I have enjoyed the privilege of covering some great high school sports over the past year. I saw the McPherson boys basketball team win its 11th state title, Rose Hill win its second football title, the Olpe volleyball team dig deep and win a championship (which inspired this blog) and I also witnessed Kapaun’s Abby Stevens win her only championship of her high school career.
Above all those, though, I would have to say my favorite event I covered this year was Hutchinson vs. Bishop Carroll in the 5A state semifinal football game.
This game featured two of Kansas’ greatest coaches in Carroll’s Alan Shuckman and Hutchinson’s Randy Dreiling. Both are tough coaches that have teams that will come out and hit hard. Both coaches know what it takes to win and to see the two work against each other was absolutely fantastic.
On top of watching two of the greatest coaches I had ever seen, Hutch’s top running back Ja’mon Cotton was injured the week before and appeared to be not 100 percent. He played the first quarter and half the second quarter, but couldn’t keep going.
As I wrote in the story, “In stepped Lucas Munds.” Munds had been a solid player for the Salthawks all year, but never really much of a difference-maker. That all changed on that Friday night.
Munds ran and ran hard against a solid Carroll defense, a defense that a year before knocked Hutch out of contention for another state title. The Eagles didn’t have an answer for him. He scored three touchdowns and Hutch was leading at 29-7 at one point.
I saw something in this game I had never seen before and may never see again. Hutch took over at Carroll’s 35-yard line on a botched kick off return and capped it off with a three-yard touchdown run by Munds. It doesn’t sound that spectacular, except it was a six-minute drive. Yes, six minutes, 35 yards. It took SIX MINUTES to go 35 YARDS! Think about that.
It wasn’t over, though. Hutch was up by three touchdowns, so the guys on the field laid back a little, gave Carroll some breathing room. That breathing room created enough space for the Eagles to score two more touchdowns in just over a minute.
If Hutch didn’t recover Carroll’s onside kick, Carroll could be the state champions now. But, Hutch did recover the kick and went on to win the 5A state championship by defeating BV Stilwell 33-21.
Munds again had a huge game. To see what happened in the title game, click here.
I saw two great football teams play for the opportunity to play for a state championship, and in turn it was a great game.
Above all those, though, I would have to say my favorite event I covered this year was Hutchinson vs. Bishop Carroll in the 5A state semifinal football game.
This game featured two of Kansas’ greatest coaches in Carroll’s Alan Shuckman and Hutchinson’s Randy Dreiling. Both are tough coaches that have teams that will come out and hit hard. Both coaches know what it takes to win and to see the two work against each other was absolutely fantastic.
On top of watching two of the greatest coaches I had ever seen, Hutch’s top running back Ja’mon Cotton was injured the week before and appeared to be not 100 percent. He played the first quarter and half the second quarter, but couldn’t keep going.
As I wrote in the story, “In stepped Lucas Munds.” Munds had been a solid player for the Salthawks all year, but never really much of a difference-maker. That all changed on that Friday night.
Munds ran and ran hard against a solid Carroll defense, a defense that a year before knocked Hutch out of contention for another state title. The Eagles didn’t have an answer for him. He scored three touchdowns and Hutch was leading at 29-7 at one point.
I saw something in this game I had never seen before and may never see again. Hutch took over at Carroll’s 35-yard line on a botched kick off return and capped it off with a three-yard touchdown run by Munds. It doesn’t sound that spectacular, except it was a six-minute drive. Yes, six minutes, 35 yards. It took SIX MINUTES to go 35 YARDS! Think about that.
It wasn’t over, though. Hutch was up by three touchdowns, so the guys on the field laid back a little, gave Carroll some breathing room. That breathing room created enough space for the Eagles to score two more touchdowns in just over a minute.
If Hutch didn’t recover Carroll’s onside kick, Carroll could be the state champions now. But, Hutch did recover the kick and went on to win the 5A state championship by defeating BV Stilwell 33-21.
Munds again had a huge game. To see what happened in the title game, click here.
I saw two great football teams play for the opportunity to play for a state championship, and in turn it was a great game.
