It is pretty common to hear that the high school football season doesn’t really start until Week 7.
While that’s not necessarily true for Eight-Man teams, for any team Class 2A and over it is a fact of life.
Even winless teams have a chance at the postseason if they can muster two wins in the final three weeks.
Great Bend isn’t winless.
In fact, the Panthers are coming off its second win in three weeks, a 28-14 victory over Western Athletic Conference foe Liberal.
“Anytime you can win,” GBHS head coach Tony Crough said. “The best way to cure all ailments is to win. That definitely helped our team’s morale, our attitude.
“We’re looking about as good as we can be.”
This week’s opponent is Newton, a 2-4 team just like Great Bend.
“I expect a well-coached team,” Crough said. “They have a good 4-3 defense, a nice running game. They run a kind of spread wing-T offense.
“They’re big and physical. It’s going to be good competition.”
This will be one of two district games Great Bend hosts.
“It’s always nice being in front of a home crowd,” Crough said. “We have great fans. When we’re at home, the kids can feel everybody rallying behind them.
“I wouldn’t trade our fans for anybody else in the state.”
After a concussion forced out senior running back Trent Uselton early in the season, Thomas Bobbitt emerged as a formidable playmaker in his absence.
Thus the gauntlet was thrown down at that position.
Uselton is back. He had 21 carries for 91 yards against the Redskins last week.
Uselton split time with the junior Bobbitt, who had 23 carries for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
Bobbitt has had a bit of an issue with fumbling this season, though.
“It’s a real interesting situation we have an running back,” Crough said. “Bobbitt’s the more explosive guy. He’s probably a little bit faster than Uselton and will have a few breakout plays.
“Trent is a little slower and steady. He’ll get his yards and he takes care of the ball.”
Bobbitt leads the team with 543 rushing yards. He had four rushing touchdowns.
Uselton has 291 yards and two touchdowns.
Quarterback Shade Wondra has a team-leading five rushing touchdowns.
Wondra has completed 35 of 82 passes for 449 yards and four touchdowns. He has thrown seven interceptions.
Great Bend has one receiver over 100 yards this season — sophomore Bryce Lytle.
Lytle has 312 receiving yards and three touchdowns.
Due to an injured Brady Michel, Lytle has been expected to play cornerback as well.
“Yep, our 15-year-old well be playing both sides again,” Crough said. “And he can handle it. We wouldn’t put him in that position if he couldn’t handle it.
“He’s a baller. He’s going to make plays.”