Memories From Our Columnists

By Ted Hayes Defending champ and perennial state powerhouse Silver Lake entered the Class 3A football state title game this past fall boasting a 27-game winning streak. But Garden Plain sent them back to Shawnee County with the streak shattered in a 48-7 blowout. For me, it was the most memorable game of the 2007-08 prep sports year, as it was a rematch of the 2006 title game and both teams entered the contest at 13-0. Silver Lake had pounded rival Rossville 42-0 in the sub-state finals the week before and appeared poised to capture the school's seventh state title. The Owls of Garden Plain, seeking the school's first state football crown, had swept through the playoffs with four impressive wins: 54-7 over Medicine Lodge, 42-0 over undefeated and third-ranked Hesston, 55-7 over fifth-ranked and once-beaten Hoisington, and 42-0 over arch-rival Conway Springs in the sub-state final. The stage was set for a classic rematch. It wasn't even close as Garden Plain shut down Silver Lake's vaunted offense, limiting the Eagles to a mere 26 rushing yards and 91 passing yards. Of Garden Plain's 522 yards of total offense, Logan Dold was everything he was billed to be in rushing for 289 yards and five touchdowns, passing for 112 yards and completing six of seven passes, including a touchdown pass on a fake field goal. Dold's was one of the greatest individual performances at state that I can recall since the playoffs began in 1969. In one of the most dominating seasons in Kansas prep football history, the Smith Center Redmen won their fourth straight state title in Class 2-1A, running their current victory skein to 54 games. The Redmen outscored their first 11 opponents of the season by the incredible margin of 760-0, before smashing St. Francis 44-6 in the sub-state final and Pittsburg-Colgan 40-14 in the championship game. On the season, Smith Center averaged over 11.5 yards every time they snapped the ball - including incomplete passes. Their top four rushers averaged better than a first down every time they carried the ball. They punted one time all season and never lost a fumble in 486 attempts! By Alan Shope What a school year in 2007-08! When you talk about highlights, Hutchinson football has to be one of them. The outgoing seniors won four straight Class 6A state titles...Wow! Then there's the Andale Indians. Most thought Coach O'Hair lost too many starters from the 2006 title team to return as the 4A state champs, but O'Hair got it done, putting together back to back undefeated seasons! How about Wichita North High baseball winning back to back City League titles, or the Andover Central girls running the table in hoops, or the Maize girls soccer team, which seemed to roll everyone in 2008, not allowing a goal all season until the 6A state title game? All great moments. But the one thing that will always stand out for me from 2007-08 is probably NOT one that most will remember. I'll always remember Wichita Southeast head basketball coach Carl Taylor winning his 251st game to become the city's all-time career wins leader. Coach quietly became the dean of the city, and in the eight years since I've been back in Wichita, I don't think I've ever met anyone like him. Coach appears to be rough and all business on the outside, but he's a softy inside. While a number of coaches will disappear when their sport is out of season, Coach Taylor is always on hand helping out somewhere. Whether it's a football game at Carpenter Stadium or a baseball game at McAdams Park - if it's a Southeast event, there is a good chance you'll see Taylor volunteering. After Coach walked off the court at White Auditorium this past March with his third 6A state championship in nine years, I walked up to him with a camera and asked him how good this moment felt. "I'm just glad these kids have a chance to experience this," he said. Once again, Taylor passing the credit on down the line. Hopefully he has another 250 wins in his bag over the next 10 years.