LARNED — Larned football coach A.B. Stokes will seek the Indians’ sixth playoff appearance Thursday at Pratt High School. The Indians (6-2, 1-1 District) will qualify for the Class 4A playoffs if they beat Pratt (2-6, 0-2 District).
It would mark the Indians’ first football playoff appearance in 28 years, since 1985. Larned, ironically, also beat Pratt in a head-to-head showdown to reach the 1985 playoffs.
Larned would likely play at state-ranked Andale (8-0) in Tuesday’s first round of the Class 4A playoffs. Larned is 2-5 all-time in the state football playoffs.
Even with a loss, the Indians will likely qualify as the District runner-up if District champion Ulysses beats Hugoton as expected. Pratt is mathematically alive for a playoff spot, but the Greenbacks would have to beat Larned by 21 points and Hugoton must also lose by 21 points.

Larned qualified for the football playoffs in 1971, 1972, 1977, 1982 and 1985. Larned's best team in playoff history beat Pratt 30-28 in overtime and lost 28-14 in the Class 3A semifinals to Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel in 1971.

Pawnee Heights, a co-op football program with Larned, has made four state playoff appearances in 1980, 1993, 2007 and 2008. 
LARNED PLAYOFF HISTORY
1985 — 4A, Larned 10, Haven 6; Norton 35, Larned 7
1982 — 4A, Chaparral 23, Larned 14
1977 — 3A, Goddard 6, Larned 0
1972 — 3A,  Goodland 24, Larned 14
1971 — 3A, Larned 30, Pratt 28, OT; Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 28, Larned 14

PAWNEE HEIGHTS PLAYOFF HISTORY
2008 — 8II, Pawnee Heights 52, Sharon Springs 26; Moscow 32, Pawnee Heights 30
2007 — 8I, Pawnee Heights 22, Palco 16; Pawnee Heights 42, Pretty Prairie 26; Macksville 38, Pawnee Heights 34
1993 — 8II, Claflin 50, Pawnee Heights 0
1980 — 8MAN, Hanston 38, Pawnee Heights 16