Sunflower League Preview: Week 7 - Districts Week #1

Scoreboard Oct. 16

35 Lawrence vs Olathe Northwest 7
35 Free State vs Washburn Rural 7
38 Leavenworth vs Schlagle 0
27 Olathe East vs Olathe North 53
20 Olathe South vs BV Northwest 44
69 SM East vs Harmon
49 SM North vs Wyandotte 30
 6 SM Northwest vs SM West 45
 0 SM South vs BV North 48

Preview

6A District #5 - EAST

Lawrence vs Olathe Northwest (@ CBAC)
The Chesty Lions are on the road again, in which it seems that they have been on the road for most of the season. Since this series started in 2004, only seven games have been played. The lineage is small, but the sample size is good enough to wear you could call this game a toss up.

Look for Lawrence to leave everything out on the field with JD Woods in the backfield and leading the SFL in TD's.

Lawrence leads the series 5W-2L, in 7 games played. Lawrence has won the last two meetings in 2013 and 2014. 

6A District #5 - WEST

Free State vs Washburn Rural (@ WASH RURAL)  
The Free State Firebirds take on a former JR Blues powerhouse during the 1990s under the legendary Ron Bowen. These days, the Blues sidelines are patrolled by 3rd year Head Coach Steve Buhler.

Free State has been on a roll entering week-7 with a three game winning streak, while the JR Blues are 2-1 in their last three games.

Free State being the farthest west within the Sunflower League has been fortunate to face non-conference foes more than other teams in recent era. Look to see the Blues try to upset the Firebirds and end a possible four game winning streak but the numbers are in the Firebirds favor.

Free State leads the series 7W-0L, in 7 game played.

5A District #1

Leavenworth vs Schlagle (@ LEAVENWORTH) 

The Pioneers (0-6) are home to the Schlagle Stallions in their second ever meeting between both schools. 

In their first meeting, the Pioneers dominated 29-8. Leavenworth again will be looking for their first win of the season, while in 2014, they had a record of 2-4. Schlagle could be the front runner in this game if the Pioneers cannot strike first. 

6A District #4 - EAST

Olathe East vs Olathe North (@ CBAC)
These two teams are no stranger to each other as the lineage's of the Eagles traces to the opening of Olathe East, and now in to it's second ever

While the Eagles have reeled off a 6-0 start, the Hawks too, are finding their niche and making a name for themselves under first year Head Coach Jesse Owen. Olathe East is 2W-4L since the 2010 season. Both losses to the Eagles came in 2013, and 2014.

The Eagles lead the series 17W-8L, in 25 all-time games played since 1992. 

6A District #4 - EAST 

Olathe South vs BV Northwest (@ ODAC) 
In a game that matters to both teams, nothing will come easy in this District.

There is not much of a lineage between the Falcons and Huskies with both schools having opened in the early 80's and 90's. This is a must win game for both programs, with the Huskies winless after six games, while OS defeated the OE Hawks early on in week-2.

The Falcons own the series 3W-1L, in only four meetings played: 99-10-11-14. 

6A District #1 - EAST 

SM East vs Harmon (@ HARMON/Art Lawrence Stadium) 

Entering week-7, the Lancers are coming off a resounding road win against the Leavenworth Pioneers and 260th all-time.  

With a dominating 83-0 final last season at SM North, the Lancers take to the road to play in old Art Lawrence Stadium, and home of the Hawks. The last time the Lancers played at ALS, was during the 2005 season. 

The Lancers are 8-2 in their last 10 games vs the Hawks. They also own the series 20W-3L, in 23 games played. 

6A District #1 - EAST 

SM North vs Wyandotte (@ WYANDOTTE) 

In perhaps one of the greatest historical games week-7 brings us, are the Shawnee-Mission Indians vs the KCK Bulldogs (North vs. Wyandotte) in its more modern day decorum. 

The Indians and Bulldogs date back to the late 1930s, and have been playing each other on and off for years. Though both programs have had their fair share of down times, the Indians are looking to again shake things up in this District one bracket. 

SM North leads the series 27W-20L-7T (27-20-7), in 54 games played. 

6A District #2 - EAST

SM Northwest vs SM West (@ SM NORTH) 

In an intra-District match up, the struggling NW Cougars, are taking on a hot SM West Vikings. 

It will take a lot of ball possession and points to get on the board to get past a Vikings team currently on a tear. In the last 10 games, SM West is 8-2, and their last losses to NW came in 2007, and 2013. 

This game is perhaps a preview of a good Northwest team that is out to prove a lot to the league, and the State that they can compete. With SM South, and BV North in the same District, an upset can always be in the works. The Vikings lead the all-time series at 31W-17L, in 48 games played. 

6A District #2 - EAST 

SM South vs BV North (@ SM SOUTH) 

Neighbors. Close neighbors these two are, as they meet officially 13th time. 

The series is tied 7W-7L,  in 14 games played with the Raiders last win coming in 2014. In that time, the Raiders have won nearly 15 games more than the Mustangs who find themselves in a bounce back season. Previously the Raiders have won four straight since the 2011 season, since 2006 all meetings are in District play.  

It was just last year BV North ended a 19 game losing streak. Since that 2014 win against G-E in week-6, the Mustangs are 7-3 in their last 10 games.