the years, we’ve had so many good players and coaches. To get the program over the hump, I’m just thrilled and proud of the guys.”
No. 1 Rossville (13-0) will play in the 3A state championship game for just the second time in program history, the only other appearance ending with a 3-0 loss to Hesston in the 1992 title game. The opponent next week in Hutchinson is still yet to be determined with No. 2 Scott City (12-0) and Halstead (10-2) meeting the other semifinal at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Halstead.
Silver Lake has had Rossville’s number in the playoffs — the Bulldawgs had never beaten the Eagles in the postseason — and the longer Friday’s game stayed tied, the longer it looked like the Eagles were going to get it done again. Silver Lake locked up the Bulldawgs defensively in the second half and the moment appeared to be engulfing Rossville.
Instead, the Bulldawgs were merely biding time until they could seize the moment, and when Thatcher and Corbin Horak got it in their clutches, they didn’t let go.
Two weeks ago, Thatcher had “The Catch,” an acrobatic touchdown grab that sparked the playoff win over Centralia. Friday night, he delivered “The Run.”
With Rossville’s offense sputtering in the second half after scoring on two of three possessions in the first half, the Bulldawgs hardly appeared ready to break out taking over at their own 15 with 2:31 left.
Instead, Horak took the handoff, cut inside and then bounced outside. Sprung by a block from Corbin, he sprinted down the Bulldawg sideline, shedding a tackle attempt by Silver Lake’s Cody Renfro near midfield and going 85 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
“I give it to my guys, they blocked the heck out of it,” said Thatcher, who had just five carries, but ran for 101 yards. “If Corbin doesn’t have that block on the edge, I wouldn’t have scored. I saw that green grass and I was like, ‘I’m not going down.’ ”
There was still the matter of coming up with a defensive stand to preserve the win, however, and Silver Lake had had plenty of success moving the ball under the direction of backup quarterback Cole Baird.
Baird’s 19-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2 earlier in the quarter had tied the game and the junior, filling in for injured Ryan Matzke, finished the night with 132 yards rushing.
After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the kickoff following Horak’s run set Silver Lake up at the Rossville 46, the Eagles were in business.
But one play after an 11-yard run by Baird, he lofted a pass to the Rossville 2 that Corbin Horak and Silver Lake receiver Logan Wolfley battled for. Horak won the battle, yanking the interception down to deny the Eagles.
“I just saw him scrambling and I knew he was going to throw to the left,” Horak said. “I saw the guy over there and got under it. I was nervous at first, but I thought I had the ball first.”
Rossville was able to run out all but seven seconds and Silver Lake’s final play from its own 46 fell incomplete, setting off Rossville’s long-awaited celebration.
“I thought our kids stepped up and played well,” Hamilton said. “We had opportunities to score right before the half and right at the end of the game at the 2-yard line and they made plays. That’s what the game’s about. It was a great high school football game. I’m proud of this group, and I’m proud of them (Rossville).”
Both teams scored on their first possessions of the game with Tucker Horak scoring from 13 yards out for the Bulldawg touchdown and Zach Boyd getting the answer for the Eagles on a 4-yard run. Rossville added a second touchdown on a Tucker Horak-to-Nick Reesor 10-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-7 halftime lead, preserved when the Bulldawgs stopped Baird at the 2 as the half expired.
The defenses took over in the second half before Thatcher Horak sent the Bulldawgs home with a season sweep of the Eagles — a first for Rossville. Silver Lake, which had played in 11 of the last 12 state championship games, finished 11-2, its only losses to the Bulldawgs.
“We just needed to make a play and that was my thought going into the week,” Hammes said. “We have a talented team and we just needed to put ourselves in a position to make a play when we needed to do it. We kept sawing wood and popped the big one that was the difference in the game.”
Rossville (13-0) 7 7 0 7 — 21
Silver Lake (11-2) 7 0 0 7 — 14
Ross — Tu. Horak 13 run (Steinke kick)
SL — Boyd 4 run (Klein kick)
Ross — Reesor 10 pass from Tu. Horak (Steinke kick)
SL — Baird 19 run (Klein kick)
Ross — Th. Horak 85 run (Steinke kick)
GAME IN FIGURES
Ross SL
First downs 11 15
Rushes-yards 32-219 47-201
Passing 92 41
Comp-Att-Int 7-11-2 9-13-2
Punts 3-29.0 3-29.0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 7-61 4-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Rossville: Reesor 6-18, Tu. Horak 14-85, Th. Horak 5-101, Hammes 1-12, Steckel 6-3. Silver Lake: Renfro 11-38, Baird 26-132, Boyd 10-31.
PASSING — Rossville: Tu. Horak 7-11-2, 92. Silver Lake: Baird 9-13-2, 41.
RECEIVING — Rossville: Roduner 2-14, Th. Horak 3-62, Reesor 1-10, C. Horak 1-6. Silver Lake: Byers 8-33, Freeman 1-8.
SILVER LAKE — Well after the scoreboard hit 0:00 in Friday night’s War on 24 Class 3A state semifinal, Rossville players and fans remained on Silver Lake’s C.J. Hamilton Field not quite ready to leave.
So many times before, the hugs being shared were those of condolences after the Bulldawgs’ season had come to an end at the hands of their archrivals.
Not this time.
This time — and for the first time in program history — Rossville was able to enjoy the moment and celebrate it to the fullest, knowing its season wasn’t done. After losing eight semifinal games to Silver Lake in the last 12 years, the Bulldawgs finally turned history on its head, pulling out a nerve-wracking 21-14 victory.
“It’s always in doubt when you play these guys,” Rossville coach Derick Hammes said. “For our community, this is big. Over the years, we’ve had so many good players and coaches. To get the program over the hump, I’m just thrilled and proud of the guys.”
No. 1 Rossville (13-0) will play in the 3A state championship game for just the second time in program history, the only other appearance ending with a 3-0 loss to Hesston in the 1992 title game. The opponent next week in Hutchinson is still yet to be determined with No. 2 Scott City (12-0) and Halstead (10-2) meeting the other semifinal at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Halstead.
Silver Lake has had Rossville’s number in the playoffs — the Bulldawgs had never beaten the Eagles in the postseason — and the longer Friday’s game stayed tied, the longer it looked like the Eagles were going to get it done again. Silver Lake locked up the Bulldawgs defensively in the second half and the moment appeared to be engulfing Rossville.
Instead, the Bulldawgs were merely biding time until they could seize the moment, and when Thatcher and Corbin Horak got it in their clutches, they didn’t let go.
Two weeks ago, Thatcher had “The Catch,” an acrobatic touchdown grab that sparked the playoff win over Centralia. Friday night, he delivered “The Run.”
With Rossville’s offense sputtering in the second half after scoring on two of three possessions in the first half, the Bulldawgs hardly appeared ready to break out taking over at their own 15 with 2:31 left.
Instead, Horak took the handoff, cut inside and then bounced outside. Sprung by a block from Corbin, he sprinted down the Bulldawg sideline, shedding a tackle attempt by Silver Lake’s Cody Renfro near midfield and going 85 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
“I give it to my guys, they blocked the heck out of it,” said Thatcher, who had just five carries, but ran for 101 yards. “If Corbin doesn’t have that block on the edge, I wouldn’t have scored. I saw that green grass and I was like, ‘I’m not going down.’ ”
There was still the matter of coming up with a defensive stand to preserve the win, however, and Silver Lake had had plenty of success moving the ball under the direction of backup quarterback Cole Baird.
Baird’s 19-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2 earlier in the quarter had tied the game and the junior, filling in for injured Ryan Matzke, finished the night with 132 yards rushing.
After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the kickoff following Horak’s run set Silver Lake up at the Rossville 46, the Eagles were in business.
But one play after an 11-yard run by Baird, he lofted a pass to the Rossville 2 that Corbin Horak and Silver Lake receiver Logan Wolfley battled for. Horak won the battle, yanking the interception down to deny the Eagles.
“I just saw him scrambling and I knew he was going to throw to the left,” Horak said. “I saw the guy over there and got under it. I was nervous at first, but I thought I had the ball first.”
Rossville was able to run out all but seven seconds and Silver Lake’s final play from its own 46 fell incomplete, setting off Rossville’s long-awaited celebration.
“I thought our kids stepped up and played well,” Hamilton said. “We had opportunities to score right before the half and right at the end of the game at the 2-yard line and they made plays. That’s what the game’s about. It was a great high school football game. I’m proud of this group, and I’m proud of them (Rossville).”
Both teams scored on their first possessions of the game with Tucker Horak scoring from 13 yards out for the Bulldawg touchdown and Zach Boyd getting the answer for the Eagles on a 4-yard run. Rossville added a second touchdown on a Tucker Horak-to-Nick Reesor 10-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-7 halftime lead, preserved when the Bulldawgs stopped Baird at the 2 as the half expired.
The defenses took over in the second half before Thatcher Horak sent the Bulldawgs home with a season sweep of the Eagles — a first for Rossville. Silver Lake, which had played in 11 of the last 12 state championship games, finished 11-2, its only losses to the Bulldawgs.
“We just needed to make a play and that was my thought going into the week,” Hammes said. “We have a talented team and we just needed to put ourselves in a position to make a play when we needed to do it. We kept sawing wood and popped the big one that was the difference in the game.”
Rossville (13-0) 7 7 0 7 — 21
Silver Lake (11-2) 7 0 0 7 — 14
Ross — Tu. Horak 13 run (Steinke kick)
SL — Boyd 4 run (Klein kick)
Ross — Reesor 10 pass from Tu. Horak (Steinke kick)
SL — Baird 19 run (Klein kick)
Ross — Th. Horak 85 run (Steinke kick)
GAME IN FIGURES
Ross SL
First downs 11 15
Rushes-yards 32-219 47-201
Passing 92 41
Comp-Att-Int 7-11-2 9-13-2
Punts 3-29.0 3-29.0
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 7-61 4-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Rossville: Reesor 6-18, Tu. Horak 14-85, Th. Horak 5-101, Hammes 1-12, Steckel 6-3. Silver Lake: Renfro 11-38, Baird 26-132, Boyd 10-31.
PASSING — Rossville: Tu. Horak 7-11-2, 92. Silver Lake: Baird 9-13-2, 41.
RECEIVING — Rossville: Roduner 2-14, Th. Horak 3-62, Reesor 1-10, C. Horak 1-6. Silver Lake: Byers 8-33, Freeman 1-8.
War On 24 Video Coverage
Kansas First News has good video coverage of the "War on 24" at:
http://kansasfirstnews.com/2014/11/21/football-frenzy-playoff-recap-112114/
The Academy Game of the Week on WIBW was the latest version of the "War on 24"
http://www.wibw.com/sports/ksprepzone/headlines/Week-12-Rossville-at-Silver-Lake-283520441.html
A replay of the complete game is at:
http://www.team1sports.com/index.php/videoPlayer/view?broadcast=93216
http://kansasfirstnews.com/2014/11/21/football-frenzy-playoff-recap-112114/
The Academy Game of the Week on WIBW was the latest version of the "War on 24"
http://www.wibw.com/sports/ksprepzone/headlines/Week-12-Rossville-at-Silver-Lake-283520441.html
A replay of the complete game is at:
http://www.team1sports.com/index.php/videoPlayer/view?broadcast=93216
Friday, November 21, 2014
Dawgs Go To State Champonship Game
The Dawgs Will Go To Hutchinson.
Dawgs beat the Eagles in a nail biter to the end by a 21-14 score.
In the latter part of the 4th quarter, The Eagles were putting together a long drive to tie the score. The Dawgs intercepted a SL pass near the goal line with less than 2 minutes left to preserve the win.
More info later.
Dawgs beat the Eagles in a nail biter to the end by a 21-14 score.
In the latter part of the 4th quarter, The Eagles were putting together a long drive to tie the score. The Dawgs intercepted a SL pass near the goal line with less than 2 minutes left to preserve the win.
More info later.
Football Playoff Game On-Line
You can watch the Eagles-Dawgs play out the latest War on 24 at 7:00 PM, Nov. 21, at:
http://www.ihigh.com/rossville/
http://www.ihigh.com/rossville/
War on 24 Revisited
From CJOnline:
SILVER LAKE — The history is impossible to ignore.
Eight times in the last 12 years, Silver Lake and Rossville have waged their War on 24 showdown in the Class 3A state semifinals. Eight times in the last 12 years, Silver Lake emerged victorious — part of a run where the Eagles have made 11 trips to the finals in the last 12 years.
There have been close calls (13-12 OT in 2002; 34-26 in 2004), blowouts (38-0 in 2010, 42-0 in 2007) and everything in between.
Yet when the rivalry is renewed on the big stage once again at 7 p.m. Friday in Silver Lake, both coaches know that history is something that must be forgotten.
“Prior to the game, I think it’s more of a big deal,” Silver Lake coach C.J. Hamilton said. “Once the game starts, it’s not even part of the thought process. You’re focused so much on what’s going on on the field and what needs to get done, you don’t really pay attention to the history of it. It all disappears.”
Rossville coach Derick Hammes agreed.
“The pressure of it enters both teams’ minds, I would imagine,” Hammes said. “But in terms of preparation and how it needs to be played and what a team has to do in order to win the game, the past doesn’t factor a whole lot into that. Every game is a new one.
“I don’t think there’s a mental block of any kind, or an advantage for one side or the other. It’s simply a football game and each one is different.”
The first meeting between the two this season certainly had a different feel to it. It wasn’t necessarily the outcome — a 24-14 Rossville win — that was unusual with the victory the second straight in the regular season over the Eagles that secured a second straight Mid-East League title.
Rather, it was the manner in which the Bulldawgs got the victory. Rossville shut out the Eagles for three quarters and held Silver Lake to just 215 yards of total offense, including just 66 yards on the ground.
Silver Lake’s offense wasn’t at full strength in that contest, missing tailback Cody Renfro, and likely won’t be again in the rematch.
The void this time could be even more noticeable as senior quarterback Ryan Matzke is expected to miss the game after being injured (knee, head) in last week’s 20-14 overtime win against Wellsville.
Matzke has accounted for more than 2,700 yards of total offense this season, throwing for 2,098 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 657 yards and 12 scores.
Junior Cole Baird will take over for Matzke, moving in from his receiver spot where he’s caught 20 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns. Baird caught at TD pass against Wellsville and ran in the game-winning score in overtime, but has attempted just two passes all season.
“He just hasn’t had the reps,” Hamilton said. “Even when we got ahead in some of our games this season, we didn’t work him at quarterback because he had enough on his plate at receiver and playing offense and defense both. We didn’t want to burden him with the quarterback situation, too.
“It is what it is and we’re not the only team that’s ever had an injury in a key spot. You don’t know how they’ll handle the emotion and we’re playing a really good team. It’s not like we’re doing this at mid-season against somebody that’s trying to find themselves. Rossville knows who they are, what they’re about and they have a lot of confidence, as they should.”
While Silver Lake has spent the week re-tooling a bit, Rossville enters the showdown with its offense running at full speed. Tucker and Thatcher Horak combined for all eight touchdowns in the Bulldawgs’ 56-19 romp past Colgan last Friday, continuing huge seasons that have helped Rossville put up a whopping 635 points (57.7 per game).
Tucker Horak, who ran for 192 yards in the first game against Silver Lake, rushed for 198 yards and five touchdowns and also returned an interception for a touchdown, while Thatcher returned the opening kickoff for a score and later caught a touchdown pass from Tucker.
For the season, Tucker Horak has rushed for 1,783 yards and 25 touchdowns, while throwing for 1,508 yards and 21 scores. Thatcher has added 880 yards rushing and 475 receiving, scoring 21 touchdowns.
“This is a confident group,” Hammes said. “They’ve done this three times now and experience is such a big thing. We’re battle-tested as well. The two games with Centralia in the long run were great for us. Having Lake at the end of the schedule at the end of the year instead of the middle of the season was good. And then going on the road and playing in a different environment at Colgan was good for us.
“Last year we really didn’t have those same kind of challenges. ... You can look at this year and say it’s been smooth sailing. But there have been things we’ve had to overcome — injuries along the way, an end of the season schedule with some great coaches on the other side. We’ve pulled together and answered challenges.”
SILVER LAKE — The history is impossible to ignore.
Eight times in the last 12 years, Silver Lake and Rossville have waged their War on 24 showdown in the Class 3A state semifinals. Eight times in the last 12 years, Silver Lake emerged victorious — part of a run where the Eagles have made 11 trips to the finals in the last 12 years.
There have been close calls (13-12 OT in 2002; 34-26 in 2004), blowouts (38-0 in 2010, 42-0 in 2007) and everything in between.
Yet when the rivalry is renewed on the big stage once again at 7 p.m. Friday in Silver Lake, both coaches know that history is something that must be forgotten.
“Prior to the game, I think it’s more of a big deal,” Silver Lake coach C.J. Hamilton said. “Once the game starts, it’s not even part of the thought process. You’re focused so much on what’s going on on the field and what needs to get done, you don’t really pay attention to the history of it. It all disappears.”
Rossville coach Derick Hammes agreed.
“The pressure of it enters both teams’ minds, I would imagine,” Hammes said. “But in terms of preparation and how it needs to be played and what a team has to do in order to win the game, the past doesn’t factor a whole lot into that. Every game is a new one.
“I don’t think there’s a mental block of any kind, or an advantage for one side or the other. It’s simply a football game and each one is different.”
The first meeting between the two this season certainly had a different feel to it. It wasn’t necessarily the outcome — a 24-14 Rossville win — that was unusual with the victory the second straight in the regular season over the Eagles that secured a second straight Mid-East League title.
Rather, it was the manner in which the Bulldawgs got the victory. Rossville shut out the Eagles for three quarters and held Silver Lake to just 215 yards of total offense, including just 66 yards on the ground.
Silver Lake’s offense wasn’t at full strength in that contest, missing tailback Cody Renfro, and likely won’t be again in the rematch.
The void this time could be even more noticeable as senior quarterback Ryan Matzke is expected to miss the game after being injured (knee, head) in last week’s 20-14 overtime win against Wellsville.
Matzke has accounted for more than 2,700 yards of total offense this season, throwing for 2,098 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 657 yards and 12 scores.
Junior Cole Baird will take over for Matzke, moving in from his receiver spot where he’s caught 20 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns. Baird caught at TD pass against Wellsville and ran in the game-winning score in overtime, but has attempted just two passes all season.
“He just hasn’t had the reps,” Hamilton said. “Even when we got ahead in some of our games this season, we didn’t work him at quarterback because he had enough on his plate at receiver and playing offense and defense both. We didn’t want to burden him with the quarterback situation, too.
“It is what it is and we’re not the only team that’s ever had an injury in a key spot. You don’t know how they’ll handle the emotion and we’re playing a really good team. It’s not like we’re doing this at mid-season against somebody that’s trying to find themselves. Rossville knows who they are, what they’re about and they have a lot of confidence, as they should.”
While Silver Lake has spent the week re-tooling a bit, Rossville enters the showdown with its offense running at full speed. Tucker and Thatcher Horak combined for all eight touchdowns in the Bulldawgs’ 56-19 romp past Colgan last Friday, continuing huge seasons that have helped Rossville put up a whopping 635 points (57.7 per game).
Tucker Horak, who ran for 192 yards in the first game against Silver Lake, rushed for 198 yards and five touchdowns and also returned an interception for a touchdown, while Thatcher returned the opening kickoff for a score and later caught a touchdown pass from Tucker.
For the season, Tucker Horak has rushed for 1,783 yards and 25 touchdowns, while throwing for 1,508 yards and 21 scores. Thatcher has added 880 yards rushing and 475 receiving, scoring 21 touchdowns.
“This is a confident group,” Hammes said. “They’ve done this three times now and experience is such a big thing. We’re battle-tested as well. The two games with Centralia in the long run were great for us. Having Lake at the end of the schedule at the end of the year instead of the middle of the season was good. And then going on the road and playing in a different environment at Colgan was good for us.
“Last year we really didn’t have those same kind of challenges. ... You can look at this year and say it’s been smooth sailing. But there have been things we’ve had to overcome — injuries along the way, an end of the season schedule with some great coaches on the other side. We’ve pulled together and answered challenges.”
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