Bears, Patriots take pride in rivalry

When massive linemen Dontae Hosman and Nate Tuioni walked into Mill Creek and Bryant elementary schools Wednesday, a buzz hummed throughout the classrooms.
“The kids thought we were Kansas City Chiefs,” said Tuioni, a 6-foot-3, 285-pound defensive end from William Chrisman High School.
“That’s right,” added 6-1, 200-pound offensive lineman Dontae Hosman, “but once they found out we were from Chrisman, they got real excited. They wanted to hold our helmets and touch our jerseys.
“We went there to read with the kids, and to be honest with you, Nate and I had as much fun as the kids. We both want to do it again.”
Having Hosman and Tuioni read to adoring youngsters was the brainchild of Chrisman coach Mike Spotts, who is rebuilding and fine-tuning a Bears program that is taking baby steps in his third year as a head coach.
“That was an incredible experience, watching those two big guys interact with the kids,” Spotts said. “It shows the good things that are going on with our program – the things that don’t have anything to do with the final score.
“We wish we had a better record this season, all of us wish that, but we’re doing some good things and helping to build young guys like Dontae and Nate into men.”
Hosman and Tuioni could play a key role in the biggest game of the season for the 1-5 Bears and their 1-5 Noland Road counterparts, the Truman Patriots.
The two rivals meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Independence All-School Stadium for bragging rights and the Wagon Wheel Trophy – which is presented by the Rotary Club of Independence to the winner of the annual matchup.
 Truman defeated Chrisman 31-7 last year and leads the all-time series by the slimmest of margins, 22-21.
“I came to Chrisman from Blue Springs, so I know about big rivalries,” said Spotts, one of the most respected defensive minds in the state. “We had Blue Springs and Rockhurst, and of course Blue Springs and Blue Springs South.
“But I didn’t know how big this rivalry was until I got here – and believe me, it’s as big as any rivalry in the city or the state.”
Because the two teams are in different districts, the game will serve as the final regular-season contest before district action begins. But it does count as a conference game in the Suburban Big Six.
“It comes at the perfect time of the season,” Tuioni said. “All games are big games – Coach Spotts tells us that every day at practice. But this one is really, really big. The team that wins this game – and we hope it’s Chrisman – will have so much momentum going into districts.”
Hosman agreed, adding, “This is a game you enter with no fear. You practice every day, hard – real hard, with no fear. Our coaches coach with no fear. And we’re going to play with no fear. We’re going out on that field and giving it everything we have – and so will the guys from Truman.
“Neither team has the record we want right now, but you know both teams are going to leave it all on the field.”
Because they are seniors, this game holds added importance for both linemen.
“I’ll never play Truman again,” Hosman said. “You bet I want to win this game. I want to walk by our trophy case at school and see that Wagon Wheel Trophy.”
“Both schools have a lot of pride,” added Tuioni, “and we want to bring that Wagon Wheel back to Chrisman. The stands are going to be packed, we’re going to have a pep assembly on Friday, it’s going to be a great week.
“I love playing for this team. I wouldn’t trade playing at Chrisman for anything.”

WAGON WHEEL GAME GLANCE:
WHO: Truman Patriots (1-5) vs. William Chrisman Bears (1-5) in a Suburban Big Six matchup.
WHEN & WHERE: 7 p.m. Friday, Independence All-School Stadium/Norm James Field
WHAT’S ON THE LINE: The winner of the annual Noland Road rivalry gets bragging rights and the coveted Wagon Wheel Trophy award by the      Rotary Club of Independence. The winner also gets added momentum headed into district play.