“If you play long enough, there’s always somebody better,” Smith Center (Kan.) football coach Roger Barta said philosophically of a 20-12 overtime loss on Saturday to Centralia (13-1) in the Class 2-1A state championship game. “It’s been a good run for the school and community.”
The loss ended a state-record 79-game winning streak, which also was the longest active streak in the nation. In addition, it ended Smith Center’s streak of five consecutive state championships.
“We had turnovers (three lost fumbles) and you can’t beat a good team with turnovers,” Barta said. “They deserved to win. They were pretty good on defense. They were aggressive, quick and fast. They hit us pretty good.”
Senior quarterback Tyler Glatczak (6-0, 180) played a major role in bringing the Panthers their first state title. He ran nine yards for the winning touchdown, then passed to his sophomore brother, Mike - who earlier had scored two touchdowns - for a two-point conversion. He also was in on 10 tackles from his safety position.
Tyler Gleason, a 6-foot, 215-pound senior tackle, led the Panthers with three solo and nine assisted tackles. He also recovered a fumble to end the overtime thriller.
Centralia coach Larry Glatczak - father of Tyler and Mike - said he felt his team was quite capable of ending the record streak.
“After watching film, (we thought) these guys are beatable,” Larry Glatczak said. “We held them to 145 yards. We really did a great job and stopped any momentum they had.”
Glatczak said he started seven seniors both ways in his veteran lineup. Smith Center, by contrast, will return six starters on defense and five on offense.
The bulk of the Smith Center team will filter into basketball and wrestling, but those not so engaged soon will begin weight lifting. Barta hopes that will be the first step for a big season in 2010.