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The Schlagle Stallions face a must-win game Friday night on the road against Lansing.
After losing to Bonner Springs on the road, the Stallions are in danger of missing out on the postseason, even after starting the season 6-0 and wrapping up the Kansas City Kansas –Atchison League championship.
A loss to Lansing would likely be fatal, as the Stallions would need their rivals from Washington to spring a pretty big upset on the Braves Friday night to remain mathematically alive.
Lansing probably comes in a slim favorite, but there are four reasons to be optimistic if you’re a Stallions supporter.
1. This team is upset about Bonner Springs. They are taking this loss like how you would want a team to take a loss. They are ticked off and motivated to get right back on the field and kick some behind. Schlagle will come out fired up Friday night. If Lansing is flat what-so-ever, the Stallions will stomp on them early. Among the players most upset are the big guys on the offensive line – the Schlagle Hogs. It’s probably not fun when offensive linemen are upset.
2. Teams can run on Lansing. I seen Roy Williams, a sophomore running back from Turner making his first start (he’s since been injured), rip the Lions defense to shreds. This was a sophomore making his first start. Turner had 190 yards that night on the ground and the Golden Bears have had significant injuries to both their offensive line and running backs. Tonganoxie, a team that has exactly one win, had 174 yards on the ground. Basehor-Linwood, while undefeated, had 205 yards on the ground against them. Mill Valley had 198 yards. Basehor-Linwood and Mill Valley are teams with Division 1 caliber quarterbacks who enjoy chucking the ball around. My man DeAnte Ambler broke off a huge run on them early in the game they played against Washington. Schlagle’s a team that can put up 300 yards on the ground any night. While the Mill Valley League has a lot of talent, J’veyon Browning will be a whole new world for them. Elijah Owens can carry the rock as well, so it’s not just Browning.
3. This coaching staff and some of its players have won in Lansing. The Stallions earned an impressive road victory up there two years ago. While Lansing is a better team now compared to that season, so is Schlagle. Even if the core of players is different, the coaches remain the same. The seniors on this team probably remember that game and knowing that it is possible to win at a place gives a team an extra bit of confidence going into the game.
4. See the first sentence of this story – it’s virtually a “must-win” game. Good teams normally play better when their backs are against the wall. Lansing already has one district game in the bank – Schlagle is desperately seeking their first district win. Playing a wounded animal late in the season in any sport can be dangerous.
Will Schlagle win?
I don’t know yet. I’ll break it down a little bit more.
But those are four reasons why Schlagle has more than a puncher’s chance in this game.
