tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76234888767336709802024-03-12T20:30:30.942-05:00Sunflower League FootballEli Underwood's musings on high school football in the Sunflower LeagueUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger724125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-10059723919735697992022-07-06T19:06:00.006-05:002022-07-07T17:07:59.992-05:00The Best That Never Were: The story of the 2004 Kansas Class 5A state championship game and the end of a dynastyOlathe North's defense smothers SM West runningback DJ Barnett during the game played on September 17, 2004. The Eagles won, 42-0.I'm back with another video. I know. That didn't take long. Let me take you back to the fall of 2004. I was a freshman at SM West. Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw and Mr. Brightside by the Killers flooded the airwaves. A few weeks into Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-68321974490650287422021-11-18T20:11:00.011-06:002021-11-19T06:41:35.127-06:00The Edge of Greatness: 2003 Kansas Class 6A State Championship GameCodi Willard and Kellen Long celebratetheir win over Hutchinson in the 2003Class 6A title game. Photo LJWorld.A little over six years ago I turned in my unofficial sports writer badge, clicked off coverage of the Sunflower League, and moved on with my life. I was 25 then. I'm 32 now. In dog years that's a 49-year gap. Feels about right.Before we get ahead of ourselves, I am not re-activatingUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-306084698924018462015-06-15T15:34:00.000-05:002018-05-30T00:23:37.205-05:00Farewell to the Sunflower League
Eli Underwood, Author, the
Sunflower League Football Blog.
Dear Sunflower League Football Blog readers,
Effective today, I will be discontinuing the Sunflower League Football Blog. The message board will remain active, as will all archived blog posts and information, however, the live blog itself will not be continued.
The decision to stop writing the blog was my own, and it came Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-14190628231733289892015-01-18T12:11:00.002-06:002015-01-18T12:16:04.131-06:00Brett Oberzan the new head coach at SM South
Brett Oberzan. LJWorld.
The fifth, and final Sunflower League head coaching vacancy was filled this weekend when Lawrence Free State defensive coordinator Brett Oberzan accepted the head coaching job at SM South.
Oberzan is a Sunflower League veteran, through and through. His introduction to the league came with Lawrence High during their hay-days in the late 1980s, where he starredUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-79796867166237324082015-01-15T21:36:00.000-06:002015-01-15T21:36:20.707-06:00McCartney named head coach at Olathe North
Chris McCartney
On Thursday, Olathe North announced the promotion of assistant coach Chris McCartney from defensive coordinator to head coach.
McCartney is Olathe North's fifth head football coach since 2003. He will be replacing head coaching legend Gene Wier, who in December joined David Beaty's coaching staff at the University of Kansas.
If anybody knows a thing or two about theUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-90705725651867907782015-01-08T20:38:00.000-06:002015-01-08T21:25:20.054-06:00Owen to take over at Olathe East
Jesse Owen.
Eudora head coach Jesse Owen is leaving the Cardinals to take the head coaching position at Olathe East.
The Olathe School Board unanimously approved the hire on Thursday night, effectively ushering in a new era for the Olathe East football program.
The second-year head coach will replace Jeff Meyers, who had been the head coach of Olathe East since the school opened its doors inUnknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-19344811539943868342015-01-06T22:28:00.001-06:002015-01-06T22:33:52.264-06:00Bo Black named head coach at SM Northwest
Bo Black
Bo Black was officially named SM Northwest's head football coach on Tuesday.
He takes over for Linn Hibbs, who resigned from the position in early December after going 7-21 in three seasons.
Black spent the 2014 season as the head coach at Hays (KS) High School. Led by K-State quarterback commit Alex Delton, the team finished the season 7-2.
Prior to his one season at Hays, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-14272051027616482382014-12-22T18:29:00.000-06:002014-12-23T13:01:04.252-06:00Wier to leave Olathe North for position at Kansas
Gene Wier. Photo KC Star.
Multiple reports indicate Olathe North head coach Gene Wier is leaving his post with the Eagles to take a football operations position on David Beaty's staff at the University of Kansas.
Wier, a long time high school coaching legend in the state of Kansas, led Olathe North to an 11-1 record and a Sub-State berth this past fall. It was the Eagles' second Sub-State Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-68002470128774647122014-12-20T13:49:00.000-06:002014-12-20T13:52:14.028-06:00Bartlett officially named SM North head coach
SM North head coach Ben Barlett.
On Friday night the SM North administration officially named Ben Bartlett the head coach of the football program.
Bartlett was given the school's interim head coaching title in July, when former head coach Don Simmons abruptly left the program for another job in Arkansas.
In his one year as the interim head coach, Bartlett led the Indians to a 2-8 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-40239583694608839902014-12-10T20:53:00.001-06:002014-12-10T20:55:27.557-06:00Lonergan steps down as head coach at SM South
Ryan Lonergan. KC Star.
On Wednesday, Ryan Lonergan tendered his resignation as the head coach of SM South.
"I really feel like the program is on better ground now than when I arrived," Lonergan said. "There are great kids and parents at SM South, but it's time for me to move on."
Lonergan spent four seasons as the Raiders' head coach. In that time, he compiled a 13-24 (.351) record.
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-6410702076466131012014-12-06T23:50:00.000-06:002014-12-08T16:00:44.075-06:00Underwood's Sunflower League Elite Eleven Teams
Andre Maloney Award
Sunflower League Most Valuable Player
Kyle Ball (6-2, 235) - 2X Elite Eleven
Senior, SM East
Defensive End
Defense: 118 tackles (37 for loss), 10 sacks
Arguably the league's most dominant defender since Mike Rivera, Ball was the centerpiece of SM East's 24-2 record the past two seasons, which is something you don't often hear about a defensive end. For his career, Ball Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-17800471999827805462014-12-05T17:32:00.000-06:002014-12-05T17:32:28.246-06:00Hibbs done at SM Northwest
Linn Hibbs
Linn Hibbs is no longer the head football coach at SM Northwest.
According to the Sumner News Cow, Hibbs tendered his resignation Thursday morning.
The decision was made official on Friday, when the Shawnee Mission School District posted a vacancy for the SM Northwest head coaching position.
Hibbs and his staff went 7-21 (.250) in three years with the Cougars. The highlight of Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-57103464020649146382014-12-02T19:00:00.000-06:002014-12-04T12:28:14.400-06:002014 Coaches' All-Sunflower League Teams
JD Woods led the Sunflower League in
rushing yards with 1,677. Photo LJW.
First Team
Andre Maloney Player of the Year
Kyle Ball, Senior, SM East
Quarterback
Gunnar Englund, Senior, SM East
Running Back
JD Woods, Junior, Lawrence
Venus Triplett, Senior, Olathe North
Wyatt Edmisten, Junior, SM East
Wide Receiver
Isaiah Ross, Senior, Leavenworth
Nick Perez, Senior, SM North
Alec Dean, Senior,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-6278179106101872312014-11-29T23:55:00.000-06:002014-11-30T00:19:44.075-06:00SM East defeats Hutchinson 33-14, wins 6A title
Sam Huffman and SM East's offense managed to keep the Hutchinson defense off balance and
guessing during Saturday's 6A state title game. SM East was victorious, 33-14. Photo Kansas City Star.
It took 57 years, but at long last SM East was the final team standing. The Lancers claimed their first ever state championship Saturday, defeating Hutchinson 33-14 in the 6A state title game in Emporia.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-46669437734339150722014-11-29T14:12:00.000-06:002014-11-29T15:19:50.602-06:006A State Championship Game ScoreSaturday, Nov. 29
SM East 33, Hutchinson 14Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-47310714566555185132014-11-28T11:43:00.000-06:002014-11-28T23:54:09.442-06:006A State Title Preview: Hutchinson vs. SM East
Emporia State's Welch Stadium is the site of Saturday's
6A state title tilt.
Hutchinson (8-4)
vs. SM East (12-0)
Where: Welch Stadium, Emporia State University
When: 1:00 p.m., Saturday
Radio: 1510 AM
TV: None (810 WHB will have online stream)
Topeka CJ spread: SM East -12
Hutchinson
**The Salthawks are the first team to enter the 6A state title game with four or more losses since Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-81975806290424024142014-11-27T10:25:00.001-06:002014-11-27T10:25:37.274-06:006A State Championship Statistical Comparison
Hutchinson's Blaik Middleton. Photo Hutch News.
Passing Yards
Hutchinson
Turner Wintz: 525, 5 TDs
SM East
Gunnar Englund: 1,191, 19 TDs
Rushing Yards
Hutchinson
Blaik Middleton: 2,616, 36 TDs
Turner Wintz: 838, 11 TDs
Jacob Hardenberger: 828, 5 TDs
SM East
Wyatt Edmisten: 1,370, 29 TDs
Gunnar Englund: 678, 6 TDs
Jackson Gossick: 596, 6 TDs
Calvin Jones: 508, 4 TDs
Sam Huffman: 456, 6 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-87083240631494499142014-11-26T11:48:00.000-06:002014-11-26T17:43:03.547-06:00Hutchinson and SM East program profiles
Hutchinson quarterback Turner Wintz' return from
the injured reserve list helped fuel the Salthwaks late
season run. They've won six of their last eight games.
Photo courtesy Kansas.com
Hutchinson
Location: Huchinson
Enrollment: 1,510
Previous state title appearances: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
State championships: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011
Current FBS Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-17218325156157482942014-11-23T18:33:00.000-06:002014-11-23T18:33:28.795-06:00Kansas 6A Sub-State Game Recaps
Several Lancer defenders worked to bring down Olathe North receiver Mark Keeling. SM East won the game, 36-35, in double overtime. Photo Kansas City Star.
SM East 36, Olathe North 35, 2OT
The matchup folks had been talking about since August turned out to be better than the hype. Two 11-0 clubs, Co-Sunflower League Champions, squaring off in Sub-State. It doesn't get much better than Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-61045650159158262832014-11-22T01:15:00.000-06:002014-11-26T17:43:29.841-06:00Jeff Meyers done as Olathe East's head coach
Former Olathe East head coach Jeff Meyers.
Jeff Meyers is no longer the head football coach at Olathe East.
The Sunflower League Football Blog had received word his coaching departure was imminent, but nothing materialized until Friday afternoon.
The announcement became official when the Olathe School District website posted a job opening for the Olathe East head Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-25745048561265958412014-11-21T17:01:00.003-06:002014-11-21T22:52:05.293-06:00Kansas 6A Sub-State ScoresFriday, Nov. 21
SM East 36, Olathe North 35, 2 OT
Hutchinson 42, Lawrence Free State 14Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-27017461526630778772014-11-20T22:18:00.003-06:002014-11-20T22:18:41.049-06:00Sunflower League Sub-State Round Previews
SM East edged Olathe North, 37-27, in the 6A East Sub-State game a season ago. Photo Marisa Walton, SME Harbinger.
Olathe North (11-0) at SM East (11-0)
Where: SM North District Stadium
Last meeting: SM East beat Olathe North, 37-27, in Sub-State last year.
Topeka CJ spread: Olathe North -2
Gamechangers
Venus Triplett, Olathe North: Statistically speaking, nothing Triplett's done this year Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-81918877304332183002014-11-19T22:39:00.002-06:002014-11-19T23:37:29.961-06:00Sunflower League News & Notes, and statistics
Olathe North quarterback Cole Murphy is going for
his 19th career victory, as a starter, on Friday against
SM East. Photo KC Star.
Eli's News and Notes
**SM East running back Wyatt Edmisten and Free State quarterback Bryce Torneden lead all remaining Sunflower League players with 26 touchdowns apiece. If either player records four more touchdowns, they will join the prestigious 30-Touchdown Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-3287151649737163682014-11-17T21:56:00.001-06:002014-11-17T21:56:12.305-06:00Sunflower League Sectional Round Review
Quarterback Gunnar Englund and the SM East flexbone offense were too much for SM West'sdefense to handle on Friday night. The Lancers won, 41-0. Photo David Compton.
The Good
**With Olathe North's victory against Blue Valley, the Sunflower League was guaranteed a representee in the 6A state title game for the 46th year in a row. The 6A classification has only been around for 46 years.
**Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7623488876733670980.post-39136605395460900262014-11-16T21:26:00.001-06:002014-11-16T21:32:05.989-06:00Sectional Round Game Recaps
Olathe North's defense suffocated Blue Valley's balanced offensive attack, limiting the Tigers to just
one offensive touchdown. Photo Kansas City Star.
Olathe North 27, Blue Valley 14
Blue Valley had been on a roll the past seven weeks, but Olathe North was able to put an end to their success, thanks to a stellar effort defensively. After a scoreless first quarter, Olathe North added a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0