11/25/2007
By NICK McQUEEN
Hays Daily News
Barta's boys were back.
In a way, it was almost as if the Smith Center prep football team and long-time Redmen coach Roger Barta had never left the confines of Lewis Field Stadium.
Determined to be back at the Class 2-1A state championship game, the Redmen hooked up Saturday with a team that has also made Hays a home away from home of sorts, Pittsburg/St. Mary's-Colgan.
Staying true to its dominant form in 2007, Smith Center rolled over the Panthers, 40-14, claimed the 2-1A state crown, and pushed its unbeaten streak to 54 games, just 12 away from the record held by Colgan. It was a streak that ended with Smith Center's first of four straight state titles.
"We always come out with the attitude that no one can beat us," said Smith Center senior center Kirk Palmer. "We knew coming in this would be a tough game, though."
It was a tough game at the start for the Redmen, who had given up just six points all season heading into Saturday's game. Following a fumble on the opening possession for Smith Center, Colgan responded with a 7-0 lead on a 31-yard run by senior running back Tino King. It was the first time the Redmen had found themselves trailing all season.
"Sometimes, it's hard to get ready for a game like this,"¬ Barta said. "But, we had to respond and the kids stepped up and responded well."
The title was the seventh overall for the school and the fourth straight in 2-1A, where the Redmen have yet to lose a game since dropping down from 3A four seasons ago.
"I am just really happy they let me be a part of it,"¬ Barta added. "They are such a great group of young men."
Following the game's opening score, Smith Center (13-0) took it to the Colgan defense, keeping the Panthers on the field for a drive that took 5:29 off the clock ands resulted in an 8-7 lead. Senior running back Braden Wilson went untouched from six yards out for the TD, capping a 71-yard Redmen drive. The 2-point conversion run by senior quarterback Joe Windscheffel gave the Redmen the lead.
"It was fun to have a 7-0 lead on this team, but I knew it wasn't going to hold up," Colgan coach Chuck Smith said. "It wouldn't have made a difference, but we missed a couple of opportunities that could have gotten this game into the fourth quarter."
Smith Center didn't quite roll from there. On its next possession, junior fullback Trevor Rempe fumbled for the second time, giving Colgan (13-1) the ball back with a chance to take the lead.
"This was just a hard-hitting football game,"¬ Barta said.
The Redmen defense held on fourth down in its own territory, setting up a 75-yard drive capped by a 29-yard run by Windscheffel for a 16-7 Smith Center lead. Windscheffel, one of several Redmen in on the action out of the backfield this season, finished with 178 yards rushing and two scores. His performance was bettered only by Wilson's 225 yards and three trips to the end zone.
"This hasn't all quite soaked in yet, but it will," Windscheffel said. "We really didn't know what to expect when we lost basically our two best players (to injury, in midseason), but some younger guys stepped in and got the job done."
Despite not having two of their starters in the wishbone in senior halfback Tate Arnhold and senior fullback Kerby Rice, the Redmen still piled up 538 rushing yards on 61 attempts. The running game accounted for all of Smith Center's offense.
"They have great physical kids that play very aggressive," Smith said of the Redmen. "(The wishbone) offense is simple if you don't have good players, but when you have good players, it's tough to defend."
The Redmen again forced Colgan to punt, and ate up most of the rest of the second-quarter clock by driving 82 yards on 14 plays, chewing up 4:57, and took a 22-7 lead on a one-yard dive by Rempe.
Palmer, one of 12 Redmen seniors and a big part of both the offense and defense, said the season was somewhat unexpected, but not the outcome. Up until last week's sub-state championship game, the Redmen had not been scored on in 11 games and put up astonishing numbers, including a national record 72-point first quarter in the first round of the 2-1A playoffs, against Plainville.
"We really didn't expect that shutout streak to last as long as it did," Palmer said. "We couldn't ask for a better season and a better way to go out, though."
The second half was all Smith Center. Wilson capped a 73-yard drive on Smith Center's first possession after the break, scoring from six yards out to make it 29-7. Windscheffel broke free for a 59-yard score on Smith Center's second series after an interception by Redmen sophomore cornerback Colt Rogers. Windscheffel's score made it 34-7. Wilson's TD run of 50 yards made it 40-7 with 6:21 left to play.
The Redmen defense held Colgan to 223 total yards on offense, with 132 coming on the ground. King finished with 48 yards rushing and one touchdown, while senior quarterback Kenny Wachter threw for 91 yards, including a late touchdown for the final margin.
The Redmen captured national attention this season with their shutout streak and eye-popping numbers. The Redmen are just a perfect season away from breaking Colgan's record of 66 straight wins. Colgan has competed in nine out of the last 10 2-1A state championship games, with three losses to Smith Center.
"It was a media frenzy, but I thought our kids handled it really well," Barta said. "It's great for our kids, our program and our entire community."
Windscheffel is one of 12 seniors who have never lost a game in a Smith Center High School uniform. Following the game, Windscheffel and his senior teammates were a bit choked up as they lined up for a senior photo with the state trophy.
"This is awesome. It's one big family out here on this field and we couldn't ask for anything more," Windscheffel said. "The memories here will last a lifetime. It's an awesome feeling. Playing with these guys and with these coaches was more than any player could ever ask for."
Sports reporter Nick McQueen can be reached at (785) 628-1081, Ext. 128 or by e-mail at nmcqueen@dailynews.net.
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