Weekend Rusher (Week 2)

Carroll and Northwest combined to score 46 points in the second quarter alone on Friday. That's an incredible number.

Usually. But these first two weeks of prep football have put on unusual offensive displays. Yes, you've always got the 50s and 60s being put up in complete mismatches. But I've attended two top match-ups these two weeks and seen prolific scoring and periods of utter lack of defense.

Last week I watched Hutch take a 35-14 lead against Rockhurst just 23 seconds into the second quarter. That's 49 points in 12:23 of game time in Week 1, then 46 points in less than 12 minutes in Week 2.

In the case of Carroll and Northwest's Week 2 match-up, both coaches would likely prefer consistency rather than scoring in bunches. Carroll first, and Northwest second, showed great things at times, but they were many and close between.

Carroll scored 32 points in the second quarter to lead 32-14 at the half before each team put together only one effective scoring drive in the second half. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but such inconsistency does not bode well for the City League's chances on the state level.

What is very encouraging for Carroll is that they are one option from being great. If six-foot-four Nick Johansen hadn't graduated, I'd probably rank them second or third in the state, because their offense would be second-quarter-against-Northwest potent all game long.

But the tall deep option up the sideline did graduate, and Carroll doesn't have a replacement. Quarterback Blake Bell can throw that ball, but he doesn't have anyone to throw it to.

Carroll's Bell-centered offense was still effective in bunches, though. It consists of putting Bell in the shotgun and immediately throwing the ball to a wideout in the flat, running a quarterback draw or hitting a quick out or slant. Missing in the equation, obviously, is the ability to successfully complete the occasional ball downfield. The offense can get stagnant when everything is being done no more than seven or eight yards downfield.

I did see some height at wideout against Northwest, though. If Carroll starts successfully throwing the ball downfield, which they attempted very little against Northwest, they will start scoring in the 50s and 60s every week, just like last season.

The fact that Carroll had the downfield option last season and still didn't get it done in the playoffs remains a concern, however. A team in Kansas couldn't have asked for a better receiving corp than Carroll's in 2008. That state quarterfinal McPherson loss still remains a mystery to me. Heck, the week before in the first round of the playoffs, Carroll didn't look great against Salina Central. The offense began to be inconsistent for some reason.

I'll put my opinion out there for what it's worth.

Carroll has serious scheduling issues. The level of competition goes down from here on out. Every year, they play their two most difficult games of the year in Week 1 and 2. But this year, Heights in Week 1 didn't even provide their usual stiff competition. I don't see how Carroll gets better against a schedule that provides no challenges: next up the rest of the way are South, North, East, Kapaun, West, Valley Center and Liberal.

Kapaun will give Carroll a go this year. I'm certain of that. But the NFL and its socialist scheduling philosophy couldn't create a more lacking schedule for the Detroit Lions. Liberal has been entrenched in mediocrity for nearly a decade now, and they're on the brink of being bad under yet another first-year coach. It's unfortunate for Carroll that this former excellent competitor is falling off the map. That should be a key game for them going into the playoffs, but it's no longer a barometer of things to come.

Whether Carroll finds the deep option at wideout or not, they're going to score 50 or 60 every week. None of their remaining games outside of Kapaun will let them know where they stand as a contender in the playoffs. Just watch, once again they will be shocked back into a higher level of competition in their first playoff game, and the success of their entire season will depend how they react in the tough early moments of that game. I think that's unfortunate.

Carroll has had largely the same coaching staff for 15 years now. That has translated into 123 wins for coach Alan Schuckman. He says the chief reason Carroll is successful is because his coaches are loyal to Carroll and its mission to raise kids in a faith-filled atmosphere. He's right.

But equally interesting to me is that the Carroll program has stalled. In 15 years, Schuckman has taken Carroll from the bottom of the league to its perennial favorite and most consistent threat in the state playoffs. Two years ago, Carroll earned its first state title game berth since 1978. It took a long time to get there, and the suspension of four starters, including the team's top linebacker, precluded them from contending in that game. Now, after last year's very disappointing early exit from the playoffs with one of the state's most prolific offenses, I wonder where the program stands.

It is certainly excellent and will continue to dominate the City League, but there's a missing variable to increasing their level of success. I think it's the schedule. Preparing for better teams each week not only challenges players and coaches on a weekly, daily and hourly basis, but it also conditions the program to become better because everyone knows they have the bring it hard and be completely focused in order to win all the time. Soft play will result in losses against a tough schedule. As it is, Carroll will coast to wins in six of their final seven games.


Come playoff time, though, they will have an absolute gamer running things. Blake Bell went to Hawaii this summer for a quarterbacks camp, but it's not obvious. He's stayed humble.

All expenses were paid, he rubbed shoulders with pros, his every need was met, any and all instruction was offered in a catering manner.

But he's not a prima donna.

The nation has talked about him as the top high school quarterback in the Class of 2010, yet the 6-6 stud quarterback still buckles his 5-10 backup wideout's chin strap, as he did against Northwest early in the game during a timeout.

He spent the summer throwing balls on college campuses, yet when drives stagnated on Friday night because guys were dropping balls over the middle, he looked to the sideline for the next play call, clapped his hands, patted the rear end of the wideout who dropped the ball and lined up for the next play. His teammates like and respect him.

The time will come after many blowout wins this year when Bell will have to will the offense to march up field against a very good team. The West in Class 5A is insanely loaded this year. Hutchinson is king, with excellent teams at McPherson, Salina Central and Salina South behind them. Carroll will win its district, thus will play a second-place team from another district. With Central and South in one district and Hutch and McPherson in one district, two really good teams will be second-place district teams. Carroll's first playoff game will be very tough, and they will gradually get tougher. Bell and Carroll will be challenged; it's just a matter of time.

Have confidence in this, though. Bell will lower his shoulder and fight for yardage. I was sort of shocked by how often Carroll runs draws with Bell in the shotgun. Bell responds; he doesn't shy away from hits. He's downright tough in goal line situations. Among national quarterback prospects being recruited for their throwing arm, this is very unusual. Bell is not taking the "I don't want to get hurt and lose my scholarship offer" course. He's not just a Division I recruit; he's a high school football player. (I say the exact same about Northwest's Demarcus Robinson. What an absolute workhorse. He combines sturdy leg strength with excellent speed.)

With 6:03 remaining in the second quarter against Northwest, Bell powered right for a five-yard score to take the lead 13-7. Carroll recovered an onside kick, which was a turning point in the game, taking the vigor out of Northwest's defensive play for the remainder of the half.

In another goal line situation with 5:11 remaining, Bell rolled out right after a fake handoff and lobbed a touchdown pass off his back foot to tight end John Mies. He put it in his bread basket.

After hitting every hand on the offense on the sideline between series, Bell took the field and found Brandon Weber up the sideline, airing it out 26 yards. The Carroll sideline was whooping it up after that with 2:06 remaining.

Just 31 seconds later, Northwest turned the ball over. Bell scampered for a big run, then Blake Rollins did the same. Two plays, and another score. Carroll led 32-7, and the game looked like it might be a runaway.

But it wasn't, and it's a shame Carroll won't be tested in a tight situation again any time soon. This series of events late in the third quarter won't get the job done at some point this season: false start, two incompletions, false start, blocked punt on own two-yard line. This is why the game was closer than it should have been.

But Bell did what he's going to have to do in the playoffs by leading his team on a late fourth-quarter scoring drive. Once again, he ran it in himself on the goal line. Blake Bell's no Jimmy Clausen. And that's a good thing.

"Last year (Blake) had a bunch of wide receivers around him who made him look better," Schuckman told me at Wednesday's practice. "What I want from Blake is to make eveyone around him better. This year he needs to make a bunch of young wide receivers better.

"When it comes time for him to put us on his shoulders, he needs to be able to do that and that's hard to say in football, but we're going to need him to make us better."

Bell was doing a lot of different stuff this summer, playing the way many instructors told him to play.

Now he's playing for Carroll coaches again, and he's doing what they ask of him. Just watch every time he puts his head down on the goal line. That's good stuff.

Question and Verdict
Is the spread going to take over Kansas football? It's certainly gaining a stronghold. But it's not like it's winning anybody state titles yet, and it's not achieving area pre-eminence for anyone. Salina Central reasserted itself against Derby on Friday, 20-12, holding a Panther offense to minimal points after their spread-crazed streak a year ago.

However, people are certainly throwing the ball around. Class 6A Garden City -- granted, against Class 4A opponents -- has posted large numbers the first two weeks in their first season in the spread. They shut out Maize South 49-0 Friday, putting on the brakes in the second half. (I'm very interested to see how the WAC sifts out this year. I think this league is coming back. Give it three years.) Also, Carroll can certainly score, working out of a spread-like setup. And McPherson is putting up numbers as silly as Hutchinson. Who would have thought a Tom Young football team would be chucking the ball all over. And Mulvane is sustaining success in Class 4A with the spread. They scored 34 against Class 5A Great Bend in Week 1 and shredded Kingman on Friday.

Expect more of the spread, but it's not necessary for success. It's just another option.

Xs&Os
Maize suffered a very disappointing loss at Blue Valley North on Friday 13-0. After constantly throwing the ball last season, Maize is running the flex bone this season. It got them 42 points last week against Valley Center, but Blue Valley North stacked nine guys in the box and Maize laid an egg. Next week, they play at Hutch, the master of the flex bone. It is a work of art when run well. But I can't imagine scoring 0 points with it one week, then running it against Hutch, which knows it backwards and forwards. Keep an eye on this box score next week.

6A/5A Power Rankings
1. Hutchinson
2. McPherson
3. Manhattan
4. Olathe North
5. Gardner-Edgerton
6. Blue Valley Northwest
7. Junction City
8. Bishop Carroll
9. Salina Central
10. Dodge City

4A Rankings
1. Buhler
2. Andale
3. Louisburg
4. Wellington
5. Bishop Miege

3A Rankings
1. Marysville
2. Conway Springs
3. Garden Plain
4. Silver Lake
5. Wichita Collegiate

State championship game predictions
6A: Olathe North over Manhattan
I was way off in 6A, picking Blue Valley Stilwell last week. Stilwell was handled by BV Northwest this week. BV Northwest is the team that went 2-7 last year before knocking off undefeated SM West in the first round before losing to Stilwell by four in the state quarterfinals.
5A: Hutchinson over Gardner-Edgerton
Enough said.
4A: Buhler over Louisburg
The West has all the best teams in Class 4A. The Buhler-Andale game(s) will decide the title.
3A: Marysville over Conway Springs
Marysville won 68-8 over Concordia, which Class 5A Hays beat 53-14 in Week 1. Marysville could compete with some 5As this year.

Winners (Those Who Could Become Big Winners)
Kapaun's Week 5 match-up against Carroll on national television is shaping up into an anticipated one. Kapaun looked to handle Heights as easily as Carroll did with a 27-7 win over the Falcons on Friday. Dan Adelhardt's club has been middle of road for five years. I like this team this year. You could rationalize that they should have beaten Northwest in Week 1. If that had happened, we'd be talking about Kapaun possibly winning its first City League title since 1982 and gunning for an undefeated season. Who knows, maybe they will win the city. I love that Kapaun-Carroll game coming up.

Newton followed up their easy victory over Liberal with a 57-7 embarrassment of rival Valley Center. I did not expect much from Newton this year. Hey, Kapaun better watch out for these guys in district play. Coach Brent Glann has slowly but surely built a respectable football program at Newton. Losing to Winfield and missing the playoffs last year was a big slip-up, though.

How good is Rose Hill? Good enough to have not allowed a point in the first two weeks of play. Class 4A just got tougher in the Wichita area.

Wellington might be a contender again. People in town told me at the beginning of last season to wait three years and Wellington would be in the conversation again. If I am to believe "them", Wellington is still a year away. But with an 18-7 win over Andover Central, they mean something already. We'll see how they do at Andale on Sept. 25. Remember, Wellington used to be the hawk's squawk in this area for Class 4A.

Trinity makes this list again. They beat up on Medicine Lodge 30-14 on Friday. Next: Conway Springs. Could Trinity be for real this season? What an incredible story it will be if they beat Conway this week.

Emporia beat Topeka Hayden 28-6, which is a great win even though it's over a Class 4A school. Can you believe both Salina schools and Emporia are in the same district? A very good football team will be left at home in November.

Headline Of the Week That You Missed
"Rockhurst bounces back and beats top-ranked Blue Springs"
Read Lorenzo Butler's story in the KC Star about Rockhurst defeating the top-ranked team in Missouri Class 6 17-3 a week after losing to Hutchinson 55-27. There may be more than one Kansas team better than Rockhurst. Kansas may be better than Missouri at high school football. Savor that.

Quote of the Week
"Stop moping, it's not soccer."
-Overheard on the sideline of a football game this week when a kicker was knocked down on a punt. I'm a soccer player, and I took offense.

Stat of the Week
Is Buhler's Jorden Oden headed for a record-breaking season? After rushing for 330 yards last week, he gained 208 at Abilene. The schedule gets easier, not harder, from here on out, except for the Andale game. Am I crazy to think he has a shot at 3,000 yards this season? Consider this. If Buhler makes sub-state, it will be their 13th game. If he rushes for 200 yards a game through that game, he'll have 2,738 rushing yards. Hm.

Player of the Week
Trinity Academy junior Morgan Burns rushed for 257 yards against Medicine Lodge in a 30-14 win. If you want to see some small linemen, go watch a Trinity practice or game. Burns may be one of the state's best backs. He certainly will be next year. I am very excited to see how he does against Conway next week. The Cards always have excellent line play.

Team of the Week
Maize soccer won the Titan Classic, but that's not the point. Following their 3-1 dismantling of Manhattan in the semifinal, the Manhattan coach told Maize coach Mike Darrah that they were the benchmark for Kansas soccer this year. That's quite a statement, seems how an area team has not won Class 6A since 1995. Maize is very good, and just got better with the return of forward Johnson Shaad. Shaad is a real playmaker with natural instincts for where to put the ball on the move.

Coach of the Week
South High's Cory Brack. South defeated Southeast 16-13 on Thursday, a shocking loss for the Buffs but a building block for South. After Carroll, Kapaun and Northwest in the city this year, anything can happen on any given night. I have no idea how that league will play out. It's certainly down a bit in the middle, but the bottom has gotten better.

Maglight
The September magazine hits stands this week on Thursday and Friday. Look for coverage of volleyball, soccer, cross country, golf and tennis.

If I were coach...
I would not stand on the field watching my opponent practice during pregame, as I saw a coach do recently. Is this against football etiquette? Isn't that why the rest of the team lines up across the field blocking their warm-ups from view? I'm not saying a coach can't watch warm-ups, but isn't it understood that you are to be coy about it?

Bold Prediction
Trinity Academy's Morgan Burns will rush for over 200 yards against Conway Springs.

Multimedia Gamut
Watch KAKE 10's Good Morning Kansas on Friday morning to watch Vype's Games of the Week. Also, tune in to Sports Daily on KFH 1240AM/98.7 FM on Friday mornings to hear Vype's segment on preps. Finally, after listing to the Andover-Andover Central broadcast and score updates Friday night on 1330 KNSS, tune in to KFH on Saturday morning at 8a for Mel Hambelton Ford Preps Weekly.