Tough Season

Lawrence High’s football team, riddled by injuries and faced with a brutal schedule, failed to make the Class 6A playoffs for the first time since 2001.

The Lions finished with a 3-6 record, the school’s worst since posting a similar mark in 1999. How tough was the Lions’ schedule? All six of their losses were to teams that made the playoffs.

Dandy Debut

Lawrence High quarterback Clint Pinnick finished strong, posting his best passing numbers in the season finale against Topeka High. The 5-foot-9 junior threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns against the Trojans. For the year, Pinnick completed 45 of 97 passes for 639 yards and seven TDs with nine interceptions. Pinnick missed two games and most of another because of an ankle injury.

Two Weeks Away

Today marks the final day of October, which means – in terms of high school sports, anyway – that when we flip the calendars Thursday, we’ll be able to begin the countdown toward the winter sports season.

Winter practices officially begin on Nov. 12, a mere 12 days from now. In anticipation of the big day, several teams already have begun conditioning programs.

Defense Stands Tall

Free State High’s playoffs-bound football team surrendered 77 points in its first four games, but has allowed only 29 in its last five outings, all victories. Four of those foes, however, finished with losing records.

Will He Run or Throw?

Free State quarterback Craig Rosenstengle has tossed three TD passes and only one interception in the last three games.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound dual-threat senior has thrown for 980 yards and run for 680 more for 1,660 yards of total offense.

Agony of Defeat

When Free State High’s soccer team lost a penalty kick shootout, 2-1, after finishing two halves and four overtimes tied with Olathe Northwest at 1, the pain of the second-round regional loss was evident on the faces of all the Firebirds, but senior goalkeeper Frank Hurtig appeared to take it the worst.

Hurtig left the field in tears, but his coach was moved by the ‘keeper’s emotions as well.

“The big reason I think Frankie was distraught was that he actually invested something this year,” coach Jason Pendleton said afterward, choking back tears himself. “When you finally put forth the effort that you’re capable of – and he did this year as a senior – I think it’s hard to not get the results you want at the end.”

No Excuses

The lengthy contest took its toll on FSHS senior forward Alex Clayton, who left the game in the second overtime because of cramps. He came back for the third OT and remained in, but appeared a step slow.

“That’s just what happens when you play a game that goes four overtimes,” Free State’s second-leading scorer said. “At the end of the day, cramps or no cramps, we’ve definitely got to finish some of those opportunities.”

Webb Honored for Milestone

At a recent Eudora High home football game, EHS coach Gregg Webb was honored for reaching the 200-win milestone.

Webb’s 200th victory, which came via a 41-15 triumph over Wellsville, was made sweeter by the fact that his son, Brynnen, was named homecoming king the same night.

Webb, a 21-year coaching veteran, owns a 205-37 career mark and is 53-14 in six years at EHS.