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Quick kicks from around the Jayhawk Community
College Conference with final regular season games Saturday...
To be sure, the conference is closing with a
flurry given all final four games on Halloween are uniquely significant...
• Significant
Game No. 1: Butler at Fort Scott. There are all kinds of angles to view this
game, including the unique perspective of Zach Bowers. He was at Butler for a
semester before leaving in late 2007 after being told he was being moved from
defensive end to fullback. Bowers transferred to Fort Scott, saying: “Defensive
end is where I thought I played best.” Fort Scott Coach Jeff Sims had coveted
Bowers while he was at Shawnee Heights high school in Topeka and so he was
elated with the move. Said Sims: “Zach just wanted to be wanted.“ And so Sims
and Co. have provided the love and Bowers has answered by starting every game
during a highlight-filled 17-2 two-year run. The Butler-Fort Scott game will
decide the regular season champion and could be the impetus for a National JC
Athletic Association championship. Butler is bidding for an unprecedented third
consecutive crown. In Tuesday's NJCAA poll, Fort Scott was ranked No. 3, Butler
No. 4. The only other ranked Kansas team was Coffeyville, at No. 17.
• More Butler-Fort Scott: the game could well boil down to whether the best
offense or the best defense wins games. Fort Scott is getting a conference-best
average 415.9 yards per game while Butler is holding opponents to a
conference-best average 223.6 yards per game. Fort Scott has outscored opponents
by an average, 36.6-15.8, Butler by an average 31.3-9.4.
• So how does Butler Coach Troy Morrell, who has been through more than his
share of Prime Time games in a decade at El Dorado, see this game? “We are
getting better, but we still have a ways to go before we are where we want to
be. It should be an interesting game.”
Morrell says Fort Scott's high-powered offense, potentially explosive running or
passing, and the Greyhounds' speed on defense loom large in his mind. “They are
extremely physical and sound in their schemes,” he said. “I think Dick Foster
(former Coffeyville coach) said it best when he said they have great players and
great coaches, maybe the best in the conference. I think the deciding factor (in
the game) will be turnovers. They have not turned the ball over much, but we
have struggled with turnovers.”
Said Sims of Butler: “My biggest concerns with them are their coaching staff,
which has proven to be the best in the conference, and their defense, which has
been outstanding. We had a lot of errors last weekend (in beating Air Force
Prep, 48-28) that we need to correct. We had too many to beat a team like
Butler. We need to be more consistent because there were just too many highs and
too many lows.”
Will being at home give the Greyhounds an edge? “If we were playing any other
team except Butler I would say yes, but Butler has beaten everyone
everywhere...I don't care if you play them in the parking lot they will be tough
to beat.”
• Significant Game No. 2: Garden City (3-3, 4-4) at Hutchinson (3-3, 5-3), The
winner becomes the fourth team in the four-team post-season playoffs. Butler,
Fort Scott and Coffeyville are in the playoffs, scheduled on back-to-back
Sundays on Nov. 8 and 15. In Hutchinson's win over Independence (30-20), the
defense was solid – yielding only six total rushing yards. Said Hutch Coach Rion
Rhoades: “Independence did a good job, but I also think you saw some fatigue (by
HCC’s defense). When you have a bunch of consecutive three-and-outs
(offensively), you get some tired defensive players. I was a little disappointed
that we didn’t get more first downs to continue drives and keep our defense off
the field a little bit.”
• Significant Game No. 3: Independence at Coffeyville. The Pirates need some
heart paddles – they have lost five games in a row – but it is the heart of his
team that Coach Lamar James says he likes. Coffeyville, meanwhile, has won five
of its last six games after opening the season 0-2. There will be a double dose
of pride on the line given Independence and Coffeyville are only about 15 miles
apart in the southeastern corner of the state. Said James: “We have to lay it
all out on the line. As long as our guys keep competing, streaks don't matter.”
• Significant Game No. 4: Dodge City at Highland (both 0-6, 0-8). This one is to
avoid going oh-for-2009. Said Highland assistant coach Chass Williams: “Every
win you get in this conference is a boost with your recruiting and it also helps
the morale of the team.”
Williams and his fellow coaches had to all pitch in to help Coach Mike Beagle
get through a case of swine flu. He has not missed a practice, but he has made
sure not to get too close to anyone. Said Dodge City Coach Bob Majeski of the
Highland game: “It's very important game for us because we need to go out of the
season on the right foot. A win will help with recruiting and set the tone for
the off-season.”
Majeski, by the way, gives his offense a D- and the defense a B in their play to
date. “Our record says one thing, but I know how hard and how much improvement
out guys have made,” he said.
• Players at every collegiate level seem to get better – and bigger – every
year. There were 34 players who weighed at least 300 pounds (Butler, Highland
and Independence had six each) on the eight teams' pre-season rosters. The
heaviest is 6-5, 385-pound Payden Miller of Coffeyville. The freshman offensive
lineman from Frontenac came to campus in the fall at 440.
HOW THEY PICK BUTLER-FORT SCOTT
Butler 24, Fort Scott 20
“If ever a team in the conference is going to beat Butler it better be
now. Fort Scott has a great opportunity to win, but (Coach) Troy (Morrell)
always comes up with something to win games like this.”
Dick Foster, former Coffeyville coach
Butler 20, Fort Scott 17
“This should be a terrific game and, being in Fort Scott, one for
Butler fans to sweat. But until proven otherwise, I'm not picking against the
Grizzlies.”
Jim Kobbe, KSN Sports
Butler 31, Fort Scott 28
“A field goal by Butler in the late stages of the game will provide
another dramatic victory for the Grizzlies. (Coach Troy) Morrell just has a way
of winning the big ones.”
Brett Marshall, Garden City Telegram
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