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Independence, MO —
When John Crutcher was an assistant coach in Lawton, Okla., it was a big deal for the three high schools in town to determine who was city champion.
Crutcher sees the potential for something similar with all the schools in Independence, and he’s basing that on the passion he sees each year when the Bears and Truman battle for the Wagon Wheel Trophy.
“In Raytown you have Ray-South and Raytown and the battle of Raytown,” said Crutcher, a former assistant at Raytown South. “You have the battle of Blue Springs, the battle of Park Hill. We need to have that here. You have a city champion. That’s what it should be.”
For now, Crutcher will have to settle for a shot at the Noland Road championship. Although the Bears and Patriots have struggled at times this season – both sport 1-6 records – Friday’s contest at Independence All-School Stadium has postseason ramifications. With two games left in the regular season, Truman is fifth in the district standings with 20.1 points – one spot ahead of last-place Chrisman (18.45). Fourth-place Raytown (26.52) and third-place North Kansas City (29.74) are also within striking distance of both squads.
“The bottom four teams are all real comparable,” said Truman coach Jeff Floyd, whose team holds a 24-23 lead in the series. “We’re all very similar type teams and we can compete with any of those.”
The Patriots have battled injuries – senior quarterback J.T. Hayes and senior wide receiver Tom Ruddy are both out for the season – and confidence issues after dropping five straight games to start the season. But Floyd said the rivalry week has revitalized the Pats and they produced their best week of practice yet.
“We have the athletes out here,” said senior running back Demetric Dinwiddie. “We can block, pass, run, everything. It’s just the simple mistakes – the little penalties and footwork. We have what it takes.”
On the other side of town, the Bears' stock might finally be rising. After competitive games with Staley, Raytown and North Kansas City, Chrisman snapped a 17-game losing streak with a 48-20 win over Belton on Sept. 29. And although the Bears lost to Fort Osage 36-0 last week, they committed the fewest number of penalties (two) in Crutcher’s three seasons.
With winnable games against the Pats and Oak Park (1-6) still on the schedule, there’s a sentiment that real progress is finally being made.
“We can build upon three wins,” said senior lineman Josh Gilliland. “And if we get into the playoffs, nobody knows what happens.”
Whether the game holds long-range implications will remain to be seen. But it’s a certainty that one program will walk off the field Friday with the Wagon Wheel. And bragging rights.
“Tomorrow we’re going to prove to everybody without a doubt who the best school in the city is,” Gilliland said.
When John Crutcher was an assistant coach in Lawton, Okla., it was a big deal for the three high schools in town to determine who was city champion.
Crutcher sees the potential for something similar with all the schools in Independence, and he’s basing that on the passion he sees each year when the Bears and Truman battle for the Wagon Wheel Trophy.
“In Raytown you have Ray-South and Raytown and the battle of Raytown,” said Crutcher, a former assistant at Raytown South. “You have the battle of Blue Springs, the battle of Park Hill. We need to have that here. You have a city champion. That’s what it should be.”
For now, Crutcher will have to settle for a shot at the Noland Road championship. Although the Bears and Patriots have struggled at times this season – both sport 1-6 records – Friday’s contest at Independence All-School Stadium has postseason ramifications. With two games left in the regular season, Truman is fifth in the district standings with 20.1 points – one spot ahead of last-place Chrisman (18.45). Fourth-place Raytown (26.52) and third-place North Kansas City (29.74) are also within striking distance of both squads.
“The bottom four teams are all real comparable,” said Truman coach Jeff Floyd, whose team holds a 24-23 lead in the series. “We’re all very similar type teams and we can compete with any of those.”
The Patriots have battled injuries – senior quarterback J.T. Hayes and senior wide receiver Tom Ruddy are both out for the season – and confidence issues after dropping five straight games to start the season. But Floyd said the rivalry week has revitalized the Pats and they produced their best week of practice yet.
“We have the athletes out here,” said senior running back Demetric Dinwiddie. “We can block, pass, run, everything. It’s just the simple mistakes – the little penalties and footwork. We have what it takes.”
On the other side of town, the Bears' stock might finally be rising. After competitive games with Staley, Raytown and North Kansas City, Chrisman snapped a 17-game losing streak with a 48-20 win over Belton on Sept. 29. And although the Bears lost to Fort Osage 36-0 last week, they committed the fewest number of penalties (two) in Crutcher’s three seasons.
With winnable games against the Pats and Oak Park (1-6) still on the schedule, there’s a sentiment that real progress is finally being made.
“We can build upon three wins,” said senior lineman Josh Gilliland. “And if we get into the playoffs, nobody knows what happens.”
Whether the game holds long-range implications will remain to be seen. But it’s a certainty that one program will walk off the field Friday with the Wagon Wheel. And bragging rights.
“Tomorrow we’re going to prove to everybody without a doubt who the best school in the city is,” Gilliland said.
