Football

unfinished91 · 10-31-2007, 07:36 PM

I just read an AP article that indicates that the folks in Smith Center can do other stuff besides build good fifth wheels. Apparently the Smith Center High School football team scored 72 points in the first quarter of their game against Plainville. They eventually won 83-0. The article said this was thought to be a national record for points in a quarter. It stated that Smith Center has outscored opponents 640-0 this year. I wonder if any Excel employees have kids on the team.
story

unfinished91 · 10-31-2007, 07:36 PM

I just read an AP article that indicates that the folks in Smith Center can do other stuff besides build good fifth wheels. Apparently the Smith Center High School football team scored 72 points in the first quarter of their game against Plainville. They eventually won 83-0. The article said this was thought to be a national record for points in a quarter. It stated that Smith Center has outscored opponents 640-0 this year. I wonder if any Excel employees have kids on the team.
story

Still Working "NOT" · 11-01-2007, 01:33 AM

Smith Center, Football Capital of Kansas. That says it all. They have been in the top of their class for so long I don't remember when they were last beaten. I believe that it been over three years. For this senior class it has been a great ride. Those of us in the Northwest Kansas League would like to make it to the state football championship game but we have to go through Smith Center to get there.

Hopefully this will will be the year.

St. Francis is coach by a former player for Smith Center back in the 90's and he runs basicly the same offense and can't get it done. Oakley has tried and should get another chance this year. We do have three of the top five schools in Class 2A here within 160 miles of each other.

1. Smith Center
2. Oakley
5. St. Francis

This was earlier this year.

We even have some jawwing going on among the Kansas Excel Club.

Look out Smith Center here we come.

MakinSmoke · 11-01-2007, 03:28 AM

Won't the Kansas High School Association let them schedule games with the next level up teams? WOW, that is some record!

ChiefJohn · 11-01-2007, 05:02 AM

I know there is at least one NFL player from SC, name/team escape me -- remember mentioning to the DW last week when they announced his hometown??

ExcelRVGuy · 11-01-2007, 05:45 AM

We can schedule games from higher levels but the problem with that is that we have trouble finding schools that want to play us.

We are a 2A school due to the the number of kids we have enrolled. We had an open week this year because we couldn't find another school to play us.

Most schools already have full football schedules. Besides, for a 3A or 4A school to schedule a 2A school like Smith Center, they have absolutely nothing to gain. If, by chance they would lose to a non-league school, it would count against them in their win/loss record and perhaps keep them from achieving their post season goals.

Mark Simoneau currently plays as starting line-backer for New Orleans Saints. He was a Smith Center Highschool grad who started all four years at Kansas State University. From there he was drafted by Atlanta, then went to Philidelphia, before his current New Orleans job.

Not only is he a great athelete, he is a Christian and a super roll model for young people.

Bryan

MakinSmoke · 11-01-2007, 08:49 AM

My youngest son played DII football in college on a full ride and he credits his success to his 7th and 8th grade coaches. However, it all starts with kids who are willing.

Have you all had long term solid coaching at the grade school level or is it all the high school coaching?

ExcelRVGuy · 11-01-2007, 09:38 AM

It's a tradition. Coach Barta has been here 30 years. The jr high coach and all the assistant coaches have either been by his side, or were student atheletes of his, gone to college, and have now returned to help him coach.

The jr. high runs the exact same schemes as the varsity. We have developed such momentum that none of the kids play over 1/2 of the game. The varsity plays the first 1/2 and the underclassmen play the second 1/2. Then when they move to varsity, they play the first 1/2 and another group of kids (future varsity) plays the second 1/2.... and so it goes.

We have been fortunate to not have had a single point scored against us this year. (640 - 0 in nine games), however we are in district play and the deeper you go into district, the better the teams get.

With a bit of luck, We will win our 4th consecutive state championship, continuing our current 50 game winning streak.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/highschool/news/story?id...otlight&lid=tab3pos1

The last time our senior boys lost a football game was their 7th grade year.

Coach works hard at keeping the players humble and respectful of their competition.

MakinSmoke · 11-01-2007, 04:20 PM

Thanks, this is the stuff from which movies are made.

HB Phil · 11-01-2007, 06:52 PM

We were also excited to see that report about SC HS's U.S. record, 1/4 score on the news. Unbelievable!

When we were out at SC this past August, I noticed the signeage around SC about how well the various HS teams played. And I must admit that it seemed so sparsely populated around the SC area, that I wondered how the HS sports programs managed to find enough players to field the various sports teams.

Therefore, to me, Bryan's description of the football team's accomplishments is all the more impressive. I'll bet the college scouts are all over the SC teams. Might as well recruit the whole squad this year - undefeated since 7th grade!

It will be interesting to see how the team does this season and how it's players fare in the future.

Still Working "NOT" · 11-03-2007, 11:35 PM

Go Oakley Plainsman Beat Smith Center.

#1 Smith Center and #2 Oakley meet this week.

HB Phil · 11-04-2007, 07:18 PM

With Oakley 11-0 and SC 10-0, it should be a great game.

I guess SC has kept it's shutout record intact against St. Johns.

From the WIBW. Com website:
http://www.wibw.com/kakeheadlines/he.../11000241.html

"10 games, 704 points to 0. The team launched onto the national stage after outscoring Plainville 83-0 last weekend. They scored 72 points in the first quarter alone, breaking a national record for first quarter points set in 1925.

But you won't hear this team bragging because, for them, it's not about shattering national records. "We know we're going to get scored on eventually and it's no big deal," said Roger Barta, Smith Center head coach. "It's about playing hard and playing together."

In Saturday's game, they beat St. John 64-0. That win gave Smith Center it's 51st straight victory. The Redmen move on to the next round of playoffs, set for Friday."

Please keep us posted!