Rising Star: South Sumner Outlaws

SOUTH HAVEN, Kan. (Catch it Kansas) - The South Haven-Caldwell matchup is a rivalry that dates back over 100 years, but this football season, changes are coming. This fall the two schools are going to put aside their rivalry and play together as the ‘South Sumner Outlaws.’

Former Caldwell, now South Sumner Head Coach Sean Blosser said that already he can tell this football season will be competitive with this group of players coming together.

“We’ve got about 23 young men that are just working really hard from both communities and it’s been a lot of fun getting to know them,” he said. “The team bonding has been really good.”

Although this is the first season of Caldwell and South Haven coming together to play high school football, the players are no strangers to playing together. Majority of the group grew up playing middle school football together as well.

“It’s been a long rivalry but they’re my friends from junior high and they’re still my friends now,” South Haven Junior Alex Smith said. “Now that we’re combined, it’s going to be way better.”

The change will likely take a bit of getting used to for the communities, but both schools are ready to get to work and look for some success in the team’s inaugural season.

“There’s a lot of excitement around it,” said Blosser. “A lot of people are excited about what they’re doing. We just had a great time at a five-on-five tournament. People are excited about the success there and hopefully we just keep building on it day by day and just keep getting better.”

Although these players are teammates now, come winter sports season, the rivalry is right back where it left off, they said.

“It’s going to be weird, but they better be ready to play because I’m still coming to bring it.”

Copyright 2022 KWCH. All rights reserved.