Games Of the Week 10.23.09

Heights at Southeast
Nearing the close of this wild ride through Wichita football this season, is District 6 in Class 6A going to shake out with no surprises after all? Derby, Heights, Southeast and East: Last year, it was one of the most powerful districts in the state. Each team ended with a winning record, with 8-1 Derby and 8-1 Heights making the playoffs. But this year, East has struggled mightily in the wake of Bryce Brown, Southeast has not fulfilled the offseason hype, and the Heights offense has completely stalled twice now before revving right back up. Both Heights and Southeast lost to South this season, a coincidence which hasn't occurred in recent memory. Tonight, each has a chance at redemption going up against one another. It's the east Wichita public rivalry, with playoff repercussions: Heights at Southeast, played however on the west side at Northwest High School. Go figure.

Trinity Catholic at Sedgwick
Class 3A Trinity Catholic is one of those schools that hovers just above Class 2-1A in terms of student population. The next two years, in fact, in 2010 and 2011, they'll move down to Class 2-1A. However, the 7-0 Celtics must finish out this football season in 3A after playing entirely 2-1A teams the first six games of the season. The encouraging part: Trinity out-scored those opponents 303-119. Then last week they defeated previously 5-1 Remington 49-0. Trinity travels to 6-1 Sedgwick tonight.

Hays at Hutch
A year after being the laughing stock of Class 5A District 6, Hays is 7 and 0 under first-year coach Ryan Cornelsen, who was previously 32 and 3 as coach at LaCrosse. The Hays program has certainly proven coaches count, but it's an uphill climb at Hutch this week and at home against McPherson next week in order to make the playoffs.

Salina Central at Emporia
At 4 and 0 just three weeks ago entering their game at Hutch, Salina Central was looking good. Now, at 5 and 2 coming off a loss to Salina South, Central travels to Emporia, which is having a heck of a season, with only two competitive losses to Junction City and Manhattan. Central may not even make the playoffs.

St. Thomas Aquinas at Gardner-Edgerton
Finally, let's jump out of the coverage area for an update on an old familiar face. Former six-time state-champ Salina Central coach Marvin Diener looks to take the next step in his fourth season at his new program, Gardner-Edgerton, southwest of Kansas City. After losing to eventual 5A state finalist St. Thomas Aquinas twice last season, 7 and 0 Gardner looks to displace their new rival, 7 and 0 Aquinas. It's the game of the week for the state of Kansas.