PHOTOS: Turner vs. Piper

Here are photos from Friday night's defensive clash between the Turner Golden Bears and Piper Pirates. Turner won the game 10-8, improving to 3-3 on the season.

Read More

Bonner Springs claims Wyandotte County Volleyball title after edging out Piper in title game

The Bonner Springs Braves volleyball team won the Wyandotte County Volleyball Championship tournament this afternoon at Piper High School.

Bonner Springs defeated Piper in two sets in the final championship game, 25-21 and 25-23.

Bonner Springs defeated Sumner Academy in the quarterfinals of the championship bracket, sweeping them 25-11 and 25-14. Piper, who finished second in Group A, dismissed Turner 25-13 and 25-9.

The order of finish of the tournament:

1.    Bonner Springs, champions
2.    Piper, runner-up
3.    Turner (defeated Sumner 25-16, 25-13 in third place game)
4.    Sumner Academy
5.    Bishop Ward (defeated Harmon 22-25, 25-7 and 25-16)
6.    Harmon
7.    Wyandotte (lost to Ward 15-25, 19-25 in opening consolation bracket game)
8.    Schlagle (tournament forfeit)

Read More

BEHIND THE NUMBERS: First 17 games at KU for Mark Mangino vs. Turner Gill

Watching the Kansas Jayhawks give up 70 points to Oklahoma State - and listening to Kirk Herbstreit ask during the Red River Blowout if KU "still plays football" following the Mark Mangino firing - made me think of how both the former coach and current coach of the Jayhawks started out.

Record wise, it's about the same.

Mangino was 6-11 in his first 17 games at KU, while Turner Gill is 5-12. Both coaches have one win against a ranked team in that time frame - Gill's Jayhawks upset Georgia Tech last year, while Mangino's Jayhawks upset the 4-0 and ranked Missouri Tigers in a game that personally drove me nuts.

Those are where the similarities end, however.

A closer look at both coaches' first 17 games on Mount Oread would reveal that Mangino had considerably more success:

• In Mark Mangino's first 17 games, the Kansas Jayhawks lost three games by more than 30 points. Not great, but compared to Gill, it's saintly. Gill's two teams have lost six games by the same margin. During Mangino's 98-game coaching career at KU, Mangino lost a total of 10 games by 30 points or more. 

• 2. In Mangino's first 17 games, KU allowed 50 points or more two times. Gill's teams have allowed the opposition to put up at least 50 points four times. Mangino's teams only allowed eight 50-point games during his time at KU. 

Those two stats pretty bad for Gill because of two factors:

1. Mangino inherited Terry Allen's program. Yes - that Terry Allen, who many consider the worst football coach in the history of the Big 12. Allen led KU to no bowl games and his teams were traditionally annihilated by Kansas State. While the bottom really dropped out in Mangino's final two months there, KU was still only two years removed from its greatest season ever. The KU fans who blame Mangino's recruiting for Gill's struggles are laughable. Mangino got KU to a bowl game in his second year, losing to eventual NFL stud quarterback Philip Rivers and the North Carolina State Wolfpac in the Tangerine Bowl. Gill's second year could feature an 0-9 conference year.

2. The Big 12, while good now, was better back then. You had a loaded Nebraska program on the last winds of Tom Osborne. Kansas State was a Top 5 to Top 10 program back then. Missouri was up-and-coming. Iowa State was having decent success under Dan McCarney. Colorado had winning teams and was always tough to play on the road. And that's before you get to the South, which featured Bob Stoops' Oklahoma juggernauts, Mack Brown's talented Texas teams and Mike Leach was getting the ball rolling at Texas Tech. While the Big 12 has ranked teams and is solid, it was definitely more top heavy and deeper as Mangino arrived at KU.

In other words, outside of a mega-buyout, it may soon be impossible to justify a third year for Turner Gill.

Read More

A tip of my cap to Kansas State fans

Congratulations on your win against the Missouri Tigers this weekend!

Kansas State showed tremendous poise and discipline against the Tigers. I was especially impressed with the coaching on the defensive side of the ball. Missouri was able to run up over 500 yards of total offense against the Oklahoma Sooners, but did not hit the 200 yard mark until the fourth quarter today.

As a Missouri Tigers fan, I salute your team and your program.

Congratulations to Wildcat fans, especially future Kansas State Wildcat Vernon Vaughn.

Read More

Why it might be time for Bishop Ward to explore joining the Kansas City Kansas –Atchison League

I write the following post not as an insult to Bishop Ward fans, players and coaches.

I write the post as a solution to an inconvenient problem happening right now. 

For the past two seasons, Bishop Ward has been dominated on the field in Kaw Valley League play. They’ve allowed 290 points in six Kaw Valley League games this year – allowing nearly 50 points a game.  The Cyclones have only been able to crack the double-digit mark in points once this season.

While the student-athletes at Ward are not giving up and are playing hard, it’s time to consider a move to the Kansas City Kansas – Atchison League.

It’s not the best move. Switching leagues is not fun to do, particularly after losing big games time after time. 

But it shouldn’t be taken as an embarrassment. 

Ward’s easily the smallest school – some schools within the Kaw Valley League have three or four times the enrollment as Bishop Ward does. The size of Ward and the sizes of Mill Valley and Turner are unbelievable when you compare them. 

Along with the enrollment considerations, there are other reasons why joining the KCKAL may not be the worst idea for Bishop Ward.

• It would instantly make football more competitive for Bishop Ward. The Kaw Valley League is too strong of a league right now for the Ward program. Though Harmon, Wyandotte, Washington, Schlagle and Sumner Academy aren’t exactly “small schools,” Ward would be able to compete at a higher level because more often than not, the KVL is superior to the KCKAL. 

• Ward is in the heart of KCK. Geographically, their inclusion in the Kaw Valley League has never made sense to me. They are within walking distance of Wyandotte and within two or three minutes away from Sumner Academy.

• The Kaw Valley League may go the way of the Huron League and fade away. Some of the issues that brought down the Huron League years ago are infected inside the KVL right now. Travel distance, for one. Enrollment gaps between the larger and smaller schools. Each summer I hear rumor after rumor about teams leaving the KVL. It might not be there within two years or so, anyway. 

• It may not be fun competing against the KCK giants in basketball, but being in the KCKAL may benefit Ward. Kids who play basketball in KCK love competing against each other. Go to an open gym. Go to a summer league. Go to a recreation center. You will see it, my friends. Ward plays Basehor-Linwood, Mill Valley, Tongaoxie and Lansing. It’s hard for me as a fan to get up for that. If Ward does give out scholarships, it might be easier attracting basketball talent if Ward played Sumner Academy or Washington. I know some athletes in the past five years have immediately ruled out Bishop Ward because they don’t play the KCK schools in basketball. Kids absolutely get up for it emotionally and it might be easier rebuilding Bishop Ward if they are in the tougher, but more local league.

• Admittedly, the big problem here would be baseball. The KVL is so much better in the sport than the KCKAL is. This is where Ward might pull the “do you know who we are” card and maybe work out an arrangement where the league schedule could be reduced to six or eight games. Ward could still schedule some very tough teams in the out of league schedule. 

My guess is roughly 97 percent of Ward fans, students and coaches will hate this.

But it’s just an idea.

Read More

Eight thoughts after Week 6: Turner on the rise

Friday night was really one of the few nights of the 2011 season where some defense was played.

There were only 26 total points in the Sumner Academy-Washington game. There were only 20 total points in the Harmon-Wyandotte game.

In the Piper-Turner thriller, there were just 18 points scored.

It was a very quiet week for most of the offenses across Wyandotte County.

Still, a lot happened. Let’s get to it.

1. Turner defensive coordinator Dustin Jamison is the best coordinator/position coach in Kansas City, Kan. It’s not close and I’ll offer any reader a steak dinner on The Plaza if he or she*** can change my mind. This is not to criticize the coaches in KCK; it’s to emphasize how good Jamison is. Year after year, I’m continually amazed how prepared Jamison’s defenses are. Game after game the past four years reminds me how well Jamison does as the coordinator. Last year, six of Turner’s opponents had their lowest scoring game against Jamison’s defense. His defense was the only defense last year to keep the Ming Brothers from Harmon off the scoreboard. This year, he and his players have held a 50-point scoring offense in Basehor-Linwood to “just” 28 points. Bonner Springs offense can put up points just like that. Against Turner, they scored just 14 points. Piper had scored well into the 20’s in a few games this year. Against Turner, they had 8 points – and that came on a 17-yard drive. I know there are games out there where you can say “Ha! Blue Valley scored over 50 points against them.” I don’t care. Throughout the year, Turner always gets better. Always. Turner’s defense has been wrecked with injuries in the past and they have two-way players this year. But Jamison finds a way to put Turner in the ballgame. He’s an outstanding coach. It's fun watching him operating on the sidelines and I've heard many stories about how much preparation he puts in each week.

(***Even if a "she" may not be able to prove me wrong, the free dinner still may be awarded.)

2. Turner’s offense needs to get going. Piper deserves a ton of credit for the game-plan they had. They played well as a team and their front-seven was great. But I felt Turner missed an opportunity to expose Piper’s inexperienced secondary. Most of Piper’s opponents have had a field day with the Pirates secondary this year. While Turner’s identity is running the ball, stopping the run seems to be Piper’s strength. Maybe there was an injury somewhere, but I’ve seen quarterback Nick Bloomer pick apart some teams. It would have been interesting to see him throw some fade passes to the big men on the outside. Anyway, Turner fans better hope the offense gets the ball moving. Harmon can score points if they are clicking, Bishop Miege can pile them up and Mill Valley can as well - unless they're playing Basehor-Linwood. You can only rely on a defense so long.

3. Turner linebacker Nick Rodriguez is the leader in the clubhouse for the KCK Defensive Player of the Year. He was all over the field yesterday. He’s Turner’s leading tackler and leads the Golden Bears in interceptions – as a linebacker. Turner head coach Allen Terrell told me he thinks Rodriguez is the best defensive player he’s coached at Turner. That’s saying something – go back to the first take on this list.

4. Don’t write off Sumner Academy for the postseason yet. They’ve won two games in a row. It may not be a pretty two games in a row, but it’s two games in a row. I’ve seen some very weird things happen in district play. I saw Turner enter districts 1-5 three years ago – only to win four straight, including an upset against Lansing, using a freshman quarterback. I’ve seen 5-1 teams collapse in district play. Sumner Academy winning two games in a row with inexperienced players bodes well entering district play. Hiawatha and Atchison are winnable games. Pull those out and Sumner’s right back in the postseason.

5. Washington’s loss doesn’t take away the last two weeks. Those two wins Washington earned are still significant in building a program. They may be upset at losing to Sumner Academy, but the Sabres are still a team with athletes and talent. There’s no shame in losing to them if you’re in the current program situation like Washington is.

6. Could someone please explain Atchison to me? The newspaper that covers Atchison has a pay subscription system, meaning I cannot read stories about them without paying for it. They put up 14 points against Washington and 38 points against Schlagle. What? That Sumner Academy – Atchison game is looming large and it would be nice to know which Atchison the Sabres get.

7. Props to Wyandotte for a much improved effort against Harmon. Following a 68-point performance against Schlagle’s offense, the Wyandotte Bulldogs defense stiffened up against the talented Harmon Hawks team, allowing just 14 points. Harmon was held to just six points until the final minute of the game. That said, part of me wonders why Harmon scored just 14 points against Wyandotte. Perhaps that’s because the Bulldogs improved. Or, it could mean Harmon’s losing some steam as the season goes on.

8. Bonner Springs, Kan., may be renamed “upset city” next week. I really think Bonner Springs could spring the upset and beat the undefeated Schlagle Stallions. This is not your traditional Bonner Springs Braves football team. They can score at will on people and they have the athletes to match up against Schlagle. Johnathan Jackson is a flat out stud right now and Stevie Williams (son of Officer Steve Williams, a friend of KCK Preps) is one of the best wide receivers in the metro area. Bonner’s got talent to hang with Schlagle. Schlagle giving up 38 to Atchison scares me a little bit. However, the question then is “can Bonner stop Schlagle?” Schlagle’s offense is powerful and Bonner’s defense has some cracks in it. They allowed 69 points to Basehor-Linwood. As great as Colin Murphy and the boys are, 69 points is terrible no matter who it is.

It’s the first time in two years I will be heading down to Bonner Springs to cover a high school football game.

I’m really looking forward to covering the game and seeing all the talent both teams possess in person.

Read More

Bonner’s Jackson explodes again as Braves crush Bishop Ward

The Bonner Springs Braves used another five-touchdown effort from senior running back Johnathan Jackson to crush another Kaw Valley League opponent. 

Jackson’s five touchdowns led the way in Bonner’s 56-7 victory against Bishop Ward on the road. 

Like in a handful of games from this season, Ward played tough in the first half. 

Following Jackson’s first two touchdowns from five yards and two yards out in the second half, Cyclones quarterback Mike Golubski found C.J. Vallejo from 48 yards out to cut the deficit in half. 

However, Jackson and the Braves high-powered offense had about the last 10 laughs of the game.

Jackson’s 52-yard touchdown to open the third quarter was the first of four Braves touchdowns in the quarter. 

Bonner Springs wide receiver Stevie Williams had two touchdown receptions – from 47 yards out and 10 yards out. Jackson added a nine-yard touchdown run. 

When all was said and done after the third quarter, Bonner led 42-7.

Jackson’s final touchdown of the game was from 69 yards out in the fourth quarter. Jackson is well on his way to a 1,000 yard season. It was Jackson's second five-touchdown game of the season. He previously scored five touchdowns against Tonganoxie.

The Braves open district play next week against the 6-0 Schlagle Stallions.

Read More

Sumner Academy wins second straight game, snaps Wildcats two-game winning streak

The Washington Wildcats could not keep up the magic of the past two weeks, as Sumner Academy snapped the Wildcats’ two-game winning streak.

Sumner Academy prevailed 20-6 at home against the Wildcats, sending both teams to 2-4 records on the season. 

Most of the game was a defensive struggle.

Sumner Academy’s Nicholas Nuessen finally snapped the scoreless streak in the second quarter, scoring from 43 yards out to give the Sabres a 6-0 advantage.

Washington responded after halftime.

DeAnte Ambler scored from one yard out to tie the game.

However, it was the Sabres passing attack that provided the game winning touchdown later in the third quarter.

Neal Boyce delivered an 18-yard touchdown pass to John Hale. A failed two-point conversion left the score 12-6. 

A late one-yard touchdown from Sumner’s Darien Willis put the game away. Deon Tripp scored on the two-point conversion to extend the score to 20-6.

Read More