High School

The Silver Lake players and coaches have been preparing for their fourth straight sub-state meeting with the Rossville Dawgs. (Photo by Caitlin Grant)

Rivals go head-to-head for fourth straight year

Sub-state football slated for Friday

By Justin Maryott

November 11, 2005

Last Friday, Silver Lake defeated the Frontenac Raiders in sectional play with a tight finish of 14-13. The Eagles effectively stopped both of the Raiders' 1,000 yard running backs.

Even though the Eagles advanced to sub-state competition for the fourth straight year, Coach C.J. Hamilton was not entirely pleased with the Silver Lake performance.

"I thought we played good for about six minute periods. I don't think we played well at the beginning of the second or end of the third quarter," he said.

The win over the Raiders has several meanings for the Eagles. First of all, it means they move on to sub-state play. It also means that for the fourth year in a row, the Eagles will play their rival, the Rossville Bulldogs, to advance to state. The Eagles have been victorious over the Dawgs the past three years.

The seniors are looking for their first state championship this year. The Eagles have settled for second place the last three years, losing all three battles to Conway Springs. (Photo by Lauren Cunningham)

However, even if the Eagles advance to state for the fourth straight year, they will not have the opportunity to finally oust their three-year nemesis: Conway Springs, three-time Class 3A state champions. The Southeast Saline football team defeated Conway Springs at the sectional level, ending their championship streak.

The Eagles hosted Rossville earlier this year in regular season play. The Eagles pulled out an overtime victory, 24-21, in what always seems to be a thriller when the two teams meet. One element the Eagles will have to deal with this time is facing a healthier Bulldog team. Rossville running back Chris Linneman was injured last time the two teams faced and has really improved the Bulldogs team since he's been back.

"They're running more and running better since Linneman's been back," Hamilton said.

Assistant Coach Loren Ziegler added, "They appear to be trying to run the ball more and seem like more of a balanced team this time."

The Eagles hold a few titles that Rossville cannot boast. One is the top ranked defense in the Mid-East league, and the other is a group of seniors who have not only defeated Rossville every year in the playoffs since they've been in high school but have also been to state every year they've been in high school.

"It means a lot to me since it's my senior year, and I don't want to end it with a loss to Rossville," senior Andrew Christopher said.

The Eagles also experienced a couple of injuries last time the two teams faced. Defensive and offensive lineman Jordan Lowe and running back Kyle Steele were no where near 100 percent when the two teams faced. Steele was adamant about the team's injury situation.

"We're healthy enough to smack a Dog!" Steele said.

Ziegler added, "Mentally our team's on fire. I don't think we're going to have any letdowns in that department."

The only thing that people can be sure of is another classic "War on 24." The game will begin at 7 p.m. at Rossville High School.