Games of the Week

Watch Good Morning Kansas on KAKE 10 every Friday morning to see Vype's Game of the Week previews.

Trust me, state bragging rights, unfinished business and bad feelings are at stake in the Rockhurst-Hutchinson game tonight at Gowans Stadium. Rockhurst, one of the Midwest’s D-1 factories, was shocked and deflated by Hutch’s demoralizing triple option run game in last year’s game, but two second-half Hutch touchdowns were called back to ensure a 28-21 win, ending Hutch’s 36-game win streak. Coach Randy Dreiling told me this week that the Rockhurst game is bigger than last November’s state championship game. And it should be. When Hutch scheduled Rockhurst, they did so because they were tired of uncompetitive games in Kansas. Remember, Hutch called Rockhurst out. “The Rock” wasn’t begging for a competitive game on their schedule; anyone and everyone in the Midwest who thinks they’re great want to play Rockhurst. So after last year’s loss in KC, no matter the circumstances of that bizarre game, the pressure’s on Hutch. They’re the ones trying to find out how great they truly are. Dreiling told me tonight’s game is a must-win, and I’ve never heard him say anything like that.

It can truly be called an era of coaching milestones for Kansas prep football. Dreiling and Smith Center coach Roger Barta became the first Kansas head coaches to win 5 consecutive state titles last year. This fall, McPherson's Tom Young will reach 300 career wins. With a win tonight at Goddard, Young will tie Ed Kriwiel at 297. The week those two spend in each other's company on the all-time wins list will be a classy, deserved meeting, indeed.

Finally, it's the most anticipated city contest every season – Carroll-Heights. Carroll QB Blake Bell made his debut in the 2008 contest, leading a late comeback before a Carroll turnover in the closing seconds sealed a 24-21 Heights win. But when Bell led a no-huddle passing attack from inside his own 30 to the Heights 20 in the final minute, it was stunning. OU, known for putting up 60 last season, would want some of that.