Class 2-1A championship preview
SMITH CENTER
VS. CENTRALIA
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lewis Stadium, Hays
Championships: Smith Center, 1982, 1986, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008; Centralia, none
SMITH CENTER (12-0)
Plainville W,59-0
WaKeeney W,59-0
Norton W,20-14
Phillipsburg W,14-12
Ellis W,16-10
Colby W,24-12
Washington County W,62-7
Osborne W,47-7
Playoffs
Plainville W,54-0
Minneapolis W,63-17
Meade W,10-0
Oakley W,33-20
CENTRALIA (12-1) Silver Lake L,27-7
Onaga W,48-0
Valley Heights W,42-14
Jackson Heights W,56-0
Solomon W,70-6
Washington County W,59-6
Troy W,52-0
Wathena W,52-14
Doniphan West W,46-14
Playoffs
Lyndon W,70-17
Valley Heights W,44-0
Pittsburg Colgan W,26-14
St. Marys W,34-28
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Smith Center
RB Colt Rogers 5-5 155 Sr.
RB Matt Atwood 6-1 190 Sr.
QB Shawn Stansbury 6-0 155 Sr.
TE Dillon Corbett 6-3 215 Sr.
LB Logan Tuxhorn 6-0 215 Sr.
DT Kelly Wiig 6-0 220 Sr.
Centralia
QB Tyler Glatczak 5-11 180 Sr.
RB Philip Steinlage 5-10 165 Sr.
RB Tyler Gleason 6-0 215 Sr.
WR Michael Glatczak 5-11 165 So.
WR Kaylor Talkington 5-10 180 Jr.
DE Rodney Steinlage 6-2 200 Sr.
NOTES
„øSmith Center has won 79 consecutive games and Saturday goes for a sixth straight state title, which hasn’t been done in Kansas. (Hutchinson tries for No. 6 today in the 5A game.)
„øCentralia is making its third appearance in the 2-1A championship game, losing in the 1985 final to Victoria and in 1997 to Claflin.
„øThe Redmen’s last playoff loss was 21-6 to Hesston in 2003.
„øIt’s a family thing for Centralia: Glatczak’s sons, Tyler and Michael, are the Panthers’ quarterback and wide receiver. Tyler is a dual threat, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and passing for 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns.
„øSmith Center has marched through the playoffs undefeated since returning to the 2-1A ranks in 2004. It has outscored four playoff opponents this year by a 160-37 score. In last year’s march to the title, Smith Center outscored five opponents 275-67.
„øThe Redmen have averaged 314 rushing yards in their last two games and wear down opponents with a bruising running attack led by Rogers, who has gained 656 yards in four playoff games. Rogers rushed for 251 yards and three touchdowns last week against Oakley, including a 79-yard scoring run.
Smith Center coach Roger Barta
“Every (Smith Center) team is different; it’s just their turn. (Centralia) has two sons of the coach on offense,
and they must have played a lot together in their backyard growing up. (As for Saturday’s game plan) We just do what we do — run the football.”
Centralia coach Larry Glatczak
“I expect a good, physical football game. Both teams match up real well. It’s one game.æ.æ.æ. All we have control over Saturday is that one game.”
— Lionel Tipton