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By LANCE STOCKHAUS

lstockhaus@dailynews.net

HILL CITY -- There is a nearly constant wind anywhere you go in northwest Kansas.

However, in Hill City on Friday, everything seemed to stop and focus on what possibly could be one of the biggest football games -- not only for the high school, but for the community as well.

Almost every business owner in town showed Ringneck pride by wearing school colors and placing "Go Ringnecks" in shop windows.

"What did we come in here to do tonight?" shouted sophomore quarterback Reggie Jordan.

And as if it had been rehearsed a thousand times, the Hill City High School football team immediately answered, "win."

The Ringnecks took on the Bobcats of Ransom-Western Plains on Friday night. Both teams were 4-1 coming into the game, and the winner would be in a tie for first place in Eight-man Division 1, District 7.

This season marked the beginning of a new eight-man era for the Ringnecks.

"The transition has been good for us here," said head coach Chris Shank.

Shank coached junior high eight-man teams, so his current position is nothing new. The problem was motivating the kids to come play.

"This is the fewest kids I've ever had out," he said.

But the bottom line was Hill City finally was playing schools with similar enrollment.

"We've got a good core group of kids who have worked really hard," Shank said.

This season also marks the first winning season for the Ringnecks since 1998.

"It's my goal every year to have that winning season. That's how you build positive momentum," Shank said.

For the high school seniors, it is their first season to have the same head coach for back-to-back seasons.

They have had a different head coach from seventh grade to their sophomore year of high school.

"It made it really hard to build consistency," Shank said.

Since the transformation of the football team, Shank has seen a positive effect. He said he wants to be the coach that if parents have concerns, they can feel comfortable talking with him.

"People have been really nice from day one," Shank said.

Always hope

Fifteen years ago, the railroad that used to ship grain came to a halt in Graham County.

"The county itself has about 3,000 residents, about half of that is in Hill City," said Kirk Schweitzer, director of Graham County Economic Development.

One of the reasons Hill City decreased so much in population was the lack of financing and availability of homes for new buyers.

"I would hope, as time goes on and we come out of the recession a little bit, the government would offer up some opportunities for new home buyers," Schweitzer said.

However, if the opportunities don't come as quickly as anticipated, it could open up a market for modular homes or a mobile home park.

"Economic planning and development isn't the same in rural America," Schweitzer said.

In every small community, there is a segment of its society that does the volunteering.

"What we see in the smaller communities now is if you go to a Lions Club meeting, or a chamber of commerce meeting, you're seeing the same faces," Schweitzer said. These same faces see a real demand on leadership in the community.

"They (volunteers) wear themselves out, and that affects the town."

Schweitzer compared the city to the rivets in an airplane. He said as more rivets disappear in a community, each business lost, or each service lost, that's just one more rivet out of that airplane.

"It boils down to the hospital and the schools becoming the core of our town. That's why were existing," he said.

School events have become paramount, he said, and well-attended. It's the only time the community can come together.

"Nothing's permanent," Schweitzer said, "In the hearts of many, there is still that hope."

Making a name

Cougar Boats, originally from Canada, has made a new home in the heartland.

Hill City has acquired a prosperous business into the community.

"We sell these boats all over the country, and even back into Canada," said Carol Poore, co-owner and office manager.

From gauges to steering wheels, custom upholstery to custom paint, Cougar Boats is ready for anything.

Also leaving a large effect on the commerce of Hill City is Kellie's Alltel store.

"I think I've done so well because I provide a needed item," said Kellie Day, owner of Kellie's and the president of the Hill City Chamber of Commerce.

Day sells Alltel services, as well as Dish Network.

"I've also added a few other things, like paper goods and a few office supplies, now that other stores have gone out of business," she said.

Day has been in business for eight years and has other stores in Norton and Plainville.

Day recently was nominated for the "Woman Owned Business of the Year" award and will travel to Topeka later in the year to accept it.

"The community's been good to me," Day said.

Giving back

The local Elks Lodge has an annual "Hoop Shoot" in Hill City for young students.

Fred Pratt, who was named Elk of the Year, has been in charge of the hoop shoot since it's beginning.

"Boys and girls from three different age groups compete in our local tournament," said Alexander Leslie, Elk member and operator of Wadell and Reed investments.

They take the top competitors from each age group and send them to a district championship in Russell. The regionals are in Denver, and if they are good enough, the finals are in Springfield, Mass., in which three competitors from Hill City have made it.

"We did have one girl who made it all the way to finals and won her age group," Leslie said.

The Hill City Elks recently have remodeled an old building for their meeting hall.

"This was all done by volunteers, with donated materials," Leslie said. "We're proud to be a part of this community."

Leslie and Pratt also are proud supporters of Ringneck football and are on the chain gang every Friday.

One more inch

Before every Ringneck kickoff Friday night, a member of the team would fire up the rest of the squad.

"Who's house is this?"

Without a wasted second, the entire team would shout, "Our house."

They weren't about to be stopped Friday.

The halftime score of 28-6 showed a determined Ringneck football team.

Spirits were high heading into the locker room, but the head coach warned the players not to get ahead of themselves.

"We cannot let up," Shank said, "This game ain't over."

What really seemed to pump up the team was an inspirational speech given by Al Pacino's character in "Any Given Sunday." The character explains that if they want to win the game, they need to take it inch-by-inch and never back down.

"Play as if it's your last game," said Vince Walker, assistant coach.

The Ringnecks went back out on to the field and continued to dominate the rest of the game -- ending with a 44-12 victory.

Shank huddled his squad at midfield after the game.

"We came out on top," he said. "But I don't want to hear about playoffs or none of that, have a good weekend. But come Monday morning, I want our next opponent on your minds."

Just as in the scene from the movie, Shank instilled in his players that the only way to win is to play "one game at a time."