By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Smith Center vs. Hutchinson became a mantra around the state of Kansas, a year ago, following a season in which the Redmen pounded 2A competition into oblivion and Hutchinson ran through the 6A field for its fourth-straight big class championship.
The Dream Game never developed, but still, the Redmen made a lasting impression locally, statewide and nationally.
It wasn’t until playoff rival St. Francis scored on Smith Center during the semifinals of the Kansas 2A state football playoffs, that the Redmen gave up a single point during the 2007 season.
Smith Center, currently in the middle of a 54-game winning streak, went on to defeat the Indians 44-6 and moved into the championship game, a 40-14 triumph over Pittsburg St. Mary’s-Colgan to secure its fourth straight state title.
The four-touchdown win over the Panthers was the closest margin of victory all year for Smith Center. The small-school power outscored its opposition 844-20 in 13 games, scoring 60 or more points in each of its first 10 contests.
The Redmen also set a national record in October by scoring 72 points in one quarter.
Fast forwarding to the 2008 season, the Redmen will have their work cut out for them if they hope to extend their run of state championships to five.
With the return of just three starters on both sides of the ball, Smith Center may have to do some shuffling early in order to make that annual playoff run.
Nothing is out of the question, however, for a tradition rich football program like Smith Center.
“We never limit the boys around here,” Smith Center offensive line coach Dennis Hutchinson said of his program that has lost just 12 football games over the past 12 years. “We’ll be a tough out. This season will be a learning experience, especially at the beginning of the year, but we’ll be hard to beat.”
Smith Center, state playoff participants in 19 of the past 30 seasons, runs out of a wishbone set on offense, or what Hutchinson likes to refer to as the ‘Belly Bone’ offense. Defensively, the Redmen employ a 4-3.
Hutchinson said Smith Center’s philosophy is to simply run the ball and play defense.
“We’ll be prepared,” Hutchinson said. “You better expect to get hit. Yup, we’ll hit you. Smack you in the mouth. We like to have fun.”
Hutchinson and head coach Roger Barta, who is 276-58 (.826) in 30 years at the school, will have to find replacements for last season’s starting running backs Tate Arnold and Kerby Rice, who accounted for 874 rushing yards on 78 carries in the 10 games the pair started collectively.
Both backs went down with ACL injuries early in the 2007 season giving underclassmen waiting in the wings some valuable starting experience.
Junior Colt Rogers, who started nine games in their absence, returns after a season in which he ran for 867 yards on just 81 carries. Helping Rodgers keep the Smith Center running game at a high pitch will be returning senior fullback Trevor Rempe and his 538 yards on 68 carries from a season ago.
Senior backs Joe Osburn and Marshall McCall will also be called on to run the ball after combining for nearly 500 yards collectively in 2007.
Travis Rempe, who rushed for about 155 yards a year ago, looks to be in the running to replace graduated three-year starter Joe Windscheffel at quarterback.
Seniors Kris Lehmann and Joel Osburn are in the mix at tight end where they appear to be more than capable.
The offensive line will center around returning starter, and probable Division I prospect, senior Justin Nixon who was listed at 360 pounds a year ago. Junior Logan Tuxhorn and seniors Trenton Terrill and Cody Tucker could also earn starting roles on the line this season.
Up front on defense Hutchinson listed eight players that are gearing up for plenty of reps on the Redmen four-man front.
Terrill is expected to be penciled in at defensive end, with either junior Matt Atwood or Joel Osburn pushing the senior for playing time. Justin Nixon will probably be named the starter at nose tackle, with seniors Brit Nixon, Trevor Rempe, Dillon Corbett and Cody Tucker battling for the rest of the playing time up front.
If neither is selected as a starter at defensive end, Atwood or Osburn will more than likely be tabbed as a front line player at linebacker.
Lehmann and Tuxhorn are sure bets to earn starting spots in the linebacking unit, with Tuxhorn being the probable starter at middle linebacker.
Travis Rempe, McCall, Rogers and Joe Osburn look to be the favorites to nab starting spots in the secondary following fall camp.