State Playoffs: Wichita Northwest at Derby

On the Sports Daily radio show this morning, Northwest coach Weston Schartz recounted his many games against Derby in the 1990s. Schartz, a 50-game winner in seven seasons at Northwest, has a previous life coaching at West High, which perennially ran into Derby in the playoffs during those years. Friday night will be Schartz' biggest game against Derby in over a decade. As much as Schartz' would prefer the smash-mouth brand of football which defined the old Derby-West match-ups, Friday's Northwest-Derby game will have a completely different tone. Derby's avant-garde offense - the no-huddle, look-to-the-sideline spread option - will be unlike anything Northwest has faced this season. However, the same was said for Heights in Week 9 when they squared off against Derby, and the Falcons responded with their outstanding speed all over the field on defense. Northwest touts plenty of speed, as well, though not as much as Heights, and their defensive line is solid compared to Heights' hosses. Still, even the speed of East High in Week 8 gave Derby problems for three quarters - until the Panthers exploded for three touchdowns. All of this should be tempered, however - the "speed kills" argument against Derby, that is - because the Panthers are the best at one thing, adjustments. Derby compiled 150 penalty yards against Heights - and, of course, that was due to Heights' speed - but Derby will make preparations to ensure that this doesn't happen again. Last week, granted against a much slower Goddard team, Derby responded to their first loss with a 37-0 lead after three quarters. So, the question mark for Derby? Aaron Wilson, who was injured at the beginning of the second quarter against Heights, which had to have factored in mightily in that game's result, played one half against Goddard. "He couldn't cut at all [against Heights] and wasn't at full speed against Goddard," said Derby coach Brandon Clark. "He took a couple snaps in the second half against Goddard. He's going to give us everything he's got." Jameson Moore, a six-foot, 230-pound linebacker, is the back-up running back.